Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

OK, it's been over six weeks since I started a cat thread and I swear I won't make a habit of it, but I'm having a dilemma.

I have a condo, and as such can't have a dog (well, I could have a little yippy one but no thanks). OOT was VERY helpful - moreso than my IRL friends or online research - in how to go about procuring said cat. I made a great choice - he's fun, fearless, and low maintenance.

Everyone loves the kitty - he's about 5 months old now - and when I went to Atlanta last week a friend of mine and his wife asked me to drop him off, even though he totally would have been fine here for 1.5 days.

They have two older cats, one is very territorial, but in those two days he broke down their barriers. They went from hissing at him to where he could jump on top of them and chase them around the place. Plus they have 1000 toys that he was taking full advantage of.

Now that he's back home I feel like he's missing out on a lot because I leave him here for long stretches and he doesn't have much to do.

As such, I'm thinking about getting a second cat from the pound. I doubt I'll get as lucky as this one, but another kitty that he can mess around with all day.

Question: does anyone have experience getting a second cat, and if so how did it change the dynamic of the household?

Also, per the advice of people here I got a male, it was mentioned that they will get along with either gender, whereas two females may have issues. If I do get another, what gender would be best to go with this boy kitty?

I may have exhausted all of you on this topic, but so many of you were extremely helpful that I thought I would ask one more time and hope I haven't run out of luck.

Thanks.

-- tuq

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

I'm somewhat of a sucker for cats myself. So let be the first say:

This thread is useless w/out pics!

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

Yep... a good idea.
Get him a girlfriend. The mix of male/female is best. They keep each other company when you're away... It does take some time for a newbie to be allowed into the alpha kitty's space. Would suggest putting the new cat in a spare room for 24 hrs and pet it alot... then let your other cat get used to the scent from your hands and vice-versa. I've always had 2 cats and always will. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Good luck!

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I got a male, it was mentioned that they will get along with either gender, whereas two females may have issues.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought that rule of thumb only applied to hippopotamusses.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

getting a second kitten will provide hours of enjoyment for both you and the cat. highly recommended

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

Gobias,

Thanks. These are fairly recent:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...2k2/kitty3.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...2k2/kitty5.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...2k2/kitty2.jpg

I particularly like the last one, it's an "action" photo - I have a pimp lamp I use to read before bedtime, kitty likes to come over and mess with the chains. As the photo shows, he just gave one a swat and was staring at it, transfixed.

The other responses I've gotten thus far have been awesome. Looks like a go. The most amazing thing about cats is how cheap they are - food + litter = ~$5 week in cost to me. Getting another one would still be well within my budget.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

I think an extra cat is great if they get along. Cats are fun. Be careful though, you don't have a cat, you have a kitten. Most kittens become significantly less playful as they age. You may be disappointed when you end up with a family of lazy furballs that just lay around all day.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

yes get another cat. My two cats love each other, and keeps them entertained when Im away for long periods of time.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
yes get another cat. My two cats love each other, and keeps them entertained when Im away for long periods of time.

[/ QUOTE ]

YOU have cats? Not my image of you at all...

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

If i could convince the wife to get a cat i would, but shes more into dogs. I do love my puppy tho.

When i lived with my parents we had between 1 cat and 5 depending on who was living there at the time. There was never any ill will between them and there was a good mix of genders.

I would assume you would want to get another young cat to go with this one.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

i totally support this! just make sure you consult somebody about introduction/compatability issues (boy-boy, boy-girl, girl-girl). IIRC, girl-girl is bad, the others should be ok

also, separate litter boxes and a period of initial segregation are a must, as well as constant support for your current cat (dont make him think he is being replaced)

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

I got two cats for the same reason you're thinking of. They get along fine although they are two girls so sometimes they are minor little fights. They kept track of and play with each other all the time. Makes it much easier to go away for a couple a days and not have to worry about leaving one cat home alone.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

theben,

Thanks. In my rambling OP I did mention that I had a boy and that my research indicates that it makes him compatible with either gender (ref your comment about girl-girl).

FWIW my current cat is 1) neutered and 2) still has his claws. I'm looking for the same combo because I don't need a cat in heat, and it's not fair to introduce a declawed cat into an environment where it can't defend itself. Luckily I think the pound has plenty that fit this criteria.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

you shouldn't have much in the way of introduction issues if both cats are still young.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think an extra cat is great if they get along. Cats are fun. Be careful though, you don't have a cat, you have a kitten. Most kittens become significantly less playful as they age. You may be disappointed when you end up with a family of lazy furballs that just lay around all day.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is an awesome point - my big concern is having to rid myself of one or both of these if life circumstances dictate as such in the future. Let's face it, cats are a 10+ year commitment, particularly indoor ones. Anyway, I do realize they outgrow the kitten stage and become very sedentary, but research with some cat-loving IRL friends indicates that you can bring out the kitten in the older ones with the right toys, and that some of them become very affectionate/loyal as they age (which of course is a trait more commonly associated with dogs).

