Deciding to get another cat

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-07-2005
Deciding to get another cat
4
Sun, 04-03-2005 - 5:51pm

For the past few months, I've been thinking about getting another cat. I already have my 2 kitty-babies: Annie, age 8, and Chalimar, age 6. They get along pretty well, with only some occassional skirmishes. I've always thought 3 kitties was a good number, but could only have 2 in my apartment. Now I'm in my own condo, so I can do whatever I want. (That also means nobody will force me to declaw them.)

So now I'm thinking the following (and this is what I'd like opinions on):

1. Am I nuts? If I get another cat, I think it would be good to do while the other 2 are still young enough to deal with it. (Annie is 8, but races around like a much younger cat.)

2. If I do it, do I get a kitten from the SPCA? My girls both came from the SPCA, and I know they have the cats checked out medically, so they can tell you what, if any, diseases the cat has. (They did tell me Chalimar had just gotten over a skin disease. And 2 wks later, both Annie and myself had ringworm. Good kitty.)

3. Or do I take in a stray? A friend has a pregnant stray whom has decided to live under her front porch. My friend has been spreading straw under there to keep her warm, and has been putting out food. But I'm concerned if I take one of those kittens, I won't know ahead of time, what I could be exposing my girls to.

What are your thoughts?

** Noelle

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Sun, 04-03-2005 - 7:03pm
I think any cat you take in would be good as it needs a home!!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Mon, 04-04-2005 - 8:46am
I have avoided getting a third cat because I grew up in a home with 3 kids, and as I recall it was always 2 against 1 and it was not pretty. It was unpleasant being the 1 or the 2! Cats are a lot like children, they act more on instinct than reasoning, and I have heard some horror stories about 2 cats in a household making life unpleasant for #3. Although I am sure that there are many 3-cat households out there that are just fine, I can't bring myself to get another cat. I would actually like to hear from anyone who has a harmonious 3-cat household! Iri
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-07-2005
Mon, 04-04-2005 - 9:34am

You're not the first person who's mentioned the 2 against 1 scenario with kids. But I grew up in a 3 kid household, too. From what I remember, it was never 2 against 1. I was the oldest, and it was usually me against my baby brother. My sister, the middle, would get hurt trying to stop us from killing each other.

** Noelle

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Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 04-04-2005 - 11:35am

I'd go for it.


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