Talk me out of (or into) getting a kitten

[NoHangoversToday]

So- we have a 23 year old cat and a 15 year old cat. Both females. We are very experienced cat owners.

We are thinking of getting a kitten. It would be from a rescue, not a breeder, but there are some feral kittens at our local RSPCA. We'd like a kitten in the hope it integrates more seamlessly with the other two who are not good friends. In te past we have always had older cats who have been hard to home due to health and medical needs.

Pros- well - KITTEN!!!!!

Cons- we might be moving long haul within the next 5 years. We already planned to take whatever cats we had, by sea possibly as in the past we have flown our pets across the world when we first moved here to the UK (but only 4 hours flight) and I am not keen to fly animals again so far. I'd go by sea with them. Some cruise ships have catteries on board so that would be the plan. And the move isn't a definite anyway.

We haven't had actual kittens for more than 20 years we always got adult cats.

TIA!

We are just a month into having a kitten ourselves and I say go for it!

Yeah the curtain climbing is a bit annoying, plus the attacking of my feet...but he's such an amazing little shit bag!

Full of fun, always comes to greet anybody who comes home and loves cuddles!

It might spur on your older two as well.

I hadn't had a cat in about 15-20 years and forgot how lovely it is!

Cat tax

Personally I wouldn't right now. Your two older cars may not appreciate kitten energy and it seems especially mad if these are feral kittens as they've not been socialised at all.
But then again I prefer not to get young kittens again. That's just me!

Really sorry to derail your thread but what cruise ships have catterys? You may have solved my holiday problem!

Get the kitten, give it a loving home and enjoy!

I'm going to be honest as lovely as a new kitten is your oldest cat would most likely find it incredibly distressing and it wouldn't really be fair to subject them to a new kitten. I would wait at least until they had passed on and then reassess.

If you really want a kitten you need a pair, so they can play with each other & leave your older two in peace.

https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2/queen-mary-2-kennels

Yes I hear what you are saying. Older 23 year old is a feisty and bad tempered calico who frightens dogs (We call her 'Attack Cat') but that's certainly a consideration.

My heart says one thing (along the lines of 'I want more things to love!!') and my head another.

We've never had any real issues introducing kittens to our older cats - but we do tend to get two kittens at a time so they can amuse each other rather than just pestering the incumbants 24*7.

Do it! What’s one more?

Cat tax!

Awwwwwwwwww,,,,,,,😍

Thanks so much everyone for your thoughts.

I've decided to shelve it for now. On the principle that if i have to ask and weigh it up it's probably not the right time. My birthday is in 3 months so I will use that date as a reminder to think about it again.

We have 2 kittens coming today! Hoping our 10 year old dog and 14 year old cat cope!

Oooh ... please do post cat tax photos!!!!