Would you take this cat?

[MrSheen]

A few months ago my sis took in a stray. She tried to find out where she was from but she wasn't chipped and was in a bad way (very skinny and had a nasty abscess etc) and in the end she kept her. A few weeks later she was brought to bear of 4 kittens, 3 of whom were re-homed with strangers/acquaintances and one of whom went to a relative of BIL.

Anyway, turns out the relative doesn't want him anymore (he's allergic, apparently) and BIL is adamant that they aren't having him back (he wasn't very impressed when the mother moved in).

Sis is begging asking me to take him, otherwise he will end up in a rescue and part of me wants him but...

We are a one cat household. My cat is getting on (15) and is lovely and friendly towards people but has never been interested in other cats beyond telling them to feck off.

Would it be fair on her to bring another cat, especially such a young one, into the house at this stage (she could last another 5 years but...)

I have no experience of introducing a new cat and my priority has to be to my older girl.

[cozietoesie]

I'm prejudiced on this one. I tried to have Seniorboy (an old and very territorial Siamese) living with The Lodger (a quite charming and cat-sociable ex-street cat with impeccable cat and human manners.) Seniorboy was having none of it and The Lodger evetually had to go in view of Seniorboy's age and the fact that he was the long-term resident cat. Seniorboy is now happy as a sandboy living as a singleton with his adoring family.

I guess it depends on the cat though - maybe she'd adjust to a new one and enjoy the company. Does she get much human companny during the day as it is?

[MrSheen]

She gets lots of human company, there is usually someone in. I've never felt I should have another cat for her, it would purely be for me.

[RubbishMantra]

I added a kitten to our household a few months ago, thinking that my 5y/o male would love a little buddy to hang out with. He has always been friendly to other cats.

The kitten definitely hasn't made him happier, he would definitely have preferred to be the only cat. The kitten is very bold and friendly, and poor MCat feels he needs to keep putting him in his place with swipes and growls.

As I type, MKitten has crept over to MCat and is gently, but persistently prodding him. This elects pissed off yowls from MCat.

[cozietoesie]

Well who amongst us wouldn't (just occasionally) want to yell at a full-on kitten. I'd say that, if he doesn't have at him, he probably actually quite likes him and is just putting him in his place as you said. Adult cats do that all the time.

When is MKitten due to visit the vet for his 'appointment'?

[thecatneuterer]

I'm confused. You start off talking about her and then talk about him. Are you just mixing up your pronouns or are we talking about two different cats here? I'm just trying to get my head round the story before I give an opinion (although I'm the opposite to Cozie in this respect - I'm normally in the 'I'm sure it will be fine' camp).

[cozietoesie]

If I'd started off with The Lodger (as an example) I'd have no hesitation about adding another cat. It's just that my Siamese boys have all become so desperately jealous that they really won't tolerate the prospect of sharing with another cat. (They're fine with dogs for some reason.)

[RubbishMantra]

He had the 'procedure' a couple of weeks back cozie. I've never known a cat recover from surgery so quickly. They all fell in love with him at the vet's!

[cozietoesie]

Ah - I forgot. You'll just have to ride this out then I guess because it actually doesn't sound too bad.

How old is the kitten MrSheen ?

[thecatneuterer]

Oh I've got it now! You're not talking about the mother cat you're talking about one of the kittens that was rehomed. Well I'm sure it will be fine. Most cats seem to accept other cats eventually in my experience.

Has someone got the mother cat neutered?

[MrSheen]

My sis is keeping the mother cat and wants me to take the boy kitten. He is only 4 months old and a real cutie.

The mother cat has been neutered now. Sis and BIL weren't really in the market for a cat but she moved in so they ended up keeping her. She needed quite a lot of attention with her abscess and she has had an op as well as her neutering and she had 4 kittens which is quite a lot for non cat people to deal with in 4/5 months so I can see why they aren't that keen on having the kitten.

I think if I already had 2+ cats I'd just take him but I'm worried the transition from only cat to one of two might be not the best thing. Original cat isn't on her last legs or anything but she has slowed down a lot over the past year.

[Castlemilk]

A hard decision but I don't think I could inflict that on an older cat - although you could try it for a bit - you might be surprised.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Unfortunately what were being asked if to see into the future.

It could be fine, they could end up the best of buddies, or your older cat could end up unhappy and distressed. Then on top of that, you would have to rehome the kitten, who would probably by then be a bit older and harder to rehome.

I'd be tempted to hand it to a rescue. thecatnueutere might have better advice, but I'd guess a kitten would fly off the shelves, so to speak, rather than an even slightly older cat.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Sorry about that first sentence - I haven't even had my first drink of the evening yet!

[BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted]

Cats are naturally solitary, but some do accept other feline company. The problem is that you don't know whether your resident will accept a newby until you do the normal introductions like keeping them completely separate for the first week or two and see how they get along. Introductions mean having a separate room to keep the newby in that is NOT YOUR BEDROOM. If they don't one of several things could happen:

Resident cat ties a hanky on a stick and departs for pastures new.

Resident cat doesn't leave home but will start soiling and/or spraying (been there, done that, bought the T-shirt).

Resident cat won't soil or spray but will find a safe place to glower from, never willingly having anything to do with newby whatsoever. You'll be lucky if they are ever in the same room at the same time without a lot of growling and maybe some fighting.

For a cat at 15 years old I'm not sure I'd want to risk putting her through all the stress

[cozietoesie]

I think that that was partly my thought - at 4 months old and very cute, he stands an excellent chance of being adopted by someone. Out of interest, are your Sis/BIL/relative trying to find a home other than you or are they just putting pressure on you as a seemingly easy option?

[MrSheen]

I'm definitely an easy option

He is lovely and I'm sure he wouldn't languish long in a rescue. He is a very lovely tabby and white and he doesn't have a Hitler moustache or anything.

If it doesn't work out I know sis will be taking huge leaps backwards and it will be my job to re-home so i probably is best/less disruptive for him to go to a rescue and then to a home who are actually looking for a cat.

Hadn't thought about my cat moving out . She's already overly friendly with a woman down the street.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Sounds like a rescue is the way forward.

Shame he hasn't got a Hitler moustache, though