Multi-pet owners, would you ever go back to just one?

[RedRooster]

Our younger cat only ever grew up in a house with the older cat, right from when we brought her home as a kitten. The older cat's first 4 years with us were by himself, and once we got her we noticed he got a little more lively and content. Now that he has passed away, I'm worried she'll get depressed or lethargic without him.

For those of you with multiple animals, do you think you'd ever go back to just a single animal? Or would you try to have at least two at any one time, so they can entertain each other while you're away at work?

 

[BoomerD]

Our pets don't "entertain each other" while we're away...Both little dogs lay on the front couch, just waiting for our return...leaving only to go out to pee/shit. The behavior is the same as when we had one dog. He also waited on the couch for our return. (actually, they wait for my wife to return...when she leaves by her self, they wait on the couch, even if I'm home) <shrug>

We had to put down one of our cats almost 2 years ago. He was 13 years old. Our other cat, who was also 13 at the time STILL wanders through the house looking for him...but we damned sure won't get another cat to "replace" the one who's gone. IMO, it just doesn't work like that.

I think you're trying to project human emotions on your surviving cat. Yes, this one may miss the one who's gone, but I doubt it'll become "depressed" if you don't get another one. In fact, you may cause problems in the house as they try to establish a "pecking order" once again.

We've decided that when our current "herd" passes, we're probably not going to get any more critters.

 

[lxskllr]

I always thought 1 cat was a good number, but after getting 2 litter mates, I find they're good company for each other, and not much harder to care for. I'll likely always have 2 cats now, but it isn't a hard rule. I may end up with only 1 in the future.

 

[Rage187]

more? We just put our one cat down and am down to 0 animals. I'm enjoying the break but the wife is pestering me for a replacement.

 

[sourceninja]

I have multiple cats. I used to love cats when I had just one. I'll never have pets again.

 

[Rage187]

I have multiple cats. I used to love cats when I had just one. I'll never have pets again.

Can you explain why?

 

[Powermoloch]

I have 2 dogs, they're happy to have each others company

 

[Codewiz]

We have three cats and two dogs.

I will never own more than 1 cat and 1 dog at a time in the future. My wife and I got two cats when we were in college. They got along great. When I moved away for a job while my wife was getting her masters, I got a cat. That ended up meaning when my wife moved here after school, we had 3 cats. The oldest cat turned into a bitch that beats the shit out of the other two cats. I would love to put that fucking cat down. I hate that cat.

So our other two cats are tortured regularly by the bitch cat. When I got back from Iraq, I wanted a dog so we got one. After about a year, we got a second dog. That was a mistake in general. The second dog is a great dog but he bonded with our other dog more so than us. They also feed of each other so much.

So once again, I would prefer one cat and one dog. I would try to put the bitch cat up for adoption but no one would want her. She doesn't really like people and is just generally mean.