For many single cat owners, there is an ongoing debate of whether it is cruel to only have one feline friend. While cats are largely perceived as independent creatures that prefer solitude, research indicates that they are actually quite social and most would benefit from having a feline companion. However, there are still situations where a single cat home is appropriate. This article will explore the social nature of cats, the potential downsides of having a solitary cat, methods for providing enrichment to a single cat, and considerations for when one cat is the right fit for a household.
Cats Are Social Animals
Cats are naturally social creatures that live in colonies and thrive with companionship. According to one study, social behavior in cats originated during the process of domestication when they began living closely with humans. Whereas wildcats tend to be solitary animals, domestic cats retain some of their ancestors’ social tendencies and bond with other cats as well as with human companions.
Keeping a single cat isolated without social interaction can cause them distress. An only cat may become anxious, depressed, or demonstrate problem behaviors like inappropriate urination if their social needs are not met. Cats are highly social with their own kind and are hard-wired to seek companionship. Having a fellow feline around helps them feel secure and content.
Risk of Boredom and Behavioral Issues
Single cats often act out from lack of stimulation (WebMD, 2022). Common problems include inappropriate elimination, aggression, and excessive vocalization (Cornell, 2022). Bored cats may also develop anxiety or stress from not having an outlet for natural play behaviors (Pumpkin, 2022).
Importance of Playtime
Play is not just for fun. For cats, play is a vital part of their physical, emotional, and social development. Playing helps kittens develop important hunting and survival skills, while also bonding with their siblings. Play continues to fulfill these needs even in adult cats.
When living alone, a single cat misses out on the interactive social play they would naturally engage in with other cats. While cats can play independently with toys, another cat allows for more varied, stimulating, and complex playtime together. This kind of social play helps cats bond, establish relationships, and understand how to communicate with each other through actions and body language.
Play also provides an important outlet for a cat’s natural energy, allowing them to express their predatory instincts and hunt-like behaviors in a healthy way. Without an adequate outlet, cats may become frustrated, stressed, anxious, or act out with unwanted behaviors like aggression or destructive scratching. Multiple cats provide built-in playmates to help release all that energy.
For the full benefits of cat play, interactive social play should be provided daily. A single cat simply can’t experience the same quality of playtime on their own as they can with a feline companion.
Options for Companionship
There are a few options for providing your cat with some additional companionship and enrichment if you think having only one cat may be too isolating:
Getting a Second Cat
One of the best ways to provide companionship for a single cat is to get a second cat. Cats are social animals and most enjoy having other feline friends around. Introducing a second cat takes some planning and patience, but can be very rewarding. Make sure to introduce the new cat gradually and be prepared for some initial territorial behavior before the cats become friends.
Fostering Other Cats
If you aren’t ready to commit to a second cat full-time, consider fostering other cats temporarily. Many shelters and rescues need foster homes to house cats waiting for adoption. Fostering gives your resident cat a chance to interact with other felines and provides real companionship. And by fostering, you’ll also be helping cats in need while you look for the right permanent match.
Increased Human Interaction
Make sure to spend plenty of interactive playtime with your single cat each day. Increase games, petting, treats, and activities you do together. Cats form strong social bonds with their human families when they don’t have feline companions. Extra love and attention from you can help meet your cat’s social needs. Consider keeping them in high traffic areas so they see family members frequently.
Introducing a New Cat
When bringing a new cat into a home with an existing cat, it’s important to gradually introduce them to avoid conflict. The ASPCA recommends keeping the cats separated at first, with the new cat confined to a bathroom or spare room with their own food, water, litter box, toys, scratching post, and bed (source). This allows them to adjust to new sights, smells, and sounds in the home. During this initial separation, switch the cats’ blankets or beds so they start getting used to each other’s scents.
After a few days to a week, do site swaps, allowing each cat into the other’s space to explore while the other is confined. This lets them become accustomed to each other’s scents. The next step is to allow the cats closer interaction, like feeding on opposite sides of a door. Finally, make first introductions brief and supervised, prepared to quickly separate them if either shows signs of aggression (source). Be patient and expect the adjustment period to a new cat to take weeks or months.
