Kittens!!

[Natp263]

Hi Guys!!

After much consideration me and my partner have decided that Beth needs a play mate, we feel like she is lonely. We are looking for a kitten but we would like one from 9 weeks really, so as young as possible so that she sees it as her own and it can settle in at a young age :)
I was wondering if anyone's kitty's were due a litter or if they know a good place for me to look.

Muchos gratis:D

[fecto's mum]

Hi Nat, first place I would look is your nearest rescue centre. It is the start of the spring kitten season and very soon they will be overrun. A good rescue centre will make sure the kitten is vaccinated, flead and wormed and will sometimes pay the cost of neutering when the time comes. Whenever we have a 'vacancy' we always go to rescue centres if a cat doesn't find us first! I personally think a young tom kitten would be better than another she. Although they are boisterous to start with they will soon settle, especially if Beth puts him in his place, We have 5 toms, all neutered and they all get on.

[Natp263]

Hey!!

Thank you for the advice, we're looking into a tom would you recommend looking for another tabby or will Beth not really mind?

[Shelley123]

I realy cant see that Beth would mind what sort of cat you got as long as the personalities are compatable.
It's great that you can offer a home to another cat and i don't want to be a killjoy, just be aware that there are sure to be fireworks at first. There will be advice on hear about how to introduce cats which should help you.

[Natp263]

Yeah we are just hoping that another cat will bring her out of her shell a little bit. She goes looking for cats if she hears meowing bless her!!

[Velvet]

Install a plug in Feliway two weeks before u bring anotger kitt home

[Natp263]

Yeah :) gotta find some kittens first

[Shelley123]

Yeah we are just hoping that another cat will bring her out of her shell a little bit. She goes looking for cats if she hears meowing bless her!!

i could be speaking out of turn here, but i wouldn't get another cat for Beth's sake, only if you want another.
IMO cats are loners, not pack animals like dogs.
If she's a timid cat, i would think she may be scared when you say she goes looking for other cats.
i guess what i'm trying to say is don't rush into it thinking that Beth needs another cat if you don't feel ready.

[Natp263]

Hi guys
Thanks for your advice. After thinking about it long and hard we went for it and got an 8 week old called Molly. She's lovely, playful and very happy. However, as we feared Beth has not taken to her at all :( she has hidden away for the last couple of days and today she has been very angry and hissing and scratching both myself and my partner. Hopefully she will come round

[Feliss]

How are you approaching the introduction?

[Natp263]

We have let them come together on their own terms. We don't want to push Beth into it really as she's quite timid but Molly is very curious and wants to know what's going on!! For the time being we have let Beth hide in the spare room so that Molly isn't hassling her :/ we don't really know what to do. We are going to get a felliway this week I think.

[Feliss]

So you have them both free around the house?

When I introduced my yearling with kitten, at first I worried so much they'd never get on, but after 4 days they were together. I know I was fortunate though as 4 days is quick.

[Shelley123]

Congratulations on your new kitty, Molly.
time is probably the key element and patience.
I think you are doing the right thing by giving Beth a place to hide until she feels ready.
You just cant force these things but i'm sure folks can give you tips to help.
I have had multiple cat households and eventualy they all settled in together and developed a pecking order.

[Natp263]

Yeah it's just upsetting because Beth gets quite upset from time to time and she tried to run away last night, we are just struggling on what to do for the best. Hopefully time will help and letting her do her own thing. We are beginning to believe that the RSPCA did not give us all the information and that she's been abused by a previous owner :(

[Natp263]

http://instagram.com/p/l7bAMst3S5/

They're both beautiful though which makes it all worth while

[Shelley123]

awwww Molly is realy pretty.
I once had a cat from a shelter whose mum had been feral.
Jade was a lovely little cat but remained timid all her life.
over my life i have had multiple cat households and they have all got along ok but i wouldn't say they were particular friends with each other, cats aren't pack animals so if you can get your two to live peacefuly together that will be good.
There will no doubt be people on here whose cats appear to enjoy each others company, i felt mine tolerated each other.
Keep us updated with your progress, pictures are great :)

[Feliss]

I think the thing is cats are just so individual. So much of who they are is formulated when they're kittens, which we often don't know about.
Introducing takes time and patience and different strategies that work for your individuals. And yeah as Shelley says you might only end up with cats that tolerate each other.
Jackson Galaxy has some good videos for introducing, have you checked him out?

[Velvet]

You need to give it time. Our older cat sulks for three weeks. sometimes it takes weeks or longer, you just need to ride with it, make sure you give the older cat attention
Theres is a theory that behind every tiny kitten there is a big angry mamma cat so you have to act hissy and annoyed to chase the kitten away so you dont have to confront the big angry momma cat. If you think along those lines it lets you understand the cats logic