New Cat!
Thursday, July 05 2012 @ 10:26 PM CDT

our current cat, Midi, is an only cat AFAWK. sometimes my wife and i wonder if she is lonely. i know philosophically it's a slippery slope.

Midi came from a shelter into our home to join two other cats. since then, one, and then the other passed away, so now she is the only, boss, cat in the house.

but more and more, we wonder if she is lonely. it's hard to say, trying to read the mind (behavior) of a cat. but it sure seems like she might be lonely.

how does one know? does it make sense to take on another soul?

(have i already answered my question, merely by asking it?)

Re:New Cat?
Thursday, July 05 2012 @ 11:04 PM CDT

get 2 kittens from the same litter...they will entertain you all

bless you smokey

Re:New Cat?
Friday, July 06 2012 @ 02:53 AM CDT

Hey Smokey.
We have three cats, all from rescue sanctuaries and all have had really horrible starts in life. I won't give examples as some of their stories are quite upsetting. None are related or similar ages, and while I wouldn't say any of them particularly "like" any of the others, they all tolerate each other. I couldn't really say whether they appreciate each other's company as they get split up in the cattery they go to when we go on holiday and when reunited don't really show any new affection for each other.
All the same, I love having more than one cat. Any pet owner will tell you they all have their own little personalities and I don't regret getting any of them, in spite of any destruction, frustration, financial outlay etc etc. And if you want an example of the value of pets, one of our cats can tell when my daughter is about to have a seizure before it happens. You can't put a price on that.

Go on, get another one!

Re:New Cat?
Friday, July 06 2012 @ 05:12 AM CDT

You and your wife have a lot of love to give.
You can't keep the Midi cat occupied and entertained as much as a second cat could.
There are far too many cats in shelters who are either going to live a shelter life or who will be euthanized.
Not always do two cats bond deeply but they do enjoy the company of others, one way or another and it exercises their bodies and minds.
Since she is used to having others around it won't take long to get used to new family member.
I can't think of any valid reasons not to get a new kitty.
I have three. The last one would've been put down because she was feral until almost a year old and is still resistant to being held but I can tell she has warmed up to the prospect and I'm patient.
The younger the new one is the better in terms of the socialization.

Re:New Cat?
Friday, July 06 2012 @ 05:15 AM CDT

Re:New Cat?
Friday, July 06 2012 @ 07:38 AM CDT

Read a book called "Cat Confidential "by Vicky Halls.

Cats are by nature solitary and territorial animals a,who should actually live in trees ,hence their tremendous prowess at agility.
But they generally prefer to live alone.

That said they can get on together,in a hierarchy in which usually the first cat in the home will be dominant ,depending on the strength of character and age of the incomer but you have to be prepared for them not,and there may not be any obvious signs.

One of Vicky's rules of thumb is that you should have one litter tray per animal and one extra.Tactics of dominant puss can be to deny the other cat access to the litter tray by mere presence alone.You cannot guard two trays at once.

We didn't,but we were lucky we had 4 three girls one lad....he buggered off eventually,but that is because the woman down the road encouraged him....he would always pop by to say hello to us but he did not ever go beyond the kitchen into the house.

The three queens quickly established a pecking order in which Suzy became number one girl,Smudgepatch who was the last incomer but second eldest became number two and Tishy who was by far the youngest (and smallest) became the third and last.

Tishy adored Suzy but she was merely tolerated by Suzy.who would simply bat Tish on the head when she had enough of Tishy's attempts to groom her.

Smudgepatch used to ambush Tishy from behind the sette but it was never a serious attack ....and the roles reversed as SP got older and a bit slower......anyway enough about my reminiscences......

I do not think cats get lonely,they do need stimulus but as they are usually out and about "meeting friends and influencing people" they are often getting that. If they are purely house cats (nothing wrong with that 0then that stimulus needs to be provided either by yourselves making prats of yourselves occasionally and having a good old play with the mog ...or supplying enough toys to let them amuse themselves.

But if you want to go the way of the multimoggy family, and believe me tbere is nothing more fun and rewarding when it works ,even if they just sort of rub along then you need to assess the nature and age of your current resident and try to be lucky in selecting a companion....they won't appreciate youngsters ,like kittens if they are elderly ,but if they are still only young themselves then they may join in the rough and tumble quite gladly.

