(no subject)

[brandywine28]

Thanks to everyone who commented and/or sent messages after my last post. You guys! *cries a single, crystalline tear of pure gratitude* Awkward, one-armed bro hugs for all!

Still an emotional tire fire over here, albeit one who has every intention of putting a lid on the cat-related wangsting...uh, in, like, five minutes -- just as soon as I pose a question, if that's cool? Cool.

So, to everyone who has/has had just one cat -- no more, no less: how...how does that work, exactly? What are the chances of him keeling over from loneliness while I'm at work? Is that anywhere within the realm of possibility? 'Cos every morning, right as I'm reaching for the doorknob, he materializes out of nowhere and hits me with a pissy look of muted hatred, as if to say "how dare you leave me alone all day! You are a shitsack of the highest order." Which -- am I? Am I a shitsack of the highest order??

Or am I creating problems out of thin air? Wouldn't be the first time.

I only ask because I'm truly, truly out of my depth on this one. I'm down to single cat status and I only just realized that I haven't owned less than two cats since I was something like eight years old. We're through the looking glass here, people. (Just for reference: the cat in question is named Hugo. Hugo Alexander. He's nine, perfectly healthy and a bossy, puffy-tailed rat monster. Very alpha. His interests include swaggering, machismo and biting my calves while I'm sitting on the toilet.)

Comments

[solariana.livejournal.com]

I've had cats since I was 5 and in all that time, I only had one who really seemed to enjoy being alone. At first she was 1 of 3, but she was more friendlier and loving with the fewer cats that were around and she loved being an only cat. Of course, she still did not like to be totally alone, especially when I left over a long weekend. Whenever I returned from a trip she'd yowl at me for the equivalent number of days that I had left her alone.

The *experts* claim it is best to have a pair of cats of the opposite sex. After said solo cat died, I adopted a male and a female of similar ages. A few years later, I fell in love with a hardship case kitten and adopted her. To this day, the male cat and the female kitten absolutely adore each other. They sleep together, play together, bathe each other, etc. Older female cat seems annoyed with the other 2, but I get the feeling she would be terribly lonely without them. At least there isn't any fighting.

I have had another one only cat for several years, but he grew up as an only cat. It's different if they're used to having a companion cat around. He was an only cat for 6-7 years before I rescued 2 kittens. I think he grew to enjoy having companions after a couple months. I would say, if you can afford it, adopt a female cat as a companion cat. From your description, I would think a kitten would be your best bet. If you're fortunate, you may find a shelter that will agree to allow you to adopt on a trial basis to see if they get along and will allow you to swap if the first one doesn't get along with your cat. If you decide not to get another cat, I found that leaving a radio (or television) on seemed to help with my solo cat.

Good luck!

*hugs*

[nopseud]

Cats aren't naturally highly social animals, so there's no reason not to have just one. The main problem is that indoor only cats might get bored without enough stimulation. So maybe just get more toys, and make sure you regularly leave new things around for him to investigate?

Really, thought, it depends on the temperament of the old and new cats We got a new cat after the oldest of our two died, and the existing cats HATES him. He's rather rough, so I can understand her point. But our cats have free access to the outdoors, so they can always get away from one another. If I were you, I wouldn't get a new cat unless it's from somewhere that will let you return the cat if it turns out badly.

[pensnest]

Socks was an only cat, and we got her as a kitten so I suppose she was just used to it that way. In any case, as I was at home most of the time, she had company even though it was two-legged. I'm sure a lot of cat owners in this country just have the one. However, if your cat is accustomed to there being another cat around, he may prefer it that way? Cats aren't generally regarded as social animals, but as we know, each animal has its own personality. You could try just keeping an eye on him for a while and see if he settles happily into the new arrangement.

[sperrywink]

Pippin, my old cat, was a solo cat, but she was an indoor/outdoor cat who lived solo when I was asked to take her in.

She wasn't very social with other cats, and I know she hated dogs (how I ended up with her), so being alone worked for her.

I think it depends on the cat, so maybe wait and see how it goes?

