New Kitten....or not?

paddypaws101

I am looking for advice or stories of similar experience.
I have 4 cats...mother and her 3 offspring, all getting on now at 15/16. I kept the kittens partly because the mum was always nervous of other cats...however she has ignored them since the day they were weaned and none of the cats really interract with each other although all are loving towards me. ( when they are awake, 30 minutes a day! )
Well....I have been offered a kitten, ok it's not a rescue situation but I know that I would guarantee it a life of pampered luxury and who knows where he would end up otherwise.
My dilemma and questions are....
Would it be really unfair on my gang of oldies to bring a disruptive youngster into the fold? Or would a kitten be fairly easy to integrate.
If I get one kitten would it not be better to also get another so that they can be company for each other ( presuming they get on! )
Would 6 cats count as 'hoarding' and mark me out as mentally ill???:rotfl:
Without being morbid I am worried about the fast approaching time when my aged gang leave me...maybe I am trying to plan for this eventuality.
Anyway, sorry for the ramble...all comments welcome.

ka7e

Yes, you will become the "mad cat lady"!

Yes, a new kitten can be disruptive to older cats, one or more may be royally miffed, others may suddenly gain a new lease of life. Yes, get two kittens together, they will probably play and mock-fight with each other, which should take some of the pressure off the oldies.

I got 2 kittens when my older female cats were 10 years old. They were ignored by the older ones except for the odd cuff when they got too bolshy. One of the kittens was very people-orientated and gentle (male Maine Coon), the other (female moggy) more aloof and took herself off to live in the conservatory rather than with the other 3 in the house. but the two remained quite affectionate with each other. A year later we got another male Maine Coon who was a bit thuggish but got on well with the other 4.

One of the oldies, although the quietest was top cat (even the dog deferred to her), and when she died, her sister took over. Earlier this year we lost her too, leaving the 3 and 4 year olds. The two we had as kittens together are still sweet with one another and the MCs get on fine, but the 4 year-old moggy is horrible to the (former thug) Maine Coon and bullies him terribly. He now spends his time ouside or inside close to me, while she has returned to take up residence in the house - but still rules the conservatory so he has to sneak past her to get in and out of the house!

I'm sticking with 3 for the time being because I have a 1 year old Sheltie who sometimes plays a bit roughly until she gets a thump from one of the cats - not sure a kitten could handle it!

missmontana

Pfft, what are you worrying about? Get the kitten and post pics so we can OOh and Aah over it....

On a serious note, I would say its easier to introduce a younger kitten. And as long as the oldies can escape somewhere then all should be fine. Slow introductions and lots of bribery with food.

Fingers crossed if you go ahead with it!

c6h4m1

If you provide plenty of safe, kitten free hiding places (up high is always a good place), and give the older cats time out every day (shut kitten(s) in the spare room for instance) then it can work. You will need to keep an eye on the older cats to be sure they're not stressed (cats can hide it very well) but if you've got 2 kittens then they can go off and beat each other up instead of picking on the older cats.

Or they might gang up on the older cats together.....

BTW you can never have too many cats!

spike7451

If you can give a cat the best life,go for it!!!

paddypaws101

Well....the final decision was NOT to take the kitten and he has been found a new home elsewhere. Hopefully a good and permanent home.
The oldies pulled my heart strings and the diabetic....who has been without insulin for 5 months.... decided to throw a wobbly and need a few shots of insulin.