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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

One or two kittens + 4yr old resident cat

12 replies

beforeafter · 10/08/2023 13:37

We have a 4 year old cat, who've had for three years. She is ex cats protection league and came from a hoarder's house. Apparently she was bullied by one of the other cats but got on well with cats at the fosterer's house and she is friendly with a couple of neigh our hood cats. She is scared of two other big neighborhood cats though. She is a small tabby tipping the scales at 2.5kg.

We are interested in getting a male kitten but now I'm wondering if we would get two kittens so our resident cat isn't bothered as much by the kitten and also that the kittens will settle in quicker if there are two of them.

We are viewing a 7 month old kitten at the weekend but seeing 7 month old kittens online and they don't look much smaller than our resident cat, so I'm thinking she could be intimidated by the newbie if he's as big as her.

What would you do? Ive heard girl cats dominate boy cats that's why we want to get a small male, so that she is the main one still - at least for a while. Does two kittens sound like. A good idea or will it be chaos?! Ive only ever adopted adult cats and only ever had one cat at a time.

We are two adults living alone with the cat. No kids and we both do a mix of wfh and in office so the kittens wouldn't really be alone.

Any thoughts welcome!! Thank you

OP posts:

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 10/08/2023 13:55

I think it could go either way.

We recently got a single male kitten with two resident males (aged 3 and 8) and honestly it's been the best thing ever. The kitten adores the 3yo and they play together constantly - the 8yo joins in when he wants but he can then be left alone while the other two loon around like idiots

Our two resident boys are very chilled/submissive though and have never fought - we also had a 7yo female cat up until June (when she passed away) and they all got on absolutely fine.

Original poster

beforeafter · 10/08/2023 22:12

Thank you x

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Ginandtoxic · 15/08/2023 13:31

Did you end up deciding on one or two?

I also have a 4 year old rescue who we have had for 3 years. We recently got one kitten and I do kind of wish we could've got two but can't afford three cats. Kitten just wants to play and dive on older cat CONSTANTLY and he gets very stressed by this. She just wants him to be her friend but he is scared of her when she does it. I wish for kittens sake we would've got her a friend, but then again my older cat is very timid and I feel like having two new cats to get used to in his home would've been even more stressful and disrupting for him

Original poster

beforeafter · 18/09/2023 14:39

Hi, sorry - I have only just seen your reply. How are you cats getting on? We are viewing another kitten this week and I am nervous about them both getting on. Like you, we thought about two kittens but don't really want three cats in the house. I wish I'd just adopted two in the first place!

OP posts:

Ginandtoxic · 21/09/2023 12:42

@beforeafter still the same unfortunately. Although the kitten is 7 and a half months now and starting to calm down slightly. Let her outside a few times but she was quite scared but then she got stuck up a tree and DH had to climb it to rescue her hahah. She hasn't been out since but will try again soon. I'm hoping once she is going out she will calm down even more and won't want to bother older cat so much.

What has made you want to get a second kitten? Is your kitten also too much for older cat?

Original poster

beforeafter · 21/09/2023 12:59

Ginandtoxic · 21/09/2023 12:42

What has made you want to get a second kitten? Is your kitten also too much for older cat?

Thank you for replying and sorry to hear about your escapades with your kitten!

We viewed the kitten last night - he is 15 weeks now and we are going to get him - eeekk. Just going to introduce them slowly and hope for the best. I wish I could explain to our resident cat that we will love them same, but who knows...

We want another cat just because I know when I lost my last cat the house felt really empty. So I just always want a cat around. It's selfish really, but we do want another one! Do you regret your decision? How old was your kitten when you got it?

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Ginandtoxic · 21/09/2023 13:37

@beforeafter oh sorry I misunderstood your reply! I thought you meant you ended up getting one kitten already but now you are going to view another. When you said "I wish we just adopted two in the first place" I now realise you meant when you got your first cat. Yes I feel like this too!

Ahh that's so exciting when will you be getting him? I don't regret it because we absolutely adore her. It's a totally different cat experience, we can pick her up, we can play with her we can touch her belly, we can make noise without scaring her etc. With my older boy I only so much as have to move my foot or cough and he darts for cover under the table. It's really sad actually, I don't know what he's been through. We get so much joy out of both of them so I don't regret getting her. But it is hard work having to keep them separate and trying to divide my time and attention between the two. I think it will all be worth it once she gets older and is more chilled. I'm hoping that happens anyway because I don't exactly want to have to keep them separate forever.

Our kitten was only 8 weeks when we got her! I sometimes wish we would've got a more chilled out breed like a ragdoll, but again, we love her so much so wouldn't change her now.

Original poster

beforeafter · 21/09/2023 18:00

@Ginandtoxic ahh, yeah - we only have one cat (four year old girl) and are getting the boy kitten in a couple of weeks.

I think that's the thing - you just don't know until you actually do it. On reflection, I do wish I'd got two cats to begin with - so yes, my existing four year old and one of the other cats in her rescue pen, but nevermind. I am expecting her to hate the new boy kitten but will try my best to do some slow introductions. When we saw the kitten, he let us stroke him and feed him and the foster lady said he was a big softie, so that's good. It's so stressful though, isn't it?! I will keep you posted on here and let me know how you get on as well. Your poor older boy, hopefully as your girl kitten gets older she will help your boy be more confident. I just hope mine are able to tolerate each other as the worst case scenario, but I'd love it if they ended up as friends!!! Wish me luck!!

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Ginandtoxic · 21/09/2023 20:15

@beforeafter ah I'm excited for you! Post some pictures when you get him.

I don't think mine will become friends unfortunately but my boy will tolerate her as long as she just ignores him and leaves him alone so I'm praying that she gets the message soon haha. Good luck with it!

Original poster

beforeafter · 18/12/2023 19:06

@Ginandtoxic not sure if you are still here but here he is - we have had him for two months now. Resident cat doesn't hate him but she's not a fan. He on the other hand is obsessed with her. He's huge for a six month old kitten! He's bigger than she is!

OP posts:

wannabedry · 18/12/2023 19:07

Annoying the pic won't load. Imagine a large black kitten!

How are you getting on?

Ginandtoxic · 18/12/2023 20:21

@beforeafter oh no that's so annoying, I'd love to see a pic! So glad that your resident cat doesn't hate him! I'm sure that as time goes on she will get more and more used to him.

It's so sad when the kittens love the older cats but the older cats want nothing to do with them! Same thing happened with mine. Poor kittens 😂

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