We adopted a 3 year old female tortie from a shelter a couple of months ago. She had lived there for a year and was free to roam around the "cat room." She had plenty of other cats to play with there. She is very sweet and playful, which we love. The problem is, no matter how much we play with her, she wakes us up (particularly me) throughout the night. She sleeps with us and is constant rubbing and licking my face throughout the night. She is also very talkative in the early mornings. I can't take it anymore- I don't get any sleep! Do you think getting another cat for her to play with would help? Or do you think that would just make her cling to us more? We are gone from about 8am to 5pm, but I come home for lunch for about 30 minutes, which she's always really happy to see me. If we should get a cat, should we get a baby/adult, male/female? Please help!
2007-03-07 04:26:35 · 10 answers · asked by she_isnt. 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Breeders like to suggest more and more cats the less and less the numbers of people and time people are home.
Some people like to spazz against this (that have some hidden agenda/grudge).
It ALL depends on the indivual Cat. She may want some company. If you can take her to visit potential Cats, since she needs to be the one makeing this choice. It may be better to get another female cat to avoid sexual tension. If you haven't already, I suggest haveing her (and the Cat you get) spayed.
After so long and at her age she sounds very social and active. You will likely end up getting a Cat not exactly like her and they may battel for status in certain ways,.. like fighting over you.
The licking is a sign she is submissive and kissing up to you so you will likely need a Cat that thinks it's self higher then her,.. then she can lick it and it can enjoy the relaxing attention.
A kitten might turn out different as it gets older but she sounds like she could tolerate and maybe baby one. This doesn't mean she would be happy if thrown into that situation,.. which again is why she needs to go around picking out things.
It wouldn't be such a good idea to bring the cats to her as this could make her stressed out and wackey from terrortory being invaded. This will last after the Cat leaves. You don't want a cat fight on your hands.
2007-03-07 04:43:43 · answer #1 · answered by sailortinkitty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every cat is an individual and none of us here can predict how anyone else's cat will react. Like humans, some cats are sociable and some are not.
A great book to own is "Do Cats Need Shrinks" by animal behaviourist Peter Neville. (In later editions this book was called "Cat Behaviour Explained - A Self Help Guide"). In this book, even he comments that introducing a new cat to a household with an existing cat is the problem that he is most commonly contacted about. It's also a fantastic book that answers lots of questions that seem to get raised on a daily basis on Yahoo Questions. For anyone interested in the topics covered by this book - see the link below.
http://www.pets.f9.co.uk/shop/media/dcns.html
Personally, I would recommend that you contact the animal shelter from where you adopted her. If she lived there for a year, they would be very familiar with her temperament and whether she was sociable with the other cats. If she had a favourite cat then perhaps you might like to consider also adopting that cat as a companion for yours..
Good luck, hope it all goes well whatever you choose to do.
2007-03-07 13:48:38 · answer #2 · answered by Michele the Louis Wain cat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well seeing how I am an amimal lover, I would say its always nice to have at least two pets in any household. They all need both human and their own contact. I just love my two cats and 2 dogs. They all get along so well and I never worry about them when I am gone. A single pet is sad for me to comprehend. If the animal is use to being by itself and content with that, that is fine, but for the most part, people should really think of having a companion for another pet when they are not home.
2007-03-07 12:43:57 · answer #3 · answered by homesweethomediana@sbcglobal.net 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is always better to get cats in pairs. They are social creatures. I have two cats and they are great together sometimes if I wake up in the night I can hear them playing. I know that they would be playing with my face if they didn't have each other. As far as deciding which cat to get, find a shelter that will let you take your cat and where your cat can meet each shelter cat individually. Just like some people aren't compatible, some cats aren't compatible.
2007-03-07 12:55:41 · answer #4 · answered by music_chick5 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since she is only 3 years old, a kitten might be a good choice. She can play mommy to it, and the high energy of the kitten will tire her out and certainly keep her entertained.
If you get a cat around her age, you might risk one of them not liking each other. The only way to prevent that, I guess, is to take her along with you to the shelter - or go back to that shelter and get one of the cats that she had been living with already.
... I think another cat will be excellent. Gender probably does not matter.
2007-03-07 12:48:48 · answer #5 · answered by Susan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some cats are loners, some cats are pack animals. I have two cats and think often times a cat needs someone to play with and wrestle with other than a human. Make sure you learn about how to introduce another cat into the household so you don't get fights.
2007-03-07 12:41:44 · answer #6 · answered by K C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ill share this with you..i have 40 cats and they live together but in the beggining it was a TEST.
Cats are very sociable, no matter how frickle and arrogant they potray to others...they are smart and always up for a challange.
To get a FRIENDLY cat like your to accept other cats is to find a mate to grow and play with. Having SAFE toys for them both to share is a wonderful thing.Getting aquainted by making them eat together and napping close to each other is TENDERNESS AT ITS BEST.Age factor is also important..so choose wisely.
Make them socialite but do not introduce them face to face first. Place them in a room together after you have aquanted them.TRICK 1. Cats smell each other and they usually smell the " back " first before seeing eye to eye. Yes they will snarl and hiss at first but that will go away.Just Like a child sometimes a pet should also be repremanded, For e.g. if she wants to go on the bed then flicker lightly on the tips of the ear or a little tap on the nose. meaning NO. and carry it out of the room with care and not with the force of SHHHOH or SCATT..Slowly it will learn that love and effection also means respecting each others time and space but do not border them away..show equal love and attention when its required..after all that is how they test our patience as humans and by winning us to TAKE IT COOL,It only shows that the cat is actually helping us to live a better life.
Love now for all will soon be taken on borrowed time.Grow old happily with them!!
2007-03-07 13:04:17 · answer #7 · answered by joharifarihin 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i think having 2 cats is better cause at least they can play with each other, i find that my 2 cats dont play a lot but when they get bored they start chasing each other, and yeah they are not very needy, one of them goes to my lap when im watching tv and the other one is content to just roll over from afar, but yeah 2 cats..better
2007-03-07 12:36:48 · answer #8 · answered by ♦cat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like she might need a friend!! some cats are fine on their own, other not. i would think a male companion might work better, a male & female are likely to get along better than a femal & female-not to say it can't happen, but just not as likely to cause problems
2007-03-07 13:33:27 · answer #9 · answered by kg22 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would get a male for her, they will get along better and when you bring him home, put a drop of perfume on both their heads and they both smell alike, they will start liking each other sooner, my vet suggested that and it works.
2007-03-07 16:43:00 · answer #10 · answered by katie d 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