TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › Should I get a second cat?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Should I get a second cat?

post #1 of 6
10/14/10 at 3:01pm
Thread Starter 
I started working at an animal shelter this summer. About a month ago, the inevitable happened...I adopted a cat. I had a cat for a short time as a child then more recently lived with a roommate who adopted two Maine Coon kittens. This is the first time I've actually owned my own cat. I'm am very satisfied with my new furry friend. Wayne is a 1.5 year old male orange tabby. He's very friendly, sweet and quiet. He's pretty typically mischeivous for a young male but has not gotten in any serious trouble yet. He's of medium energy level, playful but not an ankle biter. Wayne is an all around good cat, I just wish I was around to enjoy his company more; which brings me to my issue: should I get him a friend? He's very social and I worry that he gets bored and lonely when my roommate and I are away. My knowledge and experience with pets tells me Bored + playful young male (cat or dog)= trouble! I know he gets along with other cats because he was living with several others in a "cat habitat" at the shelter.
Should I get a cat similar to him so they can run off their energy together or a calm quiet cuddle buddy?
I'm concerned about the pitter patter of feet at night disturbing me, my roommate or my neighbors.
how do cats of same vs. opposite gender get along?
options short of another cat to keep Wayne happy and occupied while i'm not home?

thank you for any comments or advice
Reply
post #2 of 6
10/14/10 at 8:09pm
Yes! Of course, I have 3 cats, so I'm not going to discourage you from adding a 2nd cat to your home. If you can afford the upkeep of another cat, then it will not only be good for Wayne, it will be more entertaining for you.
Reply
post #3 of 6
10/15/10 at 7:58am
Welcome to TCS!

If Wayne lived with cats in the past & you have reason to believe he'd accept a feline friend - then of course go for it!

I would pick a kitty of similar age, temperament, & energy level. Getting a mellower cat won't provide a playmate for him if the kitty doesn't play much.

As far as sex goes, I tell people don't look at the sex of the cat, but rather the purr-sonality. Some people will only specifically want a certain sex, and may well overlook their purr-fect new family member because s/he is the opposite sex they are "set" on!

I have 10 cats in my house, so yes while they can sometimes be noisy, I've found they keep each other fairly quietly occupied at night & don't bother me!
Reply
post #4 of 6
10/17/10 at 5:16pm
Boys and girls get along, and boys and boys get along. Girls and girls can too, but statistically speaking the boys are most friendly and the girls can be a bit more aloof.

I'd recommend looking for around a 4 month old outgoing male. Still young enough to be quick to adapt and playful, but robust and big enough at that age to hold his own with his big brother.

Just keeps the kitties so much more active when they have a playmate, gives them company when you are not around, and allows them to burn off energy since you can't play with them non-stop all day. Buttercup and Wesley (granted siblings) are attached at the hip for example, usually snuggle on top of one another in a ball, and meow loudly if separated.

I believe you'd still need to do the regular slow kitty introduction though.

Cost really isn't THAT much more. Twice the food cost and potentially twice the vet bills, but can share everything else really, and managing two isn't really more work than one (and could be less again since less destructive and play with one another).
Reply
post #5 of 6
10/17/10 at 5:35pm
I adopted an adult girl (about 3 years old) and then started thinking the same thing - although she seemed fine on her own, I do work full time and am usually gone from 7:00 am to about 6:30 pm. So, three months later I did adopt - I thought I was going to get another girl, but was advised to go by personality and that often opposite sexes work better - girls tend to be more territorial (and my girl was!). I got a boy about the same age. The intro's went well, in retrospect, but there were a few times of hissing and Halloween cat imitations and a few yowls at night. But I believe boys and boys often work well together - girls and girls can be iffy, depending on territorial they are.

But, I'm totally glad I did - they do play with each other, and spend time grooming each other, as well as laying together watching out the windows. The double vet bills are the biggest consideration, financially - adding a a couple of litter boxes and food won't be that much, I think.

I would advise, silly as it may seem, to tell your Wayne he's your number 1 and that you love him and that the kitten is for him. Always greet and feed Wayne first, and make sure you give him a lot of one on one play time as well (it's seductive to spend a lot of time with the new kitty).
Reply
post #6 of 6
10/17/10 at 9:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducman69 View Post
Boys and girls get along, and boys and boys get along. Girls and girls can too, but statistically speaking the boys are most friendly and the girls can be a bit more aloof.
I have 10 fixed housecats - nine of which are female. Most of my females get along very well, two are best friends & darn near inseparable. I have one of my girls rubbing across my arms right now (she's the one who hates other cats & lives on her own). They can be crabby & fight, but I think all cats can....and I swear it's the one guy who starts things & ducks out to leave the girls to finish it!

Outside I have 3 spayed females/5 neutered males - the females get along with everyone (except for the almost blind 16 y/o). The males are always getting into it with each other. In fact I had to build an enclosure to house one of the males as he was continually at the vet with severe wounds from being attacked by one of the other males.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Behavior
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › Should I get a second cat?