I already have one cat, a four year old female. She's really sweet, never scratches or bites. She needs a little time to get used to other people, hasn't been around other cats a lot, but didn't fight.
Someone offered me a kitten, and I was wondering if I should get a boy or a girl?
RavenMun
Favorite Answer
I'd get another female, as I don't like the URI issues that males tend to have. They can be very costly, and can kill the cat before you realize something is wrong.
Whatever you do, introduce the cats slowly by quarantining the kitten. Take something that the first cat has laid on, like a blanket or a shirt and let the kitten sniff it. Then take something that the kitten has laid on, and give it to the cat to sniff get use to. Introductions should be done as slowly as possible to avoid stress, and territorial marking. Investing in a feliway diffuser might help keep the kitties calm.
And before the cats are allowed to see each other, take the kitten to the vet to be tested for Leukemia/FIV, and FIP, and vaccinated (FVRCP-C, Rabies, Leukemia), and should ideally be spayed/neutered for the health of the cat (I hope your existing cat is spayed/neutered), and to cut down on the possibility that the kitten will spray your house with urine as a territorial issue.
cat lover
Once fixed, it becomes irrelevant. Your female is just into adult behavior, having transitioned from more kitten like behavior in the past year or so but still lively.
Males tend to be larger, but that doesn't mean they become alpha.
More than whether a male or female kitten, how you do the introductions will be more important. There are several ways, so search them out and see what would work best for you.
You stated she hasn't been around other cats very much, but when she was, she didn't fight. Realize that bringing in a kitten is a 24/7 situation, not temporary, so you can expect her to hiss and growl, but that is common and usually doesn't last too long.
?
I am having almost the exact same issue. I think my current female cat just turned a year old. I have had her since July tho and they said she was 2 months old. Anyway i been wanting another cat for awhile but never got down to the shelter and a few times I was offered a cat it fell thru. There are some kittens born at my friends job that will be ready to be homed in July and I said I would take one but I do wonder about my current kitty. She still likes to play so I am hoping she would enjoy a new friend. Since I have had her for a year tho I think my kitty might be feeling very territorial. good luck.
inuyasha42297
I know, it's a tough decision. I have one 2 year old male cat and one 6 year old female cat. the female cat, named Shukue, stays at home and is always with me, being as sweet as can be. my male cat, named Snowy, often leaves, wanders around, and gets food from other houses [even though i give him more food than he needs]. i let him in to sleep with me at night, but he yowls at the door at like three in the morning, and he won't stop until he gets out of the house. he always gets his fluffy coat absolutely filthy, and he scratches me when i try to give him a sponge bath. now Shukue is VERY well behaved. when i give her a bath, she just lays in my lap as i do so. my old male cat ran away, and one time i saw him spraying on a random persons car.
right now Shukue's pregnant and i'm gonna keep a kitten, and i was wandering whether i should keep a boy or a girl, but from personal experience i think a girl is the right decision.
but the choice is yours, so you don't have to listen to me. pick whichever you feel will make a good friend to you and your cat.
Anonymous
A boy. It will be smaller than her at first and she may even take advantage of her size over him, but he will get bigger and stronger than she is in time and they will learn to get along. Have the female spayed asap before she goes into heat, and then get the boy neutered. Cats do better together without all the hormonal upheaval.