Hi,
I am thinking about buying a cat. Well, originally, I was going for a dog, but have decided against it as it will be left alone for upto 8hrs/day, 4-5 days/week. Apparently dogs donot take kindly to solitary confinement for 8hr stretches.
With the above in mind, I am considering buying 2 kittens of approximately 3 months old. Rather than buying 2 kittens from the same litter or breed, I would like 2 different breeds. At this stage, I am thinking of a Bengal Kitten and a Maine Coon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_coon. I'm looking at the Maine Coon because it is the one of the largest domestic cat breeds and I feel a MC wont be overawed by the size/power/energy of a Bengal. Both cats will be pets and shall be neutered. I was thinking of getting 2 males.
Question: Is it ok to keep 2 breeds like this or is it better to stick to the same breed/litter? If not the Maine Coon, what other breed would be suitable to be a playmate to a Bengal male cat?
Not letting them out:
I'd also like to point out that as these are more exotic cats, I wouldnt really be happy letting them out of the house. If I let them out in my garden I fear they will climb up trees and begin to roam the neighbourhood. The Bengal especially is a £600 cat and has been known to be held to ransom. At this stage, I am thinking of having an enclosure in the garden, attached to the house, with access via a cat flap in the window. This will ensure that they get a little outdoor life, should they want it, while not having to worry about them escaping and getting killed or stolen. Sound good? Can I buy some contraption for them to exercise on? Someone on another forum talked about a cat wheel?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Ideally I did want a greyhound, however, leaving it alone for 8hrs/day would be cruel, so I am looking to revert to 'Plan B': cats.
Thanks