shelton@bnrmtv.UUCP (Marilyn Shelton) (02/08/86)
I am fairly new to the net but want to respond to several questions asked recently. Are two kitties better than one? Same litter? genders? What behavior observed after death of companion? Replacement? I have had some experience in each of these areas and I hope it will help. I got two male kittens from the same litter at 5 1/2 weeks, barely weaned. They played (and occasionally fought) together beautifully. They washed each other, etc. They were as different as day and night -- one outgoing one shy, but both lovable. One was killed by a speeding car right in front of our house on a clear, sunny afternoon. The other was sleeping inside. That night the surviving cat (over a year old) was very restless and the next morning he couldn't wait to be let out. He immediately ran to all their favorite places, then climbed up to the roof of our 3-story house and looked all around. I don't know how long he stayed there as I had to get to work. (I'll leave out my reactions, but I have a knot in my middle remembering...) He has never been the same again. He does occasionally play, but not often and not as enthusiastically. I got him a "replacement" male kitten (~7 weeks old) but he has never wanted anything to do with him. (This, I hear, is not *normal*.) He is not as lovable and sleeps more. He still loves the out-of-doors and gets _very_ excited at the sound of a jar of baby-food meat popping open!! That is what is left of his personality. So, I believe cats do grieve and I guess some of them just never get over it. I will always have at least two kitties, even if they aren't super-compatable. (Btw, I lost custody of both cats in a divorce but plan to get two more as soon as I buy a house!)