Getting second cat - cat or kitten/s?

[Orangesandbananas]

I have one cat, she was from a rescue centre, she's been with us five years and the centre think she was approximately 5 years when we got her, so she's around 10 now.

I adore her, she's very bonded with me, but when she first arrived she was a bit aggressive with my youngest DS (now 12) and they never really hit it off. She doesn't like being picked up. Ideally I'd love my younger son to have a good cat experience and cat that can be more 'his'.

I'd like to ideally find a cat or cats that are used to being handled and don't mind being picked up or groomed. But I don't want to stress my existing cat too much.

I can't decide between:
same age rescue cat
younger rescue cat
1 x kitten
2 x kittens (so they'll play with each other and not bother her)

Also how long do you need to stay home with a new kitten or cat? I work full time (from home on Fridays) and can only take a week off to settle the new puss in.

And how do you know if your existing cat will even accept a new cat?

If you decide to go ahead and get another cat I would recommend getting two kittens that way they have someone to play with and won't really bother the older cat. Most kittens are used to be handled and become more trusting quicker than rescue. You won't need to take time off work really maybe try to do it over a time you have two days off. In order to introduce them it's said your meant to keep them in separate rooms for a few days to let your cat get used to the smell before you let them see the new arrives it's meant to make it less stressful. I would also recommend investing in a feliway plug in it helped ours a lot when we got new kittens

Thanks needsaadult, I keep seeing things online about not leaving kittens alone for longer than 4 hours but that sounds very impractical!

Having two kittens is definitely essential if you're going to be leaving them all day - a single kitten will get bored alone.

As for whether your older cat will take to other cats, this depends on her personality and previous experience with other cats. If she goes out, how does she react to other cats in the garden? If she's very territorial, it might be more difficult to integrate other cats into the home. Either way I think it's best to get two younger cats or kittens, that way they have each other for company if the older cat wants to avoid them.

@Orangesandbananas as long as they have food, water and a litter tray they should be fine while your at work they will entertain them self's we have four cats (two of which are from a litter my older one had) and they all get on brilliantly the oldest just ignores them and moves out the way when they get too much but she does occasionally play with them when it suits her which is why two where better than one kitten for us

I read about social groups in cats and one worry was that with two kittens they'd be company for each other but my older cat would never really bond or group with them.

I wondered whether it'd be nicer for her to get an older cat that she can bond with. But maybe she never will as she's used to being alone!

In our garden I've seen her chase some other cats away but also sit with one of them quite companionably.

It's hard to know really - ideally you would find a cat who is known to other cats if choosing an adult cat. And there's no guarantee they would become friends.

My older cat never liked the younger pair I got. She has now gone onto the rainbow bridge and I have two young sibling pairs and they are all great friends with each other, spending a lot of time as a group and in different pairings.

Not one kitten. Been there, done that, didn’t work. Sadly the kitten we got died of cardiomyopathy at less than 18 months at which point our older cat - who HATED him - decided she was going to mourn his passing. Loudly. In the middle of the night.

We did get another cat, but this time a cat of the same breed, roughly the same age (8/9) and same general temperament. We drove five hours to get her, but it was worth it as they’ve settled well together and no more howling in the night. They’re not best friends, but they co-exist well and without the stress the kitten caused.

That's interesting to hear FenellaVelour.

From what you've all said I've narrowed it down to either two kittens or one adult cat of a similar age.

I'll keep looking on all the various cat sale and rescue sites and see what's available - a big factor for my son is that the cat must look cute! (I think all cats are cute but he seems a bit more specific about which cats meet the cuteness criteria) But he also recognises that we need to choose a cat or kittens with the right personality - happy to be handled rather than timid or aggressive.