Introducing a second cat

[IorekByrnison]

So today dd asked me if we could get a lady cat so that she and our cat could have a special cuddle and have baby cats. I had to explain about his operation, but then thought that actually it would be nice to have another cat.

Has anyone brought a second cat to the house when the first has been there for a few years? How did the first one take it?

Ours is about 6 and a half and has been with us for nearly 5 years.

We have foster cats all the time and the resident cats have been here for 3 years.

We always keep the foster cats in a room on their own for about a week and then just let them loose together. As long as all the cats have got somewhere to retreat to it should be fine. We do continue to put the foster cats back in "their room" for another week at night but once the 2 weeks is up they're fine together.

Hissing and spitting for a week or two then best of friends!

I have had many cats and only one or two of them did not like other cats - most seem to enjoy another cats' company.

Best of luck!

Shocking punctuation: cat's

We did. The first cat NEVER EVER forgave us, and remained snooty and aloof for the next 5 years, then left home to live with our neighbours 4 doors down.

But I believe this is quite an extreme reaction!

Thanks all! Seeker, our cat already has quite pronounced snooty and aloof tendencies. I have a horrible feeling this might be his reaction. What was your cat like before?

She did have ideas above her station, being the result of an unfortunate misalliance between a feral tom and our friend's nicely brought up tabby queen who was visiting for her holidays. But she was friendly and chatty enough, until the interloper kitten arrived, all tiggerish look at me bounce and please be my friend. Her dudgeon arrived and she departed in it - never to return!

Cats usually find the introduction of a kitten less threatening...

The latest group of fosters we had was a mother (3) and her 4 3 week old kittens (one of which is still looking for a home lol) it literally took 2 weeks and they were best friends sleeping together.

lol at the feline Lady Chatterley saga seeker.

Lol - They're not 3 weeks anymore. He's about 6 months now - just in case that helps

We had a couple of very old cats when we moved here, and soon after got a kitten. He was delightful with the oldest, batty, senile one and would show her where we were when she got lost in the corridor and was, well, terribly sweet. She died about 6m later. The second old bag was a meanie, and wouldn't have any truck with him, but she would sit near him. A few months before she died, we got another kitten (first kitten getting on for 3). Of course, the old bag ignored her, hissed and spat etc. New kitten nearly won her over though, through sheer persistence and having no idea of danger.

The most interesting reaction when we got the new devil kitten (female) was that of the older one (male, neutered). He took one look at her and ran! For the first week, he appeared frightened every time he saw her . I was just beginning to wonder whether I should worry, when her nerve started to pay off, and he calmed down a little. Over the course of about a month/6 weeks, they became friends, and then he seemed to decide she needed a big brother and started treating her accordingly. Though there were times over the next 4 months when you could see he was thinking "oh bugger! Kids! I'm off to the shed".

Anthropomorphism? Moi?