Acquiring a second cat?

loveysmummy · Mar 20, 2005

Hi
I am curious as to when the best time to do this is.

Lovey has only been here three weeks and I am in no rush to get him a playmate.

I acquired him at 1.5 years. He is a neutered, very playful and sweet boy.
He has been at many homes in his life and is now permanent with me...
I work all day and as he is so playful and very smart, I thought a playmate down the road might be a good idea..

Now the problem, I got Lovey through a friend of a previous owner.
She didn't know much about him and only casually mentioned that he didn't get along with the previous owner's two cats..and so went back to the Humane Society...
I was informed on here that I shouldn't really believe this or hold this to be true as its third party and one can't know for sure.

Now from what I have read, a kitten may be my best bet as he may accept a kitten better..and that the kitten should probably be female.

But, what would I do if he really is seriously aggressive after a lengthy introductory period? I couldn't very well take the kitten back after say 3 weeks of introduction, for example...

Thanks for any suggestions or insight!

elizwithcat · Mar 20, 2005

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

Hi
I am curious as to when the best time to do this is.

Lovey has only been here three weeks and I am in no rush to get him a playmate.

I acquired him at 1.5 years. He is a neutered, very playful and sweet boy.
He has been at many homes in his life and is now permanent with me...
I work all day and as he is so playful and very smart, I thought a playmate down the road might be a good idea..

Now the problem, I got Lovey through a friend of a previous owner.
She didn't know much about him and only casually mentioned that he didn't get along with the previous owner's two cats..and so went back to the Humane Society...
I was informed on here that I shouldn't really believe this or hold this to be true as its third party and one can't know for sure.

Now from what I have read, a kitten may be my best bet as he may accept a kitten better..and that the kitten should probably be female.

But, what would I do if he really is seriously aggressive after a lengthy introductory period? I couldn't very well take the kitten back after say 3 weeks of introduction, for example...

Thanks for any suggestions or insight!

Yes, the kitten should be female and young for best introduction. Because if it's another male, they will fight for who is the dominant one. Other than that, there are no guarantees. He might be one of those cats who doesn't like other cats. Or maybe he will like a companion. THere is no way to tell until you try, I think.

ghostuser · Mar 20, 2005

I just wanted to point out that Merlin was a very large 1.5 year old male, and I brought home another 14 year old male, a 5.5 month old male (he's almost a year now), and now a 1 year old male, and there have never been any fights for dominance. I work as an adoption councilor for a shelter, and from all the things I've overheard, it doesn't matter on the sex of the kitten, it just depends on the temperments and attitudes of the cats. I would agree that either a kitten or older cat would be best. Two cats of the same age typically have more problems than if there is a age difference.

Personally I think you should wait at least until you've had him for two or three months. He'll be past the new-house jitters, and will be comfortable enough knowing he's safe.

elizwithcat · Mar 20, 2005

Both of my cats are males, and they love each other. But they do fight now and then for dominance. Apparently, one of them bit the other one on the head, I had to take the cat to a vet. I believe it would have been better if the second cat I got was a female.

ashz · Mar 20, 2005

As for the part about "finding out" wether or not your kitty likes other cats. I was wondering if you could bring a kitten home on a trial version? I know some shelters allow people to bring home kittens/cats and give a trial period of 3 or 4 weeks. If the cats dont agree, then the kitten goes back to the shelter and the adoption fee is returned(in some cases the adoption fee is not returned and the shelter uses it for shelter expenses). Another way to find out may be to foster? (Althought I am not so sure about that one.)

Hope that helps

imsoocute222 · Mar 20, 2005

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

Hi
I am curious as to when the best time to do this is.

Lovey has only been here three weeks and I am in no rush to get him a playmate.

I acquired him at 1.5 years. He is a neutered, very playful and sweet boy.
He has been at many homes in his life and is now permanent with me...
I work all day and as he is so playful and very smart, I thought a playmate down the road might be a good idea..

Now the problem, I got Lovey through a friend of a previous owner.
She didn't know much about him and only casually mentioned that he didn't get along with the previous owner's two cats..and so went back to the Humane Society...
I was informed on here that I shouldn't really believe this or hold this to be true as its third party and one can't know for sure.

Now from what I have read, a kitten may be my best bet as he may accept a kitten better..and that the kitten should probably be female.

But, what would I do if he really is seriously aggressive after a lengthy introductory period? I couldn't very well take the kitten back after say 3 weeks of introduction, for example...

Thanks for any suggestions or insight!

i have 3 males in which are ages 13,10,5. i had gotten each of them when they we're about 4 weeks and i would say that if and when you do decide to get a play mate be sure that it is a kitten (around maybe 4-6 weeks old). and try not to wait to longin decideing because with my 3 the 2 older ones get along fine and the two younger ones get along fine but my 13 teen year old really doesn't care to much for the 5 year old (they don't fight or anything) the 13 teen year old is just set in his ways i guess.
so in my opion i'd get a playmate right away and i'd make sure it was just a kitten and deffinately the same sex.
i hope that my addvise was /is helpful.

oh and good luck

nano · Mar 21, 2005

I suggest you wait.

While some pet owners are not so great at relating to cats, I don't think you should completely ignore the warning that he has been returned to the shelter multiple times for not getting along with other cats or acclimating to other households. You've only had him for three weeks yourself. And whatever people want to say, some cats are best suited for solitary households where it is just one adult (the owner) and no other humans or animals.

I've had Nano for three months and while I'm confident she will eventually branch out, there is no way I'd introduce another person or pet into the household at this point. Please note that Nano is a rescued stray...but if your cat has already had many (?) different owners in its short life then that's not much better.

Good luck!

loveysmummy · Mar 21, 2005

Thanks for all your responses.
Yes, Nano. You are right, I think. As I said, I am in no hurry..
He is just becoming more and more comfortable each day and I don't want to upset that balance now.
How long do you think it takes a bounced around cat or stray to feel stable? Or do they ever fully?

And I am fine with it if he wants to keep himself as only cat.
He was only dumped off once for the other cat thing..The other times it was due to moving...which to me is a lame excuse anyway. You never really know.
I do know no one had EVER cut his nails..We finally got that done and it didn't even result in bloodshed

We will perhaps peruse the idea in 3 months down the road.

Again, thanks!

Acquiring a second cat?

loveysmummy

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elizwithcat

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ghostuser

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elizwithcat

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ashz

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nano

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