Home at Last Rescue has a two kitten rule for good reason. Single kittens living alone often have issues.
Though it’s not a recognized medical condition, “single kitten syndrome” is an anecdotal grouping of behaviors that can be detrimental to both a cat and their pet parents. In fact, it’s the main reason that many shelters and rescue organizations encourage or even require adopters to bring home kittens in pairs.
Symptoms of single kitten syndrome
Symptoms of single kitten syndrome can include:
- Aggressive behavior
- Excessive neediness towards humans
- Meowing constantly and plaintively
- Obsessively suckling on your clothing, hair, and/or other pets
- Biting you when you try to walk away
- Avoiding the litterbox and going to the bathroom on the human’s bed, couch, or shoes
- Destructive behavior like chewing wires, eating paint off surfaces that smell like humans (doorways, cabinets)
This article from adoptapet.com provides an excellent overview.
How to Cure Single Kitten Syndrome