Older Cat Alone After Brother dies @ age 19.

Question
I have an important decision to make very very soon. I had two cats. brother & sister for over 19 years. My boy cat Cody passed away from Cancer a couple of weeks ago. A huge loss but I wanted to add a companion to his surviving sister. I discussed it with his vet and he thought that was a great idea. I know everything I have to do for the first several weeks. I have a dilemma that arose. I am getting my new little male kitten from an animal rescue center. .He is in a foster home until he is old enough for me to bring him home. He is almost 7 weeks old and has a sister that they want me to take also. I can afford it but am very afraid that my older female cat will barely accept one new kitten but two may be too much. I know she can use the company while I am at work but am afraid to overload the situation. I am sure the kitten will be lonely without his little sister until he bonds with my older female. HELP!!!. I want to make the right decision. I live alone in a household with no children or other pets. They will stay inside and will be fixed. I want to do the right thing for the kittens and my older female cat.. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I need to make a decision very soon.  PS. I also wanted to say that my 19 female is not a normal old cat.  She is very playful and  very active and looks to be 2 years old.  Thanks in Advance.


Answer
Hi Steven,  What a wonderful opportunity you have, and how caring you are about what to do with your remaining older "kid"!

I personally like to bring 2 new small ones in at the same time.  Not only will they keep themselves busy with each other, it gives your older one more time to adjust.  Since they will play more with each other at first - rather than with getting 1 with nothing more to do than "test the patience" of your older one : -)

As a rule of thumb, I tell everyone give them all a minimum of 6 months to adjust!  Soon you'll probably see all three of them chasing, playing and snuggling together, though your older one may choose one kid she likes more than the other!

What a wonderful kitty man you are, and thank you for caring enough to write and ask!

Let me know now and then how it is going ok?

Thanks,
Debbie