Cattitude Feline Behavior Counseling

05/08/2024

Nice interview w/ Margaret at 'Live Science', re: cats and closed doors. Interesting how FOMO (fear of missing out) is today's buzz-term, but when it comes to cats, no: it's COTS (control over the situation). Big difference! How? FOMO's looking through a human lens: we want to know what other people know, feel part of a group. Be informed, from 'cool' stuff to what's doing to the latest findings. What are We missing out on? But with cats, it's not a collective thing, it's not to get involved, but to first be aware of, then control their Own territory. It's survival. With exceptions, on their own. One of the biggest advances in studying cat behavior, I think (dusty old veteran of decades, me) is truly trying to understand from Noodles' point of view, not just ours. Even the lure of a closed door: it's curiosity, (they survive who know what to do with it), awareness of their domain, changes within it... to manage it.

Send a message to learn more

03/08/2024

A simple thing: With me, so much of the situation is all about Noodles' motivation, not just the symptoms involved (scratched sofas or bitten arms or soiling outside the box). The next time she 'commits' a problem, ask yourself: 'What does she Get out of her behavior, thus far? What's in it for her?' Then try to sleuth. You may come to some surprising observations. That's what you act on. Wouldn't you do that with a child? Or friend?

01/08/2024

Suddenly tuxedo Miles doesn't want to head out through the catflap to his (cat-proofed) back yard. Yet again--this'll kill ya! as they say--Dr N suggests carrying him outside in controlled exposure. No choice, trapped, in Milo's mind. And no answer. (I want to tell N it's not cats who need shrinks...) Motivation, again: the 'suddenly' rings an alarm. What's frightened Miles? First, a cat has to stick his head out in order to even see what's lurking, so he Already feels vulnerable. Second, have you seen outside cats there? A zoop around the place with a strong blacklight should show signs. (Maybe you haven't, but he has.) That could well discourage him. If so, either block off the area with pet mesh, so there Are no other cats around, or get a motion-sensor sprinkler attachment to discourage interlopers.

30/07/2024

II. Author Dr N then has guests scootch closer to the cage, then ‘force the issue’ (after cat’s been ‘starved for 12-24 hours so he’s hungry’) and offer food through the bars. (‘as many guests as possible should take part…’)…then out of the cage, restrain with a leash, owner holds him and takes him toward a visitor…

You see the idiocy—the harm. Yes, the ‘deal’ is sweetened with food. But that food needs to be a distance away, then a wee bit closer…closer… maybe leave it for another day.
Don’t confine Noodles to a room—it’s her freedom to decide. A tip: have guest rub her shoes/handbag with a cloth that has the cat’s scent on it before she enters the house—while there will be a multitude of smells on her, cat can also sniff out herself a little, which can be comforting. Including the cat—then if Noodles is happy sitting in the room, nothing more, fine. The rest is time.

28/07/2024

I. Noodles may feel she has reason to hide when a friend visits; perhaps she was unsocialized, or had bad experiences. It's her agenda, so ensure that every time she sees someone new, it's nonthreatening, thus rewarding--which can mean for time being, nothing happens. (Advise guest of the issue.)
I pay attention to the cat's motivation more than anything. It's impt to sense if Noodles avoids new people b/c she's truly disinterested -- or intimidated. BIG difference.
Guest, behaving quietly, should ignore catto, even if curiosity wins and Noodles pads into the room, even a little bit. Prevailing advice is to gently toss a treat (from the ground) in her general direction; in my experience, that movement often scares the hell out of her. Only if catto's slowly edging a wee bit closer, closer, place a treat down a little far from your feet, other side of guest. (who's sitting sideways, facing you on the sofa, instead of looking out towards the cat/room.) You first, see. Both of you should ignore her. If interested, she may eventually come over. If not, leave it. If the treat is taken, wait a bit, then have guest put treat down a little further away from her feet. The goal is to see if Noodles can be comfy just sitting in the same room. Don't rush this.

