introducing a new kitten

by Laura
(San Antonio, TX, USA)

We have a 3 year feral cat - found her when she was 4 weeks, so she is very domesticated now. Only problem is that she is very standoffish with people (except us) and is pretty much a diva in the house. We want to get a new kitten, but want to be sure that:

a. This is really a good idea and,

b. Would a male or female be best.

Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks.

RESPONSE:

At 3, it is doubtful your cat will become fast friends with a new kitten so the decision to get a kitten should be because YOU want a kitten and not that you are getting a friend for you cat. That being said, the sex of the kitten doesn't matter. You should simply decide whether you want a male or female - the choice is yours. When deciding on getting a kitten, you should keep in mind that kittens have a lot of energy and require a lot of attention from their people. They need to play, to feel safe, and need to be fed 3-4 times a day depending on their age. You need to "kittenproof" the house in order to keep them from accidentally hurting themselves by chewing on electrical cords for example. The kitten will desperately want to play with the older cat and the older cat will likely growl and smack her around on occassion so they should be supervised when together. We have always found that kittens do better when brought home in pairs rather than singles. Having 2 kittens together helps with their socialization. But again, the choice is yours. I know this doesn't really answer your question but adding to your family is a personal choice we simply cannot make for you. Only you know your family situation and, more importantly, only you know your cat. Good luck!

Donna - House Full Cats Mom