Getting a new kitten?

elliriyanna

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I am not sure if this is in the right section, I haven't been here in a while. 

My Emma will be 5 in May and I am thinking about getting another cat/kitten. There are some things I have to get in order first but I still like to plan ahead. 

I know the new addition will need its own space, Emma has not been allowed in my office for months now and thats where the new little one would be set up, litter box, food water, toys, The scratching post Emma hates lol. 

How did you decide if you were ready for a new cat or if it would be a good fit for the one you have? 
 

haleyds

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How I decided I was ready, was when I knew I was stable and had plenty of time to give to what really is a baby. When I thought about getting a kitten it made me excited, not worried or stressed. It should be a happy, and exciting process, not something you're scared about doing.
As for finding the best fit, that can be difficult. All kittens are frisky and playful and if your current kitty doesn't enjoy that much then at first things may be hard. I'm getting my kitten in three weeks and since I have no other permanent cats in the house I had to find a breed that would be fine living with pups! It's all in what personality you need (:
Best wishes and you have to share pictures when you get the little one!
 
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elliriyanna

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I worded that poorly, I meant if my cat is a good candidate to get a kitty companion for. 

I have anxiety ... I worry, its what I do. No matter how excited I am.

My Emma came home at only 6 weeks, I will be a student in a few months but I am not working 40 hours a week or anything, honestly after i get a couple things together this will be the most stable and independent I have been in my life.

My worries are things like ... What if he doesn't use the litter box that loyally , what if he chews cords ( I know this is preventable but still) and what if he gets sick? These are all things my cat does not do at all. She never has. And while all cats are different there are some things I am just not ok with ... And that aren't safe ...  
 

haleyds

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I completely understand your worry, honey! Being a student myself I can assure you'll have plenty of time. And kitten antics are honestly a lot of fun after the initial getting used to them. Find you a baby who's laid back and a lover. Litter box troubles are easily corrected and when they're babies the accidents are very small and easy to handle. As for cords, I can't speak because I've never had one mess in that stuff haha! As long as he's in a safe, contained area while you're gone everything will be fine. Cats are much more capable of handling themselves than we give them credit for!
 

haleyds

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Oh and early shots and getting him from a responsible owner/shelter/breeder make a world of difference in the health of a kitten!
 
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elliriyanna

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Yeah I have been down the " rescued kitten with everything wrong" route ... But I am prepared to do that again if need be. My friend's mom has a feral cat she feeds that just showed up pregnant ( They have been pushing to have the cat spayed, its a whole huge ordeal) and this litter is what got me thinking about adding a kitten to the family. 

I just worry Emma will NOT be ok with it. 
 

haleyds

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What's Emma's personality like? Her being female is a plus, as she may still retain some motherly instincts. I know my grandmothers Siamese was spayed but would take care of baby rabbits that got brought up by the dogs haha!
 
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elliriyanna

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Well Emma is a Torti ... Which is a statement on its own. 

Emma ... Hates most things, she did adjust to the dog though. She can not tolerate when the kids I babysit come over, and she is a stick in the mud about things changing. But she loves her feather toys and her lazer pointer and given enough time she usually comes around. She does not like neighborhood cats on her territory but that could be because they are unknown. she does occasionally play tag with the dog but lets him know when she is done. 

I know thats not really a personality assessment. But our household is so quiet she is rarely introduced to anything new, and generally she likes to spend her time by my boyfriends side asleep lol. 
 

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We decided to get a kitten almost a year ago since our cat seemed to be so lonely without another cat in the house. His shelter card said that he loved other cats so we knew it would be right for him. We decided on a kitten instead of a cat closer to his same age (around 3 years) because he was very playful and we knew he had a lot of energy. 

The kitten ended up being way more expensive than anticipated because she developed an URI from the stress of being in a new home. She is now just about a year old and needs to have a $700 surgery to remove two of her claws because they're hurting her. I wouldn't trade her for the world, but I am glad that there are two incomes in our little family so we can afford things like this without any problems at all. 

