About choosing a companion for my old cat

I have a 15 year old female cat. She is limber and active, though mostly she lays around. I get the impression she is board. I don't play with her very much. I treat her VERY well and am therefore concerned for her happyness. I am considering getting a much younger cat for her to play with, but I don't know which sex to get. I tryed an older, female cat years ago, but that didn't work out. Please give me any advice you feel is useful. I appreciate you time and effort.
Stevescat

I would suggest a male kitten with a relatively calm disposition. Any kitten will be active and playful, but I really would not want a super active pushy kitten with a senior cat.
And whatever you choose, the introduction process is going to be key in how well your older kitty adapts. Do not be tempted to rush things!

I really wouldn't do it - too much experience with male (or female) cats asserting dominance with older or 'weaker' cat as soon as they're big enough to take control. She may be a bit bored, but it's better than being prey.

I would suggest getting a young (2 or 3 yrs) female with a quiet disposition. I would expect some hissing/back arching initially, but if you introduce them slowly (keep the new cat in a separate room but with the door open slightly, so they can 'smell' each other), I think your older cat will be happier, especially if you are not around much of the day and this will keep her from beng lonely.

Originally Posted by Stevescat

I have a 15 year old female cat. She is limber and active, though mostly she lays around. I get the impression she is board. I don't play with her very much. I treat her VERY well and am therefore concerned for her happyness. I am considering getting a much younger cat for her to play with, but I don't know which sex to get. I tryed an older, female cat years ago, but that didn't work out. Please give me any advice you feel is useful. I appreciate you time and effort.
Stevescat

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I would suggest a cat around her same age and temperment. I do not recommend a kitten for a cat over the age of 5...it's asking a mature adult to accept a baby...and I've seen way too many situations where that does not work out. The kitten gets frustrated when the older cat doesn't have the same energy level.

Katie

I strongly recommend that you do not get a kitten. That would be like giving your 80 year old grandmother a two-year-old child to live with. She would go bonkers quickly.

If you feel you need to adopt another cat, it should be an older cat (around 8 to 15 years) with a calm and friendly temperament. I can't say strongly enough how important it is to adopt an older cat (or none at all).

If you do decide to adopt, make sure you do a careful introduction of the two cats using the method below. Whatever you do, please do not just throw the cats together the first day you bring home the new cat.

First, put the new kitty in her own room. She will need to stay there for a couple of weeks, so make sure it is comfortable for her with litter box, water, and food. This will allow your old cats to get used to the sounds and smells of a new cat without having their territory invaded.

After a couple of days, start trading scents between the cats. Rub the new cat (especially around the cheeks) with a slightly damp towel and then go rub the old cats with the same towel (and vice versa). This way they will associate the scent of the new cat with good things (being rubbed and getting attention). Do this several times daily.

After one week, lock up your old cats and let the new cat out for the night or for a few hours. Do not yet allow the new and old cats to be together. Do this for one week.

By the end of week two, your old cats are going to be really curious about what is going on with the cat behind the door. You can try bringing the new cat out with the old cats for brief visits. As soon as the new cat comes out, give them all some tuna or some other really yummy treat. This way they associate great things with the other cat. Put the new cat back in her room after a brief period of time. Make sure you keep any aggression from occurring (GENTLY toss a pillow at the aggressor).

Some people suggest putting a dab of vanilla extract under each cat's chin and at the base of each cat's tail (on top, not on their bottom). This way both cats smell the same....since cats are so scent driven, they are less threatened when the other cat smells the same way they do!

Gradually increase the amount of time the cats are together. I recommend keeping new kitty in her room over night for at least a third week. When the cats are out together, make sure you give lots of attention to the old cats so they know that they are the top kitties.

Expect lots of hissing and perhaps a swat here and there. But...this should keep any real aggression from occurring. The hissing will stop once they establish their hierarchy and get used to each other.

Most importantly....have lots of patience and take things sloooooowly!

Seconding the advice to not get a kitten or young adult cat. It's exactly the opposite of what a senior cat would want. It might be a nice chance to adopt a mature adult cat, five years old or even older. Then you might have two happy older cats.

Honestly, though, I think any new addition is going to make a senior cat who has been the sole cat all her life miserable. They're too old to endure change. A relative of mine who has a 15-year-old cat asked her vet about getting a kitten, and his answer was unequivocally, don't do it, wait for the older cat to pass away before changing the household.

If you tried this a few years ago and it didn't work, then your cat may have answered the question for you already. If it's that you yourself want another cat and you're willing to risk it, try. But if you're doing it only for your cat, then it's giving the cat a gift she'll dislike... the feline equivalent of a fruitcake.

Originally Posted by emmylou

the feline equivalent of a fruitcake.

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I must agree that the best idea is to not adopt at all. At your cat's age it is just too risky.

I had a thought... don't know whether it's a good idea or not. If you don't end up getting a new cat, and your old cat is seeming bored, you might try getting a fish tank. It would have to be heavy and pretty strongly secured against the cat, though. When I was younger I think we had a cat and a tank at the same time... cat theater.

Stevescat here.
Thank you all for your input. I have decided not to ad a second cat to this household. My Mother-83-is enough company for my cat while I am at work. She also thinks it is a bad idea to try to introduce another cat.