I need advice please - I have one kitten, can I get another?

[lizzielou742]

Hi all, this is my first post here. I'm a first-time cat owner. I have a six-month old male neutered kitten named Tito who is just perfect. He's so well behaved and cute! I adopted him from a local animal shelter. My original plan was to get two kittens together so they could keep each other company, but when I found Tito all by himself at the shelter, I just knew he was the one for me. Now, I find myself feeling guilty that he his home all day while I am at work with no one to play with. I work from 8am-5pm Monday-Friday, and even though I play with him for at least two fifteen to twenty minute sessions in the evening, and he gets plenty of love whenever I am there, I feel bad leaving him alone for nine hours straight every day, or longer if I have to run errands after work. I would like to introduce a female (spayed) kitten into the household, to help keep Tito company and also to encourage them both to run around more and exercise (although Tito is only 6 months old, he already has a kitty beer belly (too much kitten food) and is currently on a diet).

My problem is this: when I adopted Tito from the shelter, he was only 11 weeks old, but there was a note on his cage that said he wasn't "good with other cats". I have personally never seen him around another cat. I don't know anyone who has cats besides myself, so I don't know how to go about studying this issue. I was thinking about taking him to the vet's office and letting him meet other "patients" there. What are some signs to look for that might indicate he will never be good with other cats? Do other cats, if introduced properly, eventually get along most of the time? Also, I love Tito's personality so much, I am afraid that introducing another cat might upset him and change his wonderful behavior. I just want to do the best thing for Tito. I want him to be occupied and happy and healthy, not jealous or stressed or bored all day. Anyone ever had a similar problem?

[Barbara]

Hi and welcome Lizzielou!

We are glad to meet you and Tito!

There will be people here who have more experience with multi-cat households but I think it shouldn't be a problem to introduce a second kitty in your household. I doubt that an 11 week old kitten can have developped his personaity so fully that you can say whether he is good or bad with other cats.

Tito should be young enough now to cope with another kitten- who should be younger than him. I recommend a boy because boys seem to be a little easier together than girls.

Take your time for the introduction period- it would be good to keep the newbie in a spare room for some time and slowly exchange textiles etc. so that they can get used to the smell of the other.

Regarding the fact that Tito is quite young there is hope that they may have lots of fun together and will anyway be less bored.

However patience is needed: I introduced my Filou and Tigris to each other when they were 13 and 16 weeks old: they fully ignored each other for a week! I began to be desperate when they started to hiss and growl at each other. A day later they slept together in one basket. Until they were a year old they were the best friends, then they started again to be distanced and now there is love, there is struggle, there is fun and there are arguments

[lizzielou742]

Thanks Barbara! I have a couple of books on cats and have read all about how to do introductions slowly, set up a room for the new cat and keep the old cat out, etc. so that's what I plan to do. Does anyone know if the addition of a new cat is likely to change the old cat's personality? Also Barbara, you mentioned getting another male. I read once that having two males together, even if they are neutered, can cause competition. Another thing for me to consider is that I am moving in June. Part of me thinks I should introduce the new cat when we move so they can both explore the new house together and won't compete over it, etc. The other part of me says wait to introduce the new cat until I have moved in fully and things are settled down to avoid stressing Tito out. I would put a picture of him up here if I knew how!! All my files are too big
Thanks!!

[RedHedd]

Originally posted by lizzielou742
Another thing for me to consider is that I am moving in June. Part of me thinks I should introduce the new cat when we move so they can both explore the new house together and won't compete over it, etc. The other part of me says wait to introduce the new cat until I have moved in fully and things are settled down to avoid stressing Tito out. Thanks!!

Welcome to PT! If you're moving that soon, I would wait until well after you move before getting another cat. Cat introductions can take time and can be stressful. A move would put even more stress on a new kitty relationship. Let Tito get acclimated to his new home before you freak him out with a little sister.

Mishi and Mitzi took a couple of months to be together peacefully. I won't say they're inseparable, but they do have a sweet relationship. If anything, I would say adopting Mishi has made Mitzi come out of her shell. I adopted Mishi for pretty much the same reasons you're looking for another cat. Mitzi just seemed lonely left home every day while I was at work. Each kitty couple is different. I had heard that it's better to have a male/female pair. I had never had a boy cat before, but now I love them! Mishi is the best boybee!

[lizzielou742]

Well, I definitely agree that each kitty couple is different! I am hoping that after I move, I will have more time to spend at home, so I think it makes sense to wait until after the move to introduce Tito to a girlfriend. I am afraid, however, that if I get one more, then I'll want a third, and soon I'll end up with a cattery in my apartment! I think for me, it's best to spoil one rotten at a time. BTW, I loved your album so much, I made my own! You can see Tito at:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287033767

Thanks so much!!

[RedHedd]

I couldn't access your photoalbum. Try inviting yourself to visit the album and then copy the "invite" link to a PT message. That way your album will be made public to those you invite to the album.