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

You should have gotten 2 cats to begin with anyway. Not as much for you, but for the animals.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

Ok, so what about going from 2 to 3? My wife REALLY wants another cat, and I'm not sure. We have a two year old male and a one year old female. Are there any tips out there for getting three cats? Any big problems to be aware of?

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

The Chinese symbol for prosperity is two cats under one roof. Ok I made that up, but I like cats.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

OP, get another cat. Having just one cat in an apartment = borderline cruelty to animals. They'll be much happier and healthier with a compadre.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

Caldarooni,

Good point, but obviously getting any pet is rooted in self-interest (excepting possibly those crazy spinster broads who get like 12 cats who piss all over her place while she lives alone and hasn't had sex since the Nixon administration...they reek of "ooh don't kill the cat I'll take it, it's as desperately needy as I am!" Plus, it's a well-known fact that single chicks with multiple cats are psycho). I didn't consider that mine could possibly be so much happier with a companion. Luckily he's young enough that I can hopefully get him a friend.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

My friend has two mature cats, one male and one female. They pretty much avoid each other. Rarely do I see them playing with each other. They get along peacably though.

The female cat is very vocal and affectionate, even with new people.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

If you're going to do it, now's the time to do it. Your cat is still a kitten, so it hasn't gotten territorial yet. If you introduce another kitten, they'll spend all of their time playing with each other and will be used to each other by the time they reach adulthood that they won't try to kill each other at every opportunity.

I have two cats. They're brother and sister and we got them when they were about 3 months old. They sleep side by side when it's cold in the house, they clean each other, and they play-fight. Every so often they'll have a "real" fight, but it never turns into anything too serious.

However, there's absolutely no way they'd accept another cat into the house. They go ballistic whenever they see other cats outside, and literally throw themselves against the windows to get at them.

A few months ago we took my sister's cat in while she was looking for an apartment, and it was a total nightmare until she finally took him back. I had to ensure that I kept her cat and my cats separated at all times. The few times that they managed to get each other, there was blood spilled. My cats wanted to kill the interloper. I tried all of the tricks that I read online to bring in a new cat to a household, but my cats would have none of it. They were never going to accept him.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

Hopeless,

Great advice, thanks (also great to have your avatar back, as previously mentioned). The pound is definitely not a "no kill" shelter, and I wonder how old they let these cats and kittens get before they put them down. Mine was four months and clearly bigger and more mature than most of the others; however I don't think he's old enough nor has been here long enough for territory to be an issue. I think he'd be more than happy to share the space if he had a buddy to play with.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

Do it. Especially since he's so young. They'll be friends for life. I got a second cat when my first was about 2 years old and after a month or so they got along great, they keep each other company and are totally inseparable.

NT

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

I am about to whore this thread up with tons of funny captioned cat pics [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

http://bonbot.com/gifs/cat/1155446819519.jpg
http://bonbot.com/gifs/cat/1156394740421_2.jpg
http://bonbot.com/gifs/cat/catproceed.jpg
http://bonbot.com/gifs/cat/drive.jpg



http://bonbot.com/gifs/cat/juggernautcat_1.jpg http://bonbot.com/gifs/cat/1139043565681.jpg

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

Semi-bump, dot that is funny stuff and also thanks to everyone else in this thread. It seems inevitable that I'll get one this weekend...

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

Get a second one... be sure you introduce them to each other in an environment that is not threatening to either cat. If your current cat has an area of the house that he sees as his, introduce them somewhere else. I have heard that putting new cat in room with the door closed is the best way to do this. Old cat will start sniffing around the door, putting paw under the door, etc. This gives them a chance to get used to each other's presence without them getting all freaked out and attacking each other...

Cats are awesome! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

If you get it from the pound make sure it has a feline leukemia test. The pound where I am just had an outbreak. You don't want to expose your other cat.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
http://bonbot.com/gifs/cat/1155446819519.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]
There is clearly no motherboard in that PC, I really doubt the cat upgraded the RAM.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

Does anyone know if the same is true with dogs?

We recently got a Beagle/German Shepherd Mix and shes great with us. Are dogs ok by themselves?

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

I adopted two kittens a few months ago, a brother and sister pair. They are two of the most fun-loving, well-adjusted cats I've ever met. They were fostered well, which helped. They love to play and hang out with each other, which helps them stay sane, I think, since I'm at work for such long periods of time. Definitely find a kitten of similar age and good temperament to introduce to your current cat. If you can find a littermate, that would be ideal.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

tuq,

My sister had about the same situation as you. Her and her bf got a young cat (Jade), and about 6-8 weeks later picked up a kitten (Pedie). Initially they kept them seperated for a couple of days, leaving Pedie in the spare bedroom.

At first Jade was none-too-pleased, but over a couple days she became curious and snooped around the door a lot. Finally they met and within a week they became best buds. The only issue now is that Pedie is a bit of a hog so it's hard to play with Jade without Pedie jerking it up. So Jade usually lays low most of the time, but then sneaks up and pounces his ass.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

No.

Re: Getting a 2nd cat - good idea?
 

I will not confess to how many cats my wife and I have, but it is significantly > 1. I think 2 is a perfect amount, assuming they get along with each other.