Giving Back My New Rescue Cat?

Sounds like getting a kitten or at least another cat with the same engery level will be a good fix. It's not too much of stretch for a two month old and a five and half month old kitten to do great together. My 2 I just got the male has been in the rescue since he was a kitten when he was one Zoey was was rescued and she was semi feral and took an imediate liking to Killer and they have been the best of pals since so if a 1 year old can do great with a kitten I don't see why 2 kittens couldn't get along.

I do have something against getting a 2 month old kitten 2 months=8 weeks. To young to be adopted, the youngest I would even consider would be 10 weeks, 12 would be best. I'm surprised a professional would recommend that young.

MrsCassandra said:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Indeed it was terribly hard and couldn't believe I was one of the people giving back a cat!!

As a further update, the older cat is doing great. He started purring back the next day. This morning, after four days, I went to visit and he couldn't stop purring, he loved being held in my arms and kissed and caressed and cuddled. He purrs at the cat lady too and, although he is still a bit cautious, there is no doubt he'll be back to his old self soon.

My kitten misses him, and generally someone to play rough games with. The behavioural vet advised to take a two months old kitten, and from a home environment, to maximise chances of things going well but I am not keen on that as a two months old kitten would be too young to play with mine... I'll let few days pass and then decide although I will go for scenarios where if anything goes wrong I can give the cat back, though I am prepared now for what might come

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I am integrating two kittens with two older cats. we are on month four. the older cats are just starting to get back to normal selves and there is still some hissing and growling, etc. I really think that if you are seeing any progress at all, it takes a huge amount of time.

oh, sorry I see the other cat is gone. i'm glad it went to a happy home!

Maxxwell said:

Sounds like getting a kitten or at least another cat with the same engery level will be a good fix. It's not too much of stretch for a two month old and a five and half month old kitten to do great together. My 2 I just got the male has been in the rescue since he was a kitten when he was one Zoey was was rescued and she was semi feral and took an imediate liking to Killer and they have been the best of pals since so if a 1 year old can do great with a kitten I don't see why 2 kittens couldn't get along.

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Hello Maxxwell, thank you for your thoughts and experience. The reason for doubting a two months old kitten would be a good match is because my kitten, although essentially a tabby cat, must have some Siberian or Norwegian genes. He's paws are huge and despite his retarded growth he's already over 7.5 pounds, in the region of 3.5kg, with sharp talons and quite rough in his play as I can tell from how he played with the older cat and from the scratches on my legs

So while I think they would keep each other company just fine, rough play, as someone else suggested, could be an issue for at least a couple of months, meaning my current kitten may have to "hold back".

Also, it wouldn't have been nice to get an older cat. At six months a cat is not an adult but they may still struggle to find a home while kittens may have better chances, but maybe it's just my idea.

I would appreciate thoughts on putting a two months old kitten next to a lynx (every person that sees my cat says he looks like a lynx) as I described above

Edit: I meant it *would* have been nice to get an older cat...

Wow. I didn't realize how blessed I was until I read this. My kitties were strays. I was feeding one by the garage and he wasn't ready to come in to house yet. Then the other cat showed up and they fell in immediate love. Slept together, ate together, no fighting. They came in the next day and have been house cats ever since, almost a month now. They were intact males and loved each other. One was a kitten and the other between 1 and 2 years. But, the fact that they took to each other so fast is such a God thing. They are my little Christmas gifts from God. That's why my username is miraclecats. So, it can happen. I don't know if you are a Christian but I would pray for God to send the right cat. He will. He even cares about the tiny least of us that most people ignore and shut their eyes too. He used my kitties to show me his love. I hope you find the right match. God bless.

kskatt said:

I do have something against getting a 2 month old kitten 2 months=8 weeks. To young to be adopted, the youngest I would even consider would be 10 weeks, 12 would be best. I'm surprised a professional would recommend that young.

