Have a cat and thinking of getting another. advice please

We have a 4 year old female cat that we really enjoy having in the family. She's very sweet and friendly and loves to be around us all the time. Recently we saw a female kitten that we are interested in adopting.

Do you think its too late to get another? I know it takes time for cats to adjust (up to a year), but my biggest concern is that my current cat's personality (which we love) will change and never come back. . .

Any advice will be appreciated.

Re: Have a cat and thinking of getting another. advice please

No,I don't think it's too late to get another. My cat was 8 years old when I got the second one, a 7 week old kitten. Was she thrilled at first, no. But do I think after a certain "adjustment period" she was happy, yes. Having the kitten around definitely revived the older cat into playing more and being more active.

Re: Have a cat and thinking of getting another. advice please

We had our first cat for about a year before we got our second. Our first wasn't happy in the beginning, but after about a week everything was fine.

Re: Have a cat and thinking of getting another. advice please

As I sit here with two growling meowing kitties, I am at the other end of the kitty spectrum. We got sushi in July '09 when she was 8 weeks old. I had been pressuring DH for another cat before Sushi got "too old." The vet recommended a male cat so there wouldnt be any competition. I found Miso at a Petco and fell in love with his goofy personality and stubby Manx tail. We filled out an application, were approved, and they brought him in. While Miso is the biggest, mushiest, docile goofball, he is a dominant cat. Sushi was very displeased. We were told that there would be a long adjustment period...I dont even want to tell you about the hissing and the swatting (and the blood ). Miso is a classic bully. He takes over everything. We had bought Sushi a kitty condo and since Miso "moved into it" she has not stepped a paw on it. It was her favorite place to nap She used to sleep at night crawled up at our feet. Now she doesnt because Miso comes in and moves her off the bed. Recently Sushi has been peeing outside the litter box. I had her checked, its not an infection; its behavioral. (she pees on my laundry, on mats...on Miso's scratch pad (she even peed in their community water bowl ) Now we keep the bedroom door closed. No one is allowed in the bedroom at night. Twice we have had to keep her isolated in the bathroom for a week or so by herself to send the message of going in the litterbox. Its not a year yet though...I guess there is still time.

As far as personality with us, she is the same kitty...she still loves to play (although we do need to put Miso somewhere else because he tends to monopolize play time).

I guess my advice is to try and make sure that your new addition is not a dominant cat if the one you have is. Here are my two terrors....

Message edited 10/29/2010 8:44:22 PM.

Re: Have a cat and thinking of getting another. advice please

Posted by Domino

As I sit here with two growling meowing kitties, I am at the other end of the kitty spectrum. We got sushi in July '09 when she was 8 weeks old. I had been pressuring DH for another cat before Sushi got "too old." The vet recommended a male cat so there wouldnt be any competition. I found Miso at a Petco and fell in love with his goofy personality and stubby Manx tail. We filled out an application, were approved, and they brought him in. While Miso is the biggest, mushiest, docile goofball, he is a dominant cat. Sushi was very displeased. We were told that there would be a long adjustment period...I dont even want to tell you about the hissing and the swatting (and the blood ). Miso is a classic bully. He takes over everything. We had bought Sushi a kitty condo and since Miso "moved into it" she has not stepped a paw on it. It was her favorite place to nap She used to sleep at night crawled up at our feet. Now she doesnt because Miso comes in and moves her off the bed. Recently Sushi has been peeing outside the litter box. I had her checked, its not an infection; its behavioral. (she pees on my laundry, on mats...on Miso's scratch pad (she even peed in their community water bowl ) Now we keep the bedroom door closed. No one is allowed in the bedroom at night. Twice we have had to keep her isolated in the bathroom for a week or so by herself to send the message of going in the litterbox. Its not a year yet though...I guess there is still time.

As far as personality with us, she is the same kitty...she still loves to play (although we do need to put Miso somewhere else because he tends to monopolize play time).

I guess my advice is to try and make sure that your new addition is not a dominant cat if the one you have is. Here are my two terrors....
IMAGE

Re: Have a cat and thinking of getting another. advice please

I don't think it's too late.

I had a 6 yr old cat at least when I got a new kitten. Both are female.

It took some time... but they are safe to be left alone together and though the older cat does growl and hiss on occasion, they also have moments where they really get along. They run and play together and nap together now. It def took a long time, but they are in a much better place now.