27/07/2024

A more recent rethink from another expert's 1990 book. Dr. N.'s suggestion for cats fearful about guests? 'A cage, placed in the main activity room [so] cat is prevented from running away and avoiding the challenges of changes in personnel, movement, noises on television or movement of furniture... it has to face up to them and interpret what is happening. '
NO! This goes against the proverbial grain for how Noodles even thinks, not to mention feels. First: a cage should only be for transport. Readers know I'm fierce about what I call the three terrible 'C's' to a cat: being w/o control, w/o choice, and change. Caging a cat--and put in the middle of the room!--means he's a forced centerpiece. Can't do a damn thing about it. Prevented from hiding, from yes, processing the situation Her way. No control, no choice. Those 'challenges' aren't avoided, not 'faced up to' (like, 'be brave?'), but shoved in her face. No 'interpretation' in the mental sense, but fear, confusion. What attempts, even emotionally, to avoid the situation, are available to her? Result: damage from a lack of a constructive ability to cope.
What to do, instead? Coming up.

24/07/2024

How advice has changed! Knowledge alters what we thought we knew, gets refined, corrected, expanded. In mid-'70s ethology class, we were taught that cats naturally self-regulate their appetites. Later we learned that Noodles can eat merely from depression, grief, boredom, because it's there...and we have a real obesity problem. Another: Recently I read from a '70s book by a true expert in the field (still is): 'cats in their own territory...will get involved [fighting] with dogs "purely for the fun of it". Not quite. Cats are hard-wired not to confront, even other cats, if not strictly necessary, such as defending territory or food source. He won't put himself in danger unless forced to. And another: a neutered tom's far less likely to indulge in 'territorial fighting' as opposed to 'rival fighting'. Not so, at least in my and others' experience w/ thousands of them. It may be the old 'symptom or cause?' factor, but just b/c certain hormone levels are lowered does Not necessarily mean Noodles won't be as motivated to fight for his corner. Moral? we need to keep current.

22/07/2024

Cats Down Under. I don’t mean necessarily Australia. Another myth to shatter, see: it’s Not whether Noodles is ‘a tree dweller or a bush dweller’. They’re completely different motivations. Underneath? Hiding. Vision’s restricted, but Noodles feels safe, protected. On top? Surveying her queendom. Environmental control: that ability to see who’s doing what, to whom, when, where and probably why. Cruuucial. Get kits who hide more accessibility, more confidence in their environment. To block underneath: boxes underneath beds or sofas, weighted with books or rocks, say, so Noodles can’t push ‘em out of the way to burrow further. Wrapping those boxes with a cloth sprayed with a scent she finds abhorrent. (Spray a few smells on cotton balls: cologne, food flavoring, Mrs. Meyers’ Clean Day products, perhaps in Lemon Verbena, or… some other icky smells. Nothing toxic, obviously, like Lysol.) Wave those cotton balls in front of her nose; if she reacts to one or two like you’re Satan, bingo.) Or a sprayed pool noodle or under-door draft excluder sausage or rolled-up towel. I’ve lined my bed with bookshelves, blocked in place by a few glass bricks. or 'Under couch toy blocker’ Amazon gadgets.
Since you never remove something from a cat w/o giving something back, that’s where the UP furniture comes in. Same areas. And put in front of windows. Tall. Condos, suckered hammocks, towers. Maybe getting her used to one platform at a time, w/ treats, meals, play. Yes!

21/07/2024

A client w/ Bengals. Her AZ breeder told her that if one urinates outside the box, yell 'No!' and 'tap her with a rolled-up newspaper'. Anyone here need to be reminded that cats are Not dogs, that they shouldn't be punished? 1. Cats associate the punishment with you and not the deed, and 2. urinating 'inappropriately' outside the box, if it's neither medical nor hormonal, and the urine isn't near the box (box problem?), it's anxiety or stress; Noodles is signalling something's wrong! Territorial insecurity, a variety of reasons, but you sure as hell don't punish, you find out the motivation and sort out the issues! In fact, punishment can make the problem worse. (And catto so much unhappier.) The second bit? Breeder keeps her cats on kitten food throughout their lives! Never mind courting obesity w/ its additional issues (kit food has far more protein/fat for growing bodies), it's nutritional inadequacy forced on adult cats, including possible heart/joint problems, increase in UTI crystals from excess magnesium and phosphorus, courting musculoskeletal problems (excess calcium and phos), such as arthritis, later! Monstrous!(At one year, if not a little sooner, Noodles is quite ready for adult food.) The horror!

