Kitty x 2

[SamIam]

OK, per Classicman's request (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?p=615236#post615236), I am asking this question here.

I have a six month old kitten and I'm considering adding a Christmas kitten as a companion to our little family. I think at this young age, the kittens will come to accept each other, and I am prepared to put up with double the mayhem that two kittens will cause.

But somebody told me that she had done the same thing and the two cats came to hate each other as one was more dominant than the other. Is this common? I had two cats before and they were best friends for life.

Any advice from you cat lovers out there?

[Perry Winkle]

I think the younger you start the better. But some cats will get along better than others. It may work painlessly and it may not. It'll most likely take an adjustment period of at least a week.

I don't think you're going to find a hard and fast answer.

[Sundae]

The centre that I adopted Hely from said all you can do is suck it and see. Most cats will get along to one extent or another. Different genders get along better. Two males are less likely - to the extent that even litter mates might take against eachother at 18 months.

But the overall message was positive.
They were quite happy for me to adopt a young female, knowing I had a young male in the house (both neutered/ spayed).

Unfortunately it turns out Diz is like Jehovah - he is very jealous and has righteous anger.
He will not play nice with any other cat, and only did so with Dylan because they were adopted together, from the same breeder and the same house and he faced the unknown (me!) with him.

He hated Trifle - HM's cat - and Hely, and Mia (the 'rents' cat).
But I understand he is a rarity.

Go for it, but explain your concerns to the place you are adopting from (please tell me it's a shelter!) and they will probably agree to take said kitteh back if it doesn't work out.

[Cloud]

I think cats have different personalities, just like people, and you cannot predict how they will get along.

I also think--younger is better; and two is better than one, even if they hate each other. My two cats don't always get along, but they chase each other around and get exercise, companionship, and stimulation. All vital, especially if they are indoor cats.

go for it!

[Sundae]

Forgot to say that, Cloud, but I agree totally.
The reason I took a chance with Hely (who BTW was adopted by someone I worked with, when I was still employed) was because I felt Diz was depressed without Dylan. He certainly went into a shell for a couple of months.

Even now I feel I have to try & take Dyl's place - grooming Diz, chasing him, play fighting etc.

[Glinda]

It's likely your current kitty will become friendly with a newbie without too much trouble - they younger they are, the easier it is.

A few years ago, I brought two "new" kitties home (one was a year old, the other was two) so my 10-yr-old solo kitty could have some friends; her previous lifelong companion had died the previous year.

The two I brought home knew each other but not well (breeder rejects that needed to be adopted out). Once I got them home, the older adoptee (female) made friends with the old lady of the manse with surprising ease, and the two of them quickly grew to hate the younger, male adoptee. Mostly because the male was (and still is) a non-stop lunatic - endless energy, just wants to play, but his roughhousing scared the pee out of the two females and many shrieking, hissing chases ensued.

It took a full YEAR before they could be in the same room together. Now they all play together - even the old lady joins in the play chases and faux fights.

Moral of the story: even if it seems futile at first, there's still the possibility that cats who do not get along will learn to like each other.

Good luck!

[SamIam]

If I do adopt, it will be from the same place I got Flicker (my kitten). Its a very cool outfit called For Pets' Sake that functions as a cat rescue group. Their cats are Never euthanized. They have about 5 fenced acres (special cat-proof fencing) where the older cats are allowed to roam. Kittens are kept indoors, so they can be socialized. The adoption fee is only $30.00 and this includes spaying or neutering and shots. If a cat doesn't work out, they will take it back. So, I think I'm fairly safe getting another cat from them.

[Sundae]

Good for you Sam.
I know with a pedigree cat I'm hardly a poster-girl for adopting the needy, but like Glinda, my boys were breeder rejects.

[limey]

I'm with what everyone has said here - particularly that even if they don't become best of friends interaction is good (this is what I tell myself about my mum's new social circle - the other residents at her Nursing Home - after all!).

[xoxoxoBruce]

That's the nice thing about cats, if they become a problem, you can always eat 'em. Mmmm, cat bacon.

[SamIam]

My mother was in London during WWII, and she said she learned to never order rabbit from the menu. Chances were excellent that it was actually somebody's tabby.

[SamIam]

Here's Flicker:

[Cloud]

Santy bring frend plz?

[limey]

Originally Posted by SamIam

Here's Flicker:

He's got leetl tiney debbil's horns if you look at the ginger marks at the inner edge of where his ears meet his head.
Kewt!

[DanaC]

He's a harlequin kitteh!