Should I Get Another Kitten?

Question

We got a 12 week old kitten the other day (its about to spend its 2nd night here), i was thinking of getting her a playmate cos some days theres no one in from 9 till 6. Shes very affectionate and likes to lick us and sit on our laps, and shes been littered trained, no messes yet!

So the questions are...
Should we get another kitten?
Male or female? (Shes not been spayed yet but will be in a few months)
If we do get another should we get one within the next week or would a months time matter to much?

Thanks for any answers.
Rob

Well we got another female kitten, its seven and a half weeks old and tiny because its the runt of the litter, atleast half the size of the other kitten.

The bigger one keeps hissing and growling at the little one, its had a couple of swipes aswell. I

ts not constant tho, it just seems to be every now and then and only when the lil one looks directly at her. Do you think they'll get along in the end.

Answer 1

YES!
Nowadays, it's almost considered cruel to have a single cat in a household, because they are such social animals. I have a friend whose cat was biting off all of its fur, and was very angry. They got another cat, and their old cat is happier than ever.
Cats get depressed when they are by themselves, and also they may have socializing problems if they are not with another cat.
I would get the new cat sooner than later, because they tend to be easier to introduce to each other when they are younger.

I would get a female, but that's a personal preference (my family had huge problems with a spraying male cat) it really should have no effect on the relations between your cats, as long as they are both spayed/neutered

Answer 2

I would definitely recommend getting her a playmate! I got my 2 kittens last summer. I knew I would be away for several hours each day and I didn't want one to be lonely. Get another young one about the same age. Mine are about 5 weeks apart. I fell in love with a grey 5 month old and was looking at a 2 month old, but the shelter advised against it because the little one would not be able to defend itself from the older bigger one. It didn't take them long to bond and even though they have very different temperaments, (one is very active and into everything, while the other is happy to sleep on my bed most of he day) they are very affectionate to each other. I just love it when they are curled up together or groom each other. They have some good wrestling matches too.

Answer 3

You did a good thing by getting another kitten. Female cats will eventually get along; maybe. The fact that both are young is a plus in your favor. Usually when adding another kitten, most people get one of each; male and female. I have a friend that has 2 females and is now giving one away because they have never gotten along. I would say if the hissing, growling, cat fights do not lessup in within a month, you might want to consider other options....Maybe a 3rd kitty; a male to keep them two ladies in line? We just added a kitten because we buried our cat from the tainted food. Our female Trixie was growling, hissing and being a rather grumpy lady to the new addition Cosmo (male) It has been 1 week and they are getting along a lot better. I have been playing with both of them to ensure them both of my love. It gets rather tiring but it is seeming to work. Good luck to you!

Answer 4

Get another kitten. Male cats tend to be more playful while the females are more content to cuddle more. That doesn't mean the males won't cuddle but they tend to rough house while playing. No matter when you get the other kitten (or cat) introduce the two of them to each other slowly. Set up a room that the new cat can have to itself for the first couple of days. You can bring the first cat in for a visit and see how things go. It may take as long as 10 days before all the hissing calms down. Some cats are just friendlier by nature and it may only take a couple of days. Each cat will have their own unique personality.

Answer 5

Hi , we have 3 cats the eldest is a girl then two boys, the youngest is a year younger than the other two, who we more or less had together as kitten's. It is lovely to see the two eldest together they lay in the garden together and the female washes the male, they are always together playing and sleeping, the youngest is usually on his own but he is the alpha male (out of the cats) and much prefers human company (think he thinks he is human). We have always had more than one cat but this is the first time we have had 3 not sure that 3 works but if i were you i would get another just to keep the first one company. All our cats are spayed or neutered by the way..

Answer 6

If your going to get another one, it should be immediately and it should be from the same litter, especially since they will be home alone all day. It should be of the same sex, just to make things easier. If you wait even one week, or get a kitten from a different litter, they might not get along right away and will have to be separated when you are not home. Most cats are loners, though, and she sounds loving and well adjusted. She will be fine alone.

One more thing, take safety precautions since she spends so much time alone. Any strings from blinds or curtains should be tied up, cats have hung themselves. Make sure she cannot access trash, plants or any kind of medications (Tylenol, aspirin, Motrin, etc). Watch out for electrical cords too, I have a cat that gnaws on them at the outlet. Yarn balls can be deadly, so can something as benign looking as dental floss in your bathroom trash can or aluminum foil that has yummy meat drippings on it.

Answer 7

Yes, I would get another one, and soon, and make it another kitten. The reason I'd get another kitten is that kittens seem much more prone to accept each other. An adult cat may not like the introduction of another cat.
We had two cats (got them together as kittens) for 15 years. One died, and the other is fine now, but I think that's because she is old and mostly likes to sleep now. When she was a kitten, she would have been lonely.

Answer 8

Get another kitten because then she will have a little playmate and will love it. It means she will never be lonely.

It might take a couple of days for her to adjust to another cat being about but after that she will be fine.

It doesnt matter whether it is male or female if you are planning on getting them spayed and neutered.

Answer 9

Definately get another one. My older cat cant tolerate not having a playmate around, when our other cat ran away the older cat went crazy until we got a new kitten. Now they are the best of friends. We have a male and female and they get on like a house on fire. Both of them are "fixed"

Answer 10

I adore cats so the more the merrier, I say! Seriously, though, cats do love to play and your kitten would love a playmate - did she have any siblings that you could have? If not, then perhaps try to get another kitten slightly younger as they might bond better. With regard to the sex thing, you would be wise to consult a vet. Good luck!