Introducing a Kitten to an Older Cat

[Mymblesdaughter]

Celia Hammond the rescue my two came from, seem to recommend you get two kittens, especially if you've an older cat already as it takes the pressure off the older cat. They can join in if and when they like. I remembers years ago we had a kitten and a really old cat. It was a big mistake as the kitten kept jumping on the old chap. They are just so lively. I'm glad I got two it's takes a lot of pressure off as they run around like crazy together.

I remember people used to say if you get two they don't bond with you as well. I haven't found this at all. It's just difficult to fit two on your lap a the same time.   

[Chris1982]

It is not however too much to hope for proper full on affection from a kitten/cat that is treated with respect and love  but you should ensure that Jessie gets most of the attention if you introduce an "intruder" into her home and make sure she has somewhere safe to retire to away from the wicked little tyke 

Jessies favorite spot in the house is on my bed. Possibly because it's the warmest room the house but i think she likes the company too.

I have her (mostly) trained to sleep on a towel which i fold into a small square which i place on my bed. This keeps the cat hairs controllable and means i am less likely to roll over in my sleep and squash her (i know where she is).

Actually it helps with my insomnia too, as it encourages me to lie still and the purring is relaxing.

So she'd always have that - i wouldn't turf her out from her favorite spot just because i got another cat.

[Chris1982]

Jessie (and James) used to chase each other up and down the stairs. We weren't even sure they liked each other and Jessie seemed to bully James more than the other way around.

But once James died Jessie started wandering around the house wailing for about 20 mins every day, which she never did before. I could be anthropomorphising here but i get the impression they did like each other after all and now she misses him.

Jessie also became noticeably friendlier after James died. Not much, but a bit.

And yes - if i do get another cat (kitten this time!) i will try and get a rescue one. Both because i'm cheap, I've got other stuff to spend my money on, and it doesn't seem worth spending extra on a 'bought' cat when i can get one for free that needs a home anyway. I just don't want one that's half feral this time!

Here we go; one more gratuitous cat video for you all  ;

http://youtu.be/I2PHQ0fEgiA

I was trying to record her doing her pitiful meowing thing - but i find that, like schrodinger, observing my cat (especially when holding a camera) inevitably changes it's behavior - i mostly failed. She stopped meowing almost as soon as she saw me.

I suppose i should take it as a compliment though. She never used to make any noises at all which i thought was a bit of a shame so i tried to 'teach' her to meow by meowing at her and giving her positive reinforcement (attention) whenever she made a noise back. Now i can't get her to shut up!

It was sad when James died but he had a good life and he was never 'mentally' that well. I can't imagine he'd have lasted long at all if he hadn't been adopted by us. He was more affectionate than Jessie but also more highly strung and probably died of a heart attack - couldn't see any other reason for his death. He just keeled over.

[Rosella moggy]

I meant to mention only 2 of ours are happy to socialise with visiting humans and I think of them as unusual.  Naturally all but 1 of them run for the hills if they realise the 7 year old nephew is visiting 

It is not however too much to hope for proper full on affection from a kitten/cat that is treated with respect and love  but you should ensure that Jessie gets most of the attention if you introduce an "intruder" into her home and make sure she has somewhere safe to retire to away from the wicked little tyke 

I love the way Jessie has trained you to rub her head 

[Rosella moggy]

Hi Chris

Very sorry for your loss    How did Jessie get along with her brother?

Sadly I think the answer, as to whether she could learn to get along with a kitten, is probably that you will never know until you try.  There is likely to be trouble initially.  Usually is. 

Jessie looks very relaxed in both videos.  Doesn't look very old either.  How old is she?  She is very pretty 

No doubt someone will come along to prove me wrong but we've tended to find male cats to be more sociable with other cats than females but it's never stopped us from adopting another rescue cat in need of a home. 

We have 4 boys and 3 girls.  5 of these came as kittens in the last 4 years so we have had some recentish experience.  You might not remember how destructive kittens can be? 

Yes I know they are cute as it is possible for any creature to be BUT be prepared for trouble    Jessie might accept a boy a little easier than a girl kitten, then again she may not    Cats are nothing if not contrary 

If you do decide to go ahead and home a kitten from rescue, I would recommend trying to leave kitten with his/her mum until 12 weeks if possible as mom teaches them quite a lot between 8 to 12 weeks including  a certain amount of discipline.  Rescue may however want to rehome at 8 weeks to make space to take in another cat.

Best of luck whatever you do and certainly don't forget to introduce us to any newbie

[Chris1982]

To be clear; when i say 'training' i don't mean making the thing jump through hoops so much as just socialising it in a normal way so that it's fully used to being around humans in the way my elderly rescue cat still isn't and never will be.

'Normal' pet cats seem like very different creatures to the still fairly wild (although lovely) cat i have at the moment.

Jessie doesn't lack for self confidence anymore so far as i can tell - it's more that she just isn't as reliably affectionate as some cats I've known and is quite happy to ignore people completely much of the time.

[emmmy_lou]

I was hoping someone more experienced would post a 'proper' reply!

I read this earlier and thought that a kitten may be too much for your existing cat, and may push it further away?

would you not consider a slightly older cat? And what were you planning to train it to do? (or not do, sorry however I thought of phrasing that it came out rounding awful!!!)

[Chris1982]

In other news; I have successfully trained my cat to squeek cutely when she wants her head rubbed. Or is it the other way around?

[Chris1982]

lol - i was too polite to say it.

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

  I always thought the layout on every other forum was wrong in their layout.  I love having the most recent answer at the top .... guess we really are "Crazy" cat folk 

[Lyn (Slugsta)]

Me too! 

[Chris1982]

Thanks Slugsta - that's much better. Now i can read this forum the same as every other forum.

[Lyn (Slugsta)]

You can edit your preferences so that the posts show in the reverse order, if you wish.

[Chris1982]

Is it my imagination or is your reply showing above my question? Got to test this by posting again.

Thanks for the link :-)

Edit - this is very strange. Your forum works the opposite way around to every other internet forum i've ever seen. Why?

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

This guide may help:

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,4789.0.html

[Chris1982]

I have a question which i am hoping someone on these forums can help me with.

In our family we have 1 (remaining) fairly elderly rescue cat who we all love. It's taken years to get her to the point where she is almost 'tame' as we adopted her when she was older than ideal and she hadn't been used to human contact before then. Her and her brother spent the first 6 months mostly hiding behind cupboards, but she'll sit on my lap now for as long as 5 minutes or so before i have to move or breath slightly and she jumps away.

She's gotten friendlier since her brother died about 6 months ago - still not totally 'tame' but i think she's a little bit lonely perhaps.

I would like to get a 'proper' kitten next, young enough that i stand a reasonable chance of both totally taming it and even maybe training the thing. But i an concerned about how the older cat will interact with the younger cat. Will she like the company or feel threatened by the new arrival? Would it be better to wait for the older cat to die of old age? I would rather not wait, both because she could last for years with a little luck and also because, well to be honest, i want a kitten now (or soon). If it's not practical i will wait but if there are any techniques or advise people can offer me that might help get around any issues along these lines i would love to hear.

Here's a couple of videos of my cat. I checked and it seems the internet is short on cute cat videos, can't have that:laugh:

http://youtu.be/lvo11YmaQM4

http://youtu.be/eLwIxV_HZ0k

Thanks in advance.