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Cat Forum / General Topics / September 2005Your opinions of a new cat
Okay everyone here's my story. I have had a female cat for all of her life. I Actually saw her born she was the runt so I picked her. She is now 8 years old and looks and acts how I remember her mother. Very vocal etc. Her disposition and behavior is absolutely phenomenal. Even as a kitten she was great. The worst thing she ever did was scratch the toilet paper. And she has this weird bread fetish but thats ok. I have over 40 plants and many betta fish that she does not bother I think she accepts it as her enviornment and does not want to destroy it. She loves to hide under my ferns and vines etc. To be quite frank before I had this cat I was a dog person and totally hated cats. Now I love everything about them. Independence, mystical nature etc. My Dilema: For the past 2+ years I have been going back and forth in deciding to get another cat. I suspect I will get one under the age of 2 years or maybe a kitten. I thought that if I get a younger male cat that there may not be any competition between the two however, I hear that males spray a lot and that I don't need. Then I have heard that a female kitten could be better and that my cat will get the experience of being a mother to a daughter. Which sounds nice in my head :) Then I am afraid that my cat will change forever and no longer need me (me being selfish). I also have the thought that maybe she would like some companionship while I am at work or away etc. Then I am afraid that this new cat will be a terror (I know as kittens they can be little hellions which is acceptable). Then again my cat "may" teach the other cat the ropes right?? As you can see I am torn and this is how I have felt for years. Now I instead of asking people I know I think I should ask those that are of an unbiased opinion to me and may have experience in having two cats. This is my first and only cat I have had. What has been your experience? What do you think of my situation? Male? female? Older? younger Also I might add I have a one bedroom condo which will be a wonderful palace for another cat and I can very much afford all the things the additional cat would require and give it just as much love. thanks for your help and opinions ciao ~g~ >I suspect I will get one under the age of 2 years or maybe a kitten. I >thought that if I get a younger male cat that there may not be any >competition between the two however, I hear that males spray a lot and >that I don't need. If you have a male nuetered when they are young before they start spraying very seldom will they then spray. I have 2 nuetered male plus had a 17 year nuetered male and they were all nuetered young and none of them ever sprayed. http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ http://members.aol.com/larrystark/strays.htm Thank you for your response.. Is it "better to get a male for a female or female for my female?? ciao ~g~ >Thank you for your response.. Is it "better to get a male for a female >or female for my female?? If they are spayed and / or nueter I do not think it really makes a difference. http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ http://members.aol.com/larrystark/strays.htm > Thank you for your response.. Is it "better to get a male for a female > or female for my female?? > > ciao > ~g~ My vote is for a male. My 4 males and one female all get along great. But when I had 3 females before, they were rather "catty" with each other. Get a male and female, preferably not of the same age. I have two females gotten two different times and both of the same age. After almost a year, they still get into and not close. They do get very "catty" with each other. I even had a pet sitter and a shelter person tell me the same. > > Thank you for your response.. Is it "better to get a male for a female > > or female for my female?? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > My vote is for a male. My 4 males and one female all get along great. But > when I had 3 females before, they were rather "catty" with each other. > For the past 2+ years I have been going back and forth in deciding to > get another cat. Hang around your local shelter a few times a week and pester the volunteers and staff about cats they know to be cat-social. A kitten may be a hellion - much more active, liable to ambush the cat you already have. If your existing cat hasn't had any experience with other cats, it may be that she'll take longer to adjust to another cat in the home, so you might be better off getting a laid back, fully grown cat. Hopefully one that the people at the shelter can tell you about in relative detail - does she use a scratching post, has she had any medical issues you should be aware of, does she get along with other cats, does she have any behavioral issues? In my experience, adult males are generally very relaxed and affectionate. Certainly another female can work out, sometimes they're just as friendly and relaxed, but there's a reason that a lot of people believe introducing a female into a female dominated household doesn't work without a great deal of effort. But pester the people at the shelter - listen to their suggestions, meet the cats they think will work, and see what YOU think of those cats. Thanks K I do that also (pester the loval voluteers) come to think of it Miss Kitty and I spent two years in New Hampshire when she was an outdoor snowkitty and she would roam around with the other cats she had cat friends and foes. This went on for about a year. Now she stays indoors since I live in yuppieville and she might get run over by a hummer (no offense hummer owners) Its funny that you say an older male cat because at one time I was leaning toward an older male because they seemed so affectionate and less likely to dominate. I will concidere that again. ~g~ >Okay everyone here's my story. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Male? female? >Older? younger <snip> I'd try a younger (but not kitten) neutered male. When introducing, brush them both with the same brush so they both smell the same. Good luck! excellent thank you for the tip. I think addirionally I am going to send in a "resume" and a "cover letter" to the local rescue profiling my living situation and miss kitty my thoughts and worries for the incomming cat and maybe they could "fit" me with a cat. ~g~ I have 2 cats (both 2 yrs old) and have just rescued 2 kittens (9 weeks old). I couldnt wait to bring them home and introduce my cats to them, boy was I in for a surprise, my 2 cats looked at the kittens which were in a carrier, hissed then ran out of the room. For the first week I was up the wall trying to keep a normal peaceful household, everytime the cats and kittens came together, the cats hissed and didnt want to know the kittens. Things started to improve after 2 weeks by trying different methods, it has been approx 6 weeks now since the kittens arrived home and all 4 are getting on fine now, they are all eating next to each other and peace has been restored in my home. My advice would be if you were to get another cat take things slowly, keep the kitten in a seperate room for a couple of days, try swapping the cats bedding so they can get used to each others smell, keep to the routine your cat is used to (cats dont like change of their normal routine)make sure it is peaceful and quiet when you introduce them to each other, dont be put of if there is a little hissing. Dont forget to give your cat lots of love and cuddles so he does not feel left out. Oh I forgot to mention by getting 2 kittens they fight, play and harrass each other rather than harrass the older ones Good luck in getting your new cat Tina |
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