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I have a short haired tabby +/- 72 cat years old,in very good health indoors only and fixed.I plan to get a male kitten
Here are some details,his name is Turbo we got him at 6weeks old.He grew up around our dog,who is no longer with us.I would like tips,does and don't when it comes to bringing in a kitten same breed and sex into his"home".
Is there a chance of conflict.
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Member 1065803
on Oct 24th 2011
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in Other Behavior & Training
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This is a very BAD idea, and YES, there is a chance of conflict. Your male cat is too old to suddenly bring in a kitten. If you are contemplating getting another cat, it would be wise to get a female cat around the same age as your male cat. Go to a rescue group or your local SPCA. There are many nice older cats who have been abandoned or are homeless for whatever reason. A kitten will have no problem being adopted by the right person. Your household, however, is not the right one for a kitten. This, of course, is my opinion. Do what you want.
Member 185886
answered on 10/24/11.
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Not knowing Turbo personally, it's impossible to predict exactly how he will react if he's never had to share his territory with a young "whipper-snapper" kitten. As a former animal welfare volunteer, I'd like to suggest that you go to the most reputable shelter, including PetsMart adoption centers, and speak with their staff. Be honest about the time you have to spend with an inquisitive, active kitten, detail Turbo's personality, your home life, and what you are looking for in a kitten. "Shop around", so to speak. Do not adopt strictly on the basis of feeling sorry for a cat, it's color, sex, etc. Let the staff counsel you on which of their animals would fit into your home. I can tell you that Turbo won't be happy. There will be hissing and noses out of joint as Turbo lets the youngster know it's HIS house and HIS family. I've had Lizzie for 2 or 3 months and she's just starting to "come around" now. Rely on your vet and the shelter for advice.
Izadore (Izzie)
answered on 10/24/11.
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The new cat's personality and disposition are definitely more important than breed, coat color, gender, or even age. A 3-month old kitten who is on the lower end of the energy scale (for a healthy kitten that is still a lot compared to an older cat, but there is definitely a big range of crazy kitten energy) who likes to play by himself and is very submissive to older cats will do much better than an 8 year old female who likes to wrestle rambunctiously and constantly challenges other cats for authority. Definitely talk to adoption counselors at shelters or foster groups with cats at pet store adoption cages and if possible find out what the available cats were like at home. You want one who has lived with other cats and made efforts to be liked and accepted by the existing cats rather than trying to become top cat themselves.
When you do find the right cat to bring home make sure Turbo has plenty of senior accessible vertical space to get away from the newcomer and take it SLOW!
Cali
answered on 10/24/11.
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