This week I’d like to talk about why we sometimes choose to adopt cats out in pairs!
We often get cats at our shelter who have already been living together. Sometimes we have information from their previous people, who will tell us how well they get along and if they love being together, but sometimes we don’t have much to go on. Once these pairs have settled into our shelter, we spend a day or two watching how they interact with each other and determine if we think they should stay together. Sometimes it’s obvious that they really love each other- they’ll cuddle, groom each other, play together, and spend much of their time with the other one nearby. However, other times it’s more subtle. Some cats aren’t big cuddlers, but will feel more confident with their friend around. They may hide until their buddy has come out and started to play, and that will signal to them that things are safe and they’ll feel comfortable approaching the human with the toy. Sometimes, they’ll only want to eat if their friend is nearby. We also look for differences in behavior anytime they need to be separated (if one of them needs a medical procedure, or needs to be monitored for signs of illness). If they seem much more shy or withdrawn, or don’t want to eat or play when they normally would, that’s a great indication that they should stay together.
If we’re ever in doubt as to if a pair is bonded or not, we err on the side of caution and keep them together- there are plenty of people willing to welcome two cats into their home! Taking on two cats over one can seem intimidating, and considering the practical things is important: Do you have space for enough litter boxes in your home for two cats? Are you prepared for providing double the food? However, for the day-to-day stuff like playing and enrichment, having two cats who love each other is often LESS work- having another cat around is just about the best enrichment you can provide! Even if they don’t really want to play or cuddle together, just having the other one nearby can be a great comfort. I think we’ve all had a friend in our lives who we like being around even if one of you is watching TV and the other is reading a book- well, cats can share that same sentiment!
Our shelter frequently has cats that we are looking to adopt out in pairs- this information will always be listed in their ‘about me’ section on our website, and can also be found posted on their habitats in our adoption center, so if you’re looking to adopt a bonded pair it will be easy to find that information whether you’re online or in the shelter!
