Hello!
We have a female cat, Stella, who is four years old.
We have been thinking about getting another cat.
What we worry about is how Stella would feel about a new cat.
She was the least in her litter and her siblings were not really kind to her.
In her first year of life, she was a little shy and worried at the slightest noise.
Now she is happy to play and cuddle with us and with the people she knows well.
She is very reserved when unknown people come, but when she has gotten to know them, she can fool around and cuddle with them as well.
My sister bought a little male cat, Guiness. She took him home with us so that the cats could meet. Stella was not at all happy that Guinness had come there.
We did not leave the cats alone but watched them all the time and they were only allowed to meet for 10 minutes.
If we now get another cat, how should this cat be introduced into the family?
Should it be a male or female cat?
Should the cats have a food bowl / box each or can they share?
Hi Peter!
Of course I think you can get another cat.
But it is not at all certain that the cat you have will accept the new one.
But I think it’s worth a try.
But it can take time before they accept each other.
You have to keep in mind that it is, after all, your current cat’s territory that the new cat is entering.
I do not know if it is a house cat or purebred cat you have.
I know that when I bought a new female for my cattery a year ago, it took almost a year before she was accepted by all the others.
But it usually takes anywhere from three days and up to a year.
But my experience says that between 3-14 days is normal.
But let the cats take care of the habituation themselves. I think they should each have a food bowl in the beginning.
But then you can probably let them eat the same if all goes well, which I hope it does.
You can easily let them share the box.
Gender is of less importance, choose what you want.
I myself would have chosen another female.
I hope you are happy with my answer.
Otherwise feel free to send in another question!