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I never heard that most kitten I seen are sold/adopted at 8 weeks old the only ones I've seen who stay a little longer with the litter are the really small/tiny breeds. I adopted my first kitten when he was around 8 weeks never had a problem he even used to play with my Rottweiler at the time at times you could swear he thought he was a dog too.

MrsCassandra said:

Hello Maxxwell, thank you for your thoughts and experience. The reason for doubting a two months old kitten would be a good match is because my kitten, although essentially a tabby cat, must have some Siberian or Norwegian genes. He's paws are huge and despite his retarded growth he's already over 7.5 pounds, in the region of 3.5kg, with sharp talons and quite rough in his play as I can tell from how he played with the older cat and from the scratches on my legs

So while I think they would keep each other company just fine, rough play, as someone else suggested, could be an issue for at least a couple of months, meaning my current kitten may have to "hold back".

Also, it wouldn't have been nice to get an older cat. At six months a cat is not an adult but they may still struggle to find a home while kittens may have better chances, but maybe it's just my idea.

I would appreciate thoughts on putting a two months old kitten next to a lynx (every person that sees my cat says he looks like a lynx) as I described above

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I think you would be surprised at how tough kittens are. My first kitten used to play with my 110lbs Rottweiler and she wasn't gentle at all with him. I do agree kittens find homes quicker than older cats which is why I wanted to rescue a bonded pair that was older but at the same time I didn't have another cat in my home who would be affected by my decision. So you're already limited in that regards to who you can choose and to add to that your kitten is playful and energetic a lot of older cats may not have the patience or tolerance to deal with him but an equally playful and energetic kitten will whether it's a 2 month old or a 10 month old it'll all come down to how their personality will mash with your kitten's.

Thank you Maxxwell, I'll see what comes around in term of suitable cats. Tomorrow I'll view a six months old female, a house cat that the old lady owner wants to get rid of because... it has talons and plays a lot... As she was described to me she sounded much alike my kitten. I wonder how distressed she would be by living her human mommy. I think I'll first try to convince the lady to keep the cat!!

Sounds like she fell for cute fluffy innocent look not realizing kittens are a lot of work. She might want a calmer adult raising kittens isn't for everybody.

MrsCassandra said:

Thank you Maxxwell, I'll see what comes around in term of suitable cats. Tomorrow I'll view a six months old female, a house cat that the old lady owner wants to get rid of because... it has talons and plays a lot... As she was described to me she sounded much alike my kitten. I wonder how distressed she would be by living her human mommy. I think I'll first try to convince the lady to keep the cat!!

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Be careful trying to convince her. Many older people are on blood thinners and a tiny scratch will bleed like crazy, and not stop. The next person may recommend declawing. If the kitten wants to play so much, doesn't sound like she's in the right home for her. Maybe sing the praises of older, more settled cats that have grown into their true selves. Far easier to find a quiet kitty, one more suited to her.

Maxxwell said:

I never heard that most kitten I seen are sold/adopted at 8 weeks old the only ones I've seen who stay a little longer with the litter are the really small/tiny breeds. I adopted my first kitten when he was around 8 weeks never had a problem he even used to play with my Rottweiler at the time at times you could swear he thought he was a dog too.

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good age of kitten to adopt?

CatBuyerGuide - What Age To Adopt?

What Age Should You Adopt A Kitten? - Cat World

If any of these links are against the rules, I'm sorry I didn't have time to study them. It's just that I feel education is vital

It could be the old lady who has the kitten chose a cat with too high of an energy level that she could have handled when she was younger, but can't now. Either that or she was lonely and wanting some sort of companion, so she adopted the first cute kitty that came her way. Well, I would definitely consider taking the kitten off of her hands because it sounds like other posters are right- she needs an older cat with comparable energy level.

I visited the old lady yesterday morning. A lovely, eighty years old woman who basically didn't have a cat in the last sixty five years and completely forgot how cats are. Apparently the lady took the kitten when she was two months old but didn't expect it to be so much work and that the kitten would scratch and bite. She thought the kitten is aggressive. The old lady has very thin, delicate skin and bleeds every time the kitten bites her even gently. For a start I made her realise the kitten is perfectly normal and not aggressive at all. She is just lively.

