When people consider getting a cat, they usually think of just getting one. While some cats prefer a single life, there will be times when two cats are better than one.
This was the case for a “scared feral cat” called Mittens, who was a stray street cat before being rescued last year.
“Four months ago, we got our scared feral cat an emotional support kitten,” reads the text on the TikTok clip, as a grey and white kitten shimmies up to a larger black and white cat. While initially unsure of the young cat, the kitten, called Buttons, then makes himself at home. In follow-up videos, they show the pair are now firm friends, and Mittens has become a much happier cat.
“Cats are family-oriented and usually live with their relatives. Cats will sleep together, share common feeding areas, and groom one another within family groups. For this reason, cats often do well adopted in pairs,” according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
The hospital group points out that most adult cats are not very tolerant of other adult cats outside of their family group. “When adopting an adult cat, it may be best to add only one cat to the family,” the vet website states.
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Either way, it’s best to judge whether your cat needs a companion on a case-by-case basis.
Our domesticated cats have evolved from the solitary species the African wildcat, according to the U.K.-based charity Cats Protection. “So [they] are actually more suited to being the only cat in their home—they’re not keen on sharing! Some cats do get along with each other but they will be a bonded pair and show certain behaviors, such as grooming each other, sleeping curled up together, and play-fighting. This allows them to transfer their scent onto each other so they can identify the other cat as ‘safe.'”
“I love when cat people love cats so much they get even more cats FOR their cats lol. More cats is always the answer,” said one user on TikTok. “Very cute, that was smart of you to get your cat a kitten, they need companionship as well,” wrote another.
Newsweek has reached out to @rescuecatmittens via TikTok for comment.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.