Two cats and maybe three?

Question
Hi there,
 I am about to move into a new apartment and I am inheriting my mothers
two cats as part of an agreement for helping to pay for the apartment. I
wanted to get a little kitten of my own though and I am not sure if this a
good idea because the two cats I am inheriting are kind of old, one is 13 and
the other is 5 years. I don't want to make their new home change worse for
them than it already is, but I'd really love to make a new addition. What do
you think? Is it a really bad idea?

Answer
Laura,

My advice is to not make any more changes than is necessary.  Going to a new territory is always stressful and a bit traumatic for any cat, especially an older cat.  At age 13 your older cat is geriatric, very set in its ways and, so, there will be some adjustment.  The relationship between the two cats may very well change given that they will now be in new territory and any previous relationship between them will have to be newly established.  Adding a third cat to the mix will just make things that much more tense than they already will be.

I would expect the new adjustment period should take a few weeks to a few months.

I would wait until the older cat is gone (it cannot have too many more years left) before contemplating a new addition.

Best regards... Norm.