18/07/2024

Many people try to straddle that 'inside's best but she needs a whiff of normality' issue. Leash-walking? Consider: will Noodles be stressed out by it? If you live along a road, will traffic and accompanying noise be more rattling than relieving? I've also found an increase in doordashing, as a result. No strollers and those ridiculous plastic-bubble backpacks (Noodles is no baby); they both remove critical elements of choice and control, at the same time denying exercise. The best solution? Catio! Even if you rent, even if you're not on the ground floor, there are ways of constructing a safe enclosure with pet mesh (each filament laminated, so what it costs in transparency it makes up for in strength) and sturdy PVC piping. Steal ideas from Googling 'outside pet enclosures' and work out a sturdy, wind-, rain- and sun-resistant structure with a handyperson. And cat flap that opens only for the cat's individual chip. A catio offers increased territory, as well as a good taste of the outdoors. If you've a back yard fully catproofed with angled fence toppers or 'coyote rollers' for supervised visits, another thought.

16/07/2024

How hard can it be to get Noodles into a carrier and relax while zooming her to the vet? With some, very. Gabapentin's often suggested as a good med to ease the problem. Here's another: Trazodone, a common antidepressant prescribed for both dog and human, may be useful as well. At 150 mg. A Taiwan study found a real reduction in anxiety when it came to 'transportation-related clinical signs' as well as anxious and cantankerous behavior on the vet's table. Ask your vet: as owner of a cat who treats gabapentin like M & Ms and morphs into the Tasmanian Devil on the table, I'm gonna.

14/07/2024

P.S. The next time you see ads for top-shelf kibble bragging that their first ingredient is 'deboned chicken; (as opposed to 'chicken'), if you're imagining underpaid girls in assembly lines picking fresh chicken carcasses clean and putting the meat shards in a pile to be tucked into catfood later, forget it. That chicken has been sooo processed, deconstructed, dissected and de-everythinged, the industry calls it 'white slime'.

12/07/2024

III. One of the worst issues about kibble? It's not only dehydrated, it's dehydratING. It absorbs saliva to get soft enough to swallow. Sucks water from the system all the way down to be processed, digested. A Lot harder to digest. No, cats don't make up for it by drinking more, b/c it's not nearly enough. This situation increases the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and lower urinary tract problems, incl. feline interstitial cystitis (FIC). B/c kibble is so calorically-dense, you may find that switching to wet food means Noodles may lose a few pounds--slowly, gradually. For cats free-feeding kibble, their blood sugar levels spike and crash 24/7, putting strain on their pancreas. And more carbs in dry--remember, it's one more factor making it cheaper to make. Result? Increased risk of obesity and diabetes. And that too-concentrated urine is too alkaline...means urinary blockages more likely. Please: do Noodles a favor. Keep him healthier, happier...

10/07/2024

I know. 'My cat does fine on dry food.' But consider: Noodles deserves better. If you like the kibble b/c he does, b/c it's prescription,(some companies, inexplicably, don't make the equivalent formulae in canned food) or it's cheaper, at least wet it a bit at a time. Wet food is Far better. Why? First, dry is hell on teeth. We once thought kibble'd scrape matter off, but it's now known that nothing's removed, as the kibble doesn't stay on/around the teeth long enough. Also, look AT her teeth: there are no flat molars, only points, to tear, not chew. (Those tiny front ones scratch away fur, feathers, face, feet, fins, etc.) But a chunk can lodge in the gumline, causing irritation and worse. (If a cat presents w/ gingivitis, a vet's first question: 'What are you feeding them?') Second: dry food's 10% water, wet 85-87%. Cats are chronically dehydrated, and no, just drinking from bowls or fountains isn't enough. Notice: any time your cat's brought in for the smallest of surgeries, the first thing techs do is a sub-q or IV: to hydrate. Third: wet food mimics what's in the prey's stomach. Yes, cats eat bones, but as the researchers at UC Davis, years ago, explained to me, 'Those bones are soft, thin, small and malleable.' Cats don't chomp on skulls, but suck the brains, the good stuff, from the hole. More...

