For cat owners, I need your help!!

LasVegas Dot · ‎04-27-2010

I currently own 2 rescue kitties that we got when they were 8 weeks old, are brothers and are now almost 4 years old. They are the sweetest, good guys. They are calm and don't get into much trouble. I stay at home and have a lot of time to spend with them and I feel I have molded them into the sweet guys they are. There are no children in the house, just me and my long time boyfriend. For quite some time now, they seem bored, don't have much to do but sleep. Oh, they are indoor only.

I'm thinking of getting 2 more rescue cats for them to play with, or to keep them company. Here's my problem... Is this a good idea? Will they all get along? Should I get more boys, or will girls blend in? Should I get kittens, from the same litter, or get older cats, say some that have already had homes and were turned out or surrendered and would really love a new, good home? Will my own cats change and become "cats from hello"?

Originally, I thought if I get babies, my bigger guys will take them under their wings and "show them the ropes" and love being big brothers to them. I'm so unsure. I don't want to get new kitties and have them all fight. I don't want to feel like they have to go back. We sign papers agreeing to give them a "forever home" and I don't want to break that promise.

If anyone reading this has been where I am, I'd love any and all advice. I'd love to read how you handled it, or not. I do know that I have to keep them separate for a while, and slowly introduce them into the family, but that's all I know.

Thanks for any stories and help you may have.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

On 10/13/2014 LasVegas Dot said:
I currently own 2 rescue kitties that we got when they were 8 weeks old, are brothers and are now almost 4 years old. They are the sweetest, good guys. They are calm and don't get into much trouble. I stay at home and have a lot of time to spend with them and I feel I have molded them into the sweet guys they are. There are no children in the house, just me and my long time boyfriend. For quite some time now, they seem bored, don't have much to do but sleep. Oh, they are indoor only.

I'm thinking of getting 2 more rescue cats for them to play with, or to keep them company. Here's my problem... Is this a good idea? Will they all get along? Should I get more boys, or will girls blend in? Should I get kittens, from the same litter, or get older cats, say some that have already had homes and were turned out or surrendered and would really love a new, good home? Will my own cats change and become "cats from hello"?

Originally, I thought if I get babies, my bigger guys will take them under their wings and "show them the ropes" and love being big brothers to them. I'm so unsure. I don't want to get new kitties and have them all fight. I don't want to feel like they have to go back. We sign papers agreeing to give them a "forever home" and I don't want to break that promise.

If anyone reading this has been where I am, I'd love any and all advice. I'd love to read how you handled it, or not. I do know that I have to keep them separate for a while, and slowly introduce them into the family, but that's all I know.

Thanks for any stories and help you may have.

Hi LasVegas Dot

We currently have 11 Indoor Only felines and every single one of them was rescued one way or the other. Most came from outside our door, 1 from our townhome almost 15 years ago, and the rest from outside our door in our present home.

We live by a highway and people dump unwanted felines there quite often. We have helped the mothers raise their litters by feeding them and taking care of them until they were old enough to adopt out. We have been a part of over 40 kittens being adopted, a couple with the help of our vet. We moved here with 6 Indoor Only and at one time had 13 of them. All of the other 5 we had to have euthanized because of different health issues, so we have only 1 of the original ones with us now.

We have brought in kittens and a few of them that were older. Two of them were outside when we moved in and after 4 years we decided to bring them inside with our others. We waited because they were semi-feral at first, but over the years they trusted us so we thought they were ready to join our inside clan. We had them both tested for feline aids before bringing them in, along with the health in general. Our vet gave us the ok and they are doing just fine and get along with the others.

Gender makes no difference, at least not in the many we have brought into our homes. Overall I would say it is generally better to bring in kittens than to bring in other adult cats regardless of their gender. Whomever we have brought in we keep separate in a different room for a few days so our present clan can smell their scent and know they are in "their home territory". We then ease into bringing out 1 at a time to make sure there are no issues. In other words we do not let any of them leave our sight until we are sure they are at least cordial to each other.

We adopted only 1 of our 30+ over the years and that was from our former vet, who is now deceased. This kitten was born in his parents corn field out in the country. He knew we loved felines and asked us if we wanted to adopt her. We did and she lived until she was 16 years old and died of feline AIDS even though she had never been outside except when she was born and he tested her before we took her home. The only thing we think caused this is that she had an ACL(torn knee ligament surgery)and had a blood transfusion and we think that is where she picked up the AIDS. We had all of our others checked and fortunately none of them contracted this deadly disease.

