Are Sphynx cats better solo or in pairs?

[tmparks]

Our 1st Sphynx baby, Pandora, is 15 months old. She is spoiled rotten. I finally convinced my husband to consider getting her a friend. I HATE leaving her when we have to be gone for hours at a time. We have been approved for another baby girl that can come home in a few weeks, but now I'm the one that isn't sure. If you have more than one I would very much appreciate any stories or advice you can offer that can make our transition easier. Thanks so much, Tammy

 

[tmparks]

I just don't want to stress Pandora out. I'm worried they won't get along.

 

[Lickleone]

If you do intros right they'll be fine some take to another quick some take a bit of time as long as you listen to the signs they'll be friends quicker

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Not sure if you saw this in the Information Center http://www.lambertvetsupply.com/search.asp?keyword=feliway&gclid=CIXYzPfG0MMCFZMvgQodVX0A0A

Sphynx are very social and most do very well with a buddy. Sure there might be some hissing and batting trying to figure out the pecking order, but usually within 2 weeks everything settles and you stress less...lol.

Patti

 

[Tiffany_Kay]

It depends on the cat...

 

[admin]

Our 1st Sphynx baby, Pandora, is 15 months old. She is spoiled rotten. I finally convinced my husband to consider getting her a friend. I HATE leaving her when we have to be gone for hours at a time. We have been approved for another baby girl that can come home in a few weeks, but now I'm the one that isn't sure. If you have more than one I would very much appreciate any stories or advice you can offer that can make our transition easier. Thanks so much, Tammy

I have seen mixed results, more specifically when the other sphynx is added later as apposed to growing ups kittens together. Some say they tend to become less affectionate with the owner. Not in all cases but its something you need to be able to accept if that happens.

 

[Toa and Ross]

@tmparks : i have two sphynx cats. It's so funny to see them play and wrestling together. After the playing the fall a sleep close together (in my neck or against my tummy;-). When one is upstairs or in another room they're constantly talk with eachother untill they see eachother again.
The sphynx I have are brothers and did came together so I'm not experienced in letting them get to get used to eachother.

One sphynx cat...much to love
Two sphynx cats...even more to love!

 

[Hairless Blessing]

I have nothing to add, except, congrats you have another baby
on the way. Pandora, is a pretty little lady.
Do you have any pics of your new baby yet, from the breeder?

 

[Yoda mom]

@tmparks , Pandora is beautiful!

I have 4 sphnyx adoptee Rehomes - All came to me untimed after my first Sphynx passed away at age 2 with a history of HCM and saddle thrombosis embolism- She sent me a naked zoo to love in her honor

First two adoptees unrelated - male , female. came within two months of each
Second two twin brothers very very bonded came to me unplanned 2 months later

*** All 4 Sphynx get along great!

they all sleep on our King size bed and run and romp n play like a little herd

I took it very slow on introductions - isolating mini quarantine when first home to avoid stress and kitty colds

-I let sniff under the door with treats and dual side playing with a cat dancer toy-

I cross scent trained with a face cloth rubbed on each and put at each other's beds and food dish areas

Rotated free roaming kitty time

When introduced I had a Da bird toy in each hand for the kitty party in the neutral living room zone Playing for a few minutes at their comfort level- then back to their safe room bedrooms using the Da Bird toy-

Built up time at their comfort level

Some kitties on the lair jump right in as buddies -

I preferred to take it slow to try to avoid male marking too! * FYI - females can mark too
I have 3 males and a female Sphynx- all spayed neutered. And Never a pee marking -

**** Slow intro and two extra kitty boxes worked for us

They get along wonderfully it depends too on the cat

I asked their previous owners a personality assessment of each to check the fit

I would say go for it

***Ask the breeder about a personality fit for Pandora and perhaps
If the breeder is local, get a hand towel to cross scent if you get to visit before bringing kitty home

I would assess Pandoras personality and ask breeders advice from her litters personalities

It really does depend on the kitty personalities but IMHO, I see my sphnyx Love have coherts in crime!
Just plan on double everything double mischief too

Best wishes whatever you decided is best

 

[Condo commando]

I first got a 1 year old retired breeder and about 6 months later I got a 3 year old rehome. Both girls. I kept them in separate rooms when I went to work and did different things just like Yoda mom said when I came home in the evenings. I only had to do that for 1 week and I could see they were fine together.