08/07/2024

I. We interrupt this site to-- repeat the kibble v. wet food issue. (Last topic's entries indicate it might be a good idea.) Dry food was created for the human. Sacks of dehydrated chunks for 'pets' (they didn't know dogs and cats have dif. nutritional needs) became popular b/c the metal from cans were needed for war supplies (guns, ammo, etc.), the processing took less meat (and meat shortages/rationing were rife) and was easier and cheaper to manufacture. In addition, by-products from cereal manufacturers were included now, which made things even cheaper, and, especially, created the first shelf-stable animal food to be produced, so it took a lot longer to spoil. In society, there was a huge and constant movement from agrarian to city living, dogs/cats came too--and needed to be fed differently. And conveniently. We're still getting it. More about profit than health. What's wrong with kibble? Coming up:

06/07/2024

Shoot me now. Another recent study, this one from U of Ankara, Turkey (but using 1200+ cat owners in France?): Noodles' instinct to scratch is made worse by stress. Esp. w/ the presence of children. PLEASE, tell us something new? Something that expands our awareness of these wonderful creatures, not just...reconfirm, for the 10th time? (Is the 'publish or perish' game SO parched, the research world so barren that decades-established facts merely have to be rewritten to get a tag in a journal, these days?) Another factor, they say, which makes a cat scratch? Inadequate daytime enrichment. (Ditto 'duh'.) 'cats are nocturnal...' No, actually, they're not. They’re crepuscular. Their suggestions: put scratchers near cat's resting areas and in other favored spots. Have multiple daytime play sessions. Sigh.

Moral? Don't assume you're missing out, as loving cat owners, if you're not attuned to the latest research.

04/07/2024

II. If there's nothing medically wrong, (don't skip this step!) or while waiting, a few ideas for Noodles to want to eat: warm (not heat) their WET food for a few moments. Remember, the stuff in just-killed prey's stomachs are warm, anyway, and as with humans, food's smell is heightened when warmer. Also, try flaky fish food. Really. A client of mine tried this, sprinkling it in their wet fod, and it helped. Third: cats do want their privacy when they eat, although for some reasons, humans insist on feeding cats together. They're not collective eaters. It can stress...starts at the ni**le, as I've mentioned before. So, don't hover over them, sit with them, but ensure Noodles isn't being observed or ever-so-subtly (often) intimidated by any other pets. Even a cat sitting nearby and juuuust stinkeye-ing can do it. She shouldn't be pushed--by anybody.

03/07/2024

I. The general info: Noodles can live without food for up to two weeks, if there's enough clean water. (She'll be ill and undernourished, of course.) Without water? Two to three days. Depends on how hydrated and how healthy she was, and if she already has medical issues to grapple with. Now: we know cats naturally eat many small meal-ettes a day/evening. Missing one meal should raise an eyebrow, and merit observation, but I wouldn't call the vet just yet. Two consecutive meals? Run over possible reasons in your head, first, and see if any, Any of them resonate. Ex: A recent vax or med? New food? Boredom? Feeling slightly stressed b/c of a new pet, new people, new routine? That can affect the appetite. Even a recent dental, if major work was done. BUT. When do you call the vet? I'd rather be seen as a wee bit overanxious than...than. It might be a rather simple matter, or it might be worse. Such as? Coming up...

01/07/2024

Hotspots. High-traffic areas to avoid. Example: the hallway's no good place for litterboxes. Cats know they're vulnerable when eating, sleeping, grooming and eliminating. A strip where there are continually passing pets, passing people isn't for private activities. Also, remember that wherever a cat is doing her vulnerable business, there must be more than one exit. (In a hallway, a cat can dash only forward or back, and be chased easily each way.) Another reason for UNcovered, full-visioned boxes to be in places where there's more than one escape route should the inhabitant be observed. No corners. Far less of a chance to have her privacy disturbed or worse, be ambushed. I've seen enough cattos over the decades smarten up their elimination when their boxes were put elsewhere. Not tuck in basements or attics if Noodles doesn't ever go there. Not in the middle of family activity, either. Location, location.

27/06/2024

For decades I've been telling people to let that laser pointer red dot land on a treat now and then, so there's closure, reward, captured prey. Now, there's apparently another danger. Cornell mentions a study linking pointer play w/ 'Compulsive behaviors brought on by conflict [such as] overgrooming, self-directed aggression (chasing/chewing the tail), and hallucinatory behaviors such as staring at shadows or chasing light reflections.' There were 618 owner survey responses. A lot of holes in that study, in my mind, the first : asking owners to make a causal link to different behaviors, when only half knew that not being able to catch anything can cause stress--and over a third of those knew that, but didn't actually do anything about it. I have to say that in over 40 years of involvement w/cat behavior, have never, ever seen a link. What do you think?

