Need advice, second cat?

Hey all,

It's been awhile since I've been here. I come hoping to receive some advice from other cat lovers.

I have an 8 year old female bengal. Mali has feline triad disease, as well as major kidney problems. She's currently stable on medication, active, playful, and seemingly happy. Mali has long-since outlived her "6 month to 2 year" life expectancy; her vet thinks she could leave til 12-13 with proper care. I'm not sure, but I sure hope she lives for a very long time.

Mali spends her daytimes in the winter hanging out in the bathroom on the radiant heat floor; in the evenings she comes out, plays, snuggles with me. She sleeps on the bed with me. She always has the full run of a 2400 sq ft, two level house, and is indoors only except when leashed to go outside.

I also have two young, active, boisterous dogs. Mali has learned how to incite them to chase, then duck around a corner and watches them make fools of themselves. They chase her, but not often. They never attempt to actually put teeth to her or any such thing. The worst they do is lick her face, which you know, hurts Mali's pride - but nothing else. I hear about it for hours after such a thing occurs.

I maintain a separate guest room with a gate mounted high so Mali can go over or under it, and there are plentiful cat trees and high places throughout the house.

I received the all-clear from my vet to bring in a cat, so long as I do a 2 week quarantine to watch for upper respiratory issues or diarrhea, to make sure that Mali isn't exposed to anything that would further compromise her health.

2 years ago, Mali lost her companion cat to HCM - he was only 4.5 years old; they were inseparable, eating, sleeping, playing, and grooming together. I thought I'd lose Mali when Kayne passed, since she wouldn't eat without him; but she seemed to "get over it" with far more speed than I did. =)

What I'm not sure about is what is right to do. I want a second cat - but only if it will help, or at least not harm, Mali. I mean, yes, this would also be a companion to me; but primarily I want Mali to have a best friend again, and I want my girl to be as happy as she can be. I have a hold (expiring in 3 hours) on a 5 year old, long-haired black kitty at the local humane society - he grew up with dogs and 6 cats. But my gut feeling says that Mali would accept a kitten far more readily, as she did with Kayne, her companion.

What would you guys do? The brief is that I have a fairly sick but stable cat, that enjoyed have a kitty companion but no longer has one. She seems happy, but she'd likely be happier with a friend if they were integrated right. I just don't know what to do here, I can't seem to put my finger on what is right for Mali. I know that ultimately I have to make the decision, but I could use some thoughts from others that may have been in this situation. Would you get an older cat and attempt that integration? A kitten? or leave Mali as an "only cat" with just a human and two crazy dogs as companions, leaving off the stress and potential failed integration?

Thanks for reading, I appreciate any feedback you can all provide.

-Lisa

That's a very good point, that a kitten could be a 2 year annoyance. Mali is playful, but almost certainly not in the way a young kitten would be for a few years. She has definitely slowed down.

Other than living with an adult that she basically raised (not hers, though), she's never been exposed to another adult cat, so that's my hesitation. Or rather, she was exposed to a stray on the other side of a window and she didn't take kindly, but I have no intention of dumping a cat into her house. The introductions would be slow and long, especially given the minimum 2 week quarantine period needed.

I definitely have no interest in two kittens at this point. My goal is to have two bonded cats; I know the "bonded" part is a risk, but three cats would be too much for both Mali and myself. =)

Mali can definitely get along with other cats so long as I don't rush things. I didn't end up getting the cat I had a hold on, I'm not convinced he's quite the right fit for my house; but I am going to continue on a serious search for the right fit and see if I can't find the right second cat to bring in.

Thank you to all for lending both your experience and advice. It has helped me figure things out quite a bit. I, Mali and "the new cat" (whomever that will be) really appreciate it. =)

I've fostered dogs, but I haven't fostered cats - mostly because I am overly worried about Mali's immune system and what those cats might bring in.

The vet has this stunning white cat, 14 years old, and healthy other than some old-age arthritis which glucosamine is helping. He grew up with large dogs, and apparently gets along quite well with the cats there.

Now, when Mali was boarding at the vet, this cat did go into that room and I'm told there was much yowling on Mali's part. Is this a definite "no way"? My gut feeling is that this happened purely because of the lack of introductions. If I took more time with slow introductions, I think it could work.

Or should I just give this up given my cat's initial reaction? She was raised with other cats, and did have a best bud, so it's hard for me to believe that she couldn't do this again.

___

The other consideration I have now is that one of Mali's teeth is getting re-absorbed, she doesn't appear to be in pain, but we can't pull it if she is. One of her kidneys is now missing, and the remaining one is small and lumpy; anasthetic is out. So perhaps this whole crazy adventure is out, but I'll be able to make a more informed decision tomorrow when we receive her blood panel results back.

The senior cat I'm looking at has been at the vet for a year, and I've been offered the opportunity to "try him out" and see how he does at home. For a weekend, though I could probably get a week. If the stress isn't gone within a week, or he's not doing well in my house - then cancel this plan.

What do you guys think? I think that this cat may be the best option for my situation.

Thank you!

Unfortunately the second cat concept has to be nixed. Mali has come up with a whole new issue in the form of an e. coli infection. Not sure really what it means, but her vet doesn't think a second cat is at all a good idea anymore.

Thanks to all for your help and advice. =)