Adopt Kittens In Pairs

One kitten can become lonely and bored. Most humans spend a good deal of their time out of the house. Kittens often thrive with playmates, especially when their humans are gone. Like any young animal, they need stimulation to develop properly, learn proper social skills, and stimulate their minds. Two kittens entertain each other and enrich each other’s environment. When possible, get two at the same time, so they can begin helping each other and bonding right away. Siblings are ideal, but any two close in age can form mutually beneficial bonds.

Two kittens help each other burn off energy. Even the most devoted human caregiver can quickly become exhausted trying to keep up with the energy of a single kitten. Two kittens will often wear each other out, leaving their human free to enjoy watching them. A single kitten will likely keep an owner up at night, continuing to play long after the lights have been turned off. A pair of young cats, on the other hand, will often entertain each other, effectively tiring themselves out while their owners sleep. When they want to play at 2:00 am and they have each other, they are more likely to let their humans sleep.

One kitten can drive an older cat nuts. Although it might sound strange, an older, established cat will probably accept two kittens better than one. That’s because a new single kitten will see your older cat as a playmate - whether the older cat likes it or not. This can be a nuisance to some older cats, and may cause stress or anxiety. Two kittens, however, will often focus on playing with each other, leaving an older cat to relax in peace.

Two kittens will self-train and be cleaner. Kittens learn by copying. If one kitten is quick to learn appropriate litterbox use, the other will be likely to copy. They also help each other with grooming. Having a friend can help them get to hard-to-reach areas, and they will often develop a grooming routine after meals or playtime.

Two kittens will have fewer behavior problems. Despite some opinions, most cats are not totally independent and they need play time or interaction with others to thrive. Many people who experience behavior problems with kittens find that some of them go away when they adopt a playmate. What may be perceived as mischief is often just the result of boredom. Much like their human counterparts, kittens sometimes misbehave because "negative attention is better than no attention."

Curiosity overcomes food "finickyness." A picky eater can be frustrating or even a little scary when it goes on too long. However, having two kittens can help you avoid this problem, as a picky kitten’s curiosity will often overcome his or her pickiness. Meaning, if a kitten sees a friend eating something, it will probably want to eat too!

They’ll have a friend for life. Two kittens who grow up together will almost always be lifelong friends. Although they will sometimes have their little squabbles, you will more often see them engaging in mutual grooming, playing together, and sleeping with their best pal. Your cat will remain more playful and youthful into his/her later years with a companion.

There are bonus perks for you. Nothing is more fun than watching a pair of kittens play. Hours of entertainment are waiting anytime kittens get together. And, when kittens play hard enough to wear themselves out and pile onto each other for a nap, inevitable adorable photo opportunities seem to appear left and right!

Visit this page for more information about pets and adopting from Orange County Animal Services in Chapel Hill, NC!