By b/f and I live together in an apartment and would like to get a new kitten. (not an adult cat) We already have 1.5yr old male at home. The thing is, we are thinking of getting a female kitten, but have some questions. First I must add, my cat is not neutered. My boyfriend refuses to allow me to get the cat fixed, he thinks it will make my cat less of a man lol. I disagree, but there's nothing I can do. If we got a female cat, we would get her fixed. We agreed to that. I am wondering though, if we got another male, and he was fixed, would they fight? I know males mark territory. Also, what's the best way to introduce the new kitten? How long would it take them to get used to eachother? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Serious comments only please. Also, our cat is strictly indoors, the new cat would be as well.
2007-10-11 07:25:00 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
You should get your male cat fixed befor eyou bring any other cat into the house. He will end up trying to mate with the female whether or not she is fixed, and that is not comfortable for her, nor is it healthy. Getting a cat fixed doesn't make it less of a man!! I have 2 male cats at home, and they are fine. There will be a higher incidence of fights if he does not get fixed, possibly causing serious harm to the new kitten. It will also cut down the risk of him getting sick, possibly cancer. It is the humane thing to do, and has nothing to do with masculinity. Perhaps your boyfriend has the problem, but don't make the cat suffer!
2007-10-11 07:35:19 · answer #1 · answered by cyn99di 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Your boyfriend is being a fool, as an unneutered male cat is a most unpleasant cat to have, compared to a fixed male. (Maybe he needs to be neutered....). An unneutered male cat indoors who senses a female in heat will cause you a lot of problems.
You run the risk with an unneutered male of him harming the kitten. Sorry, but that is the way, and would not matter if it is a male or female kitten.
And territorial markings are going to be more likely with an unfixed male, and that urine is particularly foul. Territorial markings with fixed cats is not that common.
The biggest issue you will have is territorial issues, and your male cat is the alpha cat, and may feel threatened. He will want to assert his dominance. That is often done with hissing and growling, but with an unneutered male, it might be worse. Most cats do not like changes, and bringing in a kitten is a big change.
As long as you have an unfixed cat in the house, I cannot reccomend you get a kitten. However, if you intend to do so, in this case I suggest a slow introduction. Keep the new cat in a separate room, and allow slow and short introductions over several days, gradually increasing the amount of time together to see how it works out.
As for how long, that is impossible to predict. With mine, I do a different approach, but I have all females and they are all fixed. You should know within a week or so how it might work out.
2007-10-11 07:59:30 · answer #2 · answered by cat lover 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, a few things. We have a 1-yr old male cat (Tigger), and just brought home an 8-week old male kitten (Simba) a couple weeks ago. He was perfectly healthy when we adopted him, but last weekend the kitten developed a cold. He's sneezing constantly, runny nose & eyes. We had to get antibiotic drops for him, and the vet said he could be contageous to Tigger. (Cats can incubate a virus for 1-2 weeks.) So first off, I would recommend keeping the new kitten quaranteed for two weeks.
I also strongly recommend having your male cat neutered, soon. Male cats who aren't fixed will mark their territory all over the house (esp. when they smell a new cat), and their urine smells horrible! It's not going to make him any less of a man-cat, and it can help supress his desire to go outside (to mate). It's a very simple procedure. We did it for Tigger, and the vet said it would take him up to a week or two to be back to his old self. Well he was up and about the next day! And with the out-of-control pet over-population, it's really important. (We also had him microchipped at the same time he was neutered, in case he escapes out the door and gets lost. Through the local animal shelter, we got a deal of both procedures for $50 total.)
Next, be prepared that your older cat will immediately be ticked-off and "insulted" at the new kitten. Tigger was as soon as he could smell the kitten. It's Tigger's turf, and another cat is invading his territory. He was very miffed for the first few days, hissing, and wouldn't let anyone pick him up. (Having a real kitty-attitude!). Below is a link to the Humane Society that gives really good advice about introducing your resident pet(s) to a new kitty. Good luck!
2007-10-11 08:00:06 · answer #3 · answered by kaz716 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell your boyfriend he is being stupid, and he is risking your home. If the unneutered cat has never sprayed, you are LUCKY!! GET HIM FIXED.. He could start anytime. DId you know he could smell a female in heat for more than a mile away, and that could start him spraying.
Your message mde it sound like the male was YOUR cat.. Then take him and get him fixed. Tell the B/F you value your apartment more than his stupid messed up sense of macho nonsense.. Guys like that are really messed up.
You want to take your security depsit and burn it? Then don't get him fixed.
THEN get whatever kitten you want.. and get IT fixed.
2007-10-11 07:45:42 · answer #4 · answered by Shelly P. Tofu, E.M.T. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your male cat isn't fixed, he will probably try to mate with the new cat if it's female. You should get him fixed anyway. As cyn99di mentioned, it can actually help prevent health problems in the long run.
2007-10-11 07:37:59 · answer #5 · answered by Missy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My advice is to get a female kitten, males are territorial, they will constantly fight and spray everything. If you do choose to get a female kitten and you dont want babies or the annoyance of her howling, get her spayed at 6 months before she has her first heat. And remember kitties aren't like humans, it only takes them one time getting freaky to reproduce.
2007-10-11 08:10:23 · answer #6 · answered by His Pumkin 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get the male neutered before you bring any other cat into the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it does not destroy there manhood, they dont even know.. but its not just about having kittens. an undoctored male will be naturally agressive, and you will end up with other cats who are living in fear all the time... and in time it will be naturally agressive not just to other animals but to you and your partner!
beleive me, ive had cats just playing, one gets a scratch you cant see, turns infected, £200 for consultation, aenesthetic, removal of abcess, draining, follow up etc... thats without one of them being an undoctored tom....
ask your boyfreind if he is going to pay the vets bills when the other cat has injuries, or abcesses through biting, fiting etc... average abcess from fighting will knock you back about $200us £100uk for full treatment,... see how he feels about that...
2007-10-11 07:45:54 · answer #7 · answered by dim2000_uk 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you get another male and do not QUADRUPLE the number of cat boxes you have they will start peeing on furniture and on the carpet.
Even with extra litter boxes there is a high likelihood that they will do it anyways...
Your boyfriend sounds VERY insecure...
YOU NEED TO GET YOUR MALES FIXED!
(Just the cats... Though if you talked your BF into a vasectomy it couldn't hurt either! ;-)
They will pee EVERYWHERE if you don't get them fixed.
2007-10-11 08:02:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you get a male the chances are he will spray.
if you want a kitten get a female get her fixed and everything should be okay
2007-10-11 07:32:08 · answer #9 · answered by Spanky 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