I think personality does help. My 2nd girl turned out to be an alpha cat, but my first one is a happy-go-lucky cat that likes everybody and just wants to play. I would imagine 2 alphas would be a bit more work.

The only time there's any hissing is when the alpha wants to get under a blanket and the other cat is aleady there. It happens because the blanket gets crumpled up. I walk over and pull it over both cats and they immediately calm down and curl up together. So you see, they have no problem with each other and it's just that they both want to be under the blanket. What I think is important when we bring another cat home is provide equal access, whether it's the blanket, food, the litter box, etc. Arrange whatever it is so they don't have to compete over it.

I will also say that kiittens are very adaptable, and with your older cat being very young still I don't think you will have a problem. It would be different if you had a 10 year old cat that was used to living alone and all of a sudden this kitten appeared but that's not what's happening at all. More likely is that they like having a playmate.

I did have a par of sisters before and litter mates are different....I would say they are true bff's. They shared everything as if instinctively and never competed over anything.

Cats are amazing. Two cats are twice as amazing

 

[Emily0404]

I have just added number 5 - we are almost a week in. Sphynx are addictive they are even more to love the more you have. I guess a bit like human children. They have sibling squabbles but mainly they just love each other. I now have 2 males and 3 girlies .

 

[Sam lewis]

I have 2 cats, one sphynx one is not a sphynx, I got the 2nd cat for company for Mo while I am out and working, they had a couple of scraps at first then where cuddled up before I new it. I got the 2nd cat when Mo was only 7 months old though and she was just 3 months. They have grown up together and are inseparable.

 

[NinaGato]

We added my adult in with a bonded trio of adults last year and they are getting on really well.
My two cents. ...
Your girl is very young still and most likely accept a new family member quite well and fast. I really enjoyed when I had just a pair. Loki and Danser were each others best friend. And they both met as adults. It really only took a month or so for them to become friendly and I know it goes faster with kittens.

 

[tmparks]

Thank you all so much for the input and advice! We decided to go for it. She will be old enough to come home in April! This is her. Not a great pic, but we think she's a cutie!

 

[Crinkuls]

I had my first sphynx Crinkuls over 16 years ago as an only cat as I wasn't working . They were so rare here in UK I probaby would never have been able to get 2 anyway. I now work part-time so would be out of the house for 8 hours a day so decided to get 2 at the same time from the same breeder. Crinkuls died of a cancerous tumour 4 years ago now. As these half cousins had lived together at the breeders house they were perfect. One was just 16 months and the other 4 months when I got them. They just LOVE each other.
I therefore have no experience in introducing "strangers"

 

[Yoda mom]

@tmparks , ah! So excited for you! What a beautiful baby girl! She is striking! Loooove her nose!
Keep us updated!
Name?

 

[tmparks]

We're thinking Hope because we have an Iguana named Zeus, then Pandora, and the last thing left in Pandora's jar was Hope.

 

[MelissaAlice]

Love the name.

I've been stressing about this too; it took me forever to convince my boyfriend that getting a second sphynx was a good idea and now it's me that's having a mini panic attack!

All of the advise here is amazing and it makes me feel more prepared to bring little Toothless home ( in 12 more sleeps).

Good luck to you!

 

[Alouette]

Good luck with the new kitten, she's adorable!
I feel badly for not being able to give Elise a playmate sometimes... I know sphynx are social (and boy is Elise ever a people-lover), and I hate to think of her being lonely when I'm at work, especially since she's a clingy (read: spoiled) little stinker, but she was originally surrendered in part because she was constantly nervous/anxious and displaying a lot of unhealthy behaviors in her original (multi-sphynx) home, and then sent back to the shelter because she was fostered out to a multi-sphynx home and it was even worse there
I was able to adopt her in part because she would be living in a single-cat home, which the shelter felt was very important for her health + happiness, given how bad she gets around other cats
I wish I were able to give her a playmate, though! I can't imagine her as anything less than my cuddly lovebug, especially since she is SO loving and affectionate with me!!!

