Pros and Cons to adding a second inside cat

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todlake	Pros and Cons to adding a second inside cat		Lead	[-]
Posts: 28 Apr 10, 2008 09:39:15 Littermate	Tags : cat, family, introducing, 2nd Hey There, I'd like your opinions on entertaining the idea of keeping one of "Whitey's" kittens. The kittens are all doing well. They are 12 days old today and their eyes are opening. We are considering keeping a kitten as a companion for "Cole", our inside 1 year old neutered male cat. My concerns are: Cole is a very "interactive" cat with us. He definitely likes his "people". We like his interaction with us and want it to continue. What are the chances of this changing if we introduce a second cat? He has our 2 retrievers to "pester and tease". The idea to adopt one of the kittens is to let him have another cat as a companion. Do you think this is a good or bad thing for him. Ultimately, Cole is probably going to live with our oldest daughter when she moves out. She is an RN and works very long hours. Too many hours to have a dog, so she wants a cat - or 2 so they keep each other company :-) Does the sex of the kitten matter ? - Cole is a neutered male I appreciate your input. Thanks, Judy Added Tag Last Edited By: joanne r Jun 12, 2008 19:05:06. Edited 1 time.
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firemanslady		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4558 Apr 10, 2008 16:10:32 Critter Companion	Judy, it's really hard to say how any cats will react in a new situation, but if Cole is exposed to the kitten early and accepts the fact that he or she is here to stay then things will be great. I'm wondering how the dogs will accept a kitten, but then again that usually turns out well if the dogs have already been exposed to and accept a cat. All I can say is, you won't know until you try! Sex of the kitten shouldn't really matter, although here it seems like a male and female get along better than 2 males. Glad to hear they are all doing well! Please keep the updates coming.
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sun569		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1209 Apr 11, 2008 08:03:38 Critter Companion Human in Training	When Cole leaves with your daughter would the kitten be going as well? My only concern at this point is the dogs not knowing how fragile the kitten would be, and maybe harm it without knowing or meaning too. If you do the introductions slowly, I am sure it would work out just fine.
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todlake		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 28 Apr 11, 2008 10:51:56 Littermate	If we adopted a second cat, both of the cats would stay together. If Jessie moves out and takes Cole, she would take both. Do you think a second cat would change Cole's interation with us? When is the best age to correctly identify the sex of a kitten? I have never been good at this. I did print out a descriptive picture I found through one of your links :-) You are right about the dogs. Although they continue to improve on their relationship with Cole. In fact, I think Cole has made a game of antagonizing "Deezil". We would not allow the dogs to interact with the kitten unsupervised. When we are not home, Cole is confined to the lower level of the house and the dogs have the upper level. As the kittens get older - I'm anxious to discover their personalities. I'm familiar with what to look for when choosing a puppy, what characteristics do you look for when selecting a kitten? Judy
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sun569		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1209 Apr 11, 2008 14:07:21 Critter Companion Human in Training	When Rumley had her kittens, I soon learned that they all had different personalities. Some loved to snuggle up by my neck.Others wanted to NOT be held. Some meowed alot, others just liked to be left alone. They all loved to play. If I was topick one out, I would pick one that snuggled with me, purred as I petted it, didn't fuss alot when being held. Now kep in mind I say that because I alrready have a cat that is just the opposite. Rumely lost alot of socialation skills living outside the 1st yr. of her life, so I would want a lap cat this time around. I love Runely..son't get me wrong. If Cole is the lap cat, then maybe you could keep one that isn't so comfy with humans, or doesn't enjoy being held,a s those are hard to adopt out, and may end living by itself a long while. Most folks want the friendly, cuddling kitty, and the others may notbe as attractive to potential lookers. THis is just my opinion though. As far as Cole interationwith all of you, with the new kitten in the picture, it might for a bit entill Cole realizes the new kitty is here to stay. Cole may require more of your attention to be reassured that you are still there her. And at the same time you need to reassure the kitty, that it is important too. Best age to tell the sex, is hard. The kittens of Rumely's were taken in to be spayed and nuetered at 8 weeks/2 lbs and they had a hard time telling then what sex they were. I really have no clue past that. Sorry.
