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

Getting a kitten as a friend for solo cat?

11 replies

kirinm · 08/02/2026 13:03

We’ve had our rescue cat for just 3 years now - she’s about 4 years old. She’s an incredibly sociable cat and has always had cat friends (see below) and likes to wander. We’ve moved house and although we are in the same location as before our new neighbour has an aggressive boy cat. She’s been attacked by him a few times now and has basically stopped going out other than to go to the toilet. She looks visibly sad.

We are considering getting her a kitten so she has company and perhaps gets a bit braver again. Is that a really bad idea?

I’m not prepared to get an older cat as I’ve tried that in the past. We had one cat and tried to rescue another, were told not to get a kitten but another mature cat and it worked out very badly. Our resident cat was constantly stressed and the rescue was aggressive and had to be rehomed.

Obviously current cat is a totally different cat and might cope with an adult rescue but I feel like we have a better chance with a kitten.

How good or bad is this as an idea?

OP posts:
kirinm · 08/02/2026 13:07

Pic

Getting a kitten as a friend for solo cat?
OP posts:
soddingspiderseason · 08/02/2026 13:09

We got a kitten when our older cat was 10. She loved him. Would bring in live voles and mice for him to learn to hunt with and did all the mother cat stuff. Cats are not as solitary as people think, so go for it.

Octavia64 · 08/02/2026 13:09

It’s risky.

you’re getting (from her point of view) a random other cat she doesn’t know.

some cats will roll with it and be great friends.
some won’t and the kitten will really piss them off.

PersephoneSmith · 08/02/2026 13:09

I would, definitely, I have 3, here’s Hugo with his little ‘brother’ Max ❤️

Getting a kitten as a friend for solo cat?
AlwaysRightISwear · 08/02/2026 13:28

As she likes other cats that sounds like it would work. I would suggest maybe a male kitten.

Londog · 08/02/2026 13:48

So sorry that she’s sad - it breaks your heart.
Our oldest cat is 16 and still a reasonably active outdoor cat 🐈‍⬛ very placid and amenable ❤️
Last year we got two rescue kittens .
It’s been fine - more than fine -
She tolerated them (warily) for a week or two - we fed her separately and she soon adapted. They adore their ‘ grandma’ 🐾 and they cuddle up to her . She washes them, they wash her and they lie together on the bed.
I hope it all works out xxx

kirinm · 08/02/2026 13:48

The rescue centre we got her from has said they’ll let us adopt a single kitten (a lot near us don’t).

OP posts:
kirinm · 08/02/2026 13:48

Londog · 08/02/2026 13:48

So sorry that she’s sad - it breaks your heart.
Our oldest cat is 16 and still a reasonably active outdoor cat 🐈‍⬛ very placid and amenable ❤️
Last year we got two rescue kittens .
It’s been fine - more than fine -
She tolerated them (warily) for a week or two - we fed her separately and she soon adapted. They adore their ‘ grandma’ 🐾 and they cuddle up to her . She washes them, they wash her and they lie together on the bed.
I hope it all works out xxx

So sweet!

OP posts:
MsGreying · 08/02/2026 14:03

Get 2?

PersephoneSmith · 08/02/2026 16:12

We will need pics @kirinm

TooTiredToTrot · 10/02/2026 10:49

Personally I would get two kittens. Firstly your girl should take to kittens more easily than adult cats but if you get two then they will play with each other when your girl doesn't want to play rather than pestering her. It worked for ours!

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