Should I consider another kitten?

Seeing a kitten this morning in the same place where I found an abandoned kitten last year has got me thinking, should I consider another kitten. Here is the situation

I have one cat Kabuki, that my dog found last year. She fits in well and has the run of the house.

I have 4 dogs that live in the house and they all get along well.

All of my pets go to the vet at least once a year for check ups and vaccines, they are all neutered

When we are gone, Kabuki stays in her bedroom with her litter box, food, water, tree, toys but is alone for 8 hours a day.

I have been reading that adding a female kitten isn't a good idea.

I am primarily a dog person so forgive the noob questions

Should I get her a playmate? I think a kitten would be the most appropriate
Should I only consider a male?
Can the share a litter box and food dishes?
I clean the litter box twice a day and she gets new food and water dishes daily?

If I find out the kitten is abandoned I would rather keep her than turn her in to the humane society. If I don't see it again , I would adopt from the humane society or craigslist.

any thoughts no matter how honest are appreciated

thanks

David

I would say that if you had the time, space, and financial ability, adding a second cat or kitten would be a fine idea.

As far as not having two females, that is something I've heard before, but I would not necessarily give credence to. I, myself, have 3 female cats and one male and I have not had any issues when introducing a female to another female. I think it is more appropriate to go by personality than by sex where cats are concerned. There are also some who say that the addition of a kitten is easier for your already established cat to accept, but that, too, is not always the case. You know your cat best -- do you feel she would be accepting of another cat? Is she dominant and aggressive or is she more submissive and easy-going? Is she prone to anxiety or does she go with the flow? With four dogs in the home, I'd think she would do fine with another companion. But, remember, no matter how sweet she is, it may still take time for her (and the new kitten or cat) to adjust. That's where your time and patience comes in.

As far as space, most cats can get along together and do not mind sharing food dishes, water bowls, or litter pans. And, while there will usually always be an alpha, their pecking order is usually sorted out rather quickly. My cats have no problem sharing their space, their toys, or their meowmy (me). However, I do feed them separately as they have different nutritional requirements. The general rule of thumb for litter boxes is to have on box each for the number of cats you have plus one extra pan. Some cats don't like to share and others only like to urinate in one box and defecate in another. I also provide additional water sources in case one cat decides to be possessive, but, generally speaking, I have very few issues with my kitties. Also, please keep in mind that when adopting or rescuing a new cat or kitten, it is best to keep them separate for some time to ensure that there will be no transfer of disease or parasites. Depending on their age and where they were adopted, my cats have been quarantined in a separate room (a bathroom would work) for anywhere between 2 weeks and 2 months (the latter being a kitten I adopted who needed to be separated due to size and a question on FIV/FeLV status). I strongly recommend quarantining -- while it may make things somewhat difficult for a short period of time, it can save you a lot of money and heartache in the end.

You're already aware of what is costs to fully care for a cat and so I will not go into that. But, I will say that if you do plan on bringing another cat or kitten into the home, I would read up on how to properly introduce cats as well as invest in Feliway diffusers so as to help the cats acclimate during what could be a stressful time. This site has so many different resources that can offer you information and suggestions on how to best go about bringing in a new pet. I know it has helped me tremendously in the past and continues to do so now.

Once you have considered everything, it is really up to you as to whether or not you feel adding another cat or kitten would be appropriate. After that is decided (and you do choose to move forward), the fun begins! Bringing a new kitten or kitty home is always a joyful, exciting experience. And, if nothing else I say is helpful, I'd want you to remember that enjoying the process is just as important as being responsible through it. Good luck and please keep us posted!

wow thanks for all the info. I will do more research, Kabuki is pretty passive but she will put the dogs in their place if they get to rough, usually a hiss and then she goes into her room.

I have 3 females and 1 male. They all get along fine.
I think a playmate for Kabuki is a wonderful idea. Please keep us posted on your decision.

I have been researching and looking at the humane society pages. Not a good thing, I want them all. I will discuss this with the rest of my family and see if we should get a companion for Kabuki

Don't forget to look at Petfinder.com for some other options and more rescue groups in your area. Not that I'm enabling you or anything...

We just got a playmate for our kitty. They are both females. Madeline (new kitty) is adjusting and Lola (resident kitty) is being rather pissy They are both about 12-13 weeks of age.

We adopted from the welfare league/spca because I am not confident of the ethical practices of our humane society. However, Madeline was rescued from the humane society by the welfare league, so... best of both worlds?

I do agree with secluding one. Lola has come to be rather jealous in the short amount of time already