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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

Getting a kitten when I've got a 13yr old cat already

18 replies

forrestgreen · 23/10/2021 09:57

I'm looking to get a kitten, it's obviously been 13yr since I've had a kitten.
What haven't I yet thought about?
Apparently I'll need two litter trays?
More cat bowls
How do feed them separately?

OP posts:
Lynne1Cat · 23/10/2021 10:29

I've had several cats in the past 40y years (I'm old), and the remaining one is 17 or so now. He's been the only cat now for 3 years. Twice I've tried to take another cat in (fostering) but the old boy was so aggressive towards each one, I couldn't keep them.

My advice - don't get another one, your existing cat may not like playing 2nd fiddle to a kitten when he's been alone for 13 years.

Original poster
forrestgreen · 23/10/2021 11:03

Oh dammit!! Not what I wanted to read

OP posts:
Original poster
forrestgreen · 23/10/2021 11:04

She had a brother who died about 5yrs ago

OP posts:
Monsterpumpkins · 23/10/2021 11:10

Get 2 dkittens. If dcat isn't interested they will have each other.. And without being heartless when dcat is no longer you will be back to one dcat..

One of our pair died last year at 8. We got 2 dkitten. Bonded within a fortnight but at 24 maybe a bit much to expect ...

Hoppinggreen · 23/10/2021 11:11

Sorry but I don’t think it’s fair on your existing cat

JudyGemstone · 23/10/2021 11:13

I also wouldn’t at this stage, it’s too much of a gamble. So many cats end up rehomed as they can’t get on and develop behavioural problems.

I have an 8 year old cat and sometimes think I would like to have another but I know it’s for me and not her, she likes her life the way it is.

crimsonlake · 23/10/2021 11:18

Do not do it for the sake of your older cat. New kitten will target it as a playmate and will terrorize it for a good 18 months or so.

TurnUpTurnip · 23/10/2021 14:06

My sister got a kitten when she had an older cat and they hate each other and fight constantly now the older one refuses to come in the house so now she wants to re home the new one 😒

Ibizafun · 23/10/2021 21:30

Another one saying don’t.. unless it’s an older cat. Unfair to both.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 24/10/2021 00:49

I'm getting one too OP, current cat is 11 and she a love, really placid and happy. She was brought up with lots of other cats and dogs and is always trying to make friends with the neighbourhood cats with varied success.
My son volunteered me to have one of his neighbours kittens, she is a tiny all black little runt, not threatening to my 11 year old and I can't wait. My old girl is always off seeking to befriend next doors cat so I think they will get on just fine.

Snailhaterz2 · 24/10/2021 08:34

I did exactly that four years ago, and my old girl, (who had always been a really cross cat) just hissed at the kitten until she learnt to keep her distance. My old cat died a few months ago, and I'm now trying to repeat the exercise with my now four year old cat, and a new kitten, and its actually a lot harder as this kitten is a lot pushier and won't take "I don't want to play" as an answer. So I suppose what I'm saying is it depends on their individual personalities, which is no help at all really!

mostlydrinkstea · 24/10/2021 08:40

I've done this a number of times. Get two kittens though. Kittens are full on and if there are two they can play with each other and leave the older cat alone.

GillBiggeloesHair · 24/10/2021 08:43

We have several senior cats and a new kitten, they just ignore him.

CovidCorvid · 24/10/2021 08:46

I did this a couple of years ago and it’s worked out ok. Older cat was very uninterested and kitten soon learnt not to pester. Luckily we have a crazy small dog who the younger cat terrorised instead and the dog seems quite happy. Dog and young cat are best mates and spend their days wrestling, cat is very much the boss of the dog.

If the younger cat forgets himself and pounces on the older cat he gets his ears boxed. However if he’s calm and nice they will actually sit side by side without any fuss.

Kajjjer93 · 24/10/2021 08:55

I have an older cat who's now 14 years old. I got two kitten three years ago. At first he wasn't bothered by them and ignored them, one of the kittens however was/is particularly playful and kept pestering him to play.
In the end the older cat ended up playing with him and they still play now and the kitten (now cat) often sleeps next to my older cat!
Getting the kitten's literally brought the kitten out of my grumpy older cat! I love watching them together. Just another view of older cats and kittens!

Flowersintheattic2021 · 24/10/2021 10:06

Be fine. We did same. Just made sure they are the opposite sex. My older cat is 12

lljkk · 24/10/2021 10:33

My 10yr old grumpy tom adapted fairly easily to 2 new kittens (5 weeks ago). I don't imagine him ever playing or cuddling up to them, but he can sniff & ignore comfortably. He adapted within 8 days. The kittens are fascinated by Uncle Cat, follow him (& us) around with great curiousity. Old-man-Tom doesn't like their food anyway.

Kittens take a lot of owner energy. I underestimated this (!!)

Mine are unhappily coned right now after spaying mostly to stop them kicking 7 bells out of each other while wrestling. I suppose that's a comment for 1 & against getting 2 kittens. But if they don't play with each other they will crave playing with you, 2 is probably net less work. We people do play a lot with our kittens, too one of them does a good game of fetch (!)

I wanted older adult cat but rescue was adamant about kitten(s) being better for my Grumpy-Tom to get used to, they were probably right.

Original poster
forrestgreen · 24/10/2021 15:17

Well I'll let you all know!

OP posts:
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