Is it possible- introductions?

payaza2000

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Hi guys I posted a few days ago about traveling with my cat across country via airplane.

I was curious however once he gets settled at my new place would he be able to have a new kitten or cat introduced to him ( following the methods outlined on this and other sites)? Financially I feel like I am at a place where I could afford a new cat, but only want to do so if it doesn't inconvenience him.

He's four years old, slowed down significantly(from when he's been a kitten), reserved. He's never had any interactions with other animals other than the five other kittens in his litter and a dog but that was when he was 8 weeks old!

My hesitation arises because once when I dropped my keys outside my apartment when I was taking him to the vet, I put down the carrier, and some feral kittens that lived outside our building approached the carrier, and he hissed at them!

Here's a picture of Flea when he was younger :
 

riley1

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My beloved kitty would hiss at my foster kittens all the time.  He was trying to teach them that he was the boss cat & they were clueless to this instruction so he just ran away from them.  If your kitty  is content alone I would keep it that way.  You can try another cat if you have the time & patience for a complete intro but after 4 years alone your cat may not want to share his resources & person with another cat.  Just my two cents!
 

riley1

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PS:  I would wait until your resident cat has a long time to get used to his new place before introducing anyone new to the mix.
 
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payaza2000

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OK I was hoping to hear the opposite. If I do decide to go forward and get another cat is there anything I can do to lessen the amount of stress on each cat? Not get a kitten? Get Litter box situation? I know about the introductions already.
 

catpack

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I would look into fostering before committing to adopt if possible.

Personally I find *most* male cats are more likely to accept another cat quicker than a female that has been an only.

But, if you are able to foster first, this would let you see how Flea does with other cats. (BTW, hissing at unknown cats is completely normal. So, his experience with the ferals doesn't mean he won't tolerate another cat in the house.)

I know my cats (aged 3-6) do best with older kittens (6/8 months +) and other young adult cats. Most of them do not like the crazy antics of really young kittens (though a few of the 4 yr old males do fine with them.)

So, going off my experience, I'd look for a male that is 6+ months of age, raised in a home with other cats, laid back, but still playful and a pretty outgoing disposition.

As to how long to wait...
How long have you been in the new home? I certainly don't think you have to wait a year to bring in a new cat; but, I think a few months could be good. You want Flea completely confident in his new home before bringing in a newbie. Exactly how long that takes will vary from cat to cat.

I think, so long as you are willing and able to follow the introduction steps and can go slow, things are likely to work out well.

Let us know what you decide!
 

riley1

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Go with CatPack.  Didn't mean to turn you off to another cat; probably just expressing my own fears about about cat intros. 
 
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