Only 1 other was adopted and that was from our State Humane Society. There we had to fill out papers etc. All the rest we brought in from right outside our doors from the many litters we raised. One litter was 8 and before I could catch all of them to have them fixed, one of the females was already "with kittens". She had 7 of them so that was another bunch for us to raise. We ended up keeping the Mom and 1 of her boys, which is a Tuxedo and we named him Cruiser.

Thank you for continuing to consider rescuing this wonderful animals as they have a lot of love to give to those that care for them. I could type a book about all our animal adventures, but I will spare you. I will however say my wife is on the Board of Directors of a 5 State Boxer(canine)Rescue Organization and she has fostered and found homes now for 7 of them, with one being just last Saturday.

My best to you and your feline family,

E.T.A. Here is Cruiser

hckynut(john)

LasVegas Dot · ‎04-27-2010

Whew! That's more story than I thought I'd read. Sounds like you are very experienced on this subject.

I want new kitties from the same litter. My BF doesn't want to start that far back again as we were forever at the Vet's. Our local shelter is giving cats, over 6 months away for free, for last week and this week. They have lowered the fee for kittens to $25.00 each, under 6 months. When we got out first set of twins, the shelter also included $500.00 each worth of Vet's visits to get us all started. I think they are including this again.

As I wrote, I want this more for my current kitties, hopefully to teach them to be big brothers, more than I want this for me. I am the main care giver as my BF works a lot, and isn't home much. I'm getting a little older, and have a 2 story house. Chasing these little guys around isn't always easy.

Thanks for your info. ${#emotions_dlg.biggrin}$

hennypenny · ‎03-10-2010

Go for it. What ever age you choose should be okay. Just remember to make sure the new ones are healthy and are fiv tested. Introduce them slowly as John has mentioned. and they should be fine.

Remember the little kitties will still be little stinkers for several months, chewing, biting and clawing. If they are six months or a bit older they will not be soooooo fiesty.

lolakimono · ‎03-29-2012

I would make a donation to the shelter and just get them some new toys!

mewsmomtoo · ‎03-05-2014

As I wrote, I want this more for my current kitties, hopefully to teach them to be big brothers, more than I want this for me. I am the main care giver as my BF works a lot, and isn't home much. I'm getting a little older, and have a 2 story house. Chasing these little guys around isn't always easy.

Hi LVDot, It's very sweet of you to be willing to rescue two more kitties, but, if I may say so, I think you are doing it for the wrong reasons. Kitties don't think like humans and therefore your boys will not consider themselves as "big brothers" and while kittens may cause your boys to be more active for a while, there's a pretty good chance you are just going to end up with 4 bored kitties in a couple of years.

You say you want this more for them than yourself, yet you are the one who is going to have to feed them, buy the litter, clean the boxes and pay the vet bills. Are you really prepared to do this just so your boys have some new friends?

I have a couple of suggestions: since you are home quite a bit, buy some wand toys for your guys to chase around, also balls with bells in them, mice that rattle etc. If you play with them 3 times a day for 20 minutes at a time you will keep them pretty happy and exercised. Are they able to look out of windows? If so, plant or decorate with things that attract butterflies and birds (baths and feeders) - that will keep them interested.

Also, since you are familiar with "My Cat from Hello", Jackson Galaxy has a book coming out tomorrow about "catifying" your house and I highly recommend it.

Another book I can highly recommend is "Think Like a Cat" by Pam Johnson-Bennett.

Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss

If you are going to go ahead with getting new kitties, get kittens that are 10-16 weeks old, your current kitties will accept them much more readily than they will an older cat. If you get an older cat, please read up thoroughly on introducing a new adult cat to your current kitties and be prepared to work hard at it, otherwise you will likely end up with fighting cats. You can go to ASPCA.com and search "Introductions". There is also a lot of info on the PetLovers forum here on QVC. I would also suggest another Pam Johnson Bennett book - you can probably get it from the library or scan it at PetSmart before you get your new cats.

I know others have said there is no difference in sexes and I agree if you are getting kittens. If you get older kitties, I recommend neutered boys - they are much calmer and more accepting of other cats. At l least that has been my experience.

As I said above, I think you would be better off engaging your cats in play, getting them fun toys, making the outdoors more interesting and "catifying" your house for your current furry kids. Adding cats seems like it would just add stress to your life. Good luck!

