Conference misery::feline_v1

    Get both kitties!  They will be company for each other while you are
    at work.  And it would be a shame to separate them.
    

    
    Just my opinion, but I would never have only one cat again.  It's so
    much more fun with two (or even more!), especially litter mates.  Two
    kittens aren't really much more work than one, and are twice the
    entertainment value :^}
    
    	Sandy
    

    I agree!  I love a multi-cat household!  Get both of them,
    guarantee, You'll love it.
      Nancy DC
    

    I have two littermates.  Pumpkin is EXTREMELY dependent on Ninja,
    searching the house frantically if Ninja is not in sight.  Ninja
    is not dependent like Pumpkin, though, and seems to go his own way.
    They like to cuddle in their bed together, entertain each other
    playing and romping, eat from the same dish, and have only been
    separated once when Pumpkin was spayed.
    
    So in some ways its easier than having one kitty.  They won't
    demand as much attention as one cat.  Just about everything else
    is the same as having one cat, except two won't be lonely (especially
    if you go away for a weekend and leave kitty to watch the house!).
    
    Wouldn't you rather have a companion than be alone???

    
                      another vote for take both 
    
    From one who knows, I would never have just one cat again, double
    your pleasure double your fun, half your problems.
    
    Our cats love us dearly and play with each other and don't punish
    us when we get home at night.
    
    Tati (sp?) will pine if you don't take them both, it will affect
    her mental and physical health.  She'll be happier with her friend
    and so will you !!
    
    Good luck,
    
    Feline fine,
    
    Sue and Panther and Spot and Jerry (Pop Cat)
    

    Take Tati's friend too.
    
    How would you feel if someone separtated you from your best friend
    since birth?
    
    Actually, you should really take 4 or 5 of Tati's friends.  Don't
    want her to be lonely.

I can see the point about having a companion so that Tati won't get lonely
when we are at work during the day.  However, will two kittens be more
destructive around the house, particularly while we are away?  Do they
tend to play with each other rather than wreaking havoc?  If they have each
other to play with will they ignore us?

Both kittens will need to have all the shots.  Do you know of any vets who
have "group rates"??

The reason I have all these concerns is that I have been waiting and preparing
for Tati for over 6 months, and I was not expecting to share my attention with
two cats.  Perhaps, in the back of my mind, I was thinking of Tati as my
little baby to be spoiled.


   ---Cida 

    You'll spoil them both, believe me!
    
    We currently have five, as I've said.  It can get a bit expensive
    when you have that many (I don't know how E.T. manages). but the
    advantages are well worth the inconveniences.
      For example, one thing I've noticed is that the new cats tend
    to model themselves after the established ones.  The seem to learn
    pretty quickly what's ok to scratch and what isn't, when dinner
    is, what the leashes are for etc.  It works the other way too, of
    course, but a little discipline goes a long way!
      One thing that's especially nice about having multiple cats around
    is that there's always someone who wants some lovin's.  So if Isis
    is into being independant right now, Dundee would love to be cuddled.
      As far as how much trouble they'll get into....well, that could
    go either way.  You won't get a cat being deliberately destructive
    because its lonely and angry at being left alone.  You might get cats 
    who get a bit carried away when they're playing.  SO you just confine 
    them to one "cat proof" room when you're out.
      If you intend to have indoor cats (and I hope you will) then having
    more than one is especially good because they'll get lots of exer-
    cise playing with each other.  Good for their health.  And its
    good for their mental health too.
      As far as vets go - well, my vet charges me for one office visit
    when I bring the three older cats in for their shots - instead of
    three office visits.  And the cost for the initial 3 FLV shots was
    $99 for one cat and $219 for three...so there's a deal there too.
    He's not that inexpensive tho in comparison to others- he's in 
    Dorchester and I'm sure that he has higher overhead.  Perhaps
    someone who lives in your area can recommend someone.  I wouldn't
    pick a vet anyway, unless I had the recommendation of someone I
    trust. 
      You'll be amazed at the different personalities the two cats have!
    I'm still amazed that no two cats I've ever met have the same types
    of vocalizations!  They all talk differently.

      Am I hooked on cats??? YOU BET!
      I really hope you'll get both.
       Nancy DC

    Funny you should mention them training each other, Nancy.
    Right now at my zoo (house) with the 2 new babies - it's
    like kittey-see-kitty do!  Charlie started to use the couch
    to "stretch on" - now he will walk across the room and use
    one of the two condos - he watches the others and follows
    their lead!  
    
    Now on the other hand, there's Lil !!   When Lil eats, she
    scoops up a piece of dry food in her paw and puts it in her
    mouth.  unique, yes.  Why, I don't know.  oh well.
    
