Should I get another cat?

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Rob - 13 Sep 2005 23:13 GMT

My 18 year old Siamese male had to be put down yesterday - he had a tumor in
his jaw and it was already very advanced. I am having a hard time today but
definitely better than yesterday - and I know tomorrow will be a little
better still. He was very, very vocal - I called him a whiner!! - sure is
quiet here today...

My question concerns my other cat, a 12 year old female Siamese. I am sure
she is wondering where her friend went - got up this morning and she had
pooped on the couch and I presume that has something to do with the change
around here.

I had the male for about two years before I got the female so she has never
been with me without another cat around. What is anyone's experience with
this situation? Should I be thinking about getting another cat to keep my
female company? Or should I wait and see how things progress? I am
actually feeling guilty thinking about this so soon but I figure my female
is getting up in years and want to make her happy and comfortable. She and
the male did interact some but he mostly tended to ignore her so I am not
sure this is even something I should be concerned about.

If I would end up getting another cat, should it be a male? And he would
definitely end up being neutered. Any information would be greatly
appreciated.

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No More Retail - 13 Sep 2005 23:24 GMT

My heart goes out to you Rob I have lost many of four legged friends over
the years and it never gets any easier. There is nothing wrong with wanting
to fill the void that has been left. It helps sometimes when you get
another friend. Unless you want a certain sex go to the animal shelter
and see where your heart leads

The other cat senses the stress that you are going thru and unfortunately
cause them to stress out so accidents happen.

Just being an older cat make sure you slowly introduce the next one so not
to cause too much stress. And cats are just fine being alone or with
another cat just makes it more interesting when the cat nip is brought out

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Rob - 13 Sep 2005 23:40 GMT

Thanks for your response - this is the first pet I have had to personally
have put down. We always had dogs and cats when I was a kid at home back in
the 60s and 70s but I never had to deal with this, my mother always took
care of it.

When I got my female a few years after the male, a friend of mine said now
there will be two minds deciding what to destroy... In ways he was right
but I always thought it is better if they have a buddy to be with when I am
at work.

> My heart goes out to you Rob I have lost many of four legged friends over
> the years and it never gets any easier. There is nothing wrong with
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> not to cause too much stress. And cats are just fine being alone or with
> another cat just makes it more interesting when the cat nip is brought out

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No More Retail - 13 Sep 2005 23:49 GMT

Personally I would be at the animal shelter looking for a friend to save.
Just be ready an older cat and a younger cat ohh the trouble they will cause
I hope you got enough sleep in the past year

Good luck Rob

There should be a law that cats and dogs kiss you first than lick
themselves not the other way around

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Victor Martinez - 13 Sep 2005 23:51 GMT

> If I would end up getting another cat, should it be a male? And he would
> definitely end up being neutered. Any information would be greatly
> appreciated.

So sorry for your loss. I would recommend going to your local shelter
and getting a couple of kittens. That way they will keep each other busy
and not harras your older cat. Gender is not really and issue, just in
my experience males tend to be more loving than females.

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Dr.Carla,DVM - 17 Sep 2005 06:29 GMT

I prefer my pets to have "friends" but be forewarned cats aren't always
willing to accept a strange pet into their home (yes, their home, and you
know it lol).
I would strongly suggest researching effective methods of introducing new
pets into the home before you bring your new pet home. Be aware your older
cat may not appreciate a playful, rambunctious kitten in the house, but then
again, she may love it.
For good advise, talk to your vet, check out
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/ and enter "cat introductions" at the
search, or search out Cat Fancy magazine for articles.
And, definately go to your local shelter, as there is an unfortunate number
of animals there in need of a loving, safe and healthy home.

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Upscale - 17 Sep 2005 06:52 GMT

"Dr.Carla,DVM" <Dr.Carla@insightbb.com> wrote in message

> cat may not appreciate a playful, rambunctious kitten in the house

Hi Carla,
Brought my 5 1/2 month old kitten home last Tuesday. She didn't like the 40
minute trip home, but was fine once out of the box the Human Society
provided. She then spent a good hour examining my apartment.

And you're right about a playful, rambunctious kitten. She's a terror. Ten
minutes of sleeping then the rest of an hour running around getting into
everything she can reach. She's got this sneaky habit of climbing up the
back of my wheelchair, up my back and then hops over my shoulders so she can
sit on my lap. She then kneads my stomach for long periods of time. What
kind of hereditary instinct is that? If I had enough bread dough, I could
use her to run a bread shop.

She won't eat any of the moist Science Diet kitten food that I bought and
didn't eat anything at all that I could see the first day. I called the
Humane Society to see what they'd been feeding her and it was a crunchy cat
chow. I tried Iams kitten chow and she likes that. She took to the
Littermaid auto litter tray right away. When I first brought her home, I
took her out of the box and put her right into the Littermaid to introduce
her to it. She loves watching the thing work. I'm sure she jumps into it
once in awhile just so she can activate it to watch it.

The second day I had her, I awoke to find my apartment in a shambles. Guess
I didn't kitten prove it nearly enough. I have to close the door to my
bedroom at night or she'd be in there with me biting, nipping and wrestling
all night long. She doesn't like being alone much and wakes me up every
morning before the alarm clock with a bunch of mewling. She follows me
everywhere. Even as I'm typing right now, she's sitting on my desk between
my arms kneading my stomach.

That's about it, I'm sure there will be more experiences as time goes on.

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Dr.Carla,DVM - 18 Sep 2005 21:57 GMT

> She then kneads my stomach for long periods of time. What
> kind of hereditary instinct is that?

Kneading the stomach of the mom cat helps trigger downletting of milk during
feeding.

> I tried Iams kitten chow and she likes that.

My cats love Iams food, I call it "kitty heroin" because when I do buy it,
they beg and cry for it.

> The second day I had her, I awoke to find my apartment in a shambles.
> Guess
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> everywhere. Even as I'm typing right now, she's sitting on my desk between
> my arms kneading my stomach.

Have fun, kittens are a great thing!

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Upscale - 19 Sep 2005 00:09 GMT

"Dr.Carla,DVM" <Dr.Carla@insightbb.com> wrote in message

> Kneading the stomach of the mom cat helps trigger downletting of milk during
> feeding.

Ok, that makes sense. She does the kneading most when I have my shirt off.
The second day I had her, she bit me on the tit and I nearly jumped a foot
in the air. She doesn't do that anymore, maybe she realizes now that guys
just don't have any milk there. :)

> > I tried Iams kitten chow and she likes that.
> My cats love Iams food, I call it "kitty heroin" because when I do buy it,
> they beg and cry for it.

The Humane Society was feeding her a kibble called Performatrin. The IAMS is
very similar in shape and consistency except that it has a much stronger
odor to it.

> Have fun, kittens are a great thing!

I am having fun. I'm just in the process of building a cat tree/scratching
post for her. Bought some 2x4s, plywood and 3'x12' of carpet. Spent about
$50 total. PetSmart wanted well over $100 Ca for a tree that is half the
size of the one I'm building.

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No More Retail - 19 Sep 2005 01:53 GMT

Be lucky didn't bite something else se how far you would have jumped :-)

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