[ralphcor]

I'm still trying to decide on getting another cat for my new kitten, so hopefully some of your replies will help me make a decision - I need to by Saturday!

My main concern is one being a kitten, and the other an older cat. Kitten hasn't had an accident outside of the litterbox, yet. Currently living in bathroom until her spayed incision heals properly after being reopened...so hopefully when that's taken care of and I give her access to more rooms she'll go right back to litterbox.

If I get this older cat I have my eye on, I do have another bathroom I could keep her in until I get em both trained, healthy (still need to find out if older cat is spayed yet) and then gradually let them meet.

If same room, they would both be eating different foods (adult vs. kitten), so if I put out 2 dishes I'm not sure one wouldn't eat the others.

Just trying to picture how'd I'd go about doing this when both of them are new to the same place. Maybe that's a good thing since no one owns the territory yet. Would you put them in the same bathroom at first, or separate? My eventual goal though would be to have just one litterbox in one location. I've read sometimes they don't like to share.

Thanks for any opinions and share experiences with yours if you have more than 1.

 

[Majicou]

I've had two cats share a litterbox without problems. However, they knew each other well. I suppose it depends on the cats' personality.

 

[Richo]

I suppose it's worth trying. I can't speak from experience but only from what I have heard. Ideally 2 litterboxes is the way to go (some even recommend 1 box per cat +1 extra) but if you want to try having them share a box, you may have to prepare yourself for an "accident" and immediately go back to 2 boxes. I guess it all may depend on how territorial the 2 end up being toward each other. I have only one cat and 2 litterboxes but he has proven to be finicky about his litter.

You may want to continue to feed them separately in separate areas and eventually merge the feeding areas once they get along.

 

[tanyuh]

I have an adult cat that is 7 and we just got a new kitten (he is 16 weeks now and we got him at 10 wks). For the first couple of weeks we had 2 boxes and fed them in the same area. They would eat eachother's food so I just put them both on adult food because the kitten's poo was really stinky and soft from the kitten food. (That's what my vet recommended). I took 1 of the boxes away as soon as the cats were using both boxes interchangably. Now they share a box and they don't seem to mind at all. (I was going to throw out the old box anyway). Maybe you can get a little rubbermaid box-thingy for the kitten until they get used to sharing. The boxes we have are covered but we took the lids off for those first couple of weeks because we didn't want one cat coming up to the other in the litterbox with the boxed kitty having nowhere to run. Ask the shelter if the adult kitty you want is finicky at all and that should give you some idea about how he/she feels about the litterbox.

tanyuh

 

[ralphcor]

tanyuh my situation is kinda like yours, just the other way around - I got the kitten first and might get this older cat 2nd. Didn't plan it that way, just happened as one available from shelter before the other. Having an older cat show the kitten the way would be ideal, luckily my kitten hasn't had an accident yet - and I'm VERY grateful she's such a good lil girl!

This shelter doesn't have any history, or at least they won't tell me because I asked a couple different workers on these 2 twin females that are listed being confiscated from previous owner. Could've been cruelty report, but they are very healthy, probably a drug bust or something. I must've visited them 5 times by now, very sweet and well behaved, which can't be said for some of the others seen there.

Anyway, as of today I'm the only person signed up for both. Their due date is this Saturday and then I get to interact with them and have to make a decision which, if any I want to take or else... wish I could take both and would, but I just got my kitten and can only really afford 2 not 3.

If i do it, I'm sure they'll get along eventually. I'm just trying to plan it the best way for both me and the lil critters.

 

[Yanikin]

Yeah I've heard that 1 litter box per cat +1 extra is the best way to go

 

[HelloBeautiful]

In my house, Sadie goes in and out, and Misty is strictly in. Misty has her own large litterbox in my room, and her own food and water bowls. Sadie has a small litterbox in a bathroom for "just in case" when she stays in the house for an extra while. Sadie also has her own food and water bowls. Misty will try to sneek and eat Sadie's food sometimes. They never use each other's litterboxes though!

 

[tanyuh]

See, I live in a 1 bedroom apartment and there's just no room for 2 boxes let alone 3! I think you may have an easier time than I did with your situation. The kitten is too young to have strong attachment to the territory so she won't feel threatened by the new cat. She'll probably just be curious. Maybe in your situation, separate them and take the adult into 1 room. Let the adult sniff around and get used to that room. Then let the adult out into the rest of the house and put the kitten in a room. When you think the adult has adjusted pretty well to the strange, new place, then introduce them with the carrier etc. This might work best. But you just never know because all cats are different! I hope it goes smoothly for you!

tanyuh