how young should the new cat be?

othie

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well I'm about the move, when when I do, sadly I will have to leave my cats here (two golden tabbies) and the woman I'm renting a room from has a cat (a older dark tabby, about 7 years old) and has told me that I can bring a cat with me. However I don't have the heart to just choose one of mine (they are very much like brothers, always wresling and playing hide and seek together, they even clean each other) and I have a friend at a animal recuse here. Now I'm told that since the current cat at the new place is older and used to being a only cat that I would be best off with a kitten. However I will have about a month before I will be going to college, so I will need a cat that can handle being alone for atleast the time I'm gone (anywhere from 5 hours 3 days a week to 5 hours 5 days a weeks). I'm told that a ten month old is the best age. Is this true? There is one cat I'm looking at that is 10 months now almost 11. He is also a tabby and a male, would this be the way to go? I'm going on monday to see him and possibly adopt him...
 
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othie

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wonderful, thank you ^_^

Will the old cat (being a female) get along better with him then she would with another female? Both cats have been fixed and any that I got (if I needed one younger or female) would be as well, if that factors into it
 

laureen227

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sounds like a good choice to me. has the other person's cat ever lived w/another cat?
 
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othie

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Originally Posted by laureen227

sounds like a good choice to me. has the other person's cat ever lived w/another cat?
well she was adopted by someone who had saved 5 cats from the vet. So at that time she did, but since then she hasn't had another cat around (this was about 4 years ago) The owner told me she did try to add a kitten into the mix a year ago and this cat didn't take to well to it, used to chase it under the bed and whatnot. Honestly I'm being a bit selfish, its the whole, new place, new school, not knowing anyone thing. I would just feel better if I had a cat of my own, I have always had a cat of my own for as long as I can remember. And I think the fact that this cat will be "mine" and not after the old cat's owner, and will be staying in a different area, have different food/litter and whatnot will help alot...I hope...
 
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othie

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Originally Posted by laureen227

probably be good to at least introduce them, tho. there's a good article on that here: i'd like you to meet - introducing cats
i think a 10-11 month old [or even older] neutered male would be the best choice, since the other cat is a female.
I would, but the place I'm moving to is four hours away, so I can't really go get the old cat to see if she likes him or not. I have read that before and I'm planning on following it. I would wait till I'm getting there, but this cat seems just right (or just what you said) and as I said, the person who works there is a friend. And another reason is I wanted the cat to meet a few more people. I've read that the more the young cats meet people and are petted by them, the better they act around strangers when they are older...
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by othie

I would, but the place I'm moving to is four hours away, so I can't really go get the old cat to see if she likes him or not. I have read that before and I'm planning on following it.
see if the current cat owner will rub a towel all over her cat - you do the same - then exchange towels by mail. that way, they can start getting used to each other's scent ahead of time.
 
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othie

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Originally Posted by laureen227

see if the current cat owner will rub a towel all over her cat - you do the same - then exchange towels by mail. that way, they can start getting used to each other's scent ahead of time.
that is a wonderful idea, thank you!
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by othie

that is a wonderful idea, thank you!
also, feed yours on top of the towel - that way, he associates the scent w/good things. you can suggest this to your future housemate, too.
 
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