The kitten seems happy and fine there and the lady loves her despite the stress the furry ball is causing her. I did not try to convince her to keep the cat and only explained the process of trying to place the cat in another home and with another cat. I also discussed ways to deal with a kitten. She ultimately said that if I am not the one to get the kitten, she will keep her no matter what. I suppose I made a good impression XD

With that said, I described the kitten to the vet that normallly follows my cat for diet and physical rehabilitation and she said it sounds like a good match. We both agree that, if things go well, my kitten would much benefit from having an active companion, and I'd take the female away from a situation that is not ideal.

The female kitten is tinier than mine but with similar energy and character: outgoing, friendly, brave enough, curious, very similar way to play. She is also a bit younger than him which gives us a bit of time to see if they are a good match before she is sexually mature and need sterilisation (my cat is far from being mature sexually).

The old lady will take her back if things don't evolve for the best.

Now it's only down to me and to decide if I really want to try again with a second cat or not. I'm taking two or three days to decide. I am worried that things may go like the other cat I gave back, as the kitten seems happy there, ending up with three stressed "people" in the house!

I wouldn't say you're male is far from being sexually mature. 6-8 months is when cats become sexually mature. Your cat is 5 1/2 months so he's fast approaching sexual maturity. It's usually suggeted kittens are spayed/neutered at 4 months.

Yes, we would normally expect the cat to be ready around such age. However, two different vets stated that he is far from being sexually mature, both physically and behaviorally, perhaps due to the issues that led to his disability. However, the female will be sterilised within a month. It just seemed better to trial their relationship before the operation (of the female) as you never know how the recovery may go.

I'll keep you posted!!

Update. Today the new kitten arrived. It was a bit expected that she would be comfortable. She is not afraid, she ate the treats I gave he, she played from the start, she doesn't hide or anything.

She starts meowing after being alone for a while and definitely wants to get out of that room although it seems more like curiosity than an attempt to escape. She's at the door meowing and scratching.

On the other side, my kitten is curious and confused and he's constantly at the door because she meows. I had some cardboard in front of the door as to creat room to prevent the female from sneaking out when I open the door. I moved it so my cat could stay in front of the door. As soon as I removed the cardboard (the door still locked so he can't see the female) he hissed once.

Now he's standing in front of the door and I think he is mixture of confusion, curiosity and worry.

He doesn't eat the treats in front of the door so he clearly isn't at ease.

I don't think he hissing is a good sign. The female on the other hand seems OK with his smell and his meowing that she eventually heard before.

Any thoughts?

the hissing is entirely expected. it may go one for a week or even months. my advise would be to just follow a nice slow introduction, and let the residence cat go at his own pace. I think someone sent you links before to cat introductions, don't remember. but there is a definite process to this that should be followed. it is tedious, time consuming, sometimes upsetting when the cats don't get along, but should be followed. i'm at four months into an introduction, and there is still some moaning, aggression going on by the resident cats. takes a lot of patience.

Thank you RufusGizmo.

I hoped there wouldn't be any, but I noticed my kitten isn't at ease so I expected some kind of "objection" on his part. However there was only a single hiss once and then nothing. After some time, many treat, some playtime and cuddles later, he now wants to enter the room which of course I don't allow.

I am following an introduction procedure as instructed by my behavioural vet (it more or less standard introduction from what I read around) although I won't give it more than two weeks as my kitten, the resident cat, is a special needs one and he is top priority. If things don't go well in the short term, I won't put my kitten under pressure and further stress.

But I will follow the instructions of the vet and do my best to make this short term trial work for the best.

The funny thing is that the female kitten seems completely comfortable and at ease. She just wants company and I also got the impression she really fancy my kitten, at least his smell!!!