I think most cats are capable of enjoying a companion if they are introduced correctly to one another. For a five year old cat, it might be better to get a young adult cat rather than a kitten though. It depends on the personality of your cat but most adult cats will be annoyed by a playful kitten.
 

haleyds

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Haha oh I just read a forum about how torties seemed to always have the most unique and "Queen" like personalities! I'm stumped, though. Although since she adjusted to a dog I'm not convinced she wouldn't a kitten. If she asserts her feelings to the dog without hurting him, she will most likely react the same way with a kitten. Which may seem mean, but in many ways is a good thing! Her asserting herself sets boundaries for the little one so it will know when to just leave her alone.
Getting a kitten will be a plus as well, because it can grow up around her and understand how to be, rather than having to change.
 
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elliriyanna

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The only issue with a young adult cat is it could already have bad habits ... Or issues with dogs, plus Emma could see it as a threat. I am not in any rush. 

Its just something I am thinking about right now. it may not even happen, I have been wanting to adopt my dogs brother for years. 

Yes ... Torti's are a handful lol, but certainly spunky. Yeah she makes her feelings known but she has never injured the dog, and being a terrier he can be a bit rambunctious for her. 
 
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NewYork1303

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The only issue with a young adult cat is it could already have bad habits ... Or issues with dogs, plus Emma could see it as a threat. I am not in any rush. 

Its just something I am thinking about right now. it may not even happen, I have been wanting to adopt my dogs brother for years. 

Yes ... Torti's are a handful lol, but certainly spunky. Yeah she makes her feelings known but she has never injured the dog, and being a terrier he can be a bit rambunctious for her. 
The benefits of an adult cat is that you have some idea of personality from the beginning. Most shelters test their animals with dogs and cats to see if they are compatible and can let you know how they react. Our kitten was an unknown. It turns out she hates dogs, which was not something we expected (and sometimes is a problem since we have a dog). 
 
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elliriyanna

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I know they are tested and such, my dad had two shelter cats, and I have no issues with older cats. Its just I am interested in a specific litter. Thats how I got Emma and Ry too ... 
 

NewYork1303

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I totally get that. 
 Kitten's are a lot of fun. 

I do worry a bit from the description of your cats personality. She reminds me of my rainbow kitty who was definitely meant to be an only cat. She tolerated two kittens we brought into the house. But never liked them. 

Worst comes to worse though you could find the kitten a new home if she absolutely refused to get used to the idea. You know her best so if you think its worth a try then go for it!
 
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elliriyanna

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I am thinking she would tolerate a cat ... but that it would be best if we got a cat who would be a great friend to the dog. He is the one FAR more accepting of a buddy and needing one. 
 
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elliriyanna

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Well, My boyfriend and I have been talking and we think we want to adopt a older male kitten. But when we do adopt we plan to take the dog to see if he is scared of him. Don't worry my dog is very mellow and will be held. But we do not want to stress him out by bringing him home and finding out he is terrified of dogs. Also we both have a passion for black cats so we are mostly looking at them, but its going to come down to who is a good fit for us. 
 

NewYork1303

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Sounds great! Any cat will be lucky to join your family. Black cats and especially adult black cats are a challenge to get adopted so many shelters have them available. 
 
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elliriyanna

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Thanks, we are going out of town for something next month so we plan to wait until after that to start really looking for a new member of the family. 
 
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elliriyanna

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I do have one question I should ask, Which would adjust better to our home? A kitten or an adult? 

And on the other size of that... Which would she find less threatening, and be more willing to accept? 
 

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I think that greatly depends on the temperment of cat or kitten.  Many cats have a hard time accepting kittens since they are annoying and will constantly try to play with them. Another older cat might seem more frightening initially, but often the cats would build a better relationship since one wouldn't be badgering the other for play all of the time.

I know we adopted our first cat at 2 years old. He adjusted to the house much more quickly than the kitten we adopted later did.
 
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