Kitten or Adult Cat

Welcome to TCS!!

First off - thank you for thinking adoption first! There are *so* many wonderful homeless pets out there.

Has your boyfriend's kitty ever lived with another cat before? Regardless, please be sure to read up on a "proper kitty introduction". Introducing them slowly will make your chances of an easy integration easier. The new kitty should be set up in a room by his/herself for awhile (anywhere from a few days to 1 - 4 weeks) while s/he adjusts. After a short while switch bedding of the newbie & resident kitty so they can smell each other. After that you can introduce the two during supervised visits.

On to the "what kitty do I pick?" question. I wouldn't focus on sex, as if you're dead-set on a certain sex you may miss out on your purrfect match. While kittens are adorable, they're annoying. I guess I would look at an "older" kitten - this time of year shelters often have last summer's "leftover" kittens - I know here we have TONS of half grown kittens - in fact we have few adults, mostly 5 - 9 month old "kittens". Age wise, energy level wise - that would probably be about the right "compatibility match" for your boyfriend's kitty. An adult may work out well, as I know of some 4 year old cats in my household who are getting into things like 6 month old kittens all the time! I guess I'd just keep an open mind, don't fall for the "kitten cuteness".

As for the adult cat adjusting - I've rescued many adult cats. I have a "busy" household - no kids but 3 dogs & 12 cats indoors. Like I said busy! Most of mine have done just fine - sometimes there is some adjusting to the dogs. Depending on the shelter/humane society/rescue you go to - sometimes they can tell you if the cat has been around dogs (either lived w/ them or they've tested the cat around dogs).

Hope this helps - and if you have any more questions just ask!

It might be good to get a cat around the same age as the existing one. That way they share the same energy levels and can keep each other entertained.
Just make sure you do proper introductions (there are threads explaining how to do this) and they should learn to accept one another.
You could always look for a cat thats used to dogs as well, to make the transition easier.
Either way, good luck.!
Having one cat is great but I like having 2-3. They keep each other busy and its fun to watch them teach each other stuff, wrestle and play.

Some people prefer males because they're more cuddly - they've never met my Molly, Margo, Eden, or Lola!

Anyways - older kittens can adjust just fine. My Lola was about 7 months old when I brought her home, she had some severe health/behavioral issues, but adjusted into the household & learned what it was to be a cat just fine!

How wonderful! A new cat! I'm envious! And how glad I am that you are reading up on this, considering what is best, etc. So many people don't.

I think you've been given great advice already here. All I would add is to ask that you consider adopting a black cat (or older kitten). I volunteer at a shelter, and because black is the dominant color, genetically, so there are so many, and because some people are, well, stupid, black cats get left behind in shelters - some for many years. And shelters that euthanize a lot of healthy cats (not mine) often do so to black cats, just because there are so many. Black cats are beautiful, exotic, and elegant. There is a thread here on the "Furr pictures" forum that shows a lot of tcs members' black cats.

It's a good idea to visit a shelter (or shelters or rescued cats in big box pet stores) several times until you are sure about the cat you pick. Spend an hour or more (total over 2-3 visits) to make sure. Get the cat you are most attracted to or connect with most. I think an older kitten, near the same age as your boyfriend's, is an excellent idea. But an older cat will most likely adjust fine, too. Just be sure you really do the introduction procedure, and it will go fine. When it doesn't go well, it's usually because people didn't do the introduction advice procedures at all, or did them only partly or too fast.

And if you want a female cat, get one! Right now I have 5 cats (3 DSH black ones), and out of them, the two most affectionate are one female (black, DSH) and one male (gray or "blue" DLH). And that has been my (considerable) experience. Cats are all individuals, like people. And females can and often are just as affectionate, or more so than males. And just as easy to get along with and get to adjust to other cats.

Happy cat "shopping!" And welcome to tcs!

Robin

I'd try to get them as close in age as I could. That way they are at the same stage of life. I had a very difficult time when I got my 3, all at different ages and stages, took a very long time for 2 of them to be together.

I'd look for a boy close in age to your current kitty (or perhaps a little younger), and just follow guidelines on kitty introduction in the sticky in this forum. Older kittens you know the personality more or less too, whereas w/ tiny kittens they are more mold-able and super cute but you can't really tell yet.

My advice:
1) Health, health, health! Sick kitties can be very expensive, and its easy for cats to get sick in shelters with so many other cats coming in and out and people touching them all one by one.

2) Let the cat pick you, and by that I mean the kitty that is attracted to you and playful and pawing at you is a great bet, and those that seem fearful, shy, or just uninterested may be less appealing even if they have really pretty coats.

3) Foster is nicer than shelter (get a bit more attention usually), but both are good, and for either I would heed the advice of the caregivers and just let them know what you are looking for that you have other animals and if wanting a lap kitty etc.