Adding a new cat?

I read many of the previous posts on adding a new cat and now know how to do it, but I have a couple of questions about HOW to know if the cat would like it. I brought home my cat 13 months ago from a foster home that had 18 cats. My cat, Poo Poo Kitty (he had a little problem with his poo when I brought him home and the name just stuck) was VERY shy and scared. It took him a month to come out from my bed when I was awake. It took him several months to let me pet him or move around when he was out and about. After a year he finally figured out how to play and be a "real cat". Right now my fiance is home with him a lot, but in the fall I will be working and going to school, and my finance will be in law school so he will not get as much attention. We thought that he might like a friend to keep him company, but I am afraid that he would be traumatized because of his experience at his foster home. We have found a cat that we would like to try to indroduce to Poo Poo Kitty. She is 5 (Poo is 2) and very calm. She was a stray but was rescued a couple of months ago. They do not know much more than that about her. She is quiet and let me hold her and pet her but was not outgoing at all. I don't know how to decide if Poo Poo Kitty wants a friend and if that is the right friend for him. Like I said, I now know how to introduce them if I decide to adopt another cat, and I know what other people have said, but I feel like my scaredy cat is a special case. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

I think you should be ok with the new one because your cat was there first (so territory's his even if he's timid and she should respect that), and because she sounds almost as quiet as him, and because even though he's a 'fraidy' now, when they get older he's more likely to try and dominate her, if anything, so either get another male who you KNOW is just as afraid as he is, or stick with her. You'll probably have to give them both lots of time, but I'm one who doesn't necessarily always think you have to keep them separated behind doors for ages, I think it can just prolong things, especially if they're already 'good', rather than macho. They likely will hiss and swat and all that for a few weeks, but will do it anyway I think, plus you can always separate them later if there's serious trouble.

The girl you chose sounds good for Poo Poo (and love the name!!) , but if she would not work out, another boy who is also quiet and shy and around the same age could work too. My only concern with the girl you chose is her age compared to Poo Poo. She sounds pretty docile though, and not domineering. Please keep us posted how it works out!!! Sending prayers and hugs your way from our kitty haven in PA!!

Originally Posted by Larke

I think you should be ok with the new one because your cat was there first (so territory's his even if he's timid and she should respect that), and because she sounds almost as quiet as him, and because even though he's a 'fraidy' now, when they get older he's more likely to try and dominate her, if anything, so either get another male who you KNOW is just as afraid as he is, or stick with her. You'll probably have to give them both lots of time, but I'm one who doesn't necessarily always think you have to keep them separated behind doors for ages, I think it can just prolong things, especially if they're already 'good', rather than macho. They likely will hiss and swat and all that for a few weeks, but will do it anyway I think, plus you can always separate them later if there's serious trouble.

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Larke i totally agree with you on this, keeping them seperated just prolongs it. when i brought kevin home i did no seperating. there was a lot of hissing from kya for the first few days and she just avoided him, but it only took about 5 days for her to get used to him and they arent best friends yet but they totally get along.