Introducing older cat - bad idea?

Aeshna

Hoping for some advice on whether I should even attempt this!

Long story short, I left my tom Smokey (yes he's grey, no we weren't very original!) with the ex when we split 7 years ago as I was moving into a flat and I felt it would be best for him to remain with the back-door-to-garden life.

I have two girls of my own now, Piper will be 5 years old on Wednesday and Bailey will be 4 in July. Piper goes out every evening, returns at bedtime. Bailey is a housecat, through her choice (neuro problems as a kitten, she's what I like to call 'special'!). So, by default, Piper is the dominant of the two, but they get on exceptionally well.

As part of an insurance claim, my ex is about to have his bathroom torn apart and redone, so he's being rehoused elsewhere temporarily and is not permitted to take Smokey. I'm happy to go up and feed him and spend time with him, but am more concerned about the comings and goings of builders every day for anything between 3 days and 3 weeks (best guestimate from the risk assessor).

So, I'm really back to thinking about bringing him home (had this thought so many times over the years) to live with us, and I know that if I do this, he'll stay for his remaining years. He's now 16 years old, doesn't go out much at all, a little stiff with arthritis, but as adorable as ever.

I live in a very small 2 bedroomed flat, kitchen directly off the livingroom. At night the girls are shut out of the livingroom (issues with neighbour downstairs blah blah) and usually settle at the foot of my bed. Litter tray in the (very small) hallway, which is emptied on a daily basis. So what I'm getting at here really, is that I don't really have space for a 'safe' room for Smokey, without one of us living with a litter tray in our bedroom (eugh).

I'm out of work right now, so I have the time to spend with them all, but I'm just wondering whether I'm biting off more than is chewable. I'm not really worried about Smokey or Bailey, I feel Piper may be the unpredictable one, and I really don't want the old man to go through a hard time.

Your input would be much appreciated - I fully understand it's all ifs, buts and ands, and that the only way to really find out is to go for it, but I don't want to make Smokeys life (or anyone else's for that matter!) a living hell if it's unlikely to work in the first place.....

Thanks!

Aeshna x

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I had 3 cats in a two bedroom flat - without outside access - without problems. And one was introduced as a young adult, several years after the other two were brought there as kittens.

Caroline_a

Why not put the old boy in a cattery if it's only for a few days? if you get a good one he will have some peace and quiet, and probably lots of cuddles from the kennel staff. I would say this would be better than putting him through the stress of a different home with 2 ladies he doesn know!