OT: Maybe getting a new kitten, but question first

[RSBro]

So as a lot of you know, I lost my Numero Uno Gato Alex about 2 months back due to a chest infection. He was barely 2.

 

I have another cat, Fats Domino, and she is probably about 5 or 6 years old. The pound said she was about 3 or 4 but I've had her about a year and a half so that's about right.

 

Now, I would love to get a kitten, as they're so damn furry and so much energy and I love it when they growl when you play with them. Effing adorable.

 

However, I know it's tough to get a kitten when you have an older cat. I would get another female, and I just don't want Fats running off. She skips town for about 3-4 days every month or so when I put her flea meds on her, and I don't want her permanently gone. I've already lost 2 cats in the 2 years living at this house!

 

So do I just get a kitten anyhow, or maybe one that's about 8 mo's/year old and see what happens? She's usually friendly to other cats that just roam around, but feline owners know where I'm coming from on this.

 

Thoughts?

[Detox]

Some friends of mine were in a similar situation. They ended up getting 2 kittens, who fought with each other all day and didn't bother with their older cat. YMMV.

[Ender_rpm]

+1. Best thing I ever did was get 2 kittens at the same time. The older one will watch in bemusement, and probbaly take over a mother role for a while.

[RSBro]

I wouldn't mind getting 2 new ones again, I'm just not sure I want 3 cats right now.

 

Alex and his sis were bro/sis when I first got them. She last about 5 months, and him 2 years.

[y-o-y]

 

 

[RSBro]

 

If I could get them to stay or just not effing die we wouldn't have this problem...

[BottomHeavyKate]

I say go for it....here is a great link for intruducing the new one into the household...

 

http://maxshouse.com/introducing_cats.htm

[Bottom End]

I've had cats all my life. Introducing a new kitten into a cat's territory can be traumatizing, but only for a short while. Once the kitten knows who's in charge, there will be no problem.

[max maroon]

Be careful with 2 females, they can be very territorial, mine fight all the time. I did live with 2 females that got along fine in the past, but I've read that it's best to have 2 males or a female and a male.

[vanlatte]

Not sure how this will play out, but I have a friend who has three, two of them where around for a while before the kitten showed up.

 

For some reason, the two original ones now don't get along and one of the old schoolers and the prior kitten have the other original cat so scared that he is not allowed on the floor. I was amazed when they explained that to me, I asked why said cat is always on top of the t.v. railing, whatever. Apparently everytime he touches the ground he gets pounced. By his previous buddy and the newcomer, no less.

 

Wonder how the poor guy ever makes it to the litter box.

[t3ch]

I've never had any cats run away after introducing new animals (and we've gone through tons). They act weird/territorial for awhile, then get along. Usually, if it's a really young kitten, they're more accepting. If it's an older, unawkward kitten that is playful, that's normally when they get themselves into trouble and have to be put into their place a time or two from the other cat

 

Not sure how this will play out, but I have a friend who has three, two of them where around for a while before the kitten showed up. For some reason, the two original ones now don't get along and one of the old schoolers and the prior kitten have the other original cat so scared that he is not allowed on the floor. I was amazed when they explained that to me, I asked why said cat is always on top of the t.v. railing, whatever. Apparently everytime he touches the ground he gets pounced. By his previous buddy and the newcomer, no less. Wonder how the poor guy ever makes it to the litter box.

 

Poor cat. I'd slap the other cats everytime they did that till they learned better of it.

[vanlatte]

Poor cat. I'd slap the other cats everytime they did that till they learned better of it.

 

I have no idea how it got that bad...the kitten at the time was the most timid cat I have ever seen. Always hiding under the bed. And now he is some sort of badass that bosses around the other one.

[PaulyWally]

First of all, I think staying with another female is smart. Males (especially kittens) play VERY rough, and females don't care for that sort of playing. As always, YMMV. But that seems to be a general rule coming from people that work with cats.

 

And yeah, cats are very unpredictable when bringing in a new family member. Some will get into it... others will go through a major personality change.

 

I got my first cat in 1999. He was about 4 months old and a stray. The second one came a year later... plucked straight from the litter. Since then, the first cat was never the same. He used to wake me up in the morning 5 minutes before my alarm went off. He used to hide around corners and attack my legs as I walked past. All of that stopped. And there were days I couldn't find him. He'd go find a closet that was left open and hide in the corner.

 

After a year or so, he started coming around again... but not like it was originally. Then I took in my brother's cat... and he just got pissed. He's still a good cat and likes to be around. But he's like a grumpy old man. He's very leery of new people, and if he thinks you are in his way, he'll hiss at you. It's actually quite comical. But even now it's still surreal that he is literally an entirely different cat.

 

Anyway. If your cat is friendly to other cats, I would consider it. I mean, she'll know it's a kitten. But I know what you're thinking... and you just never know.

