Bonded Kitties=Double the Love

What Does “Bonded” Mean?  Written by: Feline Good Social Club Volunteer: Siobhan Armstrong

When you visit the Lounge, you may have seen that a few of our cats are listed as “bonded” in their bios. If you’ve never heard the term, it might be confusing.

While most people think of cats as solitary creatures, they are known to be social creatures. Feral cats may like to hunt alone, but they do form colonies and live together in groups. Provided they have been socialized with humans and other animals at a young age, most cats are able to coexist with company. In some cases, a pair of cats will become lifelong friends.

Bonded cats spend a lot of their time together. They groom each other, play together, and are often seen napping together. They also spend time exchanging scents with headbutts, tail touches, and making contact with each other. They even call out to each other, vocalizing to let each other know where they are or if they are feeling stressed, scared, or want to hang out and play. Being bonded doesn’t mean they’re always attached to each other, but they do share a special connection much deeper than with other cats living together.

Often, kittens from the same litter can become bonded. After all, siblings have a lot in common and already spend a lot of their early lives together. It can also occur between two mature cats as well, or between a parent and offspring. In some cases, cats in shelters with totally different backgrounds have been known to become bonded pairs.

When a pair of cats are bonded, it is best not to separate them. Losing a bond mate is stressful, and can be harmful to a cat’s health. The separated cat will mourn the loss of her companion, and can become depressed and develop behavioral issues.

On the other hand, there are many benefits to adopting a bonded pair:

• You already know that your two cats get along
• Having a trusted companion will help cats adjust to a new home more quickly
• Bonded cats keep each from being lonely if you have to leave them alone for the day
• Two cats mean twice the love in your home, but not twice the work
• Bonded cats entertain each other, so they exercise more, are less likely to be overweight, and are less likely to suffer from anxiety or stress than a lone cat
• Adopting a bonded pair of cats is an excellent way to welcome new feline friends into your home. They will be happier and healthier together, while giving you peace of mind knowing they are not lonely, bored, or anxious without a companion.

Next time you visit us at Feline Good Social Club, check out which cats are bonded and watch how they interact. If you’re looking to adopt, consider taking home one of these sweet couples to bring twice the love into your life.