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firemanslady		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4558 Apr 11, 2008 15:39:18 Critter Companion	I'm a firm believer in a kitten chooses you! I know that sounds strange, but one will capture your heart and you will know. All of them will capture your heart by the time they are 8 weeks old, but there will be one (if you are only resigned to keeping one) that will stand out. Trust me on this and go with your heart.
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red tabby		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 42 Apr 12, 2008 11:13:12 Littermate	I have a bit of experience at this, when we brought Maybelle home we socialized her with the rest of the family slowly and didn't leave her alone with the other cat and two dogs immediately. We kept her locked up in the kitchen at night and during the day when no one was home so that the other pets couldn't get at her. Not that they really bothered much with her, my older cat really didn't want much to do with her, but slowly he came around and they've become best friends. My biggest concern was my over active Newfoundland dog Kyra, she's pretty big and not real dainty when she gets excited. She liked to get close and sniff this little kitten, but Maybelle took it all in stride. She soon learned how to escape the kitchen and would seek us out at night and come sleep in one of the bedrooms.
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big cats		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3697 Apr 12, 2008 20:22:04 Critter Companion	If Cole is eventually going to go off by himself, it probably would be a good idea to have a kitten go with him. I don't think it'll change his interactions with you.... if he likes to cuddle, he still will. He may be "busier" some of the time, but when it comes down to it, he'll still want his cuddle time. Sexing the kittens should be fairly straightforward if you just look at the distance between the two openings. Boys have them further apart, because the testicles are going to descend between them. Girls' are very close together. You should especially be able to tell if you compare the kittens to each other. As long as you don't have all the same gender, you should notice a distance difference. My current kittens (both boys) are so clearly boys it ain't funny It's been that way since they were a day old. I actually think the difference is easiest to see in the earliest days while they're still relatively naked back there What do you look for in a kitten... well, I think all cats deserve a great home no matter what their personality is so I don't think there's anything particular you should look for, other than characteristics that help the cat adapt to the household it'll be in. Lots of noise and kids running around, you wouldn't want a shy or timid kitten - bold and confident would be the thing. Quiet house with breakables, you'd want a quieter, mellow kitten (though by their very nature, kittens are always going to be active and prone to breaking things - just some less so than others, perhaps)
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todlake		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 28 Apr 14, 2008 10:10:04 Littermate	Thanks so much for your thoughts. It is very helpful for me to hear what you have to say. So these little guys are officially 2 weeks old now. They all have their eyes open. The smallest white kitten took a little longer to open his eyes, but they look good now. Whitey is an excellent mother. She is fine with us interacting with the kittens now. She is right there, of course when they start mewing, but she is content to roam around the closed garage and stretch her legs a bit when we are sitting in her enclosure with the kittens. She is starting to loose her hair, but she looks good. Being a white, outside cat, she never looks clean. She loves to roll on the ground and is alway a mess. But, since she has been crated for 4 weeks, she is quite clean and beautiful. It would really be nice to find her a home too so she doesn't have to live outside . . . Oh well, worse case, she will be released back outside to live with our other 2 outside cats. The kittens are holding their heads up pretty good and standing on all 4 legs, making small attempts to walk. They really are adorable. I am also happy to report that I finally found a clinic that will spay the kittens at 8 weeks/2 lbs. Every other vet I called has the 4 month rule. It is really amazing to me that they are not willing to work with someone like me. I even approached them with offering a "gift certificate" of sorts to give to the new owners to encourage them to bring the kitten in. It is even a good marketing tool - but they wouldn't do it. That just blows me away - what idiots. But, who need them anyway, now that I have found this clinic - I can make sure they are all spayed before they go to their new homes. We will take the kittens and Whitey, and I'm happy to say that the neighbor who feeds the suspected father said they can catch him - so he will be fixed too! Anyway, that's all the updates for now. I'll keep you posted. Thank you again for all your help. Judy
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joanne r		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4301 Apr 14, 2008 17:32:16 FF&F Staff Administrator Upside Down and Backwards In Ozland	Well done. Yes some vet's are strange with the mind set they have,totally amazing to me also.Please keep the up dates coming.
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firemanslady		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4558 Apr 15, 2008 07:41:47 Critter Companion	That's fantastic news! Especially since the neighbor will be neutering the suspected father! Super job!