25/06/2024

III. ‘The Move. Spend time w/ Noodles in her room, keeping things low-key with lots of soft voices, petting, just being there. When she starts exploring, add play, treats. After the unpacking, rearranging, etc. has eased, she can wander through the home, one room at a time. An advantage, too, is that she doesn’t see just one room as her safe zone. She learns where the other liter boxes and water bowls are. Ensure you’re feeding her smaller meals more often, scattered throughout the day and evening. She's chipped and collared, of course. Don’t let her out, (build that catio, but let it wait for her for a week), but be aware of other cats in the ‘hood. (Motion-sensor sprinkler attachments, say.) Juuuust in case she escapes, let old neighbors know, b/c Noodles may try to return to from whence she came.
Do keep an eye on her. Try to arrange cat beds, toys, bowls, boxes as similar to her old set up as pos. Routines are important; sticking to regular feeding schedules, walk times, play activities, and other familiar tasks creates stability.
It may take time to settle—territory is crucial to cats, after all. She may show signs of stress and anxiety for a few days or a week, but there should be signs of improvement. If not, or if she isn’t eating, call the vet.

21/06/2024

II. The actual move:
To keep Noodles from door dashing while movers are going in and out, put her in a room with her food, water, bed and box. Put a sign on the door: 'Keep the door shut!'
When it's The Day, give her a small breakfast to calm her stomach; she'll be stressed. While you're on the go, try not to open her carrier to soothe; not only are you actually rewarding fear, but she may try to scramble out, and your attempts to put her back in can make her even more stressed.

Your (New) Home!
Cat-proof the new house (If you have the chances, try to do as much of this beforehand as pos.) Hide electrical cords, plug nooks where she could get stuck. (Remember, all cats turn to liquid, sometimes; certainly her clavicle and ribcage can collapse a bit to fit into the tiniest of places.) Ensure windows have secure screens, remove poisonous houseplants and check that no pest-control traps remain in the house. Sharp corners should have cushiony-strips attached... if you've ever kid-proofed a home, you know what lies in wait.
Take your cat to a quiet room--you've rubbed her scent on walls, table and chair legs, etc. already. You've set up her food and water dishes, box, perches bed. Putting treats around the room maaaay encourage her to explore. Don't worry if her interest in eating takes second place, at this point.
• Keep your cat in this “home-base” room for a couple of days, so she can gradually get used to the sights, sounds and smells of new home, new territory, gently.

20/06/2024

I. Coincidence. Two clients this week are moving. Tips: because we know cats loathe change, pre-move preparation willk help calm some stress...crucial. Assuming this is a car ride away, now. Get Noodles used to her carrier--leaving it out w/ doors open, putting a favorite blankie stuffed inside, gradually moving her food bowl (and treats) closer to it, until she can eat inside, etc. A bit of play closer and closer to it, then a wand toy darting in and out of it. Next, put out your moving boxes a couple of weeks before you have to begin filling them, so Noodles gets used to their presence. A few at a time. Rub the boxes w/ her scent. If the commotion of packing gets her unhappy, put her in a quiet room w/ quiet music. Talk w/ your vet about Suntheanine (Amazon; I like 'Drs Best') to calm; I also like the fact that it's benign, and if you're going to see a Gentle calming, you'd know within, say, four days. It doesn't affect all cats, but it more likely works than not.

17/06/2024

Cats' sleeping/resting/zooming/etc. patterns change with the seasons, so given the summer (and inhumane temps), don't unnecessarily be alarmed if Noodles' appetite or playtime length/ frequency temporarily alter. Thanks to their extraordinarily acute senses, they detect the tiniest changes in smells, light, humidity and more, and that affects them as with us. They may eat less, drink more, want food in smaller doses more/less frequently, lose a little weight. And while we know Noodles can pick up on our own changing moods and living patterns, they're affected themselves (some of it hormonal); many clients note their cats seem to be depressed in summer...or in winter. While there's an obvious difference between seasonal physiological/emotional states and symptoms of an underlying bigger issue, (when in doubt: vet! Yes!) it's valuable to observe and make note of patterns. Then you can be wiser about any deviation.