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

A pair of opposite gender cats, huh? That's really interesting. I've actually only ever had male cats -- not because of any decision making on my part, it just kind of...worked out that way. I bet a female cat would really kick Hugo's little ass into gear, now that I think about it. :)

OMG, thanks so much for the detailed advice! You've given me a lot to mull over! *hugs*

(I just realized I don't have ANY kitty icons. Yet another area in which I FAIL :)

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

I think you're right: maybe I should just shut up and observe for awhile.

Sigh. This is all Aloysius' fault. I see that now. In a lot of ways he was like the most annoying, intrusive boyfriend ever: "What are you thinking about? How was your day? Did you miss me? 'Cos I missed you! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?" Twelve and a half years of THAT, and, well, I'm thinking I may have come out on the other side with a fairly warped view of what is and isn't typical cat behavior. Cats are aloof. And self-sufficient. And generally NOT clingy nutbags. :)

Hugo's a brat, but as far as cats go he's actually pretty...normal. I need to stop projecting.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

I think part of the problem is that there's a very strong chance I'm mistaking his general brattiness for specific, root-based tantrum-throwing. He's a jerk, but then again, he's always been a jerk. :)

But on the flip side -- I keep hearing all these horror stories about dogs and cats (and goats. And horses and ferrets.) who shut down and stop eating when someone close to them dies. It's scary! Although...considering that less than an thirty minutes ago he crammed his entire snout into my cereal bowl and then merrily poked me in the neck while I was doing the dishes...I'm thinking that that particular hurdle may not, in fact, be quite so hurdle-y after all?

Thanks for the input! Especially in regards to him being an indoor cat. You're right: it makes a big difference.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Watching, waiting and calming my damn tits are definitely taking center stage as the most reasonable courses of action here. :)

Although...if his jerkassery ends up morphing into chronic jerkassery, I can always take him to a cat psychic! (Kidding. KIDDING.)

Thanks!

[solariana.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I read the opposite gender cat thing from Dr Michael Fox, but can't remember if it was in the newspaper or his book, Supercat. At one time I had 4 cats (not on purpose), solo male cat mentioned previously, two female kittens that were born to a stray in my backyard and someone I worked with moved and dumped another male cat on me. Solo male cat was the oldest, but two of the others died young. He didn't seem to notice much when one of the girls died at 4 (brain tumor), but when the other male, his little buddy, died at 7, he yowled and carried on for a month. So yeah, all cats are different. I could see that two males could be more prone to fighting especially if they both have alpha personalities, but they could be a perfect match.

Kitty in my previous icon was the solo female. I swear she was me in feline form. I think she will always be fondly remembered as my favorite. The icon on this post are the boy and girl I adopted after solo female died. As you can see, little boy kitty used to use my girl kitty as a sofa! They got on okay, but he just adores the little girl kitty I adopted a couple years ago so much! They're so cute, he's 18 pounds and she's maybe 8-9 pounds. She chases him around the house and when they wrestle, he is so amazingly gentle with her. I think it is sort of the luck of the draw. You may get a hit or miss in whether they get along, but I do think they're less lonely just having another living thing with them when you're away, even if they aren't the best of friends.

But waiting and watching his behavior isn't a bad way to go either. If he doesn't seem to be yowling or moping around, he may be a perfect candidate to be a solo cat. >^..^< *hugs*

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

The most I ever had at a time was 4, too! Which is really not cool if you're an apartment dweller -- but I swear it was all my dad's fault! He just kept bringing home stray after stray, he was a total sucker for them, and my mother was furious; she thought the neighbors were gonna start calling her a "crazy cat lady". (Not that she ever refused any of them house-space or anything. All talk, that woman :) I didn't mind, though, because I was an eleven year old moron and also because CATS. :)

But as an adult, I've kept it to what I think is a pretty reasonable minimum: never more than two, which, lemme tell you, is MUCH more manageable, even in a crappy, one room studio.