[lizzielou742]

I know what happened, somehow I think I have it password protected. I don't know. I have tons and tons of pictures from my digital camera but PT says they are all too big to upload and I don't have any photo editing software. Aaaaack!! So frustrated.

[lizzielou742]

Here is another attempt at uploading a pic of Tito AKA Tito Bandito!!!

[Denyce]

Ok even though the pic was VERY large he looks like a cutiepie.

I have found that yes...sometimes introducing a new cat can change the personality of the original cat. Sometimes when you have an "only" cat the bond between you and the cat can become much stronger. If there are problems when introducing a new cat the original can become more aggressive and standoffish. But this is not always the case. Sometimes they end up loving a playmate and still retain the wonderful bond you started with. But remember this also. Cats are normally solitary animals. They are not like dogs that prefer a pack situation. Some cats don't want other cats around no way no how. So just because he is home alone all day doesn't mean he is bored and lonely. Besides...they say that cats sleep approx 18 hours out of each 24 hour period. So he is probably just sleeping the day away in a sunny, warm, soft spot.

Good luck in what you decide. But I would at least wait until you move...then get the new kitten on the day of the move even....before Tito gets a chance to establish the house as "his" territory. This may make the move easier. And keep Tito in just one or two rooms at first anyway....the primary rooms you will spend time in...a move is easier on a cat if they don't have to deal with toooo much change all at once....is any of this making sense?

Denyce

[Barbara]

Tito is so cute

I have no idea basically whether boys are better together or a boy and a girl. I think I read it somewhere... Many Pettalkers have both sexes- and yes some have given in and added another cat... and another..... and another.

But there are some who managed to stay with 2 and I think that's a purrfect number: only ten percent more work and 100% more fun

I agree to Georgia and Denyce: wait until after your move. Moving plus a new kitty might be too stressful for the Tito boy.

[lizzielou742]

Thanks guys! I know my files are huge, I can't figure out why. I think it has something to do with the settings on my digital camera. I just got the stupid thing last week, so who knows if I am using it right!!

Can I just say that Tito was a stray, and then picked up by a local no-kill animal shelter. He was adopted once before me, and the lady RETURNED HIM b/c she said he meowed too much. I can't believe that! he was an 11-wk. old kitten at the time, OF COURSE he's going to meow!!! Some people...

Anyway, thanks Denyce and Barbara and everyone else for your advice. I really appreciate it. Being a first-time cat owner, I have been so obsessive a/b little Tito!! If I have to leave him alone for more than 10 hours or so I worry constantly a/b him, even though I know he sleeps the whole time. I am carefully watching his weight. I was feeding him Iams Kitten food (1/2 cup a day) and he wouldn't even eat it all, but he still somehow developed a little saggy pouch b/w his back legs. So the vet told me to put him on Iams Weight Control, 1/3 cup a day. Well, now he wolfs that down, I guess the weight control food is lighter in his belly or something. He's not fat; if you stand above him and look down you can see his little shape, he doesn't have a lot of fat on him or anything. Is it possible that neutered males just develop a little saggy pouch regardless of their weight?

[lat192004]

Originally posted by lizzielou742
Here is another attempt at uploading a pic of Tito AKA Tito Bandito!!!

Lizzielou, my cat Angel is pretty good at resizing pictures, so I let him resize yours. This should work a little better for you.......

[krazyaboutkatz]

Welcome to Pet Talk lizzielou742. Tito sure is adorable and I'm sure that in time he'll welcome another sister or brother. I have 4 male cats and they all get along except for Storm and Cirrus. Storm is the alpha cat and is very jealous of Cirrus because he loves to be petted all the time. They don't really fight though. Storm will chase Cirrus until Cirrus hisses or growls at him. Luckily Cirrus is very afraid of Storm.

I think that since you already have a male cat that a female or a male would work. Now if you had a female, I'd suggest a male because usually females are much more territorial and may not get along well with other females. Males are usually much better in multi-cat households. Of course both of these statements aren't always true.

I'd also wait until you move and are completely settled in before adopting another cat. This way there will much less stress on you and the new cat. It may also work out well for Tito too since he'll be in new surroundings as well. This may make for an easier transition for both cats since their surroundings will be new.

Good luck and please keep us updated.

[lizzielou742]

Thanks for resizing my picture!!! Isn't that the cutest pic ever? I took it last week when it randomly started snowing really hard here in KY - and he started meowing at the snow! That was the 1st pic I ever took w/my digital camera and I've been trying to duplicate it ever since. Thanks for all your advice, and I definitely agree now after reading more that I will wait until I move to get another kitten if I do. Thanks & I'll keep you posted!

[Barbara]

That little pouch: most of our cats have that (even Lady Edwina) -it seems to be a cat heritage as lions and other big cats have it too. Even slim Filou has it