Second Cat- Feeling guilty.

Hi there.

I just started volunteering at a humane society, in the cat program. I have fallen in love with a cat and want to bring it home.

I have one cat right now. She's 5 years old. "Tillie". She is a spayed DSH, Tortoiseshell. She is fairly lazy, likes to sleep most of the day, plays a bit in the evening. Doesn't like to be held, rarely sleeps in your lap but just generally likes to be near us.

New cat is a DMH, black. "Sally" She has been in the shelter for way too long and I want to get her out! Seems gentle, yet playful. 2 years old. Spayed.

I am feeling guilty as I debate adopting Sally. I feel like Tillie will be mad at me for getting a new cat and wont be the same loving girl that she is now.

Its hard to bring a new cat into the home especially since shes been an only cat for 5 years.

On the other hand, I feel guilty for NOT adopting Sally when I really like her and can afford her and have a nice big home for her to come to (and no real reason not to)

What do you think?

Can you honestly give two pets your attention when you're home? If you can love it, give it attention, be a furparent, then by all means adopt. If not, don't. Just don't.

Its a tough call, my sister had a cat for a few years before I got one. Her cat hated mine. He wanted to play but she just hissed at him. We had them both for 2 or 3 years and it didn't really get better. My sisters cat grew very distant and grouchy.. she never fully recovered. After we moved my cat was CAT NAPPED (dun dun dunnnn...) but my sister's cat has still been a grouchypants ever since. And that was like 9 years ago. I guess she holds a mean grudge.

Cats are very resilient. I adopted my first cat, Bowzer, in 2004. Two years later I adopted Rikku and her brother, Max. It took a little while for everyone to get adjusted, but now they are all best friends, and couldn't imagine not having any of them. Read up on how to introduce new family members to eachother, because it can be a little traumatic for both cats, but they will learn to love eachother. Give it time, but if it turns out to really not work, usually the shelter will take back a cat within two weeks or something. Good luck!

Thanks for the feedback.

I do have the time. I run a business from home- so I pretty much hang out with Tillie all day (would be the same with Sally too) then when my hubby gets home he always plays with her (where as I just give her lots of TLC through petting and snuggles)

I have read up on how to introduce. So I would put sally in the spare room, and invite Tillie in there to meet slowly over the course of a week. We have a 3 bedroom home, so there is lots of room for both kitties.

Caiteliz- how old was Bowzer when you got the other two cats?

I have read that Torties are very territorial- but I wouldnt know as I havent seen Tillie with another cat. I dont want to have to bring the other cat back to the shelter- would be too sad for me (since I would see the cat once or twice a week when I volunteer there)

This is such a hard call. Tillie is like our child (we arent having children just furbabies) and I think I just feel bad because Im an only child and I equate her as the same. I want her to stay the same cat she is now, but just with a new friend! Its just been so long (5 years) with just her.....

Anymore input is welcomed. We will decide this week.

 

 

 

Bowzer was 2 1/2 and had been our only pet until we got Rikku and Max.

I would strongly recommend adopting Sally.  I've grown up around many animals, volunteered with animals, and done a lot of pet sitting, and i've never known any animals that when introduced correctly were unable to at least get along.  Of all the animals i've cared for myself i've found that introducing a new companion definitely increased their quality of life.  Given that, i'm sure there are occasions where properly introduced animals will not get along, but every thing i've experianced and read has shown them to be very rare.  So i would definitely adopt the new cat because it will not only improve her quality of life, but shouldnt harm Tillie, and in fact might make her happier as well.

I would adopt, but I have an unhealthy love for felines. I mean, I only have one cat right now, and she is a handful - I would not be opposed to getting another. Then again, my cat is a torbie, and those tortoiseshells can be so sassy! Either way, I plan on getting a second cat, and my current cat will simply have to adapt. Cats may be solitary in the wild, but they're far more social when domesticated. I'm sure Tillie will get over it. She might even like it, who knows.

thanks everyone. i think this is the key here:

"adopt the new cat because it will not only improve her quality of life, but shouldnt harm Tillie"

either way I look at this I'm saving a cat, and not harming the other.

If things get out of hand, I would just have to take back the other cat, but I will try everything before that has to happen.

Thanks!!

I would definitely adopt her.

(Which is, of course, how I ended up with a house-full of rescued kitties.)

Original Post by mollymouser:

I would definitely adopt her.

(Which is, of course, how I ended up with a house-full of rescued kitties.)

Your profile picture is so cute that it's given me a heart attack. I'm dead right now.

This has to be the most ridiculous kitten I've ever seen:

http://imgur.com/JwrTV.jpg

:3

Don't feel bad about a second kitty!  You might actually be doing your current kitty some social good.  After all, though cats are "offish" they are really social creatures.  In the wild they live in large communities.  People just are not good kitties, so having another maybe just what she needs to be really happy.

You're totally right. She might actually like this new kitty.

Just seems that she is super happy right now- but who knows, I dont speak Cat!

My hubby is not feeling this guilt at all, I guess because Tillie is my cat (I got her a couple years before I met him)

I'm feeling better about it. I want to help Sally out, and I can- so I am going to.

We are going in tomorrow to sign adoption papers and to play with her a for a bit too. She needs to be spayed before we get her (humane society policy) so we will get her next week sometime.

Thanks everyone for your support!

ps

this is sally: http://lchs.ca/adopt_expand.php?key1=May26-22 0C

and tillie is now my profile pic!

Yay! I'm so happy to hear that. If I could, I would adopt every cat I see, lol. I'm already breaking apartment rules with 3 cats.

 

I'm suprised to hear people say torties are "sassy" and territorial. I have one now and she is the biggest sweetheart; she always grooms and snuggles up with the other two cats. She must not know she is a tort!

Ya.

My tortie isn't sassy or seemingly territorial at all. She's affectionate (when she wants love) and playful (at night). She is a diluted tortie so maybe that's different. I also heard the phrase "black and laid back" about black cats so maybe Sally will be chill.

Not sure I believe the stereotypes- its just like people, some are nice, caring, gentle, playful, affectionate and some aren't. I'll just have to see but I'm going to make sure that Tillie is comfortable throughout the introduction process and that I give both cats lots of love!!

Thanks

Chel, I was really surprised when I saw your cat because she looks like my cat!

http://static.caloriecount.about.com/userpics /full/userpic_800212_0791c0a677c4b566e5f7e089 3e0b2bb5.jpg

I've seen other tortoiseshells, but not any that looked like her!  The few I've seen were brown and black or tan and black!  My cat (Celes) is the friendliest cat I've ever met.  She's like a puppy.  I have three other cats, and although it took her time to adjust, she eventually became friendly.  Good luck!!