The Only Cat

If we have a cat who doesn't get along with other cats, we have an Only Cat. This comes from the shelter designation: Must be only cat.

Sometimes, this works out fine. There's nothing wrong with this cat's relationship with humans.

They are an excellent choice for group housing or assisted living situations where the rules restrict a person to one pet. Seniors who want only one cat at a time can choose them with confidence. I've placed many Only Cats with people who needed such a companion because of their mobility or cognitive challenges. They weren't up to more cats; they wanted a single serving.

These cats work as well as any other kinds of cats when it comes to fixing loneliness!

The problem comes from those times when the rules change. When we are in a bigger place, or meet someone with their own cat, or we enjoy having a cat so much we want more... that's when we look at our Only Cat and wonder If Only.

We should understand that Only Cat need not be a life sentence. These cats don't know how to be social. They can learn.

I see Only Cats as a cat in need of healing. After all, every cat comes into this world as part of a group. Feral cat colonies exist because cats can get along great with each other when they have a bit of shelter and a reliable source of food. Cats love to have friends!

So we should look at our Only Cat in the same way. If we are happy, they are happy. If we want more cats... we can make them even happier. But it's all the more important that we do it right.


Learn more about helping them be more social with The Only Cat.

Should we get our cat a collar?

The point of a cat collar is so people know how to return our cat when they get lost.

Yet, we have to use safety collars; the kind that will easily let our cat out of them if they get caught on something. So the collar we are counting on to get our cat back, might not be there when we need it the most.

If our cat doesn't mind wearing a collar, this might not matter. We can figure we have increased our odds, anyway. It also is a visible signal that this cat has someone who cares.

Still, we should not let a cat collar gives us a false sense of reassurance. And we certainly should not use the NON-safety collars.

Because of our cat's ability to eel in and out of small spaces, be cannot let our cat get trapped by a conventional collar. That would be the worst thing of all.

Find out more about why I don’t like cat collars.

What does "Bless the Spot" Mean to Cats?

I call it Bless the Spot. What we are doing is letting our cat know where they are sleeping, or hanging out, is a good spot. One that will not get them in trouble.

If we take the trouble to Bless the Spot, we are saying:

we care

we care for their needs

this is a good spot!

It's easy to give affection to Tristan when he sleeps in the living room chair. Fussing over him, in a favorite spot, reassures him that he's chosen a safe place.

• Pet them gently without disturbing them.
• Send them a cat kiss with our eyes if they can see us.
• Or, say their name in a sweet voice.

Find out more about how to Bless the Spot.