Should I Get A Kitten?

[disneychrista]

I got a cute little orange and white kitten 4 months. She is now 6 months old. I have been debating whether she needs a brother to keep her company while I am at work and if I need to go out of town for the day or even overnight. I had to go out of town last Saturday and when I got back she looked so sad to have been left all day.

Tell me your experiences with adding a new cat/kitten to the household? Did you find it easy to integrate the new kitten? Any tips or suggestions?

 

[TippyThomas]

I really only have experience with this at the shelter level, but I always have issues with adding to the mix. They all seem to get along for the most part, but adding a new cat or kitten to the mix throws everything off. If you're sure their personalities are good with having another around you should be good to go, but I'd worry if they don't mix well, especially if you were out of town. You might come home to more than you bargained for.

 

[disneychrista]

I really only have experience with this at the shelter level, but I always have issues with adding to the mix. They all seem to get along for the most part, but adding a new cat or kitten to the mix throws everything off. If you're sure their personalities are good with having another around you should be good to go, but I'd worry if they don't mix well, especially if you were out of town. You might come home to more than you bargained for.

Them not getting along is what I am worried about. That it might cause more problems than it solves.

 

[Kwami]

I really only have experience with this at the shelter level, but I always have issues with adding to the mix. They all seem to get along for the most part, but adding a new cat or kitten to the mix throws everything off. If you're sure their personalities are good with having another around you should be good to go, but I'd worry if they don't mix well, especially if you were out of town. You might come home to more than you bargained for.

I've had a lot of cats come and go. They don't always get along at first, but they eventually get used to each other or at least learn to ignore each other. I suppose that there some cats that just won't ever be OK with another cat, but I bet they're pretty rare.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

The time to add was at the beginning or within a few weeks.

IF you do it then do it NOW and don't delay your decision any longer.
Just know you may end up with two "unhappy" cats.

I once added a kitten to an established adult cat and the adult hissed at the kitten every day for 7 years until her passing.
It wasn't hatred and fighting daily or anything. They did co exist but they didn't hang out and cuddle and play together like I had hoped.

Make sure you cat has plenty of places to lay/look out windows. Plenty of toys. Even turn on the TV if you're not going to be there.

I've had my current cats since they were kittens and they are littermates and I tell ya I'll never do it any other way again.
They hang out with each other and play and do get into some fights but nothing bad.

But also I can leave for 3 hours and when I get home they meow at me and act sad that I was "gone for so long" so getting a kitten may not do what you think it will anyways.

 

[TippyThomas]

Them not getting along is what I am worried about. That it might cause more problems than it solves.

I don't want to deter you, but I've seen what they're capable of if they don't get along. It's not pretty.

If you're gonna be around long enough to determine how they behave with each other before you were to leave them alone, you could be much more sure in how they'll be when you're gone. I guess it may not be an issue at all. It'd be easier if you could introduce the new one on a trial basis, but I know how difficult that might be as well.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. I know it's not easy.

 

[disneychrista]

I've had my current cats since they were kittens and they are littermates and I tell ya I'll never do it any other way again.
They hang out with each other and play and do get into some fights but nothing bad.

I did almost get her brother, in fact he was who I thought I was going to be getting. But when I was there his sister seemed to like me and he pretty much wanted nothing to do with me. I kept an eye on if he had been adopted yet and if the other sister had been adopted and he had not I was going to go back to get him.

I don't want to deter you, but I've seen what they're capable of if they don't get along. It's not pretty.

If you're gonna be around long enough to determine how they behave with each other before you were to leave them alone, you could be much more sure in how they'll be when you're gone. I guess it may not be an issue at all. It'd be easier if you could introduce the new one on a trial basis, but I know how difficult that might be as well.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. I know it's not easy.

Tippy, if anyone has the experience and knowledge of adding a new kitten it is definitely you. I definitely appreciate your insight.

I did think about asking the shelter, if I could take the kitten for the weekend to see how it works out. I will be home all weekend, so I could keep an eye on things and get an idea of how it going to work.

 

[TippyThomas]

I did almost get her brother, in fact he was who I thought I was going to be getting. But when I was there his sister seemed to like me and he pretty much wanted nothing to do with me. I kept an eye on if he had been adopted yet and if the other sister had been adopted and he had not I was going to go back to get him.





Tippy, if anyone has the experience and knowledge of adding a new kitten it is definitely you. I definitely appreciate your insight.

I did think about asking the shelter, if I could take the kitten for the weekend to see how it works out. I will be home all weekend, so I could keep an eye on things and get an idea of how it going to work.

I promise they all get along just fine for the most part. You'll know almost immediately if you have a problem on your hands. I'm almost positive you will be okay, especially if you are around to monitor, so please don't think things will be bad. I'm pretty sure you'll be okay, even if they have to adjust to one another I really think you'll be fine. They'll more than likely avoid each other in the beginning, and over the course of a few days you'll see them become more or less social with one another. I'd imagine you'll know in 2 to 3 days how it will all go.

I agree with what Kwami wrote earlier though. For the most part, they'll all get along and accept each other over time. I just wanted to make sure you knew it wasn't a guarantee. Again, good luck with it. I really think it will be fine.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We've added many times over the years, and one of the additions we made was when the cat we had was 6 months old. We'd named her "Lady" and our young kids decided that if we had a Lady, we must have a Tramp (cat-style). Everything worked out fine, as did all our additions. I remember one we were especially concerned about. Tigger was quite the Alpha cat, and saw us as "his" since we'd been his sole "parents" since he was 10 days old. But he was fine with our kitten. Just one thing you should be aware of-one day I went in to find the kitten on his back and Tigger growling, appearing to chew up the kitten's stomach. Fortunately I got Tigger's attention and as he lifted his head, I saw, not the blood I expected, but a squirming kitten. If he could talk he'd be saying "Do it again, do it again!" Play sometimes appears different!

 

[snoopy two]

I am a strong advocate for always having 2 cats. I say go for it.

 

[TippyThomas]

Also, @disneychrista, I'd be shocked if the shelter didn't allow you to do a temporary placement to see how it goes. That sound like an excellent idea to me.

 

[slo]

I have zero suggestions, but I had to tell you how adorable your kitty is

 

[easyas123]

Also, @disneychrista, I'd be shocked if the shelter didn't allow you to do a temporary placement to see how it goes. That sound like an excellent idea to me.

I think this is a excellent suggestion!