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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.

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Original poster

Should we get another cat?

41 replies

Calmgirl · 27/01/2022 13:19

Our cat Thor has been with us since a kitten. He came into a home that already had a cat. Sadly, Nox had to be pts last year due to kidney failure (she was only 4 ). It's been a few months and Thor seems to have adjusted well. Although they lived together they more tolerated each other when he became older than a kitten. Think he would have liked to be friends but she wasn't as keen. We live in a 3 storey house with a garden so they both made their own territories etc.
We would all like to adopt another cat to love but I'm not sure whether Thor will love or hate the idea. Any advice from others who have been in a similar situation? I don't want him to be lonely but also don't want to force a friend on him .

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Yoyokitten · 28/01/2022 11:36

Hi we tried it and it was a disaster. Our resident cat kept beating up the kitten, and he was so sweet. I really wanted to keep him. Eventually the older cat wouldn't come in the house, and she slept in the shed for a week.
We took the kitten back to the family, they said any problems bring him back. I was so upset, but our cat returned to her old self. I'm sure it many cases it does work out though. Good luck

SalsaLove · 28/01/2022 11:41

Honestly I would leave him be. Cats don’t seem to require the companionship of other cats. My current girl didn’t even bond with her own sister. I do think cats tend to love their chosen humans.

Original poster

Calmgirl · 28/01/2022 13:15

Thanks for the advice. We still haven't decided but it might be wise to wait or completely forego the idea based on your experiences. Thanks again.

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CornflakesOnTheSolesOfHerShoes · 28/01/2022 13:19

I’m really torn on this too. We had brothers and one disappeared two years ago. I really miss him, and the dynamic of having two cats, but am concerned that our remaining cat (now aged nearly four) would disappear in protest if we brought in an interloper.

rumred · 28/01/2022 13:29

I took in a stray about 13 years ago when my cat was 2 ish. Both female and spayed. They are not friends but tolerate one another (and the 2 gobby dogs who came a few years later)
We live together peaceably on the whole. It can work

Normando91 · 28/01/2022 13:37

We introduced a new kitten to our 2 year old cat. He wasn’t keen at first but after a while they both settled in to the new dynamic and often would cuddle on the sofa. As the kitten got older though, he became more boisterous and they fought constantly. I’m not sure what changed but now they just kind of tolerate each other, they’ll sleep on separate sofas or sometimes under a radiator together. Every now and then we hear them playing/fighting on the stairs but it’s not half as bad as it was.
I do think my older cat would have much preferred life as the only one in the house though.

Original poster

Calmgirl · 28/01/2022 14:01

It's hard to know what to do for the best. I know I'm projecting probably but sometimes it feels like he's lonely, although we give him lots of fuss etc.

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CovidCorvid · 28/01/2022 16:32

I had this same issue and we have just bought a kitten this afternoon. Resident cat hasn't met her yet, will let you know how it goes. But he seemed lonely since his older "sister" died recently. Roams round the house yowling for her. Really hope they bond.

Original poster

Calmgirl · 28/01/2022 17:05

@CovidCorvid yes that's what Thor used to do. We have enquired about one. I'm still not certain to be honest. Think we'll see how the enquiry goes. Hope your two bond well.

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Toddlerteaplease · 28/01/2022 18:11

I did it and It worked out brilliantly. New cat is very soppy and placid and never ever reacts!

Original poster

Calmgirl · 28/01/2022 18:43

@Toddlerteaplease oh so cute! It's definitely tempting

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CovidCorvid · 28/01/2022 18:59

[quote Calmgirl]@CovidCorvid yes that's what Thor used to do. We have enquired about one. I'm still not certain to be honest. Think we'll see how the enquiry goes. Hope your two bond well.[/quote]
Thank you. Resident cat has met the kitten now, doesn’t seem overly impressed and appears to be sulking under the table. However there was no hissing, etc so I’m taking that as a positive and hope he comes round.

Original poster

Calmgirl · 28/01/2022 19:03

Awww. No hissing is a good start!

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Cotswoldmama · 28/01/2022 19:34

We got an older kitten approx 1 year from a rescue it was a nightmare it was constantly attacking our older cat and all the neighbours cats! I think if you want more than one cat it's better to get them together as siblings or from a rescue centre where they've been living together. I would never try to introduce another cat to our household again!

Original poster

Calmgirl · 28/01/2022 21:48

@Cotswoldmama oh no!! Yes, perhaps you're right. It just goes to demonstrate how hit and miss it can be.

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Maybepossibly22 · 28/01/2022 22:03

We got a kitten (a stray gave birth in a friends lounge - long story!) when our cat was 7. Older boy hid under the bed for almost a week with daily offerings of food and water but gradually came out to investigate the new friend. They’re now 6&13 and best buddies - they spend all day asleep on the bed together! Best decision we ever made and once the old lad passes on, we will get another baby to join the clan. Never to be without 2 cats I don’t think!

lljkk · 28/01/2022 22:26

My 10yr old tom cat got used to 2 kittens pretty quickly. Worked for us.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 28/01/2022 22:31

Definitely.

We have three unrelated cats and it's fabulous, I'd never ever go back to having just one.

I don't really believe the whole "cats don't keep company" thing.

Original poster

Calmgirl · 28/01/2022 22:50

Oh now that sounds more positive. The one we enquired about went to another family in the end because the people were able to go and see it before we could. I'm still keeping an eye out and having a good think about it. Thanks all!

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TiggerSnoozer · 28/01/2022 23:28

Isn't it usually female cats that don't want other cats (esp other females) in their space? Male cats (obvs neutered) always seem much more chilled about these things to me. But I'm also not sure if they get lonely being the only cat in the house - so I'm not sure you need to get another for their sake.

thefirstmrsrochester · 28/01/2022 23:34

I’ve had 5 rescue cats over a 20 year period and any time I’ve introduced a new cat into the house, the resident cat hasn’t tolerated it, either started staying out at night or fighting with the new cat. I’ve come to think that really most cats would like to be the only one.

Original poster

Calmgirl · 28/01/2022 23:57

@TiggerSnoozer possibly. I know our female cat Nox was not impressed when we got Thor. I was never sure if that was because she was a timid cat anyway. She did love him and groom him when he was small.

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Original poster

Calmgirl · 28/01/2022 23:59

@thefirstmrsrochester (great username!) possibly you're right. It's hard to say as they all have different personalities.

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fairylightsandwaxmelts · 29/01/2022 09:00

@TiggerSnoozer

Our female is the most sociable out of all three (we have two males and a female).

We also got her first so this was her home
and territory before the others came along. She's never shown a single sign of aggression of fear - she was sniffing and trying to bathe our first male within about twenty minutes of his arrival

They all cuddle together, share food and trays, groom each other and play with no problems at all now and they're 6, 5 and 1 with all their birthdays coming up within a few months.

Original poster

Calmgirl · 29/01/2022 12:27

@fairylightsandwaxmelts ah, that sounds positive. I suppose it really does depend on the cats character to start with.

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