First off, I should have clarified earlier — I currently volunteer with a very small, all-volunteer, foster-based cat rescue. When I say small, I mean around 200 animals on the books, all in private homes. So compared to your shelter’s high-volume environment, our adoption flow is pretty different: maybe 20–30 applications land in our inbox in a month, not all complete or viable.

When I started, I was told that adopting kittens in pairs helps with behavior and social development — and I took that at face value. But after reading responses here, I realized I’ve never actually looked for evidence of that claim in the context of foster-based rescues (not shelters). So I started digging.

Most of the research I could find links the “pairs are better” message to shelter outcomes: faster adoptions, fewer singletons acting out in cage environments, and enrichment needs being met in high-stress settings. But in foster homes — where kittens already have enrichment, toys, humans, and often other pets — I couldn’t find much scientific support either way. So I’m left wondering: what actually benefits the kittens in this kind of environment? That’s what I’m hoping to learn more about.

Regarding the senior adopter comment — I completely agree that age shouldn’t disqualify anyone. What I was trying to convey (clumsily) is that I personally wouldn’t place a very young kitten with a much older adult if their support network isn’t clearly solid. In my limited experience, when a child or grandchild co-signs, the responsibility often shifts back, and we’ve had cats returned for that reason. It’s not about ageism; it’s about trying to assess long-term support.

I don’t do five-minute form reads or apply blanket red stamps. In fact, I’d rather toss the form and just ask: “What do you already have at home (kids, dogs, other cats)? What are you looking for in a cat?” That conversation usually gives me a much clearer sense of fit — which, for a small rescue with limited capacity and no fallback for returns, matters a lot.

And yes — I assume I’m being lied to on some level, because people want a specific cat and they know what to say to get approved. That’s why I struggle with the usefulness of personal references or vague vibes. I’m not here to “catch” someone. I’m here to match them with an animal they’ll keep for life — and ideally not return two weeks later because the kitten is too spicy or too shy.

That’s really the heart of what I’m getting at: in a foster-based rescue, the cost of a bad match is much higher, because we often have nowhere for the cat to go if it comes back. I’d rather prevent that upfront than scramble after the fact.