# Looking to adopt 2 cats - advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082 "2011-05-16T13:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/21 "2011-05-16T17:43:48Z")
Also: The product I’m talking about is called Soft Paws, [www.softpaws.com](http://www.softpaws.com) ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/22 "2011-05-16T18:00:19Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > Yeah, my fiance had mentioned this to me, and it’s a good idea (she’s a vet tech). Unfortunately, she also said that it’s not _terribly_ likely that they will have adult cats from the same litter, but there’s always a possibility. My two are littermates and I couldn’t be happier with how they interact with each other. They have never spent an entire day away from each other in their lives up to this point. I don’t know how well it might work for adult cats, but I trained both of mine to just deal with it when I trim their claws. I got some special scissors from PetSmart and they work great. The cats usually get impatient so I have to work quickly, but they don’t fight it too much. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/23 "2011-05-16T18:57:18Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > If you are adopting two cats, I recommend choosing two from the same litter or a pair that were previously living together. My two unrelated cats fought a lot in the beginning. After 9 years, they tolerate each other but still are not friends. My situation is not unusual. That’s our cats’ deal, too - two adult females who still hiss at each other regularly after 10 years. We leave our cats alone for the weekend, too, and it doesn’t seem to have negatively affected them at all. An automated feeder so they can’t eat all the food at once would be even better (we leave Friday and come back Sunday afternoon, and the bowls are empty. If they ate it all Saturday and were hungry Sunday, well, that’s not the end of the world.) My unsolicited advice for people getting new cats - train them from Day One to not sleep in your bedroom. Cats like to play in the middle of the night, and get fed when THEY want to get fed - cats used to not being in the bedroom will let you sleep better. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/24 "2011-05-16T19:58:11Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Note: Wet food only can be a bad idea. Their teeth get coated with crud that never gets scraped off by chewing on dry kibble. I was at the vet a few weeks ago and saw a dog that had to get 19 teeth extracted for this reason. That’s been the received wisdom over the years, but it has been increasingly getting challenged for cats. The problem is, cats don’t really chew. They cut, puncture and tear, but they don’t masticate - as obligate carnivores their teeth and jaws aren’t designed for it. As a result there isn’t much removal of crud from jaw action. As far as I can find there are no controlled studies indicating cat teeth do better on average on a dry diet. Meanwhile cats aren’t the best drinkers. Ancestrally most of their moisture content would have come from their prey. As a result under-hydration can occasionally be an issue, especially in male cats with their narrow little urethras. Blockages from crystal formation can be life-threatening and good hydration is the biggest key to preventing that problem. One [article](http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm) that goes into this in some detail. All that said my cat previous to my current two lived to 17 on a overwhelmingly dry, free-fed diet without noticeable complications ( except occasional tooth decay issues 😉 ). Like I said earlier many cats will do just fine. But there is some difference of opinion on the _best_ approach to cat nutrition. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/25 "2011-05-16T20:38:45Z")
As for drinking water, they always say to have plenty of fresh water available for cats, but they don’t mention that cats like to _find_ their water - my husband’s cat loves nothing better than a glass of water left unattended or the water out of a floral arrangement. I’ve started leaving a glass of water just for her to drink out of, and she’s always slurping away at that. Both of our cats love drinking out of the taps, too - just a small trickle, and you have to keep an eye on it so the water doesn’t run forever. This is all on top of the water dish that we have out for them. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/26 "2011-05-16T21:20:06Z")
My sister has a [fountain](http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754465) for her cat, and it’s increased her water consumption by a large amount. She used to be prone to kidney issues, but not since she got the fountain. I like the electric feeder because they can’t eat everything in sight, but I think I’d worry that there might be a power outage or something. For two days, it wouldn’t be a big deal if they missed a meal, but for long trips, I’d fill up my gravity feeders (I have two feeders for my four cats). StG ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/27 "2011-05-16T21:26:08Z")
Just wanted to say, kudos for wanting to adopt adult cats! Two days a week shouldn’t be a problem, especially if it’s a pair rather than a single cat. I’d leave the radio on for them, regardless. :3 ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/28 "2011-05-16T22:16:59Z")
> [@Waxwinged](#): > > Just wanted to say, kudos for wanting to adopt adult cats! > > Two days a week shouldn’t be a problem, especially if it’s a pair rather than a single cat. I’d leave the radio on for them, regardless. :3 Haha! Or the TV, just to be sure… 😛 > [@StGermain](#): > > My sister has a fountain for her cat, and it’s increased her water consumption by a large amount. She used to be prone to kidney issues, but not since she got the fountain. > > I like the electric feeder because they can’t eat everything in sight, but I think I’d worry that there might be a power outage or something. For two days, it wouldn’t be a big deal if they missed a meal, but for long trips, I’d fill up my gravity feeders (I have two feeders for my four cats). > > StG Yeah, I’m planning on not sparing any expense for the little guys/girls. Automation is welcomed, but not too much. Like someone mentioned above, I just don’t want to have to worry about something mechanical breaking down (unlikely, but you never know). Gravity feeders seem to be the way to go, except that they might end up a little chubby. We’ll have to keep tabs on that! ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/29 "2011-05-16T23:24:37Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > My sister has a [fountain](http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754465) for her cat, and it’s increased her water consumption by a large amount. She used to be prone to kidney issues, but not since she got the fountain. I bought a fountain but the motor was surprisingly noisy so I never use it. You might want to check the return policy before buying one of these. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/30 "2011-05-17T00:20:23Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > Gravity feeders seem to be the way to go, except that they might end up a little chubby. We’ll have to keep tabs on that! A high quality dry food _should_ help keep this in check. The more real meat and less filler there is in the food the less likely the cats will be to over eat, at least that is what I am told. I have no proof, just the word of a couple dozen cat people. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/31 "2011-05-17T00:33:40Z")
Having two cats is so much more rewarding than having one. I think you’re making the right decision. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/32 "2011-05-17T00:49:05Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > Yeah, my fiance had mentioned this to me, and it’s a good idea (she’s a vet tech). Unfortunately, she also said that it’s not _terribly_ likely that they will have adult cats from the same litter, but there’s always a possibility. Maybe not littermates, but you can probably find cats that have already been living together for some time. There seem to be a lot available from people who are losing their house and moving into a building that does not allow pets, so they are trying to find a home for a pair of cats. Those are probably adjusted to each other already, just as if they were littermates. And they are also harder to place, so you will be helping them even more. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082/33 "2011-05-17T11:20:06Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Maybe not littermates, but you can probably find cats that have already been living together for some time. There seem to be a lot available from people who are losing their house and moving into a building that does not allow pets, so they are trying to find a home for a pair of cats. Those are probably adjusted to each other already, just as if they were littermates. > > And they are also harder to place, so you will be helping them even more. Yeah, I was thinking that as well. I’m going with her to the shelter in a few weeks so we’ll check it out 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-adopt-2-cats-advice/582082.md?page=1)