Male or female?

Hi, i already have a female cat who is (so my husband says) about 10 yrs old, she's quite nervous and a bit moody and i'm getting a kitten in about 4 weeks old. What i wanted to ask was is it best to get a male or female kitten? Charlotte gets very jealous anyway and can go off in a huff if she does not get attention and i have been told that a female kitten will fight for territory but a male will be fine...I'm confused...help please

getting a kitten, male or female, get it fixed right off the bat, from there, your older cat will teach the kitten who is boss, and they will learn their place in no time. Basically makes no difference male or female if they are young enough to learn their place. Good Luck!!!!!!

Well, from my experience, another female kitten would work well for you. Although if fixed right away, the sex really won't make much of a difference.

Originally Posted by boffster

Hi, i already have a female cat who is (so my husband says) about 10 yrs old, she's quite nervous and a bit moody and i'm getting a kitten in about 4 weeks old. What i wanted to ask was is it best to get a male or female kitten? Charlotte gets very jealous anyway and can go off in a huff if she does not get attention and i have been told that a female kitten will fight for territory but a male will be fine...I'm confused...help please

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Honestly...I'd get 2 kittens. A 10 year old cat is very set in it's ways...and a kitten is like asking an adult to take on a baby. Some really enjoy it....most don't.

My Older cat needs a kitten to liven him up!

In general, adopting a kitten (1½ years or younger) as a companion for an older cat ( 5 years and older) is not a good idea. A youngster has boundless energy, wants to play and run constantly, and requires very high amounts interaction--all of which are likely to overwhelm and irritate an older cat in short order. Likewise, a kitten is apt to be frustrated that its companion does not have the same energy level as itself. At the very least, this can lead to two very unhappy cats. Worse case scenario, behavior problems such as litter ox avoidance or destructive scratching can occur as one or both cats act out their frustrations on their surrounds. Long-term, it is almost certain that the two will never have a close, bonded relationship, even after the kitten matures, since their experience with one another from the beginning of the relationship are likely to be negative. An older cat is better matched with someone of their own age who has similar temperament. Likewise, kittens as a rule need other young cats to play with in order to be happy. If you insist on adding a kitten to a household that already has an older cat, at least get two--this way they will entertain one another and the older cat can participate or not depending on its mood.

Why do you want a kitten? If she's 10 yrs old and is used to being an only cat, it may be better to let her stay that way. Unless the cat has a easy going personnality as an adult, its hard for an older cat to accept a kitten.

My first cat was about 10 yrs old when we got a 4 month old Russian Blue kitten - but he had a laid back personality. My 15 yr old rex also has a "care less" attitude and doesn't mind Ling who is a year old now (she was a barn kitty we kept and Spooky was with her from 5 weeks old).

If you really want another kitten, I'd recommend a very laid back male - not another female. As long as he's neutered, she will probably be ok with him. Keep in mind that she is boss cat and when you come in the house, SHE gets the first greeting, hugs, etc. - not the kitten. Otherwise she will get very jealous of the kitten getting attention.