are 2 cats better than 1?

[teameric]

I got my 9 month old kitten nearly 2 weeks ago, she is a very quiet and timid little girl and is slowly getting used to us. I have been emailed tonight by a lady who I originally was going to get a kitten from, asking me if I would be interested in adopting a 6 year old female who's owner is moving abroad and can no longer look after her.I am seriously considering it (don't know what Dh will have to say?!) am I mad to be thinking about taking on another cat? or will it benefit the kitten? (they will both be indoor cats)

Older cats can be rather put out with younger ones around, although you have had the younger one 1st, so it may have a vague stake in the rankings in your house, it could also be rather upsetting, particularly as you say she's timid. In the past I've found boy cats mix better with girl cats if your going for same age cats. (just one boy cat here at present) I think I'd stick with your current cat and let someone else re home the other one.

to answer your question, no. Unless they were kittens together they will compete for territory and in your house this means pee...as you can tell, I wish we only had one

I was going to say yes IME

BUT our 2 came as kittens ~ they are sisters and love each other

BUT I think frisbe is right about ones who aren't siblings

also agree with drivingmisscrazy

the kitten is too old to be considered a kitten by an adult cat.

Cats don't tend to be at their happiest in multi-cat households- far more incidences of stress-related overgrooming/ spraying/ urinary tract infections. Not saying it can't be done (we had 3 cats at one time, not that they really socialised with each other!), but just that it's not necessarily true that they would prefer a "friend"! many cats in multicat households seem to come into their own and take on a new personality when the other one dies.

If YOU really want another cat, you could probably make it work. But if you could ask your cat if SHE wanted another cat, I'm guessing she would say no!

thats most definately a big no then! Thanks for your replys everyone

jollyjoo you've reminded me about a cat we looked after for a few years (his owner had massive asthma attack and he had to go on loan for a while, so we took him in) he was originally one of 4 cats, very timid, after two years with us, he became an outdoor cat, who could deal with kids, when his owner took him back, along with one other cat, he ruled the house (had been the other way around with the remaining cat previously!) think of the 'farside' conversations those cats had

I introduced no 2 when no 1 cat was about 13, they get on OK. Then no 3 cat arrived and they all got on fine, now aged 18, 5 and 1.5.

They are all unrelated.

It depends on the cat - could you take her on, see how it goes and if it doesn't work out get her owner to try to rehome her elsewhere, Or is there not time?

Maybe wait a few weeks and then introduce a younger kitten, this will help prevent competing for territory as the younger kitten should know it's place.

I have several cats and they all get along very well, they usually hang out together during the day and sleep together at night, so I do think they prefer to have a friend.

If she's timid, a more confident kitten may give her confidence as well.

When our rescue cat was 2.5 we got a little kitten.

Best thing we ever did. Older cat 'lost' all her nervous problems at once (mainly mad over grooming - she had licked all the hair off her back legs).

They love each other a lot. Often sleep in a little heap together.

Older cat watches the other one eat her food. They play fight together every evening.

We are out of the house all day and I think they feel better having each other to hang out with.