Littermate Syndrome in Cats: Vet-Reviewed Signs, Causes & Care

If you wish to add a brand new cat to your loved ones, you may ponder whether two kitties are higher than one. When adopting kittens, for instance, it’s typically instructed that taking dwelling a pair of child cats is good. Nonetheless, you is likely to be involved that associated cats will develop a behavioral situation generally known as littermate syndrome.

On this article, you’ll study what littermate syndrome is, together with the indicators of the situation. We’ll additionally cowl the causes of littermate syndrome, why it’s not acknowledged in cats, and different points which will look related in sibling kittens.

What Is Littermate Syndrome?

The time period littermate syndrome is used to explain problematic behaviors that typically happen in two canine who’re raised collectively from a younger age. It’s also generally known as littermate dependency, however the two animals don’t need to be associated for it to happen. Any pair of younger animals raised collectively can develop littermate syndrome.

Pets with littermate syndrome are believed to bond extra intently with one another than with the people of their lives, resulting in behavioral issues in maturity. For instance, they could develop anxiousness if separated from one another or have hassle studying independently.

Veterinary behaviorists agree that littermate syndrome doesn’t routinely happen when two younger canine are raised collectively. As an alternative, they consider that the problem and challenges of homeowners attempting to tug double responsibility when coaching and socializing the animals result in inappropriate behaviors related to littermate syndrome.

The excellent news for cat house owners is that littermate syndrome isn’t at the moment acknowledged to happen in cats. Cats are naturally extra unbiased than canine and usually don’t have issues with socializing or bonding as pairs of puppies do.

In actual fact, adopting a pair of kittens can generally make your life simpler for the reason that energetic animals can maintain themselves entertained and exercised.

What Are the Indicators of Littermate Syndrome?

Pets with littermate syndrome could show a wide range of behavioral indicators. They’re typically extraordinarily connected to one another, ignoring different people or animals when the opposite is round. This attachment may cause them to have a tough time bonding with folks and result in poor socialization and coaching challenges.

Poorly socialized animals can have issues with aggression or concern as a result of they by no means discovered the way to reply appropriately to unfamiliar conditions. Littermate syndrome also can result in separation anxiousness in grownup animals.

What Are the Causes of Littermate Syndrome?

As we talked about, consultants consider that it’s not merely the act of two pets being raised collectively that causes littermate syndrome, however particular experiences and challenges that go together with it. For instance, as a result of it’s so time-consuming to coach and socialize a pet, house owners with two puppies could attempt to work with each animals on the similar time.

Nonetheless, as a result of animals are people, the identical socialization and coaching strategies could not work for each puppies. As well as, the puppies could not get the time they should course of and develop at their very own tempo. Housetraining could be irritating as a result of the simplest strategies depend on routines and constructive reinforcement, which could be laborious to perform with two canine.

Behaviors like chewing, scratching, or play-biting are doubly irritating when attempting to redirect two animals. It’s possible you’ll miss possibilities to reward the habits you’re attempting to encourage or unintentionally reinforce these you aren’t.

To sum up, younger animals who don’t get the prospect to expertise coaching and socialization as people usually tend to develop behaviors related to littermate syndrome. Once more, these points usually happen in canine fairly than cats.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions (FAQ)

Is It Higher to Undertake Two Kittens?

As we mentioned, two kittens raised collectively are unlikely to develop the habits issues summed up as littermate syndrome like puppies do. Adopting two kittens without delay definitely has advantages. Kittens typically type a robust bond and get alongside nicely collectively, although this isn’t at all times the case.

Kittens can assist tire one another out by enjoying collectively fairly than pestering you or one other pet for consideration. Curiously, research means that house owners who undertake two kittens from a litter usually tend to maintain them long-term. Nonetheless, kittens don’t essentially have to be adopted collectively to thrive.

Adopting two kittens is an efficient possibility when you’ve got the house and cash, but it surely’s not at all times mandatory. With consideration and correct environmental enrichment, one kitten could be completely pleased at dwelling with their people.

My Cat Appears Lonely. Ought to I Get a Second Cat?

 Unrelated grownup cats don’t at all times have the simplest time bonding with one another. Earlier than getting a second cat, take into account the character of your current pet. Calm, pleasant cats could also be wonderful with a brand new pal, whereas shy cats might imagine the world is ending.

As we mentioned, cats can fill their social and emotional wants by different means, similar to human consideration or perhaps a canine pal. If you would like a second cat, you’ll have higher luck introducing a kitten into the home than one other grownup.

Plan to introduce the new cat gradually, and don’t be shocked if it takes months for the animals to get alongside. There’s additionally an opportunity that they by no means will.

Conclusion

As a result of cats typically aren’t acknowledged to get littermate syndrome, the query of whether to adopt two kittens will rely upon different components. Keep in mind, two cats require twice as a lot meals, provides, and veterinary care. Additionally they want extra time and a spotlight than a single animal. Think about your funds and downtime when deciding whether or not to undertake a couple of kitten. For the cat’s sake, don’t really feel strain to tackle extra pets than you’ll be able to afford or take care of efficiently.

Featured Picture Credit score: ANURAK PONGPATIMET, Shutterstock