TWO CAT HOUSEHOLD

Question
I CURRENTLY HAVE A 5 MONTH CHAMPAGNE MINK FEMALE TONKINESE KITTEN AND AM CONSIDERING PURCHASING A BLUE MINK MALE TONKINESE KITTEN FOR HER AS A PLAYMATE.  I HAVE STUDIED THIS PARTICULAR BREED IN DEPTH AND HAVE READ THAT HAVING TWO TONKINESE CATS ARE BETTER THAN JUST HAVING ONE PER HOUSEHOLD.  I WANTED TO PURCHASE TWO FROM THE SAME LITTER, BUT DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF TONKINESE KITTENS, THAT WAS NOT AN OPTION.  I WORK FROM 8 TO 5 AND AM HOME AT NIGHT WITH HER.  I WORRY SHE IS LONELY AND WONDER IF PURCHASING ANOTHER ONE WILL BE THE SOLUTION.
 I AM WANTING YOUR EXPERT OPINION ON THIS.  SHE IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE AND I WORRY THAT SHE MAY BE JEALOUS IF I BRING ANOTHER KITTEN HOME.  SHE IS ALWAYS WITH ME, FOLLOWING ME AROUND LIKE A PUPPY AND SLEEPS WITH ME AT NIGHT UNDER THE COVERS.  SHE CONSTANTLY GIVES ME KISSES AND LOVES ALOT OF ATTENTION.  SHE IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON MY LAP TRYING TO KISS ME AND PREVENT ME FROM TYPING AS WE SPEAK.  I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER BREED LIKE THIS BEFORE.  I GREW UP WITH SIAMESE CATS BUT AFTER OWNING A TONK, I COULD NEVER GO BACK.
 WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

Answer
Melissa,

There is always a chance that a new kitten will upset the applecart, so to speak.  But given the relative youth of your current pet, another 4 or 5 month old kitten could work out very, very well.  While you are gone, they would play together.  One caveat, however, like people, some cats take an instant dislike to each other.  Fortunately, this is fairly unusual.

Here is a method we have used to introduce a new cat into a household with an established pet.


Start out your new cat or 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 cat or kitten will not be overwhelmed by its new surroundings and get "lost", and thusly will have no problem finding the litter pan (often kittens or rescue cats have been confined and are somewhat daunted by wide open spaces!). You will feed the new cat or kitten in this room and keep the established cat out. It allows the new cat or 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 cat or kitten and the established cat 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 acustomed 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 cat treats and extra attention after the new cat or 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.