Adopting in Pairs

You may have noticed that Kitty Revolution, and many other rescues, require that kittens be adopted in pairs, or go to a home that already has another young/playful cat. If you wonder why that is… keep reading!

Kittens need interaction with each other for social development.

Kittens are constantly learning and exploring. They look to their mother and littermates. When kittens are separated from their littermates or any other kitten friend, there is a high possibility that their development emotionally, socially, and sometimes physically is delayed. Studies and lifelong experience have shown that kittens who stay with a littermate, or another similarly-aged kitten, are healthier, happier, and better socialized!

While you love and care for your kitten, you are not enough simply because you are not a cat.

Kittens demand attention! They’ve got a lot of energy, which you should be prepared for if adopting them. One lone kitten will demand even more time and energy that you as an adopter likely have available. The good news is that a pair of kittens will keep each other occupied! Don’t worry, they will definitely still want to interact with you. Most cats are sociable and are happier living with other cats. Who wouldn’t want a friend to get the zoomies with and then curl up for a cuddle?

You know the phrase curiosity killed the cat?

A single kitten will get bored. So they entertain themselves by chewing on plants, climbing on anything and everything, biting electrical cords, etc. That isn’t to say a pair of kittens won’t do those things too. They are curious after all. But if they have a friend wrestle and play with, it is less likely they’ll do these destructive and dangerous things.

Speaking of biting and wrestling…

You can’t prevent a kitten from doing what comes naturally. So without another kitten to bite and wrestle with, they will turn to you. While it might be cute and tolerable when they are little, remember they grow up! You don’t want an adult cat, who bites harder, to do that for playtime.

What was that thud in the night?

A single kitten is likely to keep you awake at night with their jumping, pouncing, meowing, etc. With a friend to play with at night, this behavior is minimized. They have each other to tire out before curling up for a nap!

Your older cat probably won’t want a single kitten.

It comes down to that boundless energy kittens have. They want to play and zoom around. An older cat will likely find this overwhelming and irritating. On the flip side, the kitten is likely to be frustrated that your older cat doesn’t have the same level of energy. You don’t want two unhappy cats! Ideally, your older cat rolls its eyes at TWO kittens zooming around, but they them him alone for his naps. Having unhappy cats may result in litterbox avoidance, destructive scratching, etc. An older cat is better matched with a cat closer to its own age and temperament.