Getting new kitten and existing cat?

[statetrooperstacey]

I have a 6 month old girl and am thinking of getting another. There just isn't enough cat to round tbh!
How do u kno if my cat will like a friend? She has never been out so I have no idea if she would like another cat . Is it a leap of faith ? Are they like dogs!? Should I be socialising her!?

I introduced a kitten to my 3YO cat 6 months ago.
They don't necessarily like each other, but they get along, tolerate each other. They'll play with each other and even though the kitten does get on the cats nerves I think cat is grateful for the company.
If we had had the room when we got them both, I would have introduced them properly. (Keeping kitten in a separate room and allowing cat to sniff at the door/ investigate the new fuzzy alien at her own pace)

Thank you.

Do it! I've introduced new cats to my household several times (with kittens and older cats) and it's worked out fine. Just take it very slowly, and supervise interactions between new/existing cats. In my experience it takes 2-3 weeks for the initial hissing and indignation to settle down.

Let the new cat have a space of its own to chill out in, away from the others. If it's not practical to use separate rooms, a spacious puppy crate with a cosy bed/blanket in works too. It's just somewhere for the new one to retreat when things are stressful –and so your current cat can sniff around (as Livid says) without getting her nose out of joint. Feed them separately until they're used to each other, separate litter trays too.

I've got 3 cats, all introduced to each other at different ages, currently asleep in a pile on my bed and very happy to have their own cat-gang.

Ah thanks for that🤗

Definitely separate litter trays as they don't like sharing. Make sure older cat does not bully kitten. Separate feeding. Make sure older cat does not steal kittens food as some tend to be a bit greedy. We have big garden so my cats come and go as they please. They don't have litter trays just a cat flap so no indoor mess.

I've done it lots of times and never had a problem. Some of them became close buddies and others just merely acknowledged each other. The last time I did it I had a 14 year old cat who had just lost her brother. We meant to get one kitten but as with all good rescues you go for one and come back with two! I was actually pleased about this in the end as the kittens didn't bother her too much and played with each other but they adored their new big sister. Here is my old girl (the black one and now sadly no longer with us) and one of the kittens when they were older.

I think the fact that your current cat is still so young will mean they will be happy to play with each other. Expect some hissing and spitting at the beginning but they soon settle down.

Lovely pics🤗

We did have a problem. British Blue was 3 when we bought our Silver Tabby home as a kitten. BB was a bully from that point onwards. Not only that, he kept his distance from us as well. He was happy with my mum and my nephew. Everyone else was blamed for his loss of only cat status. Carried on until he died aged 18. He was the most stunning British Blue but so fussy!

Didn’t work for us.

We had territorial marking from the existing cat. Pissed up everything. Shorted the electrics several times, blew up a telly and a toaster. Every vertical surface had piss dripping down it.

On the face of it they got along really well. Played together, snuggled up and slept together, no fighting or other signs they didn’t like each other. Just the piss.

We tried everything, for several years. Own space, own litter trays, feliway, anti anxiety medication, behaviour specialists. Cost us a fortune in vets and carpets/wallpaper/furniture.

In the end we rehomed one with a family member. Both cats so much happier, the spraying stopped. Although they had seemed to like each others company, it was obvious once they were separated that they both much preferred being alone.

Cats really aren’t that social. If they have enough to stop them getting bored- human interaction, being able to go outside, playtime- they don’t need cat company

I would never have more than one cat again.

My BB would have adored living with my mum as an only cat. She didn’t want another cat after hers died but he was fond of her. Always responded to her voice when she arrived and would roll in front of her. She was the only one who wasn’t scratched when trying to groom him. He became very temperamental at the vets too. Gauntlets and towel were put out in advance of his visit!

We really did not think he would mind another cat as we have a large house, huge garden and fields, but he did. You don’t know until you do it and then it’s too late. He was their oldest B.B. though when he died at 18 and I think his self preservation skills helped him live to an old age.

I wouldn't. Yes you may find they'll tolerate each other but it generally leads to behavioural issues

Cats are solitary and prefer to be that way. Not as kittens of course but as adults. My advice would be to not upset the apple cart

Hmm this is what worries me. We have a dog and the current cat and everything is really good. Everybody shite where they are supposed to, no bad behaviour etc . May rethink. Scared if it all going horribly wrong and getting a delinquent or current pets being unsettled.