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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

To get another cat or not to her another cat…that is the question

27 replies

beaverbill · 23/06/2021 21:59

Hello!
I am owned by a very much adored long haired tabby. His life is that of an indoor cat who is worshiped by his people. He will be 2 at the end of August and we’ve had him since he was 8 weeks old.
I’ve worried on and off that he might be lonely, we work and my children are at school during the day. Though I have discovered he mainly sleeps during this time obviously.
I enquired to a local cat rescue centre about taking on a kitten for him. We passed the home test yesterday so are free to apply for a kitten.
Should we? I have heard both sides.
A) it will ruin Mog’s life. He’ll hate it and never settle. Will feel threatened etc.
B) get it! They’ll be great together. Of course he’s lonely!
My daughter is torn…she would hate to stress our beloved Mog out. If they don’t get on we’d have to give the kitten back..that would be horrid.
Genuinely…what should we do?

OP posts:
NowYouListenToMeFella · 23/06/2021 22:26

Currently in the same boat as you. My fella is about a year and a half, I have him since February. Really thinking about getting him a little pal. Same as you I don't want him to be lonely. Have been into the rescue lady and she is keeping an eye out for a female kitten for me.

csam · 23/06/2021 22:40

Absolutely go for it! We had a super
Timid cat who hid all the time and ended up with a crazy Bengal who would bounce off the walls demanding attention. The 2 of them loved each other and I'd often find them cuddled up together.
Both were predominantly house cats.
Just remember you will need a second litter tray as they don't always like to share!

Nevertoomanyfluffies · 23/06/2021 22:55

Is your current cat really playful still or a bit calmer? Kittens can be crazy and annoy the older ones if they want to relax more. It might be possible to get a bit of an older kitten say 6 months to a year? That way you can see their personality and also they should be calmer than a tiny kitten. Whatever you do I'd recommend Jackson Galaxy you tube for advice on the introductions.

RolyPolyBatFace · 23/06/2021 23:52

You do this at your peril. Read some threads on here

Cats don't want company as a rule. And they're territorial. You risk behavioural issues galore by doing this

Of course it isn't true of all cats but it is generally. Don't do it - it's unfair on your existing cat

RolyPolyBatFace · 23/06/2021 23:53

And he won't be lonely. You're attaching human attributes to him.

Enough4me · 23/06/2021 23:54

My bossy missy would not allow me to bring another cat in. More feeders humans are OK, but she sets the rules in her house.

OnceUponARainbow · 24/06/2021 00:00

I honestly doubt the cat is lonely, but so if not used to company. Anytime we have introduced a new cat, it hasn’t gone well.

Original poster
beaverbill · 24/06/2021 04:34

He’s very playful with us…he plays hide and seek, chase, fetch etc.
Thank you…I agree about the human attributes. I think we’re going to leave it. As much as I’d love a new furry owner it’s not worth upsetting Mog.

OP posts:
HerRoyalNotness · 24/06/2021 04:59

We had 2 cats from kittens and one day one went out and never came back. We got another kitten about a year later and introduced them over 2 weeks. Our older cat went out one day and didn’t come back. I still remember the look on his face as he glared at me across the room. So now we have one. If she goes I don’t think we’ll get another. (In our case we suspect coyotes took them as they’ve not been seen at all)

Marty13 · 24/06/2021 05:05

I rescued a kitten when my older cat was about 5yo. They never got along, only grudgingly tolerate each other to this day. Tbf my Russian street cat is quite a character !

So yeah, I wouldn't.

WatchingTheRaindrops · 24/06/2021 05:15

Cats in general do not like other cats (unless they are litter mates). I think this would stress your cat out

Original poster
beaverbill · 24/06/2021 06:22

You’ve made me feel much better with your stories (not the coyote). I think I always feel that people judge when I say he’s an indoor cat on his own..but if you could see how blooming pampered he is!

