Feline Rescue Cat Tales: Adopt in pairs!

Meow, meow. Purr, purr. Lick, lick. Peep, peep. Are you hearing
double? We are – and seeing double. Kitten doubles that is, as many of
our spring kittens bond with a special littermate or kitten friend. At
Feline Rescue we see lots of kitten “best friends,” and we know it’s
best for these buddies to be adopted together. Two littermates or two
“adoptive” kitten siblings will give you double the fun, double the
love, double the warm fuzzies – and will more than halve their
loneliness, their stress and their need for constant attention.

Kittens make great duos for a number of reasons:

• They grow healthy and happy: Kittens who get to play, sleep and bond
  with another kitten grow to be healthier, happier and better socialized
  than those who are isolated from other kittens.
• They entertain
  each other (and you): Kittens love to play! And even if you’re home a
  lot, you likely won’t have time to play with your kitten as much as he
  or she wants (which is almost always). Kittens with a furry playmate are
  less likely to chew, climb, scratch or resort to other “boredom”
  behaviors that can be dangerous and destructive.
• They get to be
  kittens: Biting and scratching is normal, healthy behavior for kittens –
  but your hand might disagree. With a fellow playmate, kittens are free
  to be kittens.
• You get your z’s: Cats are nocturnal, and
  kittens love to play. So a kitten means a whole lot of nighttime
  pestering for your attention. With a fellow feline, your furry friends
  get their funzies while you get your zzz’s.
• May/December might
  work for people, but not cats: Kittens will pursue their playful natures
  with an older cat, but their overtures will not be welcome. Older cats
  are past the play stage and will find a kitten bothersome and annoying.
  This dynamic will color the relationship even once the kitten is an
  adult, and it may lead to behavior problems.

It’s sad to
separate kitten besties who have bonded and lean on each other for
affection. A pair of kittens will still seek human attention and want to
play with their humans, but they provide irreplaceable companionship to
each other. Ultimately, a kitten couple will make for happier and
better adjusted cats.

So consider getting double – the fun, the love,
the warm fuzzies – and adopt a kitten pair this spring.

Written by Tanya Cromey
Photos by Kris Kaiser  |  KrisKreativ Photography
Source: SPCA NOVA.