I have read, and always practised, until last week, that the best time
to introduce a new kitten into the house is when the existing one is
about 18 months old, not too young to scrap all the time, and not too
old to hate changing his ways, or her ways.

I feel I must admit we only have two....but since spouse is *not* an
animal lover, to say the least, I feel this is a big victory for our
house.  I've had seven over the years, not counting childhood in
parent's home.  Most recently, there was Zildjian (longest-ever-hair
Calico with bedroom eyes and eyeliner too, no kidding) who was not only
almost feral in her final years, but almost certainly half wildcat or
bobcat or lynx or something.  She passed away two years ago at the age
of 13, leaving behind Luthien (elegant dark smokey charcoal and white
harlequin) who had been searched out and adopted from a newspaper ad at
the age of 6 weeks, when Zildjian was 18 months old and consequently
Luthien only knew of life with Zildjian.  It was very hard on Luthien
when she discovered Zildjian's dead body in the garage where she had
curled up one day and gone to sleep under the little daybed in there.
It is now two years since that day and she is still not entirely
recovered as I discovered when I took her to the vet to get diagnosed
severely hyperthyroid (Luthien is now 13 herself), with a heart rate of
240 and a weight loss from originally 12 lbs. down to 6.5lbs.

But much against my better judgement, thinking Luthien not in the least
able to cope with it, I couldn't help but bring home this little
newcomer who was forlornly sitting in the vets office waiting for love.
He is 8 wks. old, and after the first frightened few days, turns out to
be a very spunky boycat, totally not afraid to stalk and pounce on
Luthien.  Now mind you, she gives him a good swat and some nasty yeowls
when he does it, but it doesn't seem to deter him, and, surprise of
all....Luthien has not decided to hunt him down and eat him for
breakfast.  I should have named him Nermal.  His name is Muezza and he
is, at first glance, a black velvet shorthair.  On closer examination,
in the right light, I can see that he has lots of deep deep sable brown
highlights and at the right angle I can see his tabby tiger stripes
underneath.  What a treasure!  The amazing thing is that, perhaps the
combination of treatment for her hyperthyroidism taking effect and
making her feel better, plus the liveliness of the new
kitten....Luthien seems to be returning to her old affectionate self,
not getting high & mighty with me as is usually the case when I bring a
new cat into the house mortally offending the ruler of the roost who
sits in high dudgeon for about a month.  I suspect that secretly
Luthien was still lonely and mourning for Zildjian and just couldn't
get over life without another feline in her life.  So, inspiration came
at that moment in the vets office, and I find that the whole house is
better for it.

And do you know, my spouse was the one who named the new one, so
there's hope there too!!

---tension