OP posts:
SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 24/06/2021 06:28

We had two cats for years. One had behavioural problems (weeing everywhere to the point that she mostly had to live outside). Tragically we lost the other one in early older age. The other hasn’t had an accident in the house since. One cat is a good number.

mag2305 · 24/06/2021 07:52

I think we love to think that cats can be buddies and that they want a fellow cat to live with and be company. Of course, some love each other I'm sure but I think most cats really don't care. I adore cats but I'm under no illusion that they're actually quite selfish creatures and it's all about them haha! They look after themselves.
If your cat seems happy as things are, introducing another cat might rock the boat. My previous two cats were brother and sister. They had a strange relationship. The most affection we ever saw was an occasional lick of each other's heads but mostly they'd ignore each other or give each other dirty looks, lol! Especially if one was on a lap getting a cuddle and the other one wanted their go. They could be quite jealous of each other. Amusing in some ways. I have to say, when we lost Thomas a year before Tabitha, I can't say she seemed bothered at all to be on her own. And these were two cats who were together for 15 years from birth!
Don't feel judged on him being an indoor. It sounds like he's got a lovely life with you and is loved. That's what really matters Smile

Original poster
beaverbill · 24/06/2021 08:08

Thanks @mag2305, he really does. I’d love his life!

To get another cat or not to her another cat…that is the question
OP posts:
Purplewithred · 24/06/2021 08:17

I’m dreading this. We have a well-established cat who lost her sister 6 months ago and didn’t blink - they had no relationship at all. We’ve just rescued a kitten which is living completely separately, but in time they’re going to have to meet and share a cat flap and I can’t see it going well.

mag2305 · 24/06/2021 09:24

Ahhhh, look at him! What a gorgeous boy. Lovely thick, fluffy tail. Smile

Calmyertits · 24/06/2021 09:33

We tried a couple of cats as a companion for our indoor girl. There was a few personality clashes, one shoved her off my lap, bit her if she tried to get on the sofa and my velco cat became very depressed and spent all her time asleep on the landing. We finally found a match for her in another little tort, they co exist nicely, not overly close but only one spat in the last 3 years.

WildflowerWildfire · 24/06/2021 09:53

I recently got a kitten and my 2 year old girl is less than impressed. He wants to play constantly and sees her as a big, fluffy, walking toy that he can jump on and annoy. I’m hoping that in time when he calms down that they’ll get on a bit better 😬

NowYouListenToMeFella · 24/06/2021 09:55

My fella was hanging around with another cat before I adopted him. That's what got me thinking he might be happy with another. Really having second thoughts now.

cupsofcoffee · 25/06/2021 07:22

We have three unrelated cats and have never had a single problem.

We didn't go for all this slow introduction stuff that appears to be popular these days though - we just let them get on with it.

They're now aged 6, 5 and 1 (two males and a female) and get on absolutely fine. They sleep curled up together - either in various pairs or as a trio, share litter trays and food bowls and play together too Smile

WildflowerWildfire · 25/06/2021 17:35

@cupsofcoffee did you have any teething problems at first? It’s early days for my two but I do worry that my older girl will always feel forever annoyed by her younger housemate

cupsofcoffee · 25/06/2021 21:36

[quote WildflowerWildfire]@cupsofcoffee did you have any teething problems at first? It’s early days for my two but I do worry that my older girl will always feel forever annoyed by her younger housemate[/quote]
@WildflowerWildfire we had maybe 24-48 hours of wariness - the odd hiss from the resident cat(s) but genuinely after 3-4 days it was absolutely fine.

The kitten (well, he's one now!) is "told off" by the older ones sometimes, but there's never been any true aggression or fighting there.

To get another cat or not to her another cat…that is the question
WildflowerWildfire · 28/06/2021 17:06

It breaks my heart but I’m sadly going to have to rehome him. My girl is so unhappy and I’ve tried everything Sad

cupsofcoffee · 28/06/2021 17:12

@WildflowerWildfire

It breaks my heart but I’m sadly going to have to rehome him. My girl is so unhappy and I’ve tried everything Sad
How long have you had them and what problems are you having? Are they both neutered?