Should I get a kitten if my rescued feral cat isn't socialized yet?

Since the kittens are still under a pound, they are probably only about a month old, so you still have time to socialize them. The most important socialization time frame is up to about 8 weeks of age, and it is important for them to learn social skills from their siblings, so I would recommend keeping them together for another month if possible. Hopefully, the 2 that are more fearful will learn from the affectionate one. Do not force any of them to interact with you (unless medically necessary). Try to make them associate you with good things like food and play. Sometimes you can get feral kittens to be willing to play with you before they would ever be willing to allow you to touch them. Don't give up on the shy baby or the more feral one yet. Continue to try to find a way to interact with them that they like, then build their trust from there. Good luck! Please let me know if that helped. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and being a good foster parent.

If your older cats have been together for several years, they probably have their "territories" picked out. It is quite possible that they just don't like each other. Having more than one pet is often like being placed with a roommate that you didn't choose - sometimes it is a great fit and sometimes you can't wait to move out! It is hard for me to tell you if getting new kittens will help or hurt the current situation, as it would just depend on how happy your current cats would be with new, and very young roommates. Kittens like to play, a lot, and often need to be taught the rules of the house. There will likely be a lot of fighting at the start until the kittens grow up a little. There is a possibility that kittens will help the other cats mellow out together, but my gut feeling is that this may not happen. If you do decide to get new kittens, remember that you will need a drastic increase in litter boxes (and feeding stations and water bowls). Veterinary behaviorists recommend 1 more litter box than you have cats, so that means 6 boxes! And they all need to be in different areas of the house to give a sense of privacy. You will also need additional quiet space so that everybody can feel safe in their own area.

If she is older than 16 weeks then she may never really be much more social. However, if she is younger than 16 weeks then it is still possible that she will become more social. Give her time, lots of treats, and allow her to slowly gain trust. You may want to get a tall cat tree in the family room and put her on top. She can be up and safe but still be “getting used” to another room. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello. This is a tricky question to answer because you never know how things will go until you try. Some cats absolutely hate other cats, others love company, & others are OK with a newcomer as long as the food dish stays full. I would try introducing them shortly after you move. Give Kofta a few days to a week to get used to the new house first. Then, after she seems comfortable, introduce the new boy under supervision. Often, a kitten is readily accepted after a few swats & hisses. Make sure there are double the resources for the cats at first. 2 litter boxes in separate areas, 2 food & water dishes, & plenty of places to escape & hide ( save those cardboard boxes ). I am always rescuing cats & kittens, & eventually, everyone settles down. Good luck & take care.

If he seems like a friendly cat than there is a good chance he will get along with another cat. It may take some time for him to adjust but usually cats learn to get along. You could try some Feliway spray or diffuser and see if that helps. Taking the introduction slow is usually best. You can start by separating them in rooms that share a common door and feeding them by the door for a few days. Then switch the rooms that they are in so they can get used to each others smell. After that, you can put them in the same room with supervision and see how they do.

Have the stray examined and treated by your veterinarian. Once he has recovered from his wounds, have him vaccinated and dewormed. Keep them separated during this time. Allow them to hear and smell one another through a closed door. Once they have acclimated to the sounds and smell of a new cat, allow them to see each other at a distance for ever increasing periods of time. Progress to placing the new cat in a closed carrier in the room with your cat until she acclimates. The use of pheromone products, such as Feliway spray or plug in diffuser, may decrease any anxiety or aggression.

Congrats on your new cat! Given that you just got Winnie, it would be best to let her adjust to her new home before introducing another cat. That's because moving into a new home is stressful for a cat, and introducing another cat into the home will put added stress on her. I would wait a few months, then look into getting another cat. You can get any age or sex you want, but Winnie may like another cat around her age so they can play a lot together. Enjoy your new kitten, and I hope this helps!