When my cat Annie was 2yrs old, I adopted a 4month old kitten named Chalimar. When they were introduced, Annie sat behind me and hissed and growled, while Chalimar waltzed around oblivious. This went on for about 3 days. On day 3, Annie cornered Chalimar behind the litterbox, they hissed, growled and swatted...and they've been fine ever since. Not all cats get along like this. But Annie had always been around other cats, as we'd just moved out of my parents' house. (My parents had 1 cat and 2 dogs.) I picked a kitten who had always been around other cats, as well.
I wouldn't think the age really matters. Annie was 2 when I adopted Chalimar. Now Annie is 9, Chalimar is 7, and I'm about 1.5 weeks away from bringing home another kitten. I'm concerned the kitten will be desctructive, so I've stocked up on scratching posts, electrical cord covers, and cat trees. I figure if I expect him to destroy things, then I'll be pleasantly surprised if he doesn't. I think you just have to make sure there's things to keep the kitten occupied, and that you have some play sessions, so that it learns to pounce on toys and not necessarily your other cat. (or you and your SO, for that matter.)
I just brought a kitten home to my 8-year old cat last month - Tasha (the 8-year old) had NEVER lived with another cat before, so I was a little nervous. After a few days of hissing and swatting at the kitten, she started to accept his presence. Within another few days, she was playing with him.
Just be sure to introduce them VERY slowly. Keep the kitten in a separate room for a few days if possible, so that your resident can get used to his/her scent. She'll be able to smell him under the door. After a few days, let your cat see the kitten in a carrier. Go with your gut and decide at what pace you can start letting them interact. DON'T interfere with their first few meetings unless it looks like someone will get hurt - leaving them to their own devices is very important in establishing the pecking order. Hissing, swatting, and growling are all very normal and expected behaviours for the first few days, and often even longer.
As far as destruction goes, just be sure to "kitten-proof" your house before the kitten arrives. Kittens, like puppies, like to chew. Worse, they are very CURIOUS and will get into places you never dreamed they could fit. Make sure any gaps between your fridge/stove/counters/walls are blocked. Cover or hide any electrical cords. If the kitten starts climbing your curtains, tape strips of tin-foil to them for a few weeks. When he starts jumping on your table and countertops, put carpet tape around the edges for awhile. Put carpet tape or tin-foil on any furniture surfaces he scratches. Putting up with these few inconveniences for a few weeks will be well worth the good-mannered kitty you get in the end!
Make sure you have some scratching posts with various textures so that he can learn to use one right away. Try a carpet-covered one, a sisal (rope) one, and also pick up an inexpensive cardboard "scratch box" from a pet store. My cats both love these, as they are textured and catnip-scented!
I firmly believe that if you properly introduce the kitten to your cat and "kitten proof" your house you'll be fine. I introduced Zachary to Gabe when Gabe was a little over a year and Zach was 8 wks. Today they are best buddies. See the link below for more details on a proper introduction.
As far as being destructive, make sure that you have numerous scratching posts offering a choice of both horizontal and vertical. I have 5 just in my living/dining area and two upstairs. Neither one of my cat's ever uses anything but these posts and they just instinctively knew what to do with them. I made sure the post were there upon their arrival.
Most cats are social creatures to a point. My boys love each other and even though I have considered a third cat have decided against it as I don't want to do anything to mess with the heirarchy in this cat household. They get along too well now for me to want to do anything that would upset that balance. However, I believe Gabriel would have been very lonesome by himself if I hadn't adopted Zachary. On the other hand, I had one cat Cali and she was of the temperment that I knew better than to ever bring another cat home. She loved dogs, hated cats. You just have to go with you gut as you know your cat best.
Well, I've been emailing a lady from the shelter back and forth all day long and......we are going to meet the kitten that first caught my eye on petfinders.
My kitten is a male, and my older cat is a female. I've had LOTS of kittens in my life, and only 3 of them have been male. I am happy to say that, in my experience anyway, male kittens seem to be a little less... psychotic... than female kittens! LOL. They still love to play mind you, but they don't seem to be QUITE as nutty as females.
April Fool's Day - that was my Bailey's designated birthday! I found him on May 9th, and the vet estimated he was about 5-6 weeks old, so I decided April 1st would make an easy date to remember. LOL. And he's gray too!
if you do indeed take him, post a pic as soon as you can!
We are going to try and meet this little guy tonight....the only problem is my SO has a softball game immediately following and there are always a couple big dogs running around loose at the softball place (rottie, lab, dalmatian) so if I get the kitten, I will most likely have to stay with him in the car....he'll be in the carrier but I don't want to leave him alone!!
