Should I get another cat?

Question

We "adopted" our cat from the wild when she was about 9 months old. She was weak, skinny, bleeding, etc. Anyway, she won our hearts and now I'm thinking about getting her a playmate. The problem is that she hisses viciously when other cats or dogs get anywhere near our property - I wonder if she was attacked when she was living in the wild. So, I'm trying to decide if maybe I could get her a kitten, something she could "mother", something nonthreatening. We are perfectly happy with just one pet, but would kitty be happier with company. ???

Answer 1

Probably not. I've read that cats develop their social skills in their first 6 months, so given that your cat was feral for the first 9 months of its life it probably isn't a good idea to get her a playmate. I have a cat I rescued about 9 years ago. She was feral for the first 4-5 months of her life and I still cannot get her to get along with the other cats I have. Some cats prefer to be the "only child". =)

Answer 2

A kitten would be a bad idea for an older cat. They like to play and the older cat might not be as tolerant as the kitten learns proper cat social behaviors.

Best suggestion is to get an older cat who's personality fits well with your cat. There are thousands of rescue groups that can help you as I think you need a little more than just going to a shelter and picking a cat based on looks.

Your cat can be properly introduced to the new cat and if the personalities match well, they could become playmates. Integration is a process and could take up to 2 weeks on average. It involves separating the new cat from the old one - in a bathroom for example. And then switching the cat from the bathroom into the main rooms and vice versa with the old cat. After a day of that, then you can try the first meeting and see how it goes. Bring a towel in case a fight erupts, and then repeat the last actions until the cats can coexist.

Some cats like to have a playmate; some are solitary roamers. Kittens always like a playmate, but you got yours in its teens and so maybe it enjoys alone time. (That also depends on how often you are home as well).

Good luck on finding a friend; it sounds like you might want to get your cat a playmate. :)

Answer 3

I had this cat years ago that we found in the wild and adopted as well. He was very skittish and unsure, however he did eventually get along with other cats as they came into the house. I would reccomend a kitten, not an older cat. Yeah you will go through a period of time where it may seem like they are fighting and not getting along well. The best thing to do is slowly introduce them to each other with you watching how they interact and seperate them when it is needed. They will go through and establish a pecking order, do not be alarmed when the fights ensue in the beginning. Just keep offering the older cat praise and lots of love and she should come to love having the company of another cat around when you are not. I currently have an old siamese who's eleven and he has a hard time adjusting to new cats, however, after he has established that he runs the house, he enjoys their company and has lots of fun playing with them.

Answer 4

Cats are solitary animals, and do not typically need other cats as playmates, unless they are kittens less than a few months old. If you were to get another cat, it has always been suggested to get one of a different gender and age. You can slowly introduce a new cat, but in the end some cats may never warm up to another cat. They may come to tolerate each other, but end up having separate "territories", (i.e. one spends more time in the living room, and one in the bedroom). Most shelters allow you to "test run" a cat, so hopefully you could try that. Hope that helps and good luck!

Answer 5

You did not say how long you had her.
She sounds like she is Protecting her home.
If you are happy with just the one pet I'd stick with just her.
If you have only had her a short time especially.
If you have had her a over 2 years it would be a big change to introduce a new cat in the mix.
I don't think I would worry about a playmate. Just give her the extra attention you think she needs. I have had cats in the past that liked having other cats around and others that flew the coop when we got a new one. Cats are picky and THEY make their minds up as to who or what they put up with. I have had cats that I loved but gave away if things did not work out due to family needs and other pets in the household.

Answer 6

My cat hated other dogs and would hiss, while his hair and tail would puff up like a cotton ball. Now they are like best buddies. I am considering getting another cat to, but I think I am going to wait until I move into a house. In other words I do not think it would be a bad idea to get another animal, it just takes awhile for the other one to get used to it. Keep in mind that the cat just probably thinks that this new cat is invading his territory and the attention she gets, she will get used to it and probably love it though in the end.

Answer 7

i do no longer understand how previous your cat is, yet i latterly observed a kitten and have not bought a unmarried toy. A balled up piece of paper presented her 3 hours of solo entertainment as she chased it and batted it around... it then ended up in her water bowl yet howdy - she rejoiced till now that. the different element i've got completed is tie quite cotton around a folded receipt. I then tied the different end of the cotton to a shield and enable her bat at that. finally, i do no longer think of there is something she loves greater beneficial than an empty bathroom roll. There are countless scattered around the showering room (her nighttime time room) that she performs with for ever and ever. Cats are predators, so enormously lots something which will inspire them to pounce, chase and stalk will circulate over a cope with.

Answer 8

my cats did not get along at first but now they eat and sleep with each other now and then they still have little spats one just wants to pick on the other. Right now she is the only one who owns you so take it slow let her kmow she is still special and another thing she might just be a loner after who knows what happened to her in the wild So if you get another one you might have to give it back so now you have a hard choice maybe if she seems happy leave it as it is

Answer 9

You might want to try a kitten but if she starts hissing and looking vicious then I'd get rid of the kitten. She should like a kitten though. I've been in a situation like this before and my cat loved the kitten.....

Answer 10

If your cat is not spayed I would recommend that you do that first because it will help her to calm down and be more open to other cats. I've had cats all of my life and they always start out by hissing and growling at one another, that's their way of telling each other who is in charge. Within a week to two weeks they will adjust to each other and get along fine. I currently have five cats, all introduced at different times and they get along great.