Would it be ok for me to get another cat?

Question

I have a 9 year old cat that I've had for 8.5 years and lately I've been thinking of buying another cat. I'm thinking of buying a kitten but I'm not sure if it would adjust to my cat. What do you think?

Answer 1

I agree with everyone else--ADOPT--don't buy a cat!  I have 5 cats, one of which is 12 years old, male and very dominant.  We just got a kitten, and at first they hiss at each other, but they will eventually become friends or just deal with each other.  Mine get along now after 3 months. No worries!  Enjoy your new furry friend!  Maybe the 9 year old cat will be happy to have a new buddy.  :)

Answer 2

Absolutely you can have another cat it's the type (age) and manner in which you introduce the new addition.

My suggestion would be to do one of two things.

1.) adopt a cat close in age as your current cat as having a young crazy kitten could stress out your 9 year old.  If you chose an older cat I would keep them away from each other for a few days.  Chosing a bedroom for the new addition to live in for about a week is a great idea.  Allow the two to meet each other with the door in between them.  It will be normal for them to hiss and growl at each other and even paw under the door if there is room.  After the hissing and growling goes away allow the new cat to come out ONLY when you are  home and then back into the room while no one is home.

2.) get a kitten and do the same introductin above.  I foster cats of all ages and need to get them adapted to my 3 cats.  Kittens run a higher risk of being killed by an older aggresive cat who has never been socialized.  I have come home to find a dead kitten until I learned this trick.  Vets and breeders agree either way you'll have happier cats.

best of luck adding a new addition sure is a special moment.

Answer 3

It will be great for your cat to have someone of it's own kind to talk to . Please don't buy one go to the shelter and save the life of a kitten. I believe acts of kindness will be repaid so be kind and save a life.

Answer 4

Adopt a cat! When you adopt a cat you will have a feeling of  saving a kitties life and that's a feeling that you can't get from buying one!!!

Answer 5

PLEASE  don't BUY a cat when thousands of animals are put down every year in the US!  Go to your local animal shelter and adopt !!!!

Save a Life Adopt a homeless pet !!!  They're the BEST.

Answer 6

We've mixed cats of all ages over the years...they'll do fine. All of our cats have been kittens when we got them. Really really old cats don't always like having pesky high energy kittens around, but your older one is just middle aged, so I wouldn't worry about it. We actually had a 14 year odl cat that become very attached to a new kitten. He would lay there twitching his tail back and forth for the kitten to play with, and they slept all curled up together. The old guy even taught the kitten how to drink out of the toilet...it was too funny watching!  

Check out your local shelters for a cat before buying one. It might seem more expensive, but you get low cost or free neutering and sometimes some low cost shots, so it works out in the end, especially for the cat.

Answer 7

sure kid they soon make good friends~]

Answer 8

Go ahead and get the kitten. Just understand that there will be a period of adjustment so expect some hisses and growls to go on until they get use to each other. This could take weeks or even a few months sometimes.  

Answer 9

By buying, I hope you mean an adoption fee from a shelter or rescue group, but that is really your choice.

If you are thinking of a kitten, think twice.  By that, think of getting two kittens.  Your cat is really at the senior citizen stage, and a kitten comes turbocharged.

When you get two kittens, they will focus all their considerable energies on each other, and allow your older cat to adjust.  With just one kitten, there will be more conflicts, due to the energy differences.

In any case, you will need to work out an introduction strategy, and get extra litter pans.  And if it has really been nine years since you have been around a kitten, you are in for an interesting time.  It can be easy to forget how much energy they have, and all they get into.

On the other hand, if you really want just one, consider an older cat from a shelter.  Older cats really have a difficult time finding good homes, and he/she will be more mellow and probably accepted better as a single cat addition rather than just one kitten.

Answer 10

I have a 15 year old, a 1 year old, and currently two 6 week old kittens.  Everyone seems to get along fine.  When I originally got the 1-yr old, she was only a couple of weeks old and still nursing.  The older cat did not like it at all.  After many weeks of hissing, spitting, and us reassuring him that we loved him and weren't replacing him, they adjusted.  Now they play together.  Cats are naturally social animals.  They'll come around.

PS:  Please adopt, don't buy a cat.  Buying pets just encourages pet mills to exist.  Go adopt from a shelter.  Lots of great cats out there.

Answer 11

go for it it should be fine

Answer 12

i have 7 cats.

my 2 cats are 7.

i got 2 new kittens and honestly

they will adapt to the environment and so will your older cats.

and they will see that they are living together so they will give each other baths and little tiny playful fights just to pick on each other.

remember to get one of the genders of your cats fixed UNLESS you want kittens in the house!

Answer 13

yes it will be fine they will all ajust eventually but please consider adopting you could save lives

Answer 14

Your cat might not like it at first. But after awhile it will get used to the other cat being around. I'd say go for it!

Answer 15

No, I don't like cats, the less the better, get a dog.