Bonded pair

A bonded pair is two cats that live together happily and show strong attachment. Signs include sleeping in contact, grooming one another, playing together, eating side by side and looking for each other when apart. Bonds often form between littermates but can also form between unrelated cats that have lived together for a while.

Shelters and rescues often ask that bonded pairs go to the same home, because separating them can cause stress, hiding, loss of appetite or behaviour changes. Pairs are sometimes slower to be adopted, since adopters usually think of one cat, so they may be offered at a reduced adoption fee.

Adopting two cats has benefits. They keep each other company when you are out, share play and often adapt more easily to a new home. They also need two of everything that matters: litter boxes, beds, food spots and scratching surfaces, as covered under multi-cat household. Expect twice the food and vet costs. When you bring a pair home, keep them together in one quiet room at first, and let them explore slowly. If one cat becomes ill, the other may be affected too, so ask your vet about checks for both.