14/06/2024

Don’t blame me. Two people were arguing over grain vs grain-free cat food in a store and they asked my opinion. The grain-free cat food market’s worth betw/ $21- 31 BILLION, according to research orgs. Growing, too. Bring on the gnashed teeth. (Does anyone ‘gnash’ any more?) How many more vet nutritionists & scientists are needed to debunk this ‘grain free's better’ myth until we listen? Perceived: 'Grains aren’t digestible.' Uncooked, they’re not well-digested (although the body’s heat/juices/acids help to ‘cook’ them.) However, companies prepare them so they're highly digestible.
'They’re not natural for the cat to eat.' A small amount is. Cats are obligate carnivores, but their prey ain’t. What do you think's in their victims’ stomachs? And cats have a good ability, better than their wild ancestors actually, to digest carbs.
'Grains are useless nutritionally.' Hardly. They provide sustained energy, fiber, veg proteins to help complete a proper diet, and have EFAs, minerals, B vits. Again, think of Noodles’ prey. Remember, even if cat food's labeled ‘grain free’, companies still put in other carbs: peas, sweet potatoes, cassava. If Noodles has or tends towards diabetes mellitus, vet talk—if you look at lower-carb food. BUT there’s no reason to do so for any other reason. Look at the label, not the marketing ploy. Bottom shelf? Too many carbs. Top shelf? Marketing ploy as well.

13/06/2024

Nugget from my vet, yesterday: apparently, many shelters are not testing cats for FeLV and FIV before releasing them for adoption. ('We're therefore getting many more cats presenting with symptoms.') They're also advising perspective owners, 'No point in testing before they're a year old.' Not only rubbish, but dangerous rubbish.

11/06/2024

A commercial: (A good one.) Who of us doesn't break if our beloved furr has FIP (feline infectious peritonitis)? Almost always fatal. Well, from this month, an oral med's available (Stokes Pharm) for its treatment. Clinical trials in UK and Australia look reasonable. As the med wasn't FDA approved, some went black-market. But now its Ctr for Vet. Med (CVM) has put its stamp on the formula. Vet script needed--but now there's promise. In total, about 77% of cats survived an extra six months. Now: perspective: 28 cats in an Aussie trial (5/21-5/22), of which 22 fixed males, 5 fixed females, 1 unfixed female. (Why not 50/50?). 24 cats survived an extra six months. It's a goooood start, anyway. But why so few cat clients in these trials? As one vet told me, That’s always a problem. People don’t want to subject their pets to risk.’
UPDATE: 7/9: Just learned that apparently the reason for the FIP med trial being shortened: the pharma involved wanted to see if they could apply the research to a money-making COVID 'cure'--and they couldn't. The trial was discontinued. The fact that the injections are more effective than the (easier) tablets, that the med is of no use in advanced cases, that the bill is over $1000 for 85 needed shots... but, as I say....a start's been made. Will someone else run with this, I hope? We need a cure.

08/06/2024

II. Feline bonding can be complicated. Very often, mama's glad to toss her kids out after they've been weaned b/c there isn't always this 'I don't care if you're in medical school, you're still my baby' thing. It's urging independence. Also, she's instinctively getting ready to 'free' her body for the next batch of kittens; remember, she can get pregnant a couple of weeks after she's given birth. (Ahhh, neutering!) Sometimes while she's protective of her vulnerable babies, when she sees they're old enough to care for themselves re: getting food, and she feels ill or is at all incapacitated she'll leave them to survive, and survive herself.

There are indeed signs if two kids have bonded more sturdily and they're separated: depression, grieving (symptoms of lethargy, hiding, loss of appetite, say, or loss of interest in playing). While there's of course no guarantee that Noodles 1 and Noodles II may well fray those bonds when in new territory, it may be worth getting the pair to see what develops.

06/06/2024

I. One client asked me about bonding. (I get such good questions--savvy clients, savvy readers.) When kits are siblings, they can indeed bond; the same thing can happen when previously unacquainted kits (and adults) are in a shelter, whether in a cage
together or in a communal room. There's no scientific study I know of that well-explores this kind of relationship, (and when there are numerous siblings, why these two? for ex.) but we know that just b/c the kids are emotionally attached, especially from birth, it doesn't mean they'll stay that way if they both go to the same home. ('We needed each other then, but now, in this situation or at this age, not sure I have to have this now.')
In my experience, if they bond in a home after they were introduced as strangers, it's more likely they'll stay that way, or at least for longer. However, even that relationship is Not guaranteed, certainly in so many situations the pair should indeed be adopted together, but that loyalty can change, say, after 4-6 months of age, and/or if another cat has been introduced into the mix.