Please help ... rescue cat and potential new kitten??

[OldSpeclkledHen]

Hey

Just need some thoughts/opinions please.

So last August I rehomed a cat from well known rescue. It was still 'lockdown' ish, so the rehome stated I could only meet the cat if I wanted to take her, they phoned about her Friday - I collected Sunday morning.

They explained her situation, DCat and her sister (3 at the time) had been handed In as they couldn't tolerate each other and there was a young family involved, both cats were scared of the children. So Dcat needed to be rehomed as a single cat in a quiet home (which I could offer) She's very skittish and doesn't go outside - too scared, hides when strangers (my friends!) come over - which isn't that often to be fair - and even runs away when I move.

It's taken a while for her to settle in, which is fine I expected that. But the cusp is I've never really bonded with her. Sure she's cute, and although she'll sit on my lap - she's not a cuddly cat. I like her - but I don't love her - does that make sense? How awful am I? She's not what I would have chosen, but felt pressured at the time to take her, as I can offer a home that she needs.

Now there's a little male kitten needing a home. I've been reading up that two sisters normally don't get along. And if you want to introduce a new cat to resident cat - then a male kitten is prob best as more chilled out (the Breed is v chilled)

So...! I'm hoping a young, friendly kitten will help her feel more settled and less alone (as I do go out to work) Am I mad for even considering it? If I did - I would introduce gradually as per Jackson Galaxy etc

Talk some sense into me - good or bad please- thank you x

It's worth a try. Being top cat might help her confidence.

It is worth considering.

But please (and you seem to have done your research so you may have already covered this) do your research on how to best introduce them to each other as well. It boils down to don’t let old cat see you make friends with new cat until old cat has made friends with new cat. Ok, there is a bit more to it than that but you get the gist.

It might be fine, or it might not be. We introduced a male kitten to our two adult females. Ones a typical haughty tortie, takes no crap, swatted him a few times and all was well. The other is a much less dominant character, and he bullied her. She was really unhappy living with him and let us know by ruining most of the carpets. We rehomed her, not because it was her fault, but because my son could take her as a solo cat, and she's now living the life of a princess. Most of the time cats establish their pecking order fairly quickly and exist reasonably harmoniously together, but be prepared that it doesn't always work out.

Thank You everyone

Yes completely understand not to let current DC see fusses over potential new cat 🙂

Potential kitten is a Persian, so apologies I've started a new thread about what they're like as pets 😳

Just sitting on the fence! Thank You again 🙂

Try a Feliway plug in thing as well. Cooled the temperature in our house.

@OldSpeclkledHen I've commented in great length on your other post. but just in case I didn't get my point across. PERSIANS ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@Toddlerteaplease 😘😘

Don't tempt me anymore! This wasn't planned 😂

Agree with pp, also don't worry about not having bonded yet.

Had a rescue who'd been through several homes before he came to me. Kept being returned because he was so "unpredictable" due to being mistreated in the past. His calming down took years rather than months and he only every appreciated affection on his terms. In spite of this, he came to be adoring and hugely affectionate.

Give it time, the bond will come :)

Mine weren't planned either, I fell in love with a Facebook post and that was that. They have improved my life massively!

@MintyMoocow absolutely yes, Feliway worked wonders when she arrived... Will restock

So much to think about!

What will you do if it doesn’t work out? Will you rehome? Which one?

how big is your house? If it’s small don’t, as they won’t have enough room to establish territory.

i got a kitten for an older cat. Nightmare and ended up rehoming, after they’d ruined carpets, furniture, dvd players, toasters etc with spraying and scratching.

i would never get a second cat after that. Current one is like yours, it’s taken years for her to settle.

@Reallyreallyborednow I am thinking seriously about this, its not a whim. I'm reading up to go into this eyes wide open, for all the cute kitten pics my head will rule my heart. I do appreciate your input - did ask for good and bad!

We will be installing cat highways next weekend, so there will be floor space and vertical space. My home is not huge (2bed house) but its over 2 floors. The cat highway is something I've always wanted to do for current DC anyway, so even if I decide against the kitten then its a bonus for her anyway!

I wouldn’t do it. I tried it once and it didn’t work. The “new” cat then went back to her previous owner who decided to keep him. But I also now one story where a couple had a rescue cat and after a year decided to get a kitten. The rescue cat didn’t harm the kitten but started to pee outside the litter box. Guess who had to leave? The cat that was there first. The shelter where the cat ended up in then posted a video on social media because the cat was so upset about being dumped there that it was yowling very loudly for hours. It was heartbreaking. Don’t get another cat or kitten.

… the cat I once had as a second cat for a short time was male, the owner was female; I messed it up in my previous post.

It's (thankfully) been taken out of my hands, the kitten is no longer available, which is ok.

I hope he's going to a great home 🙂

OP, I hope that your cat becomes cuddlier towards you. Hopefully, she just needs a lot of time to fully settle.

@Mia184 thank you, she is a lap cat, but (typical cat) everything is on her terms 😂 she doesn't like being picked up and held (and the child in me wants to pick her up and hold her 🙈)

Although not sure if she's stalking me on MN, but she's being very fussy when I get home these days 😳