DarkShadowsGirl · ‎03-12-2014

Cats are territorial, so the cats already in your home might not want new cats around. Personally, I would look into finding more toys, games, etc to combat boredom with the cats you have now. If you decide to adopt more cats, there are ways to make the transition easier, such as giving each cat a blanket, then after a few days, swap the blankets around, so they can get used to each other's scent.

ID2 · ‎06-25-2012

I've got two cats about the same age as the OP's kitties. I would NEVER think of bringing in two more because I think they're bored. Trust me more cats isn't what your present cats will want. Cats are very happy just eating, sleeping and looking out the window. Getting more cats will really be for you, certainly not for your present cats.

"Pure Michigan"

pommom · ‎03-10-2010

On 10/13/2014 hckynut said:
On 10/13/2014 LasVegas Dot said:
I currently own 2 rescue kitties that we got when they were 8 weeks old, are brothers and are now almost 4 years old. They are the sweetest, good guys. They are calm and don't get into much trouble. I stay at home and have a lot of time to spend with them and I feel I have molded them into the sweet guys they are. There are no children in the house, just me and my long time boyfriend. For quite some time now, they seem bored, don't have much to do but sleep. Oh, they are indoor only.

I'm thinking of getting 2 more rescue cats for them to play with, or to keep them company. Here's my problem... Is this a good idea? Will they all get along? Should I get more boys, or will girls blend in? Should I get kittens, from the same litter, or get older cats, say some that have already had homes and were turned out or surrendered and would really love a new, good home? Will my own cats change and become "cats from hello"?

Originally, I thought if I get babies, my bigger guys will take them under their wings and "show them the ropes" and love being big brothers to them. I'm so unsure. I don't want to get new kitties and have them all fight. I don't want to feel like they have to go back. We sign papers agreeing to give them a "forever home" and I don't want to break that promise.

If anyone reading this has been where I am, I'd love any and all advice. I'd love to read how you handled it, or not. I do know that I have to keep them separate for a while, and slowly introduce them into the family, but that's all I know.

Thanks for any stories and help you may have.

Hi LasVegas Dot

We currently have 11 Indoor Only felines and every single one of them was rescued one way or the other. Most came from outside our door, 1 from our townhome almost 15 years ago, and the rest from outside our door in our present home.

We live by a highway and people dump unwanted felines there quite often. We have helped the mothers raise their litters by feeding them and taking care of them until they were old enough to adopt out. We have been a part of over 40 kittens being adopted, a couple with the help of our vet. We moved here with 6 Indoor Only and at one time had 13 of them. All of the other 5 we had to have euthanized because of different health issues, so we have only 1 of the original ones with us now.

We have brought in kittens and a few of them that were older. Two of them were outside when we moved in and after 4 years we decided to bring them inside with our others. We waited because they were semi-feral at first, but over the years they trusted us so we thought they were ready to join our inside clan. We had them both tested for feline aids before bringing them in, along with the health in general. Our vet gave us the ok and they are doing just fine and get along with the others.

Gender makes no difference, at least not in the many we have brought into our homes. Overall I would say it is generally better to bring in kittens than to bring in other adult cats regardless of their gender. Whomever we have brought in we keep separate in a different room for a few days so our present clan can smell their scent and know they are in "their home territory". We then ease into bringing out 1 at a time to make sure there are no issues. In other words we do not let any of them leave our sight until we are sure they are at least cordial to each other.

We adopted only 1 of our 30+ over the years and that was from our former vet, who is now deceased. This kitten was born in his parents corn field out in the country. He knew we loved felines and asked us if we wanted to adopt her. We did and she lived until she was 16 years old and died of feline AIDS even though she had never been outside except when she was born and he tested her before we took her home. The only thing we think caused this is that she had an ACL(torn knee ligament surgery)and had a blood transfusion and we think that is where she picked up the AIDS. We had all of our others checked and fortunately none of them contracted this deadly disease.

Only 1 other was adopted and that was from our State Humane Society. There we had to fill out papers etc. All the rest we brought in from right outside our doors from the many litters we raised. One litter was 8 and before I could catch all of them to have them fixed, one of the females was already "with kittens". She had 7 of them so that was another bunch for us to raise. We ended up keeping the Mom and 1 of her boys, which is a Tuxedo and we named him Cruiser.

Thank you for continuing to consider rescuing this wonderful animals as they have a lot of love to give to those that care for them. I could type a book about all our animal adventures, but I will spare you. I will however say my wife is on the Board of Directors of a 5 State Boxer(canine)Rescue Organization and she has fostered and found homes now for 7 of them, with one being just last Saturday.

My best to you and your feline family,

E.T.A. Here is Cruiser