The International Ragdoll Cat Guide and Forum
How crazy with 2 kittens? - Printable Version

+- The International Ragdoll Cat Guide and Forum (https://ragdollcatguide.ca)
+-- Forum: Ragdoll Cat Forums (https://ragdollcatguide.ca/forumdisplay.php?fid=8)
+--- Forum: Ragdoll Cat Discussion (https://ragdollcatguide.ca/forumdisplay.php?fid=11)
+--- Thread: How crazy with 2 kittens? (/showthread.php?tid=494)

Pages: 1 2 3

How crazy with 2 kittens? - Avasmom - 10-27-2020

Ava is just about 4 months.  Today, she came downstairs twice on her own so certainly becoming a little less timid.  I'm contemplating a 2nd kitten and wondering just how crazy this might be.  The breeder has said she will have the color/pattern I'm looking for (Blue bicolor) coming up in January/February.  I have to clarify if that means they are ready to go home then or being born, but I suspect they will be ready for new homes then.

I know many of you have more than one and just wondering how crazy it might get with a 2nd kitten so close.  When I had my 3 cats before, one was a young adult who had one kitten within a month that I kept - so one adult, one kitten.  It was a couple of years before I brought in the feral kitten so at that time 2 adults, 1 kitten.  Now, I'd be looking at 2 kittens, maybe about 8 months apart or so.

I'm also considering a male this time (assuming one is available).  Any opinions as to having a male/female combo vs. 2 females?  I know dogs are different, but I had 2 females and there was a bit of jealousy going on from time to time between them.  Nothing too serious, just little squabbles now and then when seeking attention.  But I didn't really notice this so much with my cats back then and they were all females.  

So thanks for any opinions - 2 kittens too crazy?  Male/female vs female/female?

RE: How crazy with 2 kittens? - admin - 10-27-2020

Well I can tell you with certainty that you will be met with support for two here on the forum. Two are always better than one in my opinion. They have each other for companionship and comfort when you're away and that gives you peace of mind. They will likely form a friendship and entertain each other as well as you and your family. Kittens are such fun and my Ragdoll has remained very playful even at 10 years old.
From my personal experience it depends largely on the individual cat so you have to be prepared to get a second one if your first cat needs the company. I just lost one of my two boys that I had together from kittenhood and my surviving cat is missing his buddy. Some cats are perfectly happy with being an only cat and I'd say especially in a house full of people or even a one or two people house where there tends to be someone around a lot. Ragdolls are very social so I'd think that more often than not they enjoy the company of another cat.
I've always preferred male pets because I find them more loving and I bond better with them. I think that's just a matter of personal preference as my mother has generally gravitated to female cats. She told me recently that she likes that they're more independent.
Hope that's helpful!

RE: How crazy with 2 kittens? - MUM_of_FLUFFY - 10-27-2020

I'm so glad Ava came downstairs twice on her own today!!! I only have one cat because I live in a small cottage and there are the financial considerations if unexpected vet bills should occur. But I would Heart LOVE Heart to have two...or three!!!

I'm only guessing, but I think the closer they are in age the better. They will be at similar life stages and have similar needs in terms of playtime and sleeping time. And - they could have adventures together!!! Big Grin

RE: How crazy with 2 kittens? - HelenMac - 10-27-2020

Two kittens is so much fun as they play together and keep each other company when you go out.  I got Shadow 17th January 12 weeks old then in April my "Tigga passed away and he was so lonely that I contacted the breeder and April 17 Zimba arrived in our home.  Hour after arrival this is what I see. 
[Image: 50539170136_f769a79175_w.jpg] so much for keeping them separate Shadow had jumped into Zimba's pen and hoped in his bed with him. There's 4 months between them.  Friends for life.

RE: How crazy with 2 kittens? - MUM_of_FLUFFY - 10-28-2020

(10-27-2020, 10:05 PM)HelenMac Wrote: Two kittens is so much fun as they play together and keep each other company when you go out.  I got Shadow 17th January 12 weeks old then in April my "Tigga passed away and he was so lonely that I contacted the breeder and April 17 Zimba arrived in our home.  Hour after arrival this is what I see. 
[Image: 50539170136_f769a79175_w.jpg] so much for keeping them separate Shadow had jumped into Zimba's pen and hoped in his bed with him. There's 4 months between them.  Friends for life.

