To ask whether a second cat would be a good idea?

[Angryvindictivewasps]

I have a middle aged female moggie. She lived with another cat in her previous home apparently, but has no interaction with other cats at present.

I temporarily fostered a neutered male cat whilst he was waiting for another home. She would tolerate him being in the room with her but would hiss and growl if he got too close, he was unfazed and just sort of walked off or didn't react.

I would love to home a second cat permanently but just worried about them not getting on. Not sure if a kitten would be better as she might see it as less of a threat? I read females can be quite territorial.

I'd love to rehome an elderly cat as I know it's harder, but as I say if they don't get on it's risky. I know it may take time for them to get used to each other, but as long as they at least tolerate each other that's all I can ask.

Maybe if I homed a pair of siblings it might be ok, but sadly don't think I have the finances to support 3 cats.
Has anyone else got any advice or experience with this?

Current cat needs a lot of attention, she goes outside every day too which is good, just wondering if she'd like a companion. As I say she didn't take to the foster male cat but maybe would with another.

I rehomed two cats together, six months apart in age but probably half siblings. After about six years I adopted a kitten. In between I got a dog. The cats met the kitten when she was still in her carry case then she was confined to my bedroom and the other cats had the rest of the house and garden. The were introduced little and not often then I gradually built up more time. Boy cat accepted the kitten immediately having taken a year to feel okay with the dog. Girl cat was fine with the dog and never fully happy with the kitten but the house is plenty big enough to all get away from each other.

I rehomed a male kitten age 4 weeks (abandoned in a box just before Xmas 2023) and already had a 7 year old female.

To start with we kept kitten in a bedroom and cat separately but he was a curious little thing and was out in the house by 8 weeks. She did hiss and growl at first (I did scent swapping and got feliway plug ins) but he got bigger and didn't care about her hissing.

Give older cat space away from the kitten and they work it out between them.

My boy is 14 months now (both cats are neutered) and they sleep on my bed together and go out in the garden together.

My girl has livened up a bit too. They chase each other on the stairs. It can work but takes work from the owner too.

Use separate litter trays too.

My girl was a nervous thing but even she has accepted the kitten.

My much-loved female cat, a rescue, hated other cats and would have been stressed out if another cat came into the family home. Cats are by nature solitary and they like to be number one - almost the opposite of dogs. Our neighbour has 3 cats, a mother and 2 sons. They fight a bit, but generally get on because they're related. One of the 'sons' is a big cat and viciously attacks any other cats in the area. I think if you were starting out with getting a cat, you could get two who may be related or having already been living together. If you bring another in to live with your existing cat, there could be trouble. If it's a kitten, your cat could attack. Or the kitten grows up and attacks your cat. Risky

I got a kitten thinking my much older female cat would love him. Not so she couldn't stand him. Even when he grew up she would hiss at him if he walked past her.
My German Shepherds loved him though but no big cat did not.

I have a 5 year old and a 1 year old. Both females. Despite slow introductions when 1 year old was a kitten, they don't get on, still bicker and hiss. It's not great. Fortunately they can usually get away from one another.

I think boy cats are more tolerant of a young kitten. Female cats tend to only like their own young kittens. I'd love another cat but I've got a brother and sister siblings pair now almost 6 years old who get along very well together. They might gang up on another cat so I won't get one.

Thank you for the replies. Yeah maybe it's too risky sadly, as she didn't take to the older tomcat.

I’ve never had a good experience of 2 cats acquired at different times I’m afraid. It has usually been the female cat that is most tetchy about it.