My husband and I are thinking about adopting a second cat/kitten. We have done a lot of research on the internet, but I’d like to ask for advice that is specific to my resident cat’s temperament.
Our resident cat, Willow, is a tabby female. We adopted her as a 3 or 4 month old kitten in December 2010. She will be two years old this September. She is a very sweet cat. She sleeps with us, doesn’t mind being picked up and carried around the house, greets us at the door, and likes to curl up in laps. She sometimes meows for attention, but doesn’t mind doing her own thing either. She definitely likes to play, but I would say she is fairly mellow for her age. She isn’t one of those cats that is super hyper or "into everything."
Her vet records from the shelter described her temperament as fearful, but our vet said she is normal. Our home is fairly calm and quiet (2 adults, no kids, infrequent visitors, she is alone 8+ hours a day during the week). When new people come over she is a bit hesitant at first. If there is a lot of noise or loud talking, or they knock loudly on the door, she hides under the bed for 10-20 minutes and then will come out and sniff them and let them pet her, and sometimes even pick her up.
I’m wondering if, given Willow’s temperament, she would like a feline friend. I’ve read that solitary, demanding cats might like to be the only cat, whereas social playful cats might like a companion. I can’t really tell where Willow fits on this spectrum. I’m also unsure about whether we should adopt a kitten or a cat of similar age and temperament. I don’t want her to feel overwhelmed by a kitten, but I also think a kitten might feel less threatening to her.
I know how important it is to properly introduce the cats, and I have been reading and researching that. But, I’ve also heard horror stories about people who did proper introductions but their cats hate each other years later and have to be separated all the time.
I’m trying to get all the resources I can to make an informed and responsible decision, and I’d really appreciate any input. Thanks!
Our resident cat, Willow, is a tabby female. We adopted her as a 3 or 4 month old kitten in December 2010. She will be two years old this September. She is a very sweet cat. She sleeps with us, doesn’t mind being picked up and carried around the house, greets us at the door, and likes to curl up in laps. She sometimes meows for attention, but doesn’t mind doing her own thing either. She definitely likes to play, but I would say she is fairly mellow for her age. She isn’t one of those cats that is super hyper or "into everything."
Her vet records from the shelter described her temperament as fearful, but our vet said she is normal. Our home is fairly calm and quiet (2 adults, no kids, infrequent visitors, she is alone 8+ hours a day during the week). When new people come over she is a bit hesitant at first. If there is a lot of noise or loud talking, or they knock loudly on the door, she hides under the bed for 10-20 minutes and then will come out and sniff them and let them pet her, and sometimes even pick her up.
I’m wondering if, given Willow’s temperament, she would like a feline friend. I’ve read that solitary, demanding cats might like to be the only cat, whereas social playful cats might like a companion. I can’t really tell where Willow fits on this spectrum. I’m also unsure about whether we should adopt a kitten or a cat of similar age and temperament. I don’t want her to feel overwhelmed by a kitten, but I also think a kitten might feel less threatening to her.
I know how important it is to properly introduce the cats, and I have been reading and researching that. But, I’ve also heard horror stories about people who did proper introductions but their cats hate each other years later and have to be separated all the time.
I’m trying to get all the resources I can to make an informed and responsible decision, and I’d really appreciate any input. Thanks!
