Do cats get lonely? Is there a way to tell??

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Simonster

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I have the feeling this question is sorta ******ed, but here goes:

I'm about to adopt a 4-mo old kitten, and I was wondering if I should get another one to keep him company - People at the shelter said I should.

Problem is I'm afraid that it might be too much for me - I'm a med student and I don't have tons of $$ or time (i have to pay extra in rent for a second pet, for starters). Right now I'm home a lot (studying) but in a couple of years I won't be around much.

But the last thing I want is to doom my cat to a life of boredom & loneliness.
 
Get your cat toys and a window seat. Give her a lot of attention when you do get home. I leave the TV on low volume for my cat so there is noise around.

Cats can get lonely. When my cat's buddy died last year she got depressed; didn't eat and was pretty lethargic.
 
Depends on the cat. They aren't as social as dogs are so they don't generally get lonely as much. If a cat has been around other cats for a long time, it might get lonely by itself, but if you raise a kitten by itself then it will be used to not having another cat around. Many cats are happy just to eat, lay around and get petted once in a while. You could get a fish tank or set up a bird feeder outside a window to provide some entertainment.
 
HeartSong said:
Depends on the cat. They aren't as social as dogs are so they don't generally get lonely as much. If a cat has been around other cats for a long time, it might get lonely by itself, but if you raise a kitten by itself then it will be used to not having another cat around. Many cats are happy just to eat, lay around and get petted once in a while. You could get a fish tank or set up a bird feeder outside a window to provide some entertainment.
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uh... but please try to keep in mind when deciding to get a cat that they aren't just bed warmers or live dolls. . .
 
thanks for the replies!

Well i've had my kitty for a full 24 hrs now 😍 I think i'll wait and see abt getting another one if he seems lonely...only problem is, I would have no idea if that was the problem. (or if it's right to tack human feelings on animals) Do you guys think there are some obvious signs that he needs company?

Eh, while i'm at it, any good ideas on how to explain to my cat why he shouldn't sit on my keyboard? i've had to write this over five times
 
The fact that your kitty is sitting on your keyboard is the first sign that he is lonely and wants attention. 🙂

Animals do have many of the same feelings that humans do, though it is important to understand the nature of that particular animal to know what would cause him to have those feelings. For instance, your cat will not feel intellectually frustrated if you do not enroll him in kitty kindergarten (obviously this is a silly example), but the loss of a lifetime companion can be devastating for an animal.

Seriously, it is a myth that cats are not social animals. In a wild setting they naturally congregate in groups and have social relationships within these groups. Their social behavior is very different from dogs', but their relationships are no less important.

In terms of time, there will really be no difference with taking care of two cats vs. one . Two are easier in some ways because they can entertain each other instead of seeking attention from you when you need to get things done.

In terms of finances, vet insurance is a good thing to look into. If you adopted from a shelter, you are probably automatically eligible for a free month or two of ShelterCare vet insurance, and they have a variety of good plans to choose from that are very reasonably priced. That way you can still expect to have to budget for routine annual exams, etc, but you will have coverage for emergencies like foreign body ingestion and other things that can randomly happen and cost a small fortune to repair.
 
I'm a pet owner and pre-med student, so don't take this as professional advice. 😉

I have two kitties who are littermates. I think they would be very unhappy without each other. It's great because when I go somewhere they have each other for entertainment, but they also can get away from each other if they want to. When they got spayed they rode in the same cage and I took comfort in the fact that they were together.

My kitties are like my kids, and even though it might be a little more work in the end, I think it is definitely worth it. I buy 20 pound bags of cat food, and leave the dry food out for them at all times, and I buy maybe one bag every two months. My kitties are 12 and 10.5 lbs, so even though it seems like they eat a lot, it's not too expensive. Cat food bags range from around 9-10 bucks for the cheaper kinds for 20lb bags up to about 23 dollars for the more expensive food. Litter isn't too expensive either, I use the scoopable kind and add fresh litter to the top to freshen it up between changings. I change the entire litter a couple of times a year. It saves money that way. Otherwise all you need is water for them, and vaccinations once a year. Treats every now and then, and other incidental things.