Monitor initial interactions closely. Look for signs of stress like hissing, growling, swishing tail, or puffed up fur, and separate the cats before aggression occurs. Provide multiple resources like food bowls, water, beds, litter boxes and toys to minimize conflict over resources. With time, patience and proper introduction, the cats can become comfortable companions.
Costs of a Second Cat
Adding a second cat to your home comes with additional expenses. You’ll need to budget for extra food, litter, vet bills, and potentially larger housing.
Food costs will increase, as you’ll need to feed two cats instead of one. Feeding a 10 lb cat about 1/2 cup of dry food per day can cost $200-300 per year. For two cats, that doubles to $400-600 annually just for food.
Litter costs also go up with a second cat. You may need a larger litter box or more frequent litter changes. Litter can range from $150-300 per year for one cat, and double for two. Vet bills for check ups, vaccinations, and illnesses will also be higher for two cats.
Additionally, some people find they need more space when adding a second cat, especially if there are any conflicts. This could mean a larger apartment, cat trees, and more hiding spots. One Redditor estimated an extra $500 up front and $30 more per month for a second cat.
When One Cat is Enough
For some cats and owners, having just one feline companion is the ideal situation. Elderly, anxious or ill cats may become overwhelmed or stressed by the introduction of another cat in the home. Kittens and senior cats tend to require more care, supervision and attention, so a one-cat household may be best if the owner cannot properly care for more than one cat. Kittens need socialization, frequent playtimes and positive exposure to new sights and sounds during their development. Senior cats often develop health issues that require medication, specialized diets and more frequent veterinary visits. In both cases, a single cat household allows the owner to focus time and resources on caring for the individual cat’s needs.
Likewise, cats with severe anxiety or territorial issues may never accept a new feline housemate. It’s important to slowly introduce new cats to the environment and give them separate spaces, but some cats remain highly stressed or aggressive towards other cats. Continuing to add more cats will likely exacerbate the stressed cat’s anxiety. In these cases, it may be healthiest for the anxious cat and safest for potential new cats to remain a single cat family.
While some cats thrive with a multi-cat household, others are perfectly content living solo and receiving quality bonding time with their human. Providing environmental enrichment through interactive play, cat trees, food puzzles and access to windows can help meet an only cat’s stimulation needs. With dedicated care and attention from their owner, a single feline can lead a very fulfilling life.
Providing Enrichment
Even with just one cat, it is important to provide enrichment to prevent boredom and behavior issues. There are many ways to enrich the life of a single cat:
Using puzzle feeders and food dispensing toys is a great way to make mealtime more interesting and provide mental stimulation. Rotate different puzzles to keep your cat engaged (preventivevet.com).
Cat trees, scratching posts, and climbing shelves allow your cat to explore vertical space. Placing these items by windows gives cats entertainment by birdwatching. Make sure the cat tree is sturdy and offers different levels, cubbies, and scratching surfaces (aspca.org).
Rotate different types of toys – wands, balls, plush mice – to stimulate your cat’s natural hunting instincts. Store some toys away and swap them out to keep things interesting. Interactive playtime is important for single cats (catschool.co).
Placing a bird feeder outside a window creates a form of “cat TV” that provides mental stimulation. Shelves placed near windows create a perch for watching the outdoors.
Consider adopting another cat if possible, as cats are social and generally do better with a friend. However, with proper enrichment a single cat can live a happy life.
Conclusion
In summary, cats are highly social creatures that tend to do better when living with at least one other feline companion. Having a second cat provides built-in social interaction, playtime, and companionship that enriches their lives. However, a single cat can still live a happy, enriched life with attentive and engaged human caretakers. The ideal situation may be adopting two cats, but with effort on the part of the owner, just one cat can thrive. The keys are providing daily structured playtime, environmental enrichment, avoiding boredom, and meeting the cat’s social needs as best as possible. While two cats are often easier, one cat can have a good life with an involved owner willing to put in the effort.