    Last night, Vicktoria was on the counter having a drink of
    water (I thought) - something caught my eye - I moved a little
    closer - Vikki was using her paw, scooping water up in her paw
    and drinking from her paw.  I thought I was seeing things but
    I wasn't - I have never seen her do that before the arrival
    of Miss Tiger Lily - who's teaching who, here???
    
    Last night just before I was going to get out of the tub,
    Miss Lil decided to hop right on in with me, purring her
    little heart out!  She walked all around and on me in
    the remaining water (tub was draining - only about 3 inches left)
    she thought that was great fun!  Feet and tail were a little wet,
    but where there is water there is Lil !  I think she's part fish.
    She must have spent most of my sleeping hours giving me a new
    hairdo - I looked in the mirror and really scared my self!
    Then I tried to brush my hair (it's a little long) and it took
    about 15 minutes to detangle it - I think Lil had rearranged every
    strand on my head during the night.  Think of what I will save
    in hairdressing costs!  If anyone needs a new do, let me know and
    I talk with Lil - her prices are very reasonable!!
    
    E.T.

Cida,

	 I was  also  looking  fo  1 kitten a few years ago.  I ended up
     with  two.   I  just  couldn't decide who I liked better, the brave
     explorer  (Josh)  or  the  little  chicken-heart (Becky) who when I
     picked  her  up  fastened  herself to my shirt and wouldn't let go.
     Josh,  although  he was the tiniest in the litter, was the first to
     do  everything.  Becky was the largest, and the last at everything.
     I wanted to protect Becky, but I loved Josh's attitude.

	 I couldn't  make  up  my mind.  I took both.  I'm really glad I
     did.  Their personalities are still pretty much the same, but Becky
     is  'Mommy's  little  girl'  and  Josh  is 'Mr.  Social Organizer'.
     Becky is the one that comes to sit on my lap.

	 It's a  blast  to  watch them play together.  I think they have
     stayed 'kittens' longer because they have someone to play with.

	 Yeah, it's  a  bit  more expensive at the vets, but the hardest
     part  is  in  the  beginning when they are getting all their kitten
     shots and getting spayed/neutered.  The only other times my kitties
     have  been  to  the  vets  is for their regular shots, once a year.
     (They're indoor kitties).

	 I also  think it's easier to introduce new kitties to cats that
     have had other feline companionship.  That is, if you get 2 kitties
     now,  and  want  to  add another in a year, it would be easier than
     bringing  home  a  new  kitty  to  a  kitty who is used to being by
     theirself.

	 As far  as  'double  the  damage'  goes,  I  think I had pretty
     average  kitties.  They got into all sorts of trouble.  But I don't
     think  it was any worse for there being 2 of them.  Sometimes, when
     one  was  getting  tinto  trouble, the other would divert the first
     into  a  game  of  tag  or something, thereby saving my plants from
     complete  destruction.   You'll  still  have  to  kitten-proof your
     house.   Even  after you think it's kitten-proofed.  But watching 2
     play is so much more fun than watching 1.

	 I've rambled enough here.  If you want to chat more, contact me
     thru mail.
    
re: .11 (by ET)
>    Now on the other hand, there's Lil !!   When Lil eats, she
>    scoops up a piece of dry food in her paw and puts it in her
>    mouth.  unique, yes.  Why, I don't know.  oh well.

	 Becky always  does  this, except she leans over the water bowl.
     Quite  often  a piece will fall in and then she has to fish it out.
     Joshie  can't  be bothered with eating this way - it takes too much
     time.   He  prefers  inhalation.   It's  much faster.  (Becky has 5
     'fingers'  to  hold  her  food, too.  Her dew claw is down with the
     other four.  Kinda makes it look like eating with a catcher's mitt.

    Two is better, in fact, more than one is better!  I got Niniane
    as an "only cat".  After three months, we added Charm, who turned
    out to be the best thing for Niniane.  They played together, slept
    together and groomed each other and generally were inseparable.
    They didn't tend to be more distructive, but Charm was 7 years
    old when we got her.  Now, with four, there's never a dull moment!!!
    And yes, someone *always* wants attention or cuddles. Sometimes
    I don't have enough hands/laps for my lonely little furfaces!
    
    Two isn't more expensive really, just the yearly shots.  It's
    when you start squaring numbers that the dollar signs start
    adding up!
    
    Mary-Michael, Niniane, Charm, Dream, and Boogie

    re: 12

    re:12
    
    Cute!!!  When I first got Lil, she used to stand on the edge
    of the bowl and drink - she stopped doing that for some reason!
    
    E.T._2's_company_18's_a_CROWD !

    Re .15
    
    ET, please explain how Lil stood on the edge of the bowl to drink.
    
    For some reason, I can't understand how she could drink if she was
    standing on it.
    