I think it's worth it to have two, even if it's just so that you won't end up with a scaredy cat who won't let you get a second cat in a few years. My friend has a cat she got and he hides all the time, and she was thinking about getting another cat, but she didn't because she knew her kitty was so scared of other cats that she didn't want to do that to him. So he's missing out on having a friend and another kitty who needs a loving home won't get one because her kitty is accustomed to being the only one.

just my thoughts, good luck on what you decide!
 
Simonster said:
I have the feeling this question is sorta ******ed, but here goes:

I'm about to adopt a 4-mo old kitten, and I was wondering if I should get another one to keep him company - People at the shelter said I should.

Problem is I'm afraid that it might be too much for me - I'm a med student and I don't have tons of $$ or time (i have to pay extra in rent for a second pet, for starters). Right now I'm home a lot (studying) but in a couple of years I won't be around much.

But the last thing I want is to doom my cat to a life of boredom & loneliness.
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I wish i could have a cat, but im kinda allergic to cat hair (not dog hair or anyother animal). Also I don't know where i will be next year for med school or if i ll have time for the cat.
 
Hey everyone!

Just thought I'd let you know that i DID get a second kitty (at the prompting of my awesome vet), and it was the best decision ever. After a couple days of hissing, and finally some butt-sniffing, they've become great companions for each other. I love coming home to a) not feeling as guilty for having such a long workday and b) watching them play with each other. It's hilarious and I know they're having fun. I think another cat sure beats another inanimate cat toy.

The negs? well I do have to pay an extra $40 for rent each month, plus I had to give my evil landlords 200 nonrefundable bucks for each kitty. I guess I should be glad that I'm allowed cats at all, but that did suck.

NRA - I'm slightly allergic to cats, but I found the longer-haired ones were not such a problem....a little counterintuitive, but I guess they shed a lot less? I vacuum a lot, I think that helps. I WOULD wait to see your living situation first, though, since it can be a major pain/expensive getting an apartment that will allow cats.
 
isn't it great watching them play together? I swear if they put that on tv I'd watch it. Kitty Smackdown.
 
Simonster said:
NRA - I'm slightly allergic to cats, but I found the longer-haired ones were not such a problem....a little counterintuitive, but I guess they shed a lot less? I vacuum a lot, I think that helps. I WOULD wait to see your living situation first, though, since it can be a major pain/expensive getting an apartment that will allow cats.
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Most people are allergic to the dander from cats, not hair/fur. vaccuuming regularly and giving the kitties a bath (fun 😛 ) helps. Also there are some products that you can find at pet supply stores that help with allergies.

Congrats on the new cat!
 
chris03333 said:
Most people are allergic to the dander from cats, not hair/fur. vaccuuming regularly and giving the kitties a bath (fun 😛 ) helps. Also there are some products that you can find at pet supply stores that help with allergies.

Congrats on the new cat!
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Could i buy a dog and dress it up as a cat? Parrot dressed up as a cat, could train it to meow? 😕
 
Back at home (parents house) we have a huge 150gallon fish tank.

Have a whole bunch of fish, its funny that all of the same type of fish hang out with eachother. They always swim together, except feeding time then its a free for all. I wonder if they would get lonely?
 
NRAI2001 said:
Back at home (parents house) we have a huge 150gallon fish tank.

Have a whole bunch of fish, its funny that all of the same type of fish hang out with eachother. They always swim together, except feeding time then its a free for all. I wonder if they would get lonely?
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Schooling fish dont do so well when they are kept alone or just say just one or two others. So I guess they do get lonely in a sense.
 
chris03333 said:
Most people are allergic to the dander from cats, not hair/fur. vaccuuming regularly and giving the kitties a bath (fun 😛 ) helps. Also there are some products that you can find at pet supply stores that help with allergies.