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red tabby		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 42 Apr 15, 2008 11:27:39 Littermate	I must be really lucky at picking kittens or really stupid because I march home with a new addition and never even give a second thought to male vs female and how they will interact. Maybe because I have them altered at six months and they are indoor cats. But they get along great and I've never felt worried that they were going to hurt one another. Even when I leave Kyra (dog) on the loose the cats have a mouse hole in the basement door to escape to where they can go and hide out, if Kyra decided to chase one of the cats. My guess is they are all lounging in a comfy spot and no ones chasing anyone. Too much effort.
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sun569		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1209 Apr 16, 2008 11:07:40 Critter Companion Human in Training	I am so happy to hear they all will be S/N and the father too! Every little bit helps, and what you are doing is helping! They sure are cute at this age, and get cuter as they get more active!
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red tabby		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 42 Apr 16, 2008 11:19:08 Littermate	When they start climbing up the drapery....
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todlake		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 28 Apr 16, 2008 11:40:55 Littermate	Thanks again. It's good to hear from everyone. I feel good about our decisions so far. I have 1 lead for a kitten home - I've got 6 more weeks to find 2 more homes . . . assuming we talk my husband into letting us keep one !!
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sun569		#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1209 Apr 16, 2008 13:25:35 Critter Companion Human in Training	I cried the day I had to hand over Rumely's kitties to the vet,knowing they were never going to come back home. They were going to wake up in a dazed state and be alone. I knew I had done the right thing, but I got so attached in a very short time...well 8 weeks with 7 kittens,and a sick Mama, isn't a short time, but you know what I mean I really hope it all works out for you.
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Misty Nichole		#16	[url]	[-]
Posts: 17 May 12, 2008 22:47:54 Littermate	This was a very informative thread~thanks. Visit me at Marks Place
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sniksnak		#17	[url]	[-]
Posts: 21808 May 12, 2008 23:06:55 FF&F Staff Administrator, Owner Totally Caffeinated	Misty! So happy you've stopped by. Monster hugs!
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joanne r		#18	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4301 May 13, 2008 01:46:48 FF&F Staff Administrator Upside Down and Backwards In Ozland	Glad you took the plunge Misty
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todlake	follow up on 2nd cat inside	#19	[url]	[-]
Posts: 28 Jun 12, 2008 14:06:12 Littermate	Hey, I wanted to follow up to let you know how "adding a 2nd cat" has turned out so far It is turning out just fine. We were very apprehensive about adopting one of Momma's kittens as a companion for Cole (our inside cat). Cole is just such a good cat, we didn't want anything to change that, yet we hoped he would be happy about a new companion. We started with just short little half hour introductions for about a week. Cole hissed and didn't seem very impressed. The second week, we brought the kitten into our home for good. We had a crate to keep her confined away from Cole except when we were supervising. Cole suddenly took an interest in her - pouncing and trying to get her attention. All this accomplished was making this 2 lb black kitten flatten herself and hiss at him. This behavior continued, then Cole started pinning her and acting like he was biting her. After I repremanded him a few times, I realized he really wasn't hurting her - inspite of her screams :-) I really think he is just trying to establish the "pecking order" so I let him - after all, he was here first. The kitten does not run from our 65 lb plus retrievers, so they aren't too terribly interested. The occasional game of chase occurs, but only in fun. I get a real kick out of watching this little puff of black fur, running under these big dogs! The 3rd week has shown that this 2 lb ball of fur has quite a personality. If she has it her way, she will be queen of the roost before it is all done. She and Cole are getting along pretty darn good. They will eat and drink together. Sit on the window sill and look outside together. She has started initiating the play with Cole. She knows he won't really hurt her and I'm confident that she thinks she is top of the "pecking order" . I just wanted everyone to know that this seems to be a successful introduction of a "2nd cat inside" They entertain us constantly with their antics. On a side note - we were calling the kitten KC, but we changed her name to Pearl. She is all black except about 50 sporatic white hairs running through her back. So kind of like a black pearl. When she is being bad - we refer to her as the "black pearl" pirate ship. Thanks to everyone for your advice.
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joanne r		#20	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4301 Jun 12, 2008 19:03:34 FF&F Staff Administrator Upside Down and Backwards In Ozland	We have loved following Momma and her Family's story.
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