Getting a second kitty

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a six month old male orange part Somali, he's just the best, got him when he was 10wks old. He's had his shots and been altered.  He's like our child, very independent, but also very loving and just so beautiful  I have the opportunity to bring home one of the kittens that his older brother fathered.  In otherwords, the same friend I got him from has some of his relatives and one of them got together with an unrelated one and had kittens.  They will be ready to come home in a few weeks.  I've fallen in love with one who still needs to find a home and I'm concerned how our little guy will take to him, how will he take it and adjust and will he still love us or be mad and will the new little guy be happy and bond with us? I don't want to ruin our existing guys little world, but might he be happier with a pal during the time we are gone at work? And lastly, how will it be putting them together given the 5-6 month difference in their age?  Thanks so much for your help.
Marla

ANSWER: Marla,

Given their ages, getting a second kitty should be fine.  Here is a protocol we use for introducing a new kitten to a household with an existing pet:

Start out your new kitten in one room with a litter pan and water dish. Ideally, the one room should be a bedroom with yourself or another human resident. This accomplishes a couple of things. Your new kitten will not be overwhelmed by its new surroundings and get "lost", and thusly will have no problem finding the litter pan (often kittens have been confined and are somewhat daunted by wide open spaces!). You will feed the new kitten in this room and keep the established kitten out. It allows the new kitten to bond with you or another human being and also build up some self assurance in its new surroundings since it will not have to compete for food or
attention right away. Finally, it allows the new kitten and the established kitten to sniff each other under the door and get familiar with each others' scents.

After 3-5 days of being in its one room, it is time to let them meet each other. Be prepared for some posturing, some spitting and hissing, and the like. IGNORE IT! After a while, they should begin chasing each other about and still have the occasional hiss or spit as they get accustomed to each other. Cats tend to make a whole lot of noise and even loosen up some fur. Rarely will two cats hurt each other.

Once they are introduced, there are a couple of things you must remember. Do not separate them again, they will get along! Do not interfere in their "discussions" as they need to sort it out amongst themselves!

It does not hurt to give the established kitten treats and extra attention after the new kitten is introduced (yes, cats do get jealous!).

A couple of things you may have to do are to feed them on separate dishes. Provide more than one litter pan in different areas of the household (as cats can be very territorial about litter pans).

All, in all, this method seems to have had great success in the past and makes for a fairly smooth introduction. Please remember that they may make up immediately, or it may take a few weeks.


Best regards... Norm


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Wow Norm, thank you so much.  Your advice does spark a few more questions though if you don't mind.  Our established kitty already is and has always been confined to one room (our bedroom) during the day when we work.  I do have a second bedroom I can set up the new kitten in while we are away at work, however during our time at home, I'm not totally clear how to handle the new one.  Are you saying from the moment I bring it in the house take it to a confined room for 3-5 days and never let them together during that time?  Its going to be hard to spend time with him especially since the bedroom where we sleep is where our existing kitty spends the night with us.  So a human probably wouldn't be with the new one, and I'd hate to suddenly isolate my existing kitty at night in a room with out us.  I wonder if maybe getting a second kitty isn't such a good idea.  My goal is not to just get another kitty cuz they are so cute (which they are) and be selfish.  I want to do what is best for my existing baby.  He means so much to us and he's very well behaved and adjusted and socialized, but rather thought that company from his same species would make him happier?  IF NOT, then I don't want to do this just cuz kittens are so irresitable you know what I mean?  So is this a good thing for him, not just satisfying mothering instinct in me.  LOL, thank you so much for your help, let me know what you think.
Marla

Answer
Marla,

There is never any guarantee that the new addition and your established cat will get on.  However, kittens seem to be tolerated better by adult cats than other adults.  Yes, I am saying they should be separated initially for a few days so that the kitten can adjust to its new surroundings.

You will have to make a decision, but, often cats just lie around and sleep most of the day when you are gone.

Best regards... Norm.