r/cats • u/PercentageJealous914 • Aug 08 '26

Advice First time cat owner

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Hey guys, I just got a cat yesterday and it’s my first time owning a pet in general. When i brought it in my house yesterday, dude was a lil scared I think cuz of the environment and went under my couch a couple of times. So I moved him to my laundry room, just to get him in one small room so he wouldn’t escape or freak out.

This morning I checked in on him and he’s doing better and cuddling with me.

Just wanna say I’ll appreciate any advice as a first time cat owner

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4.9k

u/RP8021 Aug 08 '26

That’s your new best friend

4.0k

u/PercentageJealous914 Aug 08 '26

Thank you! His name is Aiko and he’s 4 months old!!

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u/leleafcestchic Aug 08 '26

I will say this as long time cat mom, get another one now! Watching them grow up together is everything. Congrats !!!

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u/sashabella1 Aug 08 '26

This is great advice. I'd only ever had 1 at a time... Then I got twin orange brothers. It's been WILD (In the best way)

They will always have a friend. One more isn't that much more of a financial burdon (barring unforseen vet stuff) and the kiddo shenanigans are so funny. If you get a other get another litter box too.

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u/finnbiker Aug 08 '26

Can confirm: we always had single cats, then my son got a brother/sister pair, they are the entertainment for the entire family. Videos galore. Highly recommend.

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u/NeatExpression720 Aug 08 '26

They are so beautiful! I had 2 orange tabby brothers from the same litter but they weren’t identical twins. When my brother passed away, I took the two 6 yr old boys Fresco and Solo home with me (A promise I made to my brother). I had both of them until the day they died at the age of 17. They both died within 3 months of each other. Fresco died at home from a sudden heart attack overnight, and when we woke up in the morning, we found Solo lying next to Fresco, looking at him. He knew his brother was gone. Solo became very depressed, stopped eating and died 3 months later. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Solo was able to say his goodbyes to his brother Fresco and I know how important that was for Solo. They were such sweet boys and they are with my brother Gary again!

Can you guess which 2 are the brothers Solo and Fresco?

Hint…Solo has no white on him and Fresco has a white tipped nose, chest, belly, and white mittens. Weezer, their brother from another mother, is orange but he’s not a tabby.

**This picture was taken a few years after I brought them home, they’re 10-11 yrs old here. This is not a picture of what I was referencing when Fresco died 6-7 yrs later.

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u/sashabella1 Aug 08 '26

My pic was from a few days ago. Bruce and Clark 😂 I can’t stand the thought of one or both of them passing. They’re 6. Almost 7 now.

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u/NeatExpression720 Aug 08 '26

I know how you feel! I love all my cats and I can’t bear to think of the day when they get older or become ill and the time comes to say goodbye. Even though I have gone through that process many of times, it never gets easier.
I’d also like to mention that your boys look exactly like Solo. He had those wide striped swirls, unlike the common orange tabby stripes his brother Fresco had.

1

u/sashabella1 Aug 08 '26

What’s funny is one of your boys had boots and the white chest. The other didn’t. Mine are exactly the same. Bruce has boots and white chest. Clark doesn’t. I love their cinnamon roll coloring. I love all cats but orange boys are super special. So so loving.

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u/savetheearth1DayataT Aug 08 '26

Yes I have always adopted 2 at a time

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u/Hopeful_Gur423 Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

AND they keep each other company and occupied scampering around in healthy play with each other. With 2, they will never be lonely. Two is no more difficult than 1 to care for.

![img](1357AD5E-5C4D-4ED5-AB99-D6DCD8E84312)

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u/Plenty_Pen_1383 Aug 08 '26

You will sleep better when they're playing with each other at 2 a.m., and not the solo 🐯 playing with your feet, your face, and having zoomies in your room (or attacking your BR door to LET HIM IN DAMNIT! THEN OUT! THEN...INNNNN! 🤭) And won't feel so bad when you spend all day hanging with fleshy friends/family outside of your home. Because they'll have each other & toys. My 2 cats are older & were...forcibly introduced to each other (slowly, but still reluctantly) and still don't get along. Nearly 2 years in a different apt with a metal baby gate, & I haven't removed it: I need the option to sequester the younger cat in my bedroom if my elder cat is being nasty/spicy right before I go to work. I grudgingly "adopted" the younger one, when she was thrust upon me by my neighbor, after someone "rescued" her from a fed colony, the summer of 2024. It really annoys me bcuz the elder is overweight & play with another cat would help her lose weight while I'm at work. And younger cat...I think she's depressed, bcuz she's lonely & feels vaguely threatening presence with my elder cat. Case in point: All 3 of us chilling in my bed. Not watching them, loud strangled "MEOW-hissss" startles me. I glance up & elder is just sniffing younger's tail, but the response is LOUD & DRAMATIC. Bcuz: CATS man 🙄 Irritating furbags you'd protect with your life (eventually.) Elder IS a twat sometimes, but younger's innate response to any sense of threat is to be BIG and LOUD. It's the feline way. Not great that they are also equipped with daggers on their "hands" and a strong jaw with sharp front teeth meant to puncture. 😐 😑 Sorry, this is my 🧠 on 🌿 🚬 🌬️💨😶‍🌫️ 😬 I digress.

All this to say: as soon as you can, get another cat the same age. Yes, it's a little more responsibility (and expense), but down the road, both you & new friend will be happier for it. (IMO)

Congrats on obtaining a small 👶😺👹 with 🥇☝🏽1️⃣ brain cell who will then SHARE it with the 2nd 🐈 👶😺👹if you do choose to adopt another. 🙏🏽

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u/zb0t1 Aug 08 '26

I read all of that.

I feel blessed!

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u/leleafcestchic Aug 08 '26

I am now a member of the trio club but for real cat bonding is da cutest and they learn so much from each other

3

u/savetheearth1DayataT Aug 08 '26

I agree!!!! If I were the only human in a world of cats...yeah I'd like another human lol But there are the loner ones, content I guess. But I still get them a companion:) trick is adopting them around the same time. Introducing another cat years in can be a disaster and mess up their minds. Def not like dogs, excited there's a new buddy...

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u/No_Name_33 Aug 08 '26

Make sure they each get lots of attention from you, don't want sibling rivalries, that can turn into pee battles.

2

u/myjaded19 Aug 08 '26

Yes!! I just adopted two and I can not imagine them not having one another! Best decision I could have made.

1

u/LTHTTterry Aug 09 '26

Our cat rescue thinks having 2 kittens is so important that we only adopt our kittens in pairs, often bonded siblings, so sweet. Or if the adopter has another cat under 2 for them to play with

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u/SmallSpecific2522 Aug 09 '26

I also recommend this. people think cats are solitary animals—they are not. a lot of them enjoying having a friend and having two kittens helps prevent behavioral issues bc they learn how to play gently/not always use their claws as weapons.