Should I get one or two kittens for my grouchy 13-year-old cat?

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.

Yes, I think this would be the cat that I would choose. A one year old is not as crazy and playful as a younger kitten and you should already be able to get a good idea of her personality. It is good to choose a laid back and non-threatening cat. No matter who you choose, your male cat will not line it at first. There is always an adjustment period for cats to accept another cat. Be patient and hopefully within a couple of weeks, they will be friends. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

That all depends on your cat's personality. The following link may help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/should-you-get-another-cat/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi. The gender of the kitten probably doesn't matter but many think male cats are sometimes friendlier. Be sure the kitten has been tested negative for Felv and FIV before coming home as you don't want to expose your older kitty. I would also make sure she has been treated for internal and external parasites for the same reasons. When you bring the kitten home I would recommend giving the kitten its own room for a bit to allow the other pets time to get used to it through a door. Make sure that it's not someplace your older cat loves to be though! Adult cats can take a while to get used to a new kitten. So be prepared to weeks to months of her not getting along. If it happens more quickly, GREAT! Also- to prevent future litter box issues. A good rule of thumb is one litter box for each cat plus 1. So if there is room in your house for 3 litter boxes that is ideal. Here are some articles that may help on introductions. Good luck. Hope this helps! http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1384 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=46&S=1&SourceID=18

Likely getting a young adult cat would be best so that they are about the same age and may have similar energy levels. It doesn't matter male or female as long as they are both fixed. Pay more attention to personality and look for a cat who is already in a social situation with other cats. Try to get a cat with a temperament similar to Kovu's. Here is a link with some other helpful information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/should-you-get-another-cat/ I hope this helps.

It's kind of you to think about getting Josie a kitty friend for company, since you'll be starting work soon - I'm sure she would appreciate it, if you can find her a good match :) You're right that it can sometimes be difficult to successfully introduce adult cats to each other, so a kitten may be easier. And generally speaking, male/female pairs tend to do better - so I think a male kitten is a great option. To help make the introduction go as smoothly as possible, I would recommend setting up a separate room for the kitten when you first bring him home - he should have his own food and water bowls, litter box, toys, and a scratching post or cat tree. Keep him in this room with the door closed for the first week or two, so that Josie can get used to smelling him and hearing him through the door. You can also help her to associate good things with the kitten by feeding her treats outside his door a few times a day. Once she is no longer reacting at all when she hears him or smells him under the door, you can start to leave the door open for short periods so that he can venture out into the house. This way, Josie will already be used to his presence before they actually meet face to face. Feliway pheromone diffusers placed around the house can also help to reduce Josie's stress and encourage more social behavior during the adjustment period.

I'm so sorry for your loss. In general, cats tend to get along better with members of the opposite sex so you may want to consider adopting a male. Kittens can be quite annoying to older cats, but with an older cat it may be difficult to determine what their personality is like prior to adoption and older cats are not quite as adaptable as kittens are. If there is a rescue group or shelter in your area you may want to ask about young adult cats with easygoing personalities - there may even be a rescue that would allow you to take a cat home for a trial period. If you do end up adopting a new cat be sure to introduce them to each other very slowly, make sure they have separate resources at first (food, water, resting areas and litter pans) and consider a pheromone spray like Feliway to reduce stress.