That is the cutest photo of Shadow & Zimba I've seen Heart they are both absolutely adorable Heart

RE: How crazy with 2 kittens? - JanH - 10-28-2020

Beyond size (with exceptions even there), there is as much variability within a sex as between the sexes. That being said, I would get a male if I did not already have one.

RE: How crazy with 2 kittens? - Codysmom - 10-28-2020

I think it's a wonderful idea to get another kitten. Based on my personal experience, Ragdolls love company and mine just hate being left alone.

When I got my first Ragdoll Cody, I already had two rescue females and they accepted him into the family pretty quickly and my one girl, Mittens in particular was the motherly type and took him under her wing, so they all 3 got on together and he had company if I wasn't at home.

Then I decided to get another male Ragdoll kitten in 2014 and Fozzy came home in the June and a month later I got his littermate sister, Katy.
They seemed to remember each other and were totally bonded, and it was such fun having two kittens, I wish I could do the same this time around but I can't.

This was Fozzy and Katy not long after Katy came home...both bluepoint bicolour.
[Image: 44548272531_a458dbe14b.jpg]

[Image: 33677451488_4bbe2188da.jpg]

They remained very bonded till I unfortunately lost Fozzy to FIP last November at 5,5 years old.
[Image: 30678154688_cc12a4967d.jpg]

As to personalities and choosing between a male/female...
Here I can only share my personal experiences. Whether male or female I've found ALL my cats to be very affectionate and loving. They've all wanted my attention and even today, Cody and Katy vie for my attention. I couldn't tell you who is more affectionate, they both are in their own different ways. Cody will scream at you if you don't pet him and will come purring like an engine making biscuits and giving you headbutts.
Katy will throw herself at your feet and roll over purring and making biscuits in the air or come up and rub herself on you.
So both, very affectionate and extremely loving.

If there are differences, then the females seem to be more playful, males lazier.
Fozzy was a real mommy's boy and would follow me almost everywhere and sleep on my pillow at night. Katy prefers my legs.
And then there's the size.

Fosco aka Fozzy at you see was bigger than Katy, to give you a clue, Katy is a decent size for a female, she weighs about 14lbs, her brother was around 21lbs.

[Image: 42503445522_da8ff94733.jpg]

Wishing you all the best with your little girl, she seems to be making good progress, and if you do choose to get another kitten please keep us updated. I think you won't be sorry. Wink Smile

RE: How crazy with 2 kittens? - Avasmom - 10-28-2020

Thanks for all of your opinions and experience. My cats in the past just happened to be females - no choice as they were needy rescues I took in. My dogs, however, were female by choice as I found them to be a little feistier than males, a trait I wanted at the time. And one was even a terrier - Silky Terrier - so lots of personality there.

But since I'm a little less feisty these days myself, I think I may try to adopt a male to maybe offset any feistiness that may develop in Ava. Although right now she is such a love bug. My only concern had been the potential larger size of a male and being able to transport him to the vet as needed. I guess I could get help with this, and I just found out that my vet does make house calls if needed!!

Codysmom: Ava does the same thing as Katy, throwing herself down and rolling over, meowing, to get some petting.
JanH: This is kind of how I was thinking - I have a female so I should try a male. Also why I'm looking to get a blue bicolor as Ava is the seal bicolor - just to mix it up. I do think Ava is beautiful, however, so would not be disappointed with another seal.

Thanks, everyone

RE: How crazy with 2 kittens? - Codysmom - 10-28-2020

I forgot to include Cody, although a male he is smaller than what Fozzy was, he's only a little taller than Katy but rather thin and weighs around 12lbs. So not all males are really big boys. He came from a different breeder to the one I got my other Ragdolls from. What Cody lacks in size he makes up for in having a huge personality. x

[Image: 50427128326_bac4e3a339_z.jpg]

RE: How crazy with 2 kittens? - Avasmom - 11-05-2020

I've done it! I've put a deposit on another kitten. As of Oct 31, a litter was not yet born but due any day and expected to be ready to go to new homes late Jan or Feb. Breeder believes she will have seal bi-colors available, probably not blue as I was hoping for. But I love Ava's seal coloring so another seal bi-color is fine, although I am hoping for a male this time. So there would be about 4 months difference in age between the two.

Hopefully, Ava will get along very quickly with a new addition as I'm not sure how I would separate the two for very long. My master bedroom/bathroom is a perfect safe haven, but that's Ava's place, at least at night. I do have a 2nd bedroom I can use but hope I won't have to for long. Will cross that bridge when the time comes.