Which rescue cat

[Indecisionhelp]

Hello,

We are in the position of being able to offer a another rescue cat a home. We already have a 10 year old neutered male, black, who is
a good natured chap and gets along ok with the local cats who are around- we are very rural.

After visiting the local rescue the two most suitable for our situation are a year old tortie girl and a 8 year old male (also black). Both are a little nervous but coming out of their shells. Girl a little more aloof.

I know everyone will have had different experiences, but my heart is telling me to go for the older cat, is this likely to be a problem seeing he is similar in age to my existing cat? Would a girl mix better? She is lovely too.

Do you know about their background? How does the rescue know they would be good with other cats?

We looked at the same issue and were told the following:

1. cats of a similar age will get along better than older/ younger cats
2. cats of similar temperament will get along (if you have a chilled out cat then you need another one of the same)
3. size matters - try not to get a new cat that is bigger than the existing cat as if there is dominance issues size will matter and the existing cat will most likely lose

Lastly males will always be more tolerant than females of companions but gender is the least important of the above points.

Hello,

Both cats were straying but had ended up befriending households with cats (who couldn't keep them themselves).

Take both.

I have always found males get on well with other males and have tended to be more loving. Torties have a reputation for their tortitude, so bear this in mind for your gentle existing cat. I would go for the boy.

We had the most gorgeous, laid back boy who cleaned the dogs and curled up with our female cat. You couldn't have met a more chilled cat but he wouldn't tolerate any other male cats. Saw them as a threat and would fight them but completely fine with girls.

I'd say the girl cat as she won't be threatening to your boy

Forgot to say we had a female tortie once. She used to sit on the back of the sofa and clean my DH hair!

Do they mix with other cats at the rescue?

If so - which gets on better with other cats? Do you know if either of them were with other cats before?

Some mixed responses- which I was expecting as people have had different experiences. I know there's no one who can tell me all will be fine

To answer a couple of questions- we have a lot of farm Cats around us- existing cat doesn't seem to take much notice, male or female. Certainly I haven't heard any fighting
but you never know.

The two potential rescues are both strays- the older boy has been hanging around other cats apparently but he is nervous- however he warms to you and comes over to receive affection. Girl cat, also a stray, attached herself to a family (I think there was an existing there cat too but they couldn't keep her. She is also nervous, takes herself to her hidey bed but is happy to be stroked gently.

The cats are all in separate pens at the rescue.

Oh and as much as I would love to adopt both, I need to be sensible in terms of finances, insurance etc

I’d go older boy.

Lucky you and lucky cat! 😻

Take the older boy; Black cats are the least popular colour and take longer to be homed.

Which cat did you choose?