Ok, backstory is kinda long, but I hope it makes sense!
I've had my cat Finnie since I was about 12 y/o, so for almost 9 years now. She was only a few months when I got her, so I'm all she really knows since I was her main person. She's fine with other humans, but she will not allow another cat near her.
Now, that wasn't an enourmous issue when I still lived at my parents, but now I live on my own and work 8 hours a day, during which she's alone, and I feel so bad about it.
I've tried socialising her to cats her age multiple times (at my parents place still, I had the luxury of my siblings getting their own cats on different stories of the house which can be seperated, so we had multiple cats, but Finnie was never able to be with any of them)
I tried a lot of things, but she lived 9 years without other cats, she doesn't accept them
Now, the ecxeption to this are the kittens she had when she was younger (a litter at abt 1 and 3 or 4 years old). She still has that maternal instinct, considering I can't watch kitten videos without her coming to search for them.
So, I was wondering if I could use that. My brothers cat is likely gonna have a litter soon, and maybe I could take one and introduce Finnie to it, see if she accepts it.
This comes with a few drawbacks, ofc. It would probably be risky since Finnie won't recognize the smell, and I'd have to hand raise it since Finnie doesn't produce milk. Idk if she would take over the cleaning/licking it to stimulate digestion, so I might have to do that, too.
Also, I don't know if a young kitten would make sense as company for a 9 year old cat, even tho Finnie is still pretty active. I can't get two kittens to play together either since my landlord doesn't want that many cats in the house...
Overall, I'm conflicted. If it would work, Finnie wouldn't be alone so much of the day, which would be amazing, but would it stress her out more than help?
I would have the option to give the kitten back to my family with their giant house, tho once it comes to that point, we might have to hand raise it regardless because their cat hasn't had kittens before, and She's young, so who knows if she'd take it back...
Is there anything I'm missing? I am aware of the commitment a kitten would be, taking off time of work to feed it regularly, I'd socialise them this time around so I wouldn't have this issue anymore once Finnie is gone and I want another cat, and the 2 decades I might have them around.
Input would be greatly appreciated, I'm just trying to find a good solution for Finnie. If this idea is garbadge, please say so politely, this isn't something I found a lot of info on online since the scenario is pretty specific...
I've had my cat Finnie since I was about 12 y/o, so for almost 9 years now. She was only a few months when I got her, so I'm all she really knows since I was her main person. She's fine with other humans, but she will not allow another cat near her.
Now, that wasn't an enourmous issue when I still lived at my parents, but now I live on my own and work 8 hours a day, during which she's alone, and I feel so bad about it.
I've tried socialising her to cats her age multiple times (at my parents place still, I had the luxury of my siblings getting their own cats on different stories of the house which can be seperated, so we had multiple cats, but Finnie was never able to be with any of them)
I tried a lot of things, but she lived 9 years without other cats, she doesn't accept them
Now, the ecxeption to this are the kittens she had when she was younger (a litter at abt 1 and 3 or 4 years old). She still has that maternal instinct, considering I can't watch kitten videos without her coming to search for them.
So, I was wondering if I could use that. My brothers cat is likely gonna have a litter soon, and maybe I could take one and introduce Finnie to it, see if she accepts it.
This comes with a few drawbacks, ofc. It would probably be risky since Finnie won't recognize the smell, and I'd have to hand raise it since Finnie doesn't produce milk. Idk if she would take over the cleaning/licking it to stimulate digestion, so I might have to do that, too.
Also, I don't know if a young kitten would make sense as company for a 9 year old cat, even tho Finnie is still pretty active. I can't get two kittens to play together either since my landlord doesn't want that many cats in the house...
Overall, I'm conflicted. If it would work, Finnie wouldn't be alone so much of the day, which would be amazing, but would it stress her out more than help?
I would have the option to give the kitten back to my family with their giant house, tho once it comes to that point, we might have to hand raise it regardless because their cat hasn't had kittens before, and She's young, so who knows if she'd take it back...
Is there anything I'm missing? I am aware of the commitment a kitten would be, taking off time of work to feed it regularly, I'd socialise them this time around so I wouldn't have this issue anymore once Finnie is gone and I want another cat, and the 2 decades I might have them around.
Input would be greatly appreciated, I'm just trying to find a good solution for Finnie. If this idea is garbadge, please say so politely, this isn't something I found a lot of info on online since the scenario is pretty specific...
