There's no doubt that owning a cat will bring love, joy and pleasure into your home.
But there is one vital question that must be answered when you first consider sharing your home:-
'Are two cats better than one?'
Granted, there are benefits to owning just one pet. Your new family member will be the focus of attention and will benefit from being the centre of attraction. Your children will love the joy of one-to-one interaction.
Additionally, the cost of owning a solitary cat will be relatively low. It will be much easier to budget for your pet's food, bedding and veterinary costs than if you owned two animals and the opportunity for conflict between feline house-mates simply won't arise.
But what about the happiness of your new cat? Will living a solitary life be the kindest option? Wouldn't having a companion to share life with be better for your pet's emotional well-being?
Consider the benefits of owning two cats:
Companionship for each other - particularly if you are out at work all day.
Sociability. In the wild, feral cats naturally live in large groups which have a social structure.
Giving a home to litter-mates is the easiest route to take.
More pleasure for you!
Of course, there are also a few disadvantages to owning more than one cat. These include:
Higher costs in the form of food, vet bills, equipment, holiday care.
Although most cats are sociable, some are not. A few will actually prefer to have you all to themselves.
Problems with behavior are more likely than with a solitary cat.
Your pets may be more content to spend time with each other than with you.
Once you have made your decision to adopt one cat or two, you will be well advised to look at a number of possible pets. By seeing a fair number of different cats or kittens, you will get a good idea of which ones have outgoing and affectionate natures and will be able to select just the right animal for your needs.
Equipped with this information, you will be able to ensure that you can select cats that will live in harmony together, or will be likely to live happily on their own.
Whatever you choice - enjoy the love and affection of your new family members!
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