When my cat Annie was 2yrs old, I adopted a 4month old kitten named Chalimar. When they were introduced, Annie sat behind me and hissed and growled, while Chalimar waltzed around oblivious. This went on for about 3 days. On day 3, Annie cornered Chalimar behind the litterbox, they hissed, growled and swatted...and they've been fine ever since. Not all cats get along like this. But Annie had always been around other cats, as we'd just moved out of my parents' house. (My parents had 1 cat and 2 dogs.) I picked a kitten who had always been around other cats, as well.
I wouldn't think the age really matters. Annie was 2 when I adopted Chalimar. Now Annie is 9, Chalimar is 7, and I'm about 1.5 weeks away from bringing home another kitten. I'm concerned the kitten will be desctructive, so I've stocked up on scratching posts, electrical cord covers, and cat trees. I figure if I expect him to destroy things, then I'll be pleasantly surprised if he doesn't. I think you just have to make sure there's things to keep the kitten occupied, and that you have some play sessions, so that it learns to pounce on toys and not necessarily your other cat. (or you and your SO, for that matter.)
** Noelle
I just brought a kitten home to my 8-year old cat last month - Tasha (the 8-year old) had NEVER lived with another cat before, so I was a little nervous. After a few days of hissing and swatting at the kitten, she started to accept his presence. Within another few days, she was playing with him.
Just be sure to introduce them VERY slowly. Keep the kitten in a separate room for a few days if possible, so that your resident can get used to his/her scent. She'll be able to smell him under the door. After a few days, let your cat see the kitten in a carrier. Go with your gut and decide at what pace you can start letting them interact. DON'T interfere with their first few meetings unless it looks like someone will get hurt - leaving them to their own devices is very important in establishing the pecking order. Hissing, swatting, and growling are all very normal and expected behaviours for the first few days, and often even longer.
As far as destruction goes, just be sure to "kitten-proof" your house before the kitten arrives. Kittens, like puppies, like to chew. Worse, they are very CURIOUS and will get into places you never dreamed they could fit. Make sure any gaps between your fridge/stove/counters/walls are blocked. Cover or hide any electrical cords. If the kitten starts climbing your curtains, tape strips of tin-foil to them for a few weeks. When he starts jumping on your table and countertops, put carpet tape around the edges for awhile. Put carpet tape or tin-foil on any furniture surfaces he scratches. Putting up with these few inconveniences for a few weeks will be well worth the good-mannered kitty you get in the end!
Make sure you have some scratching posts with various textures so that he can learn to use one right away. Try a carpet-covered one, a sisal (rope) one, and also pick up an inexpensive cardboard "scratch box" from a pet store. My cats both love these, as they are textured and catnip-scented!
Good luck!
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I think that's great you are getting a kitten.
I firmly believe that if you properly introduce the kitten to your cat and "kitten proof" your house you'll be fine. I introduced Zachary to Gabe when Gabe was a little over a year and Zach was 8 wks. Today they are best buddies. See the link below for more details on a proper introduction.
http://home.ivillage.com/pets/cats/0,,2kfg,00.html
As far as being destructive, make sure that you have numerous scratching posts offering a choice of both horizontal and vertical. I have 5 just in my living/dining area and two upstairs. Neither one of my cat's ever uses anything but these posts and they just instinctively knew what to do with them. I made sure the post were there upon their arrival.
Most cats are social creatures to a point. My boys love each other and even though I have considered a third cat have decided against it as I don't want to do anything to mess with the heirarchy in this cat household. They get along too well now for me to want to do anything that would upset that balance. However, I believe Gabriel would have been very lonesome by himself if I hadn't adopted Zachary. On the other hand, I had one cat Cali and she was of the temperment that I knew better than to ever bring another cat home. She loved dogs, hated cats. You just have to go with you gut as you know your cat best.
Good luck on whatever you decide.
Lynn
My kitten is a male, and my older cat is a female. I've had LOTS of kittens in my life, and only 3 of them have been male. I am happy to say that, in my experience anyway, male kittens seem to be a little less... psychotic... than female kittens! LOL. They still love to play mind you, but they don't seem to be QUITE as nutty as females.
April Fool's Day - that was my Bailey's designated birthday! I found him on May 9th, and the vet estimated he was about 5-6 weeks old, so I decided April 1st would make an easy date to remember. LOL. And he's gray too!
if you do indeed take him, post a pic as soon as you can!
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Awww, what a little cutie.