Congrats on the new cat!
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Thanks! uh, what IS dander, exactly?
 
chris03333 said:
Most people are allergic to the dander from cats, not hair/fur. vaccuuming regularly and giving the kitties a bath (fun 😛 ) helps. Also there are some products that you can find at pet supply stores that help with allergies.

Congrats on the new cat!
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How exactly do you bathe a cat?? :laugh:

I thought cats go crazy near water?
 
I've heard you don't really need to bathe a cat because they clean themselves all the time. but me and my husband bathed our cat. we just hold him while we put him in the tub, same as a dog I guess. He doesn't have a happy face, but he puts up with it. Its sooo funny to see him all wet he looks like a big rat! My childhood dog used to hate baths....so I think it depends on the animal....Some cats actually like water! My cat is fascinated by water going down the drain but doesn't like to get sprayed by water.....
 
Simonster said:
Thanks! uh, what IS dander, exactly?
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Dander is tiny dried flakes of skin. The proteins people are allergic to are present in the dander, urine and saliva. Often people are more allergic to cats than dogs just because cats are covered in dried saliva from bathing themselves. Kind of ironic, isn't it?

I'm allergic to dogs and cats, and have found frequent bathing helps immensely. Even just wiping your cat down with a damp cloth regularly can be a big help (and much easier than getting a cat into a bathtub). There's a product called Nature's Miracle made just for that - you put it on a cloth and wipe the pet. I don't know if it works any better than plain water, but it does help.
 
frequently bathing your cat (or dog for that matter) washes away all the natural oils and secretions that make your pets hair and skin healthy - i would say a bath more than once a month (if at all) for a cat is plenty, otherwise you're going to end up with with a cat that has dermatitis or some other type of skin irritation.
 
rdc said:
frequently bathing your cat (or dog for that matter) washes away all the natural oils and secretions that make your pets hair and skin healthy - i would say a bath more than once a month (if at all) for a cat is plenty, otherwise you're going to end up with with a cat that has dermatitis or some other type of skin irritation.
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I read in "cats for dummies" that I should bathe my kitties once in awhile. I don't get it, as they seem so intent on cleaning themselves and each other all the time...it does seem logical for a cat to have such an aversion to water, if getting "cleaned" would rob them of some protective stuff.

Of course after trying to give a bath once I'll take any excuse to never do it again.
 
When I decided to get a kitten, it never occured to me to get 2 of them. The one I really wanted was a tiny little black furball with eyes. The other one was already several months old and skittish. However, the people I got them from were having a hard time finding a home for the skittish one. 🙁 They told me that she was extremely sweet, just jumpy. I ended up getting both of them and, to tell you the truth, I'm so glad I did. They are sisters in every sense of the word. I work long hours and it makes me happy to know they're keeping each other company while I'm gone. It's also made it easier to go on vacation for a few days at a time. I have people come in and feed them and although I know they miss me, they have each other. The 'tiny black' one isn't so tiny anymore at 16 lbs. 😳 The other one is still jumpy but sooooo completely and thoroughly sweet. 😍
Anyway, good luck in making your decision! And congratulations on the kittie! :luck: 😀
 
Simonster said:
I have the feeling this question is sorta ******ed, but here goes:

I'm about to adopt a 4-mo old kitten, and I was wondering if I should get another one to keep him company - People at the shelter said I should.

Problem is I'm afraid that it might be too much for me - I'm a med student and I don't have tons of $$ or time (i have to pay extra in rent for a second pet, for starters). Right now I'm home a lot (studying) but in a couple of years I won't be around much.

But the last thing I want is to doom my cat to a life of boredom & loneliness.
Click to expand...



I know it is 2018 and people use technology and social media and hand smart devices to kids and pets. But I think the kitten would get lonely.
 
Interesting necrobump.

I hope OP's kitten hasn't been lonely for the past 13 years.

Edit: Reading through the replies I admit it isn't as necro- of a bump as I initially thought. And I can see that OP did get a second cat.
 
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