 

[Momrat329]

Being owned by one Sphynx is a blessing, but two are a circus! They keep each other entertained for sure.
I got both of mine at the same time and they are litter mates.

If she already has an issue with being with other cats, though, I would think very hard about getting her a playmate that she may not want. I am sure she's fine and most likely sleeps all day!

 

[Ollie]

I like having 2. Not sure some days if my first sphynx thinks the same....he is such an alpha male that he can be a little mean some days. If Gracie is in a blanket he will dive bomb her. He plays rough. No marks but enough that she cries out and/or hisses. He is always biting her neck. He wakes her up every morning when he awakes ( just because) and he has to be the first in the bed at night or he has a snit. She is so accepting, so easy going. She finds her own places to be when she gets turfed out of a blanket. She likes to hide on the tv box where he can't get her but he is plotting a way as we speak. She has a bed that he won't go in with a heating pad. She's happy, I think, and secretly I think it keeps Ollie less mischievous and bored having to continuously plot ways to bug his friend. thankfully she came to us fairly well adjusted and easy going. Life always changes for her as to what bowl he feels like eating from, where HE wants to sleep etc. but she takes it in stride. She even lets him play first. I think you will enjoy 2. Hope everything works well. Remember to add another litter box and a few morning sleeping spots, a new toy helped our guy

 

[Lisamarie]

Hi I'm a new member and saw how many sphynx cats you have. We had (2) 5 yr old sibling males and one just died three weeks ago from saddle thrombosis. It was so sudden and so devastating. My little guy that's left is lonely so we just went this weekend to look at some sphynx kittens. I wanted your opinion on something....I want just another male but my husband would like to get another male and female. I've never had a female and he is worried about bringing in a new baby and how they will be stressed from being taken from siblings and mom so that's why he feels we should get two. I on the other hand feel like it will be 2 against my single boy. I don't know at what ages you got yours but would like your input if possible. I would really appreciate it.

 

[lealea]

Hi there. I only have one sphynx, a new kitten, but have two 8 year old hairies and a 6 month old Bengal. Introducing the Bengal to the hairies was a challenge at first, with lots of hissing, but we did it slowly, keeping the Bengal in the bedroom when we were out and supervising dinner etc, gradually bringing the bowls closer and closer, it was quite a painless experience and the Bengal is now tolerated well, even though she remains submissive.
We thought when the baby sphynx came home, that the young Bengal would be the easiest transition, but boy we were wrong! The Bengal turned into psycho wild kitty, spitting, lashing out and hissing and generally going nuts. However, we made a point to keep them apart unless there was direct supervision and in the mornings when I came home from work I made a point of playing a game of fetch with her until she was half asleep from playing so hard. It made her feel more important and less jealous of the little sphynx.
It only took 3 days before the Bengal was gently pinning down our new baby and licking her silly! It's early days, but we are being careful and never letting them have alone time without our watchful eyes. Taking it slowly is key, not forcing a new kitten on to your current cats and respecting their space, ie not letting the new kitten get in their sleeping spots etc.
I know this isn't two sphynx introducing, but it still shows that even when you have an apparent wild cat take over your existing felines, things can mellow out very quickly and easily. Respecting and trying to put yourself in their paws- they see a new kitten as an invader, like we would a burglar and fret and panic with that fight or flight adrenaline rush just like we would. Helping them not fear the new addition by engaging in play, providing plenty of getaway space and enough cat litter trays for each cat to feel safe and private really does help.
I'm sure your new baby will be fine. Congratulations on your new addition!

 

[tmparks]

Things are going pretty rough right now I'm afraid. I posted a new thread because I don't know what to do. I love them both, but obviously I'm devastated that my first baby feels so threatened.

 

[lealea]

Try not to get disheartened, they do adjust eventually. As I said above, my Bengal had a psycho wild kitty reaction and was literally untouchable, even to us and she lashed out trying to scratch and bite, totally unlike her. It only took a few days for a complete change of heart for Poppy who now seems to adore her new baby Rosie, licking and covering over her body with her own. We were even thinking we might have to return the Bengal temporarily until Rosie the sphynx has grown a bit! Thankfully, things have turned around completely, so please, stay positive and give it time. Fingers crossed for you!