Thinking about getting a 2nd kitty.

Question
Hi!
I have a neutered male cat and he's about 8 months old. I have been considering getting another cat to keep him company while me and my boyfriend are at work all day (and also because I love kitties!). My questions are is this a good idea? Would he get along better with another male or a female? What are the chances the two cats will like each other?

Answer
HI Cheri,

I think a companion cat is a very good idea. Cats left alone during the day are generally more active and therefore healthier than lone cats. However take your time to find a compatible kitty and introduce them gradually and carefully. Here is an article on how to introduce a new cat. Don't expect your cat to love a new companion right away!

http://catnet.stanford.edu/articles/introducing_cats.html

When looking for a companion for your cat, take into account both their personalities. There are no guarantees the cats will get along, but if you talk to the shelter or rescue group about the personalities, you want a cat or kitten who they know is not aggressive or more upset than usual when meeting other cats. The sex of the other cat shouldn't matter as long as they are both spayed/neutered. I would recommend adopting a young cat about the same age as yours, so they will have a similar activity level and interest in playing. Sometimes young kittens can drive an older cat nuts with their energy, and likewise a much older cat may be less tolerant of your young cat's energy.

Remember to start out with separate litter boxes, food dishes etc. Eventually they can share but ideally you should have one litterbox per cat. My 3 cats share one jumbo litterbox since we have a small house and no room for more, but starting out you need separate boxes at least for a few month - you don't want to start bad habits because one cat is too timid to use the box.

Good luck!