    	-Nancy

    Maybe I can explain this, since E.T. got Lil from me!!!  Anyway,
    Lil, and her mother did the same thing.  I use the heavy crock style
    bowls that are maybe 6 - 8 " across.  Lil will actually stand on
    the edge of the bowl and then crouch her face into the bowl to drink.
    Why she does/did it, I have no idea....musta learned it from her
    mom, since mom does it too.  
    
    E.T., know what's funny, Little Fi, Lil's mom, started eatting canned
    food again, the day after Lil left.  Boy, these "kids" are so strange
    sometimes.
    
    cin...who misses Lil, but loves hearing all the stories of her
    adventures.

    re: 17
    
    REALLY!  Wow, that is strange - what kind is she eating???  Was
    it the OMH - maybe there is hope for Lil - I'd like her to
    just for variety's sake if nothing else - she sure drinks plenty
    water so that's sure not a problem!  
    
    What is so very amazing is what this baby girl has accomplished
    May 6th !!  This monkey face has mastered things in 13 days that
    some of my other kids have taken years to figure out - in one
    week she had every nook and cranny of the house figured out.
    Knew where every hiddy spot was, knew where each toy was - it
    was like she was born here - she had to a little homework regarding
    countertops, table tops (especially during dinner - she likes that
    time of day!!) refrigerators - she likes those also.  If I want
    Lil to come and am too lazy to call her, all I have to do is
    turn on a faucet (any one in the house in any room) - she will be
    there in less than 20 seconds looking miffed because I didn't call
    her before I turned on the water.  She has claimed ownership
    to every water bowl in the house (3 of them - 2 upstairs and one
    down )  Heaven help me if I move one to refresh the water without
    asking her permission first!!  She is really great - a real piece
    of work - and just think folks, I'm going to reproduce this
    personality - I think that her babies will entertain lots of
    people!!    She is a real hoot!
    
    E.T., a very very lucky E.T.

    As long as we're on the subject of Cin's "grandkits," Bailey, my
    neighbor's cream tabby exotic, was very upset went "Aunt Roberta"
    came to his house yesterday and forgot to say hello to him.  He
    proceeded to stand on his hind legs with his front ones on mine
    and meow and meow until I acknowledged his presence.  He is so lifelike
    and human at times it is unbelievable.  Usually, I walk in the door
    and fuss all over him, but yesterday, I was upset and forgot to
    say hello.  Boy, did I ever feel guilty for ignoring him!
    

    Nope, E.T., it was the Purina 100....same as I always feed.  She
    ate the OMH too!!!  Can't figure it out!!!
    
    All of my "kids" seem to have similar personalities.  Must be all
    the "kitty abuse" we practice around my house!!!   It's still so
    nice to hear that these kittens provide so much happiness.  But,
    boy, I miss them.
    
    Roberta, next time you see Bailey, give him lots of kisses for me.
    Bailey was my "rex" style Exotic Shorthair.  He had such a curley
    coat when he was a baby that we called him "Rexy".   Karen has sent
    me pictures of Bailey, and he has turned into a beautiful boy.
    
    cin
    
       
    
    

    As long as we're discussing kitty behavior here I'd like to
    throw in a little story.  We've been feeding a grey tiger "half-
    a-fold) cat in our neighborhood for several months.  yesterday
    evening I was standing in the kitchen when something knocked on
    my door - I looked over to see two green eyes and one ear up, one
    ear down, peering at me through the bottom window on our storm door.
    Apparently my friend's food dish had gotten knocked over and there
    wasn't any food left for him.  (The other cats - and the birds
    - eat the food too.  When I went out with the food bag I was greet-
    ed with a loud meow.  Seems my friend was rather grateful to me
    for responding to his request for food.
      This is quite a breakthrough in relations.  At first I couldn't
    even go out the door without him taking off.  Now he's calling me
    to come feed him!
      Nancy DC

    Gosh Nancy.  That sounds like what's happening in our house.  When
    I first decided to take care of Mouth, I would have to go put the
    food dish out by the dumpster.  Now, Mouth waits on the steps for
    me to get home from work, comes inside to eat (prefers 9-Lives Veal
    and Cheese), then always goes to take a nap on the living room couch
    before he goes back outside for the night.  Last night we actually
    forgot to put him back outside, and about 2:00 AM Mouth wandered
    upstairs to sleep on the foot of the bed!  and believe me, he gets
    quite vocal when it's his dinner time!
    
    	-Nancy

    Well, we haven't let Mr. Grey-guy into the house yet, and probably
    won't since Mr. Tymothee hasn't been immunized against FLV.  GG
    has shown up once or twice while the furry-foursome is out on
    their leashes.  He looks mildly curious about them all.  I think
    he's just wondering if they're going to challenge is claim.  I never
    wait long enough to find out. I always scoop the group up and 
    put them in. Then I feed my 1/2-a-fold kitty.
      N