Adopting a new cat!

charlotte1994

Robin9 wrote: »

Charlotte - is the existing cat male or female ?

Current is female, I know that getting another female cat can be a bit of a disaster

charlotte1994

Fen1 wrote: »

Please look at the RSPCA, Blue Cross and Cats Protection websites about how to introduce cats BEFORE you get the new cat home.
Jackson Galaxy is also very good with cat introductions and how to keep the peace.

The idea of a "friend" is a human one. As long as a cat has lots of human interaction with appropriate play, then he's usually fine.

Oh yes I've looked at Jackson Galaxy! He's very good and we're going to follow his advice.
She has lots of play time, she has also lived with other cats during her time in foster from being a stray. She lived with another male before we got her. We think she would benefit as she is on her own during the day and she can be very needy some times. If you leave the room she has to follow. She loves other cats and the cat we're getting does too. Both very snuggly. I'm hoping it'll all work out ok. If you leave the room but she doesn't notice she will cry, it's quite sad and I feel bad leaving her on her own! We're hoping that a similar, young playful cat will keep them both occupied and healthy

Robin9

Male and male can be disaster as they can fight for territory - female female I believe is OK

charlotte1994

NeilCr wrote: »

I have had varying experiences over the years but now, if I was going to have two cats then I would go to a rescue and get a couple who had lived together and were proven to get along.

I, actually, prefer having two but current cat just doesn't do other cats. Although he is a big boy who looks like a bruiser with battered ears he is easily bullied (like suki1964's Arthur). I did take in another stray - a lovely little cat. She, easily, dominated him and he would sit in the hall, miserably, while she sat on my lap or ate the food. And she was much smaller than him. When she died I was clear that no more cats while Rodney was still alive.

He is much more relaxed now He is an indoor cat (FiV) so I don't have to worry about his interaction with the local cats. He follows me everywhere and shows off if I am out all day. But I am retired so he sees a lot of me!

I am inclined to agree with the comment about getting the cat for yourself. I have had multiple cats over the years and they all tended to do their own thing - have different parts of their house as their domain etc

Yes my previous cats have always been lone cats. With my previous cat Lola there was only one cat she would tolerate, a stray tom cat. They would sit on the garage roof together in the summer!

Unicorn loves other cats, she's very social. She's lived with other cats and loved them. Rodney sounds like a sweetheart! Don't get me wrong, we have been wanting two cats for a while but we saw this one being relisted with the charity and we had to go see him! I just feel sorry for him, he's been though a lot even though he's less than 2 years old

NeilCr

charlotte1994 wrote: »

Yes my previous cats have always been lone cats. With my previous cat Lola there was only one cat she would tolerate, a stray tom cat. They would sit on the garage roof together in the summer!

Unicorn loves other cats, she's very social. She's lived with other cats and loved them. Rodney sounds like a sweetheart! Don't get me wrong, we have been wanting two cats for a while but we saw this one being relisted with the charity and we had to go see him! I just feel sorry for him, he's been though a lot even though he's less than 2 years old

Rodney can be a sweetheart. - occasionally. He can also be an absolute a""ehole. He has a particular penchant for attacking my bare feet. He loves a good ambush! He has the biggest character, though, of any cat I have ever had.

To be honest I went against my better judgement when I took in Olivia. She was so cute with a heart wrenching back story and I fell for it. I did think having a second cat might be a good idea as I was out more then. Plus Rodney had lived here with a previous cat - but that cat was pretty timid too and they just kept out of each other's way. And Rodney was the new cat then so it wasn't quite the same.

I think deep down I knew it wasn't the best idea. Much as I would love another one now I know it would be the wrong thing for Rodney.

I have a friend who used to volunteer for the local cat rescue,. She kept sending me pictures of cats needing homes through Facebook. Sooo tempting. I don't look now!

Savvy_Sue

charlotte1994 wrote: »

If you leave the room but she doesn't notice she will cry, it's quite sad and I feel bad leaving her on her own!

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: oh she's got you where she wants you, hasn't she?

charlotte1994

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: oh she's got you where she wants you, hasn't she?

Yep I love her though. I don't have kids so my cats are my children :rotfl:

Freeman24reverseFpenny

Love cats. Always had one.

My current cat, Chloe, is an absolute sweetie.

JoCha

We lost one of our cats - out of three - almost a year ago and have decided it's time to get another so we've reserved a three year old male from the RSPCA. We know that introducing them to one of our cats will be difficult - the other is very chilled out and will be fine - but we believe it can be done with patience and care. Most important, I guess, is to make sure that no-one feels that someone else is taking over 'their' turf or hogging too much of their humans' attention.