What is single kitten syndrome, and why do we need to understand it as pet owners? When we adopt a new kitten, our initial thoughts are how easy it will be to manage. However, a lot goes into preparations and adapting to the responsibility.
The fear of commitment and adaptation to changes often prompts us to adopt a single pet at a time. But many fail to realize that just like human beings, animals need socialization and interaction with other members of their species. Pretty interesting, right?
Without proper socialization, kittens miss out on critical life lessons from being paired with another cat, such as developing bonds outside the realm of humans, cognitive enrichment, and proper rearing. This can be alleviated if you learn the warning signs and take preventative measures. Here are five things you should know about single kitten syndrome.
Early Warning Signs
While raising a kitten alone may seem harmless, it can lead to an animal acting disproportionately to its surroundings and behavioral issues. Yet, this may not become immediately evident until after the kitten has grown. The warning signs of onset single kitten syndrome include but are not limited to idle boredom that leads to the destruction of surroundings, excessive clinginess to their owners, aggression, begging, and depression.
Therefore, if you own a single cat, familiarize yourself with these behaviors. These behaviors are exactly why animal shelters and rescues require sibling pairs to be adopted together. Not only does this help them become correctly socialized, but it prevents destructive behaviors because a pair will entertain each other.
Cats, in general, initially paired with an “adopted” sibling, become very clingy and constantly beg for someone to pay attention to them. As funny as it sounds, it is almost like they become an extra child for you to take care of.
What Else Can You Do?
So, what else can you do to ensure your cat does not exhibit concerning behaviors? Experts say to prevent your pet from acting out, you should provide enriching activities. For example, purchase things that will purposely pique your cat’s interest, like a cat wheel. The large size of the wheel will certainly alert them to check it out, and the fact that it spins is even more enticing.
Curiosity is in their nature, so there’s no doubt they’ll inquire about why and how it turns. They may even want to hop on and take it for a spin. No pun intended. Also, consider getting them on a routine and maintaining consistency, which is vital here.
Provide other activities where you, as their owner, interact with them to make up for the lack of company otherwise provided by another pet. Activities can include anything from a feather wand to something as simple as watching TV with your furry friends while they are beside you. Whatever the case may be, do not let them build up aggression.
Studies have shown that singularly adopted kittens are more prone to aggressive behaviors like biting and scratching. If you are a singular kitten owner, pay attention to these five signs like excessive vocalization, seclusion, unexplained bursts of energy, chewing, and nervousness.
Conclusion
Understanding how to make your singular kitten feel comfortable can seem difficult, but it can be done. Being a pet owner is a lot of work and requires the utmost patience. Taking the proper steps is also key, but it may be best to adopt a pair of kittens next time. Single kitten rearing may be appropriate for some, but it is not for all. So, the next time you think of adopting, consider adopting more than one.
You will be giving not only one kitten a home but another who could certainly benefit from a nurturing environment. It may be scary to navigate at first, but as they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Think of it this way you will gain more time for yourself and less time babysitting.
Also, try to remember that cats are often easier to handle than other pets. So definitely don’t be deterred if you want to adopt more than one at a time. View it as adding to the fun and excitement of being a pet owner while trying to be optimistic. Not that it isn’t exciting enough already, but as with anything, there is always skepticism. Don’t knock it until you try it.
For More Great Content
Total Apex is an all-encompassing content provider. We provide detailed daily articles on entertainment, gaming, sports, and more! Check out all our excellent sports content and Total Apex Sports. Check us out on X @TotalApexEandG and our other sites: Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Gaming, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
