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Question
I have two felines in my home currently and want to add another. One cat is a male, 15 years old, extremely social but mellow with some medical issues i.e. diabetes and hyperthyroidism under medication. I adopted he and his sister when they were 8 weeks old. His sister unexpectedly died 1 yr ago. Our second cat is a feral female who came to us at 3 mos old, she is now just 2. At that time she was slowly integrated with the older two and for 6 mos (when my older girl died) they all lived peacefully together. She is very loving towards my husband and I but extremely skiddish with strangers, strange noises and anything out of the ordinary. We would like to get another cat to be more of a companion/playmate for our little one because the reality is our older cat will someday pass and that is not the time to be getting another cat. Our biggest anxiety over getting another cat is, which gender is better for our situation? We don't want any Alpha problems because that may cause or oldest added stress which he does not need and likewise, we don't want any Queen problems with our little girl because we would hate for her to withdraw. As it is, our senior does play with her from time to time but you can tell he's "over it". We do not want to get a kitten, so is a young (1-2) year old cat appropriate? Please let me know your thoughts. FYI, both cats are fixed with claws. Thanks!
JPK,
My contention has always been that once a cat is neutered/spayed, gender really does not matter. I would get a kitten between 4 and 6 months of age and, if introduced properly, it should get along fine with the other cats. If the kitten weighs at least 4 pounds, it can be neutered/spayed at that age. Established cats tend to be much more tolerant of kittens than they are of older cats.
If you need a good protocol for introducing another cat into a home with established cats, please let me know.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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