Should I get a male kitten?

[Janeway]

I am just about to get a new kitten and already have two boys, both Cornish Rex and about four years old. My thinking is that I should get another boy. Does anyone have any insight as to how cats get along and if gender plays any part.

[wolflady]

Hi Janeway and welcome to Pet Talk!!
I've always heard that it's good to have mixed sex multi-cat households. So maybe a little female is in order? :D Actually, I really just think it depends on your 2 cats' personalities and how you think they would react. I would guess that either a male or female kitten would be just fine, especially since older cats are more tolerant of kittens. LOL I'm sure the you'll find the right kitten at the right time, and everything will work out great for all of you...male or female! Good luck and let us know about your new addition! :D

[Karen]

As long as your two boys are neutered, why not get a girl? :) Mix things up a bit!

It really depends, quite honestly, on the personalities of the cats involved.

[wayne0214]

Usually, when I shop for another pet, I will pick them up from their cage and cuddle them, watching for their response. This is how I chose Amy cat from the Visalia shelter. If they respond in like manner with affection, then they will most generally make a good, loving pet. But if they fight being cuddled, then they are probably too idnependent to be an affectionate furkid.

..........wayne

[Janeway]

Mikey and Buddy get along fine, though I hardly think they are best "buds". They do get into it every once in awhile, but the fur hasn't flown (literally!) as it did with my previous female and male (both spayed and neutered). Wow! when they would get into it, actually fairly frequently, the female would scream very loudly and I would wonder if the neighbors thought someone was being killed--it was that loud. Also, Buddy and Mikey fight quietly, and sort of infrequently. I was hoping maybe someone had some experience with all male cat households and with mixed collections--if anyone noticed more peace with all male or mixed. Buddy and Mikey are neutered that whatever I decide on it will also be neutered or spayed. Of course, we are dealing with sweet little animals that insist on having their own distinct personalities, which is one of the traits that I love about cats!

BTW, I just love this board and Catoftheday!!!

[wayne0214]

Janeway, I believe that it has more to do with the personality of each cat, rather than gender or breed. I currently have 12 furkids in my big but old house, and I have never heard nor seen any of them fighting. Fawn will become teasingly aggressive, but this is more at play than a war. I can tell because there are two who do not like to be bothered especially by another cat, namely Amy and Tiger.

................wayne

[lovemymaltese]

welcome to pet talk!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Welcome to Pet Talk Janeway. I have 3 male neutered cats and they get along very well. They will occassionally fight like siblings sometimes do but it's nothing serious. I've found that males seem to be more loving and less territorial than females. I had Storm first, he was about a year old, I got Pepper at 9 weeks old and they bonded in only 1 hour. I adopted Sunny when he was 8 months old and at that time Storm was 5 and Pepper was 4 and it only took Storm 3 days to accept Sunny and Pepper 5 days. I also agree that it depends on the personality of your cats. Storm is a very social, friendly cat who still thinks that he's a big kitten. Pepper is very easy going, sensitive, sweet, and lazy cat. Sunny is very energetic, funny, and a real mama's boy. Sunny and Storm love to play chase. Sunny can even get my lazy boy Pepper to start playing chase and to run after balls. :) I hope you have good luck with whatever gender that you choose. :D

[Janeway]

Thank you, krazyaboutkatz!

The male will be my first choice, however it looks like I have third choice of the litter of 3 males and 2 females. I will love which ever one I get, and it seems shallow to think of colors as the choice. One of the boys is black and white just like Buddy, so in order not to have twins he might be last choice over one of the girls, but I'll just have to see. They won't be ready until the first week in October, so I am going to see if I can visit soon to help decide, even though it'll be about a 2 hour drive. It's a good point that holding them and finding the cuddliest one might the best way to choose.