Would a kitten/young cat help our miserable anti-social cat - or would it be a disaster?

[wonderstuff]

Our cat is 'orrible. She won't go near the children. Once they are in bed she won't leave me alone. We used to have her brother, who she was fond of, but he had an accident, spent some time at the vets and she chased him away - neighbour took him on in the end. Our children are 5 and 2 - she won't be in the same room as them, not ever. Wondered if a kitten, or a young cat might be the way forward. Would like the children to be able to see the cat, maybe even get close enough to stroke it!

I think it would be a disaster. She chased her own brother off, she'll have no truck with an unrelated impostor

I can't think it would work. She doesn't like children, and sounds like she's not keen on other cats either

A disaster, I reckon, if she's seriously anti social as an only cat. How old are the DCs though? If young, she might ease up a bit as they get older and steadier.

FGS don't do it. Cats are territorial animals and often barely tolerate cohabiting situations. Don't do it to her, she'll only get even more upset and start pissing on your soft furnishings.

Tbh I'd make it a golden rule that the DC are forbidden from approaching her or her specified havens ever. If she feels less stressed she may eventually chill out a bit, but it sounds like for now she's living in fear of the children.

Meh - thats a shame. I only thought about it because when she and her brother were little she used to groom him and sleep with him, was really cute. Thought she might mother a kitten.
DC dont approach her - they rarely see her - she exists in our bedroom or outside during their waking hours. She's very attached to me.
DCs are 5 and 2. She rarely lets dh stroke her though, when we got her she took ages to settle - hid for weeks I think shes got ASD.

Female (adult) cats don't take kindly to kittens at all. So don't do it. It sounds like her bond is with you, just make loads of fuss of her once your kids are in bed. She sounds like she has attachment issues - how old was she when you got her?

She was 6 months old when we got her, her brother was really friendly but she has always had ishoos.

was she with her mum until then? She could just be a mardy cat - I don't think introducing kittens would help her - or you!!!

No she wasn't - but I don't know how long she had been away from mum when we got her, the person we got her from had to rehome because her changed and she had to be away a lot. I don't know how long she had had the cats but they were only about 6 months old at that point. We've had her 11 years, but have moved house several times over that period.

Is she a tortie?

No a tabby - but might have tortie in her I guess - she's a very pretty little thing. Next time I'm going for a male cat - females seems to be higher maintenance.

DH wants to rehome her, but I think with her attachment to me and the way she struggles with change it wouldn't be fair. She hasn't pissed all over the house for quite a while, so he's tolerating her.

A male rather than a female etc? That's fighting talk on this board! (Although personally, I agree. )

I don't think you can realistically consider rehoming her at going on 12. She reminds me of my Siamese boys. While Siamese as a whole can be great family cats if they get used to DCs early enough, they can bond ferociously with one person to the point that that's 'their human' and everyone else is just wallpaper at best and an irritant at worst. She's had over 6 years of no children, remember.

So - not 'orrible, just a bit middle aged and set in her ways.

Who would want a older cat with issues though? They have a hard enough time homing younger cats.

We've had nutty ones but they eventually go and you cry buckets.

Do you know anyone with a kitten who you do a test run with? I introduced my hostile old nasty cat to my new kitten about a year ago and she beat it senseless for weeks. And weeks. And weeks. Now a year on and they are the best of friends :)

If you are really considering it I would try to do a test run with someone who already has a kitten. Would be a shame to get a new kitten and then have to regime it

Sorry rehome not regime