Have a 1 year old cat, toying with getting another....

[Dr Murdoch]

We found and adopted a male kitten last year, he is now about 1 year old. Very effectionate, seems to get on with other cats in the neighbourhood. More a lover than a fighter!

So, we are thinking about adding a cat/kitten to the house.

Should I go for a kitten or a similar 1 year old, and would it be best if it were male or female?

Any tips welcome!

[Jasandjules]

Yes another whilst he is a kitten is not a bad idea so they will play. And they will, a lot... Be prepared for mad half hour time every evening as they scream around the place!!

[Dr Murdoch]

Thanks

Would it matter if its male or female? (I have little knowledge of cats and their behaviour!)

[Jasandjules]

Will one or the other be spayed? If yes, then no.......

We've added old males to a few females, new females to existing females.. Copious use of ham for a day or two whilst they get to know each other works - we also tend to keep the new one in the utility room so the others can see but not get to them....

[Dr Murdoch]

Thanks, yup 'Albie' had his nuts put in a jar soon after we found him.

I've signed up to Battersea so maybe a fur ball will come in who needs us. (I would rather re-home for free (to a cat that needs a home) than to pay).

[Jasandjules]

I must be doing it wrong, in the last 10 years we have rescued four cats and had to pay for three of them!! The only exception was an elderly chap that the local home demanded we take home and we couldn't say no...........

[Triumph Man]

Sorry to hijack, we have a 5 year old cat and have toyed with the idea of getting another- but worry if it's now too late. He's generally lovely - but at the same time can be a bit of a tt so don't know how he'd react to a kitten. Would he nuture it and play with it/love it? Does anyone have any experience of introducing a kitten to an existing older cat?

[Jasandjules]

Triumph Man said:

Sorry to hijack, we have a 5 year old cat and have toyed with the idea of getting another- but worry if it's now too late. He's generally lovely - but at the same time can be a bit of a tt so don't know how he'd react to a kitten. Would he nuture it and play with it/love it? Does anyone have any experience of introducing a kitten to an existing older cat?

Yes we did this too. At the outset the cat was not overly impressed and hissed at the kitten (who was boinging at her!) but within a few days they were sleeping together on the back of the sofa. Again, introduced them with food.....

[danpalmer1993]

Jasandjules said:

I must be doing it wrong, in the last 10 years we have rescued four cats and had to pay for three of them!! The only exception was an elderly chap that the local home demanded we take home and we couldn't say no...........

Paid or made a donation to the charity who were looking after the cat?

When we rescued ours we made a donation to rspca.

[LordHaveMurci]

danpalmer1993 said:

Jasandjules said:

I must be doing it wrong, in the last 10 years we have rescued four cats and had to pay for three of them!! The only exception was an elderly chap that the local home demanded we take home and we couldn't say no...........

Paid or made a donation to the charity who were looking after the cat?

When we rescued ours we made a donation to rspca.

We're rescued 5 cats from CPL, each has been a 'minimum donation' of about £65.00 from memory.

We've had mixed results introducing new cats into the home, none have been young kittens, youngest probably about 8-10mths old.

The two we have now are both similar ages though rescued about a year apart, one girl one boy, boy nearly double the size of the girl! They get on OK, he is far friendlier but she only tolerates him really, they do play occasionally & he does seem to protect her from other cats out of the house which is good as she was always getting into fights (& losing as she's tiny!).

[Jasandjules]

danpalmer1993 said:

Paid or made a donation to the charity who were looking after the cat?

When we rescued ours we made a donation to rspca.

Yes made a mandatory "donation"

[Hilts]

I have 2 cats, same age bother and sister. The first few years of their lives they were inseparable, ate together, slept in the same bed etc.

At some stage though they fell out a bit, well she got the hump with him a bit, maybe just jealousy.

They're still OK with each other really but if he gets a bit too close she hisses at him and he looks at me to say 'What's up with her?' I just say don't worry, they all do that.

So, what's the point of this? I don't know, sometimes it works out OK but I think cats can be quite happy being solitary animals.