Am I nuts to try a kitten with a 17 yr old cat?

My cat is 17 years old. I had her before I even met my husband. She was a 6 month old street cat that lived below my apartment building in the city. She is very sweet, I've had her since 1994 but even to this day, if I moved towards her too fast she will take off. My kids are DYING for another pet. They've lately been able to pet the cat here & there but it's not the same as having a pet you can interact with. DH wants to wait & get a dog when my cat passes away some day (hopefully never!) I have not had a dog in many many many years and am not sure about it. But my daughter is pleading for a gray cat for her birthday in July.

Am I crazy to think the 17 yr old cat will adjust? I would treat her with the same affection, even more. I just don't want to give the poor thing a heart attack from stress. She's been very healthy but she's still an old cat.

Thoughts from other cat owners?

Re: Am I nuts to try a kitten with a 17 yr old cat?

OMG, how timely I find this post after I've just seen 3 baby kittens up for euthanization at the Brooklyn Care and Control tomorrow :( Maybe you can save one?Hopefully this link works
I would, but we are allergic here and my dh would kill me on top of it...I may still though

Re: Am I nuts to try a kitten with a 17 yr old cat?

We have been in this position. Had an older cat a few times, then added kittens that we saved as strays. They really do just fine! They act indifferent if anything, and just go hide/sleep, etc.

What does your older cat do all day? Sleep? Where? Out in view or hidden? That might help me decide if I were you.

Re: Am I nuts to try a kitten with a 17 yr old cat?

I would adopt a hundred cats if I could but I'll be honest. I had one cat and over a year ago added another. My cat has not been the same. She has always been a bit skittish and now she is on prozac. If I had to do over, I would left her as an only cat. I have no idea what I will do when the time comes to get a dog. According to my vet stress is not good for cats and can cause a shortened life expectancy. An older cat may not have the tolerance for a playful little kitten. My other concern would be the addition of a dog. From what I have read, cats and dogs work out better when they are adopted together at puppy/kitten. Ultimately, it comes down to your cat. What is your gut reaction? Are there enough place for your cat to hide/escape to if it wants to be alone?

Re: Am I nuts to try a kitten with a 17 yr old cat?

Honestly, all cats are different and you never know.
It may be harder for an older cat to adjust, but on the other hand, it might make her take on a motherly role.

When we introduced another cat, our other two were only 6 months, so its hard to relate.

Re: Am I nuts to try a kitten with a 17 yr old cat?

I think animals adjust a lot more easily then people do. And I sometimes feel like if an animal is having a hard time adjusting, it's because the animals can sense how their owner is feeling (tense, anxious, nervous) and the animal reacts appropriately. We've had all different kinds of animals at all ages and they've all adjusted just fine. They may not particularly like each other, but they live together just fine.

Like my parent's cats for instance, Daisy. Daisy got out of the house before she was fixed and had kittens. My parents kept one of the kittens and she hates it. HATES it. Hisses and swats at him, and is just mean. But they've lived together for 8 years and they are fine. They aren't cuddle buddies or anything, but they don't fight or anything.

ETA: Just want to say, that's not always the case, some animals are just as neurotic as some people, but I feel like a lot of people project their emotions onto their pets. Or maybe I watch too much Dog Whisperer.

Message edited 6/3/2011 4:30:09 PM.

Re: Am I nuts to try a kitten with a 17 yr old cat?

Thanks for the feedback. Im still on the fence. I have assimilated 2 cats in the past but it was sans children and the first cat was much younger.

Re: Am I nuts to try a kitten with a 17 yr old cat?

I had an older cat and I brought two kittens into the mix. That didn't go well at all. Sorry.