I would not get a companion for Biscuit the current housholder

( be under no illusion ,it is their house....who gets up goes out to work to pay for cat fud ,not they ,they just live the life of riley...well ours do anyway)

because I think that she would not cope,she is neurotic enough as it is and the slightest noise from wherever she is not has her wide eyed and nerves a jangling....usually headed for under the bed "Dad Dad there'd someone downstairs" .....there is,it's usually, Lizzy ! ( And I know that is not the thought process that goes through her little furry noggin,but it is the feline equivalent definitely expressed by her body language...and I don't as yet speak Cat 80)

Oh dear I seem to have rambled on....all the above is purely based on my own experience ....I have some wonderful memmories of two older cats and a teenager all curled up on one table....not a fag paper between them ....but not quite touching either..." well the table is a nice spot and I am prepared to condescend to share it with you....but it does not mean we is friends" was the implied message


CJ

Re:New Cat?
Friday, July 06 2012 @ 03:11 PM CDT

hi smokeyvw,

you might be over thinking this, which isn't a bad thing - it's a huge responsibility taking on another soul. but one you clearly seem ready for.

i think we tend to anthropomorphize (yes, i just recently learned this word and use it as often as i can) our pets in american culture, ascribing characteristics to them that are in line with our human experience. more specifically, i don't think our animals feel emotions as intensely as we do. nor do i believe a cat can experience an emotion as complex as loneliness.

this actually gives me some level of solace. i also have had two cats fall gravely ill and pass on to the big litter box in the sky. it is nice to know that these cats weren't struggling with thoughts such as, "why is this happening to me?", or "i have so much more to accomplish in life", or "do i have a soul?". they got sick, experienced discomfort, and were humanely put down, all without the emotions that you and i would attach to these experiences.

which brings me to my point. midi (great name btw) probably doesn't care if you bring in other cats, or doesn't care as much as you might think. the bigger question is, do you want another soul(s) to take care of. i think the simple fact that you have asked the question say that you are a conscientious enough person to give another soul an amazing life. and there are lots of souls out there that need to be taken care of.

good luck to you. if you end up getting a new kitty, please do the socially responsible thing and post silly cat videos to youtube!

peace,

steve

Quote by: SmokeyVW our current cat, Midi, is an only cat AFAWK. sometimes my wife and i wonder if she is lonely. i know philosophically it's a slippery slope. Midi came from a shelter into our home to join two other cats. since then, one, and then the other passed away, so now she is the only, boss, cat in the house. but more and more, we wonder if she is lonely. it's hard to say, trying to read the mind (behavior) of a cat. but it sure seems like she might be lonely. how does one know? does it make sense to take on another soul? (have i already answered my question, merely by asking it?)

Re:New Cat?
Friday, July 06 2012 @ 03:26 PM CDT

Midi's actual name is Midnight. the nickname we chose is a nod to my neighbor: they named their cats ASCII and SCSI. those cats passed away last year and they have two new cats named Tumblr and Flickr!

Re:New Cat?
Tuesday, July 10 2012 @ 12:49 PM CDT

For us, once, it happened this way:   We had one cat, at the time, who liked to sit outside and doze.   One day, we noticed that a black cat which we had never seen before was out there dozing with him.   And, that was that.   Corazón had simply “arrived,” and she’s been most-welcome ever since.

And, yes, I think that cats do enjoy companionship.   We have ordinarily had many cats.

Re:New Cat?
Tuesday, July 10 2012 @ 03:25 PM CDT

Feral cats are social - they live in colonies, despite hunting individually. Which means that housecats are social. Tho' they can have differences if they're thrown together.

Now here's a thing. I'd been offered a lovely little grey female moggy and was wondering whether Simon (middle aged nutted ginger tom) would like some company. Really didn't know the answer. Anyway, I was rubbing his tummy and doing the idle reassuring chat thing and in the spirit of it asked him if he wanted a sister. He froze, just disengaging completely. After about a minute, he gave me a look and walked away. He's still single.

Cats get what we're saying more than we think. I suspect they are more than a little psychic. Put a clear picture of the possible newcomer in your mind and ask your cat.