Older cat - possible to get a kitten

Kitty777

Hello

I also agree that it isn't best to take her with you - but I understand how you feel. I would also recommend the 'settling in' period to be 6+ months..the longer the better really. Cats are territorial and have scent paths, their own 'safe zones' etc in the garden, next doors garden or house etc.

There could be another cat in your area that stresses your kitty out...and at that age you really do not want that.

At that age, I wouldn't recommend getting another cat...as a younger one may annoy her and upset her, and an older one may fight with her for dominance etc.

I have also been told gender is an issue, but I had two female cats from different litters and they were fine with each other.

And finally, I think cats can be gregarious but it is very much on their terms. They seem to have a fine line between being comfortable and then being annoyed

I would recommend leaving your kitty were she is, visit her often (she won't forget you!!) and starting a fresh with a new kitty

alice_kate_2

Thanks for the replies .

Leaving her where she is is not an option. My step dad does not want her and has only let me keep her this long as I buy food etc. my brothers are too young to look after her so she would definitely not be looked after if I moved out. Example: there has been times where I have been out and it has been pouring rain and step dad has not let her in because I'm not there!! I think on the occasions I've been on holiday etc too she hasn't been fed as much as she is used to etc!

She is definitely my cat too and follows me around etc so she would likely become very withdrawn if I left without her!

I'm planning on keeping her in for a good few weeks/month to settle in and think she will definitely be better with me than staying

I'd have loads of cats if I could but my house isn't going to be big enough haha.

I guess I'll see how she settles for a few months and then maybe talk to a shelter for some advice?

alice_kate_2

Gelly123 wrote: »

Hi alice_kate

We did something similar 5 years ago - had a 6 year old female black and white cat and we wanted to get another one (husband's way of combatting my broodiness but he loves cats too!).

We got a young male tabby kitten as we thought the same as you, young cat could be dominated by older cat - she wasn't impressed and proceeded to batter his head like a tennis ball on the ground and hissed at him lots (had never heard her hiss before). She'd been an only cat for 6 years and was very much "my" cat. The kitten clearly adored her and wanted to spend lots of time with her and play which she wasn't impressed with.

Over time, things have mellowed - she's now 11 and he's 5 next week - he still loves to play and she tolerates him but they'll never be best of friends unfortunately.

We'll always have cats and in the long and distant future when our female cat has passed on, we'll get a pair of young cats so the keep each other company.

I've never heard of local rescue centres doing trials but think it's a wonderful idea.

Have added a picture my husband took of the pair of them a couple of weeks ago - the closest we have ever seen them, he's trying to get close but she's just not interested! :rotfl:
p.s. - she is a normal sized cat (approx. 4kgs) but he's huge at over 6.4kgs!



Hope this helps a little.
Gelly
x

Your cats are lovely they look like good friends there! :rotfl:

Gold_Dust_2

Hi alice_kate,

I have literally just done this. My old girl is around 13 by now and we've just taken in a 2 (now 3) month old boy kitten. She hates him and will give him a death stare, but will leave him alone unless he moves into her territory. As time goes by (it's been about a month now) she has been getting used to him, and he can now pass fairly close to her without being slapped, although she still goes for him sometimes. My kitten is stupid, and will follow her around a try to play It's getting better as time goes by. The only difference here is that my cat was used to having companions, although she's been alone for about 9 months now.

If I were you, I'd allow your girl to settle in for a bit and then get a female cat, not a male one. A girl would be easier for her to accept. Oh, and, get a claw clipper for both of them, and save yourself some heartache!

dandelionclock30

I bet your female cat will be glad to get away from your step Dad.He sounds a nasty piece of work.

Lilyjade

I introduced a 16week kitten to my 5 year old female cat. She had not been use to other cats as she was an indoor girl. She hated the kitten as he always wanted to play (even after he grew up he would tease her by stalking and jumping on her). Until the day he died she only tolerated him.

The rescue I now volunteer at will only rehome kittens in pairs for the above reasons, so if you go for a young kitten, please think of your girl and go for two. They will play together and give her some peace.

If you don't go for a kitten, I would suggest a male cat younger than her. Two females are more likely to have dominance issues, while a male who is not too bossy will accept her as boss if he is use to other cats.

Also the majority of cats with 'issues' that we see in rescue are from homes where they were kept as single cats. Cats do like peace but they also love other cats company. If you could see some of the cats in the rescue (feral or domestic) you would see what utter rubbish it is when people say cats need to be solitary creatures. Cats need other cats to learn from and socialise with.

I think it's lovely that you are thinking of your girls happiness and suggest you find a small local shelter (rather than a large chain) who will know all the individual cats in their care and will be able to take the time to discuss you and your cats individual circumstances.

Kathy535

I think it depends on the cats concerned. My two cats were 18months old when I got two kittens. The older boy cat was a star with them, acting like a surrogate dad (or mum), purring at them, playing with them, bringing them home mice and teaching them to hunt. Even now (10years later) the younger girl cat adores him and follows him everywhere although the younger boy cat and he are indifferent to each other. However, older girl cat was a complete cow - she hissed, bit, attacked them and this went on for 3 years until we moved house when it got a little better (mainly because we moved to a rural area and they had 24 access to the outdoors). But, she still hated them (and her brother) and took a swipe when she could. She's moved out now and moved in with a family where she's the only cat.

Long story, but my advice would be that you can't tell how your older cat will react.

Good luck with the move!

farfromhome

Many many years ago we adopted 2 female rescue kittens; one had been the "runt" of the litter and the other one would look after her. They would always play and sleep together, curled with their paws around each other. The weaker one died when she was 7 years old after 2 major epileptic fits and after talking to a couple of local cat rescues we decided not to take on another cat as our surviving cat was very territorial and did not like other cats even passing through our garden. She did not seem to miss her sister at all (she had seen the last epileptic fit and had tried to comfort her).

We moved after 5 years when she was 12 years old and she had to be put to sleep after 18 months in the new house. We were both working full-time, so she was on her own usually for about 9 hours during week days; she was a very happy cat being on her own; our new retired neighbours often commented on seeing her exploring the gardens and hunting; she was a great mouser. Her favourite pastime in the new house was watching the rabbits in the grounds next door but never caught one.

If I was you, I would see how your cat is once you have been in your new place for a few weeks and she has settled in. She may be more than happy being an only cat.

alice_kate_2

I'm going to talk to a rescue centre for some advice once we're all settled and seen how cat has settled in new house. If she is happy being the only cat then I'm happy to keep it that way