 

See what other people (especially those with females) say... and then do what you think is best.

[collinwho]

 

First of all, I think staying with another female is smart. Males (especially kittens) play VERY rough, and females don't care for that sort of playing. As always, YMMV. But that seems to be a general rule coming from people that work with cats.

 

 

I've had the exact opposite experience . . . but that is just a sample of 3 out of who knows how many cats exist in the world, so I don't hold my own experiences to be a universal truth by any means.

[ThudMaker]

Male/Female is nothing to worry about. It's individual personality. Either they get along or they don't. After about a week things settle down. We had 3 cats at one point and still have 2 (18 years old) . . . . .on top of getting a puppy last year. If you want antoher one great, but I'm not sure your OP reasoning thrills me. Eventually they aren't kittens. If you want a kitten because they are cute and fluffy, get a stuffed animal.

[RSBro]

Now that I think about it, the 2 females we had growing up never got along. Our male the youngest got along with them, but that was it.

 

I just worry about getting a male and him not being fixed in time, and then they spray. Alex was fixed as early as possible, and even though he'd try to spray, nothing would ever come out.

 

I just need a female that gets along w/ other kitties.

[RSBro]

 

Male/Female is nothing to worry about. It's individual personality. Either they get along or they dobn't. After about a week things settle down. We had 3 cats at one point and still have 2 . . . . .on top of getting a puppy last year. If you want antoher one great, but I'm not sure your OP reasoning thrills me. Eventually they aren't kittens. If you want a kitten because they are cute and fluffy, get a stuffed animal.

 

 

Haha no, I've had cats forever and know they don't stay small. I just do like playing with them and the "kitten" stages as they grow.

But also I need one that's old enough to go and stay outside when I'm gone weekends. A kitten would need to be indoors 24/7 methinks, at least where I live.

[Svi]

Haha no, I've had cats forever and know they don't stay small. I just do like playing with them and the "kitten" stages as they grow. But also I need one that's old enough to go and stay outside when I'm gone weekends. A kitten would need to be indoors 24/7 methinks, at least where I live.

 

So when you are gone for weekends your cats roam outside? Aren't you worried about it getting sick or attacked or hit by a car? I've never understood outdoor cats, I've seen too many hit on the side of the road. That's just me though.

 

We have three, one is a female and she is such a wench! She is a cry baby and hates the males. She is such a little princess and it drives me insane. Our boys are rough and tough and love to play, while she just sits around like she owns the place. Typical woman.

[RSBro]

So when you are gone for weekends your cats roam outside? Aren't you worried about it getting sick or attacked or hit by a car? I've never understood outdoor cats, I've seen too many hit on the side of the road. That's just me though. We have three, one is a female and she is such a wench! She is a cry baby and hates the males. She is such a little princess and it drives me insane. Our boys are rough and tough and love to play, while she just sits around like she owns the place. Typical woman.

 

For the most part. Usually my mom will come let them in or out for a day or two, depending if they're in or out whenever I leave.

I'm now 27 and I've yet to lose a cat to a car or animal, etc.. They've either just run away or gotten sick. We've always had inside/outside cats.

Plus my road has like nobody on it, and cats run across it all the time. I'm 3/4 from the highway, so anyone driving on my 20mph road is sure to miss them. I never see Fats out by the road anyhow. Cats love being outside.

 

I may just get another male. They're usually big goobers and are better about cuddling and sleeping with you... Fats doesn't do that, and I miss it. Alex spent most nights with me.

[The Real MC]

I have been around cats all my life. Fifteen years ago I had a similar situation as yours. We lost our dog and decided the cat should have a companion. It took a few days to adjust to the kitten but after that it was fine, they were buddies.

 

Oh, and the first rule of selecting a kitten/cat is you don't find them - they find you. The one that is assertive about getting your attention is the one that wants to be your buddy and go home with you. When we got the kitten, it was winter and I was wearing my heavy carhart coat. I picked him up and held him, and then he crawled inside my coat, curled up, and went to sleep. There is no better way to say "take me home" and he has been a great cat.

[t3ch]

 

So when you are gone for weekends your cats roam outside? Aren't you worried about it getting sick or attacked or hit by a car? I've never understood outdoor cats, I've seen too many hit on the side of the road. That's just me though.

 

 

Our cats have done this through no fault of our own. They'd hate us if we kept them pent up inside. The cat I had since I was 9 would occasionally disappear for a few days (or weeks a few times) and come back home like it's nothing. I'm not sure what he ran off doing, but he was happy with it.

 

All of our cats throw a FIT if they have to stay inside. The cat that's left likes to go outside, but she enjoys laying in the shade in the backyard, or rolling around in the grass. She usually doesn't go far, but likes being outside nonetheless.