A question about my potential second cat.

I've come across a young tortie female who suffered panleukopenia as a kitten. As a result, she's a bit wobbly and not so graceful, but is healthy in all other ways and is as sweet as can be. I'm very drawn to special needs cats such as this one. I'd love to give her a good home.

Would her disability affect my resident cat's response to her?

My fear is that he would reject her entirely because she acts different than other cats. I don't know much about how cats respond to differences, other than the fact that mother cats may abandon a kitten with a deformity or other physical problem.

Other than that, she would be a perfect match for us. She's submissive in personality but not fearful. She loves attention and gets along with the other cat she is being fostered with.

Any thoughts? I have an opportunity to visit with her tomorrow and talk to her foster mom.

Hi, I don't think the disability would be an issue 'just because' the way it is with people. I doubt that animals have the same kind of perception in that sense, however I would be concerned that he'd pick up on weakness and possibly try to dominate, if not worse, and that she couldn't defend herself.

Originally Posted by Larke

Hi, I don't think the disability would be an issue 'just because' the way it is with people. I doubt that animals have the same kind of perception in that sense, however I would be concerned that he'd pick up on weakness and possibly try to dominate, if not worse, and that she couldn't defend herself.

Click to expand...

yeah. that's what I was getting at.
He does have a dominant personality, but I have never seen him attack another cat. He'll get sulky and make mean noises in their direction though.

Both cats have all their claws. At least they'd be equal in that respect.

While I don't have personal experience with the issue, I've seen a lot of posts here from people who adopt a special needs kitty into their homes. Cats do sense that there is a difference. But unlike humans, they generally seem to be more kind to the one who is differently abled. They will cut a wobbly kitten more slack for running over them in play than they would a "normal" kitten. They will "help" a blind of deaf kitty, and they will figure out how to communicate with them by meowing more for a blind kitty, or patting or going in front of a deaf kitty to get their attention.

You would definitely have to watch them when you introduce them, but you would have to do that regardles of if the kitten is wobbly or not.

Ophelia is a little tipsy(sinus infection & then an ear infection) in addition to being deaf. She & Lily get along great. Twitch is beign her hissy self & doesn't want to accept another cat in her domain, but with time, Ophie will become part of her territory. Neither Twitch nor Lily seem to care aobut Ophie being tipsy. She does actually fall down(her ears affect her balance).

I don't know how different the potential girl is, but I would think they would get along fine.