More cats or not?

lostinrates

I am not going to use repsonses here to make my decision, but I am thinking myself i. Circles, so hope to use answers to help me see the wood for the trees here.


We have two siamese cats. They are incredible, wonderful creatures, I cannot imagine my life without them and I love them dearly. We toyed with getting a couple more when they were younger, but we just were not in the right place to, now we are. My mother said the other day, quite out of the blue that she thinks i should get two more, so that one is not at risk of being left alone when they are older, and also, because she thinks it will help me when that happens.

The cats are eight, full of vigour and playfullness and very spoiled. They rule the house and all the other animals. We had to have one of the ferals i. The house for winter and they were disgusted with us, and made their feelings very clear, ignoring it totally in the main. The cats spend much of the day with me, and every night in our bed. They are devoted to each other too. They have dh and i well trained and seem pretty contented....-after all their every whim is catered too...

I don't want to unsettle them really, but the issue of later in life might well be relevant, one would cope well as an only cat the other i think would find it harder, and depends on the other a bit.

Should i let well enough alone, or introduce two kittens before the cats are too old to contemplate kittens, or even consider taking a couple of asult siamese rescues?..both options have merit imo. i would like to know what others think.

gettingready

I better not say anything.. got 6 of them (plus Zara) running around the flat now

(hint hint)


Ah, and as regular on here you should know.. thread not valid without photos

lostinrates

gettingready wrote: »

I better not say anything.. got 6 of them (plus Zara) running around the flat now

(hint hint)


Ah, and as regular on here you should know.. thread not valid without photos

Don't often post pics of the critters, but here is one of the cats ( with a dog )not a great pic, taken to prove a point;)




I really don't want to upset mine, and i just know they will be jealous. Siamese do jealousy extremely well. How long did it takes your cats to accept the new ones getting ready? I know zara loved them instant ly, but the existing cats?

If i do get them it would not be till after summer.
Edit...i also feel really strongly i don't want TOO many, While in a dream world it would be nice to have a liveing cat fur lined bed, in practicality i know i would hate it. I feel over animaled homes are not that great an environment for the individuals at times, and often the cats of mad cat ladies, one of whom i could easily become, ssem stressed and not in the best place, however well loved they are. I do not want that i. My home, for my cats or the new ones.

Fridaycat

I had three cats this time last year, (I'd previously had 4, one passed away in Feb 2011)... then we got our two Bengals in August.

There is no doubt that cats will adapt, eventually, but even though I'm contradicting my own actions, I'm not sure that getting two more at this stage would be good for yours?

Siamese are very intelligent cats who know what they want and it sounds to me that they have been more than achieving that in their lives with you Personally, I think that introducing two more could well upset that balance... it may adjust somewhat given time, but would never get back to what it was....

As a slight side issue - I got my very first two cats back in 1994 - Charlie and Misty. They were not siblings, but were of similar age and we got them both at the same time from the same Cats Protection shelter. They were therefore very close and went through a lot together, including moving house with us.

Charlie died aged 14 in 2008.... I thought Misty would be devastated, but in all honesty she didn't seem at all concerned..... she was the one who passed away in Feb last year at a grand old age of nearly 18

gettingready

Oh they are so sweet together ....

With my lot it varies really......

When Tiger had to be PTS 2 years ago I went psycho and got 4 kittens within a week, all from difernt places but as they were all very young (someone may want to shoot me here but I knew they were way before 8 weeks when I took them on, wanted young ones so they never knew they were supposed to be scared of the dog, they just accepted Zara and that was it) so there was no problems.

I had problems when my 4 were about a year old and the ex decided to kind of dumpo Chloe (5 yo) and then Teddy (also 5yo) on me, integrating failed with Chloe, she hated the dog so after few months had to rehome her. Teddy fitted in well and is still here. Then my daughter's pregnant's foster cat came along and somehow one of the kittens stayed with me - Macius. Again as a baby - my lot just tolarated him.

My daughter took 2 girls Fiona and Phoebe when she mopved out last year. So althouh they grew up with my boys - now when they come to visit.. fur flies sometimes.

I never separate them though, I let them get on with whatever they are doing (short of killing one another) and all is normally calm within 2 days.

Fiona gets on with my 4 boys, Phoebe only comes out to look for somene to start a fight with... sigh...

They do not do any serious damage, just hissy fits, spitting and a lot of noise mostly..

Bust looking at your 2 - I can see why you may wory about upsetting the current balance.. they look so sweet together.

lostinrates

Fridaycat wrote: »

I had three cats this time last year, (I'd previously had 4, one passed away in Feb 2011)... then we got our two Bengals in August.

There is no doubt that cats will adapt, eventually, but even though I'm contradicting my own actions, I'm not sure that getting two more at this stage would be good for yours?

Siamese are very intelligent cats who know what they want and it sounds to me that they have been more than achieving that in their lives with you Personally, I think that introducing two more could well upset that balance... it may adjust somewhat given time, but would never get back to what it was....

Yes, this is exactly what i fear.


Ours have been seperate only for a day at a time, ever. One is quite pleased when the other goes out alone, purring and coming for special alone time. The other one however, frets, and worries til her sister is back in a lot of the time. E.g. I established early a routine where they come home at dusk, come what may. If the one pushes the boundaries the fretty one home waiting checks from all the windows, calls, and generally gets worried.

lostinrates

gettingready wrote: »

Oh they are so sweet together ....
.....

Bust looking at your 2 - I can see why you may wory about upsetting the current balance.. they look so sweet together.

just to be clear...one of them in the pic is one of my dogs, not a cat. . Siamese are funny looking, and described sometimes as doggy but not that doggy:D

Fridaycat

lostinrates wrote: »

just to be clear...one of them in the pic is one of my dogs, not a cat. . Siamese are funny looking, and described sometimes as doggy but not that doggy:D

I was trying to work out what the other animal was! I knew it wasn't a cat, but couldn't work out what breed of dog it was either Both look very happy together

gettingready

LOL... I was wondering about the long ears... ha ahhahahah

lostinrates

Finally found one with two cats in and nothing else....

gettingready

With my glasses on I can confirm those are definitely 2 cats

They look lovely and comfy together..

My lot swap sleeping p[laces/partners all the time...