Hey!
I have had a neutered male cat for one year.
I’m now going to get him a little sibling and playmate.
I now wonder what the best combination is, a male or female cat, so that there will be no trouble between them.
How do I introduce them when I get the new kitten?
Let them meet them right away?
Will there be a fight or will my one-year-old cat accept the kitten?
What’s the most common thing to happen?
How do I make it better for both cats?
Hi, Annie! Thank you for the question.
How nice of you to get a friend for your cat, he will be happy about that.
If you are going to choose a male or a female is a matter of taste, females can sometimes be a little less cuddly than the males but it is also very different on cats.
When I bring home a new cat, I do this (the baby should be at least ten weeks old, preferably 12, but you already know that).
I leave the new cat in the transport cage for approximately half an hour or so. Then it can partly look into its new surroundings in a safe place and partly your old cat can look and smell the newcomer without accessing it.
The new cat has a different smell and your cat will not like it, it takes approx. a week before it has “the same” smell as you.
There will certainly be some growling and grumbling before they accept each other, but they usually arrange it themselves.
You should not put yourself in just careful monitoring so that the little one is not harmed.
Try to arrange it so that the new cat can walk around alone and smell his new home.
One room at a time.
Also be sure to cuddle a lot with the old cat to avoid jealousy, with the kitten you must initially try to sneak to cuddle and caress (maybe when the older one sleeps).