Get my kitten a new friend? Help.

We have a six month old kitten. She's a maniac. I'm wondering if getting her a friend (another kitten the same age as her maybe a year old) would help with some of her problems.

I know most of the things she does, like getting on counters, doors (yes...the TOPS of the doors) and the tables she will still do even with a friend in the house. But I'm wondering if having another kitten to play with would help to alleviate some of her other trouble seeking problems. Such as randomely clawing and biting at the walls, her tail, and her other body parts, as well as ours.

She's been to the vet and is healthy. She has plenty of toys, it looks like a cat toy store exploded in our house, but it seems as though she gets 'bored'. Would another kitten help this? I would hate to get another kitten, and have it not work out, then have to find another home for the new kitten, that would just break my heart.

If anyone has any suggestions that would be greatly appreciated!

In my opinion, yes it would help! I have two that are under a year now and having two kittens is certainly more entertaining. They will zip through your house at unimaginable speeds and play for hours on end. But, they will tire each other out and rest too. I'm not saying they're not going to claw furniture or knock things over, but another kitten will definately give the first kitten an outlet for her energy! Either that or you just need to find more time to play with your kitten to wear him out. Good luck!

We play with her all the time to begin with. My fiance works from 3am to 10am, so she's only alone for maybe 2 hours during the day. I'd love to get another kitten, but I don't want to get one much older then one year for fear of our kitten terrorizing an older cat. Which is why I'd like to get one around the same age as Dora (our kitten).

I agree, cats should definitely come in twos! You'll find another kitty won't be that much more work for you, and they'll keep each other company for years to come.

Harley is about 4 months old and we are in the process of getting him a friend. He is a terror around the house, very wild!! We play with him all the time when we are home but me and my DB work from 8AM til 5PM Monday-Friday so we always feel bad that he is alone for 8 hours outta the day. I think 2 kitties are the way to go, I regreat it 100% that we didnt get 2 right away when we got Harley!

Another kitten is a great idea. Just be sure to introduce them slowly and don't expect an immediate miracle.

Even though she is only alone 2 hours a day, I bet there is still a lot of time where you or your fiance are asleep, or out to dinner, with friends, etc. A playmate with the same needs a nocturnal habits would be good for her.

I am looking around right now for another kitty around the same age as her, as I don't want to terrorize an older cat with her kitten antics.

She bites alot, I read somewhere that when single kittens are placed into homes without other cats or kittens they sometimes tend to bite their owners as they use to bite their littermates. Is this true?

Some shelters around here will NOT adopt a kitten or young cat to a household without kittens or cats due to the behavioral issues that can arise from being the lone cat. I wonder if this is true also?

Originally Posted by Dora

She bites alot, I read somewhere that when single kittens are placed into homes without other cats or kittens they sometimes tend to bite their owners as they use to bite their littermates. Is this true?

Some shelters around here will NOT adopt a kitten or young cat to a household without kittens or cats due to the behavioral issues that can arise from being the lone cat. I wonder if this is true also?

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I'm not sure about the first, but I know a lot of shelters and rescues believe that kittens should only go to households who already have cats, or are being adopted in pairs. It depends on the rescue/shelter as to whether that is a preference or a rule.

I would get a second cat that is her age or younger. That way the first kitten won't feel threatened.
I do think they settle down quite a bit when they get a little older. (like a year)