Can I get a kitten if I already have an adult cat?

[SashaSashays]

A friend's cat is is soon to have kittens and being a known cat lover she has offered me one which I would love to take BUT current cat is my absolute darling and I don't want him to end up feeling displaced or running away. I'd hope they can live harmoniously together.

Current cat has not lived with other cats but is very sociable with other cats in the neighbourhood.

I've had multiple cats previously but always got them at the same time and were related.

Will this work?

Slightly different because my older Cookie is just about 10 months, but we introduced a new little lad (Biscuit) about 6 weeks ago and they're best friends.

Planned to do slow introductions, but Cookie got so excited when she heard him that we said we'd see how they got on.

She's spayed, but basically mothers him, makes sure there's enough food for him after she has eaten, lets him play with her mousey toys.

So all could go wonderfully. My vet says most prefer the company at least after an initial settling in period.

My male British Blue was never the same again after we introduced a Silver Tabby kitten! BB was 3 years old and definitely an "only" cat as we discovered. He was never happy about the new cat and he lived until he was 18 but never ever liked the situation or indeed us! Silver Tabby on the other hand was very happy and put up with the jealous hissing and complaining. There is little way of knowing in advance but if you think your first cat might be a prima Donna, then he/she may get very jealous and mothering will not happen!

I wonder if gender or age plays a part. My cat is male and about 6. I do always think he's more social than any cat before.

I'm definitely owned by him though. I'm bloody terrified of upsetting him. Dh thinks it's all hilarious how the cat rules the roost.

I know how it is, I'm totally owned too!

A younger cat might tolerate kittens more, high perches for older cat are important.

If your friend is nearby, you could do the introduction/scent swapping over a few weeks and at a distance. This might make it easier for your own cat.

What would you name a kitten? May I suggest Noodle? (Heard of a cat called Noodle the other day, possibly on here, and think it's a great cat name.)

My older cat I don't think is ever going to love babycat, who arrived 3 weeks ago. I have done very slow introductions and lots of reassurance for her doing the things that were always 'our' things. She's ok. He is disappointed that she won't play. Repeatedly. He should learn! I keep them separate whilst I'm out - if we're having any sort of drama I want it to be whilst I'm around - but it's only 3 weeks. I'm loving having a kitten, having only had older adult rescues before!

My cat is more spoiled and demanding than all my children combined. I fear he might not take well to a new arrival. The scent swapping sounds a great ides so I will suggest this to my friend.

Noodle is cute. We used to go for jazz band style names like Otis and Errol but we've also had a Jeeves, a Clarence, a Percy and our current cat is called Stanley. Homer and Napoloeon are the current choices from the DC but I'm pushing for Marcel.

Scent swapping didn't work for us, we tried for 6 months to introduce a kitten into the house with bcat 1 & 2. We ended up rehoming the kitten as the growling and fighting if they got near each other was horrendous. Turns out both of mine are very territorial so no amount of introducing would've worked.

Our adult cat was 4 when we got out kitten. We didn't do any scent swapping or phased introduction just got on with it and they were fine. A bit of hissing every now and then but they still do that if the other one is pissing them off.