Both icons are adorable, by the way! (Those little white paws -- I'm DYING.) Kitty sofas are the BEST sofas!

*hugs*

[nopseud]

The general reaction of my cats to the loss of another cat in the house has been somewhere between THANK GOD and meh. One of our cats had to have a toe amputated, and I swear I have never seen our other cat look so smug as when she was at the vets for a day or two, and never look so mournful as when she came home. The strongest reaction I've ever seen personally was when one my parents' cats died very suddenly, aged about 10. His sister looked for him around the house on and off for a few days, and then she kind of went, oh, well, and got on with her life.

If your kitty;s eating now, I don't think he's about to suddenly start to grieve himself to death.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Ha! Oh wow, cats really are a bunch of heartless bastards, aren't they? Like, almost uniformly so. Why's that so easy to forget, I wonder? Must be the fluffiness. :)

[solariana.livejournal.com]

I was invited once to a party with my brother and his co-workers. Some of his co-workers came over to say hi and started off with, "So you're the crazy cat lady!". Thanks bro! *Grrr*

After the 4 cats got down to 2 cats I swore I would never again have more than 2. But then I came across this little hardship kitty. I don't know why, but I was so drawn to her. I don't regret giving her a home. She is a brat, but also a bundle of joy and she keeps the boy cat groomed and exercised.

Thanks! For the first time, all of my cats have white bibs and 4 white paws. Apparently I it's something I can't resist! Oh, and the boy's cute little white paws aren't so little anymore. They got HUGE. My dad thinks he's part bobcat! LOL

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Aw! Crazy cat ladies get such a bad rap. We should totally reclaim that phrase! Tomorrow I'm gonna round up five more kitties (makin' it an even half dozen - woo! :), buy myself a rocking chair and start wearing an unnecessary eyepatch. It's ON.

Hey, no judgement; if I had the space I'd own a full-fledged zoo. A swarm of cats! A murder! A gaggle! :) And anyway, hardship kitties are pretty much irrestible. My Aloysius was a dirty, feral street bum, and so were quite a few of my childhood cats. (Does it go w/out saying that the movie Oliver & Company made a huge impression me as a kid? 'Cos it did. Sad, homeless orange kittens and BILLY JOEL. Yes.)

There's just something about little white cat feets! Eeeee! And also, I'm apparently five. Wow.

[solariana.livejournal.com]

When I hear the term Crazy Cat Lady, my thought is of someone a little off their rocker who has more cats than they can care for, meaning, their houses likely smell of cat urine, the cats aren't taken to the vet and may not be getting fed or cared for enough. Worse yet, the people whose houses are searched and not only are 30-50 cats rescued, often a couple dead cats are found. If you have no clue you have a dead cat in your house you a) have too many cats, b) are mentally ill, c) a combination of a + b.

That's not me. My litter pans are clean. Each of my cats gets checked out annually by a vet. They are fed, groomed, cared for and played with. So yeah, it depends on how you perceive the term. *G*

If I ever had more money than I could ever use and I was retired, I've love to open a foster home for cats. I've heard about these places, I think in Japan (?), that are restaurants with cats. Because apartments are so expensive and often don't allow pets, someone started these restaurants where you can pay extra to hang out with cats! I'd love to do something like that (but not a restaurant-just a place to hang out with cats), but with foster cats. People could come in and spend some time with a cat before adopting it, or just hang out if they're not allowed cats, or don't have time to care for a pet. I think that would be cool.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Cat cafes! Aha ha, yes, not only have I heard of them, but the mere phrase causes my innards to clench in jealousy. I wanna drink coffee with caaaaaaats! (Which, uh, is something I pretty much do already. Like...all the time, if you wanna get technical about it. Which I don't. Whatever. Bottom line: cat cafes are a boss idea! :)

Actually, when you really stop to think about it, the fact that NYC doesn't have one is a crying shame. I heard there was an odd little pop-up thing, though, somewhere downtown last winter; it was very temporary, only in business for something like 5 days, and I never got around to investigating it because OF COURSE I DIDN'T. *pouts*