Which is really better for cats – to be the only
cat in the house, or to have another cat as a
companion I’ve noticed that pet owners say
always have two cats, but vets/professionals say one
cat is perfectly ok. Thanks!

Lynne
NY

One cat is perfectly OK. Two cats are perfectly OK, too.

In general, cats are solitary animals. This means that most cats do just fine as the only pet in the house.

However, there are exceptions to the solitude rule. For instance, feral cats often group together in colonies. Also, mother cats nurture their young, and litter mates are are together 24/7 when they are kittens. This means that most cats also can adapt to living with other cats.

The bottom line is that cats are adaptable. Although cats may have personal preferences (some prefer to be the only cat, some prefer feline company, some don’t care), almost every cat can adjust to company or solitude.

My recommendation is that you have the number of cats that YOU want to have. Within reason, of course.