single kitten syndrome

One thing we pride ourselves on at Kzoo Cat Cafe and Rescue is striving to find the best fit for every single one of the kitties who comes through our doors. Since potential adopters are able to spend time with them and get to know them in a comfortable environment, as well as our staff, fosters and volunteers getting to know them and their personalities while they are with us - we use our best judgement in assessing if a home is a good fit for a particular cafe kitty, or kitties!

As kitten season comes around, we will have lots and lots more cute cuddly kittens looking for homes... but did you know, most rescues will not adopt out single kittens on their own!?

It's because of Single Kitten Syndrome

Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.

Young kittens learn appropriate social behaviors from each other! Even if you never ever leave your house, as much social interaction as you can give your kitten, there are still social needs they require from other cats. When kittens are growing up together, they learn to play with each other and learn that biting and scratching hurts! Without an appropriate playmate, a cute kitten 'playing' with your hand or arm can become... not so cute real fast.

They also crave social interaction within their species, which is why you'll see kittens that are bonded groom each other, play together, and curl up and nap together - and most of our kittens grow up in foster homes with other kittens (related or not) and we like to see them go to their forever homes with another kitten they are already comfortable and familiar with, if not to a home where there are already buddies that want a new fun kitty friend to play with.

There are of course some exceptions (we don't need to hear the 'but I adopted a kitten by themselves and they were fine' stories...) but that's why we do our adoptions the way we do! We take EACH application for EACH kitty on a case by case basis to evaluate the fit before sending anyone into a home. If a kitten was raised by a bottle baby foster with their siblings, and 6 other bottle babies - they're not going to be adopted out by themselves. People can get upset with us and leave bad google reviews, and send judgemental emails, as always, but our policies will not change. We are in this for the best interest of our kitties, and nothing else.

If you are thinking about adopting a kitten this season, consider a pair! They'll always have a friend to play with, cuddle with and won't feel bored and alone. Plus, you're saving TWO more lives by allowing us to take in two more kittens in their place.

If you want to adopt, but aren't interested in a pair, consider some of the amazing older kitties we have at the cafe! There are lots of kitties who would LOVE to be an only child and have all their human's attention to themselves!!

As always - feel free to chat with us when you visit about who might be the right fit for your fur family!

Further Reading:

• Why Bonded Pairs Should Be Adopted Together (For Animals INC)
  
• Single Kitten Syndrome Kitten (Youngest Old Cat Lady)
  
• Kittens: Better Together! (Humane Society of West Michigan)
  
• Single Kitten Syndrome (MEOW Cat Rescue)
  
• Single Kitten Syndrome (Community Cat Coalition)
  
• Single Kitten Syndrome (Seattle Area Feline Rescue)