What Time Is The Right Time?!

Is there anyone who originally had 1 cat but then adopted more? How did you know it was the right time to add onto your feline family?

Charlie was about a year and a half old when I decided to get another cat. I thought he might be lonely, and I think I was right. Ever since I brought Selene home, his behavior has been steadily improving.

I got Mingo first. He was socialized, but didn't like to be petted or held, which disappointed me because I've always liked to be close to my cats. I would never return him to the shelter, though. And then one day I was at the vet, and they had this beautiful little girl kitty in a cage up for adoption. Black, after all, is a rather boring color for a cat. I thought about it for a day or two, and then went back to adopt her. Considering the cost and my small house, it was a big decision.

But I am so glad I did. She is the lap cat I really wanted, and Mingo has mellowed out and become more affectionate, copying a lot of her behavior. He was thrilled to see another cat. He parked himself outside of the room where I had Lily sequestered and didn't leave for a week until I released her. He was delighted to have a playmate. They get along well.

I can't say that there was a right time, but I knew she was the right cat. She's added so much to our home.

I'm in an opposite situation; I know its NOT the right time for us. My girls are 14 with some health issues. They still play some; but not like when they were younger. A kitten or young cat would stress them out.

My very first cat was about 6 when we adopted our 2nd. Her mother belonged to a cousin of my mother's. I was too young to really have a say; but our first cat was bonded to my mother and she decided we should adopt one for me. That cat became my soul cat. We didn't know what we know about cats and behavior now. But I remember her bringing out a playful side to our older girl somewhat. She also annoyed her like a little sister would here and there. But they did enjoy each other. They were just never snuggle buddies.

Most of our additions have come in pairs or by situations; like when my mom and step-dad married and he also had a cat. Another cat came from an Aunt whose landlord decided no pets. My mother adopted Pumpkin when he was about 10 weeks old I believe. We met Bunny at the same time. I had just married and moved out of the house a few months before but I couldn't resist tagging along. Mom and I couldn't get Bunny off our minds after she brought Pumpkin home. So 3 days later we were back at the shelter to adopt Bunny. She was 2 and became Pumpkin's surrogate mother; bathing him and teaching him how to cat. It just felt right. Mom had the resources to care for another cat and my stepdad was in agreement; so it seemed pretty simple.

Older cats would certainly make a difference. My two were both less than one year old when I adopted them, and Lily is a year younger than Mingo. Mingo is now five and Lily, four.

For years, we only had one cat, Hydrox. And then we took in Pita, one of Whisper's kids. Whisper originally belonged to one of the neighbors, but she started coming over to us. She brought her kittens with her and hid them in the ferns. The people came over and took the kittens back. But Pita was used to us and he hid. We weren't home at the time, but our son was and when he realized that Pita had hidden and was now alone, he brought him into the house. (And then he called us and told us what he did.) That took us to two cats; it was circumstances, more than anything. Our son could not leave that baby outside on his own. But Pita died. And that's when I got Banshee, The Queen B, and the feline love of my life.

Well, about a year or so later, Whisper decided she was ready to live indoors and once she walked in, she really never left our house. But she was pregnant and gave birth to five kittens. Poor Hydrox went from being an only child, to having seven brothers and sisters! And about a year later, Bootser, Whisper's litter-sister, decided that maybe she was ready to try indoor living, too. And then Rick brought Da-Pumpkin-Boy home from work. And then Amber Louise came to live with us.

We didn't purposely set out to give Hydrox brothers and sisters. It just kind of happened. I don't think anybody purposely decides to have a houseful of cats. But cats think otherwise.

We did find good homes for two of those kittens, but kept the remaining three. As years went on, cats passed away, but other cats found us. At this point, we have five kids. And The Beast.

The only cats that I purposely adopted were Banshee (from a newspaper ad, of all things) and Mollipop, who was born at our animal hospital. The rest of them found us. Muffin was my mom's cat and, when she went into a nursing home, the cat needed a home. We took her in. The Beast (beagle) was my FIL's dog; when he died and my MIL went into assisted living, she needed a home. We took her in, too.

Circumstances more than anything.

This probably wouldn't apply everywhere and I can't speak with experience about having two cats at home but, I think it's sooooooooooooo much better and safer for everyone involved if you foster first. I have one cat and one dog. My cat is surrounded by stray cats in the yard. She gets along well with some of them, neutral about some others, doesn't like a few -- their personality just don't match. She was a stray and she chose us, I got it easy, there was no problem between her and the dog since the very beginning.

There might be some times that would be a bad idea to try like if his immune system is vulnerable and needs to stay away from stress, in case things get stressful for him. But otherwise adopting a second animal isn't so much about time but whether they will get along well or not with their personality. (And of course the expenses.)

In my experience there isn't a right time.
The fate dictated the right time for us. Both for a new cat after the death of a previous one, and for the adoption of a new one after another one had just joined us.
In my experience it's something that works fine.

Graceful-Lily said:

Is there anyone who originally had 1 cat but then adopted more? How did you know it was the right time to add onto your feline family?

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DreamerRose said:

Older cats would certainly make a difference. My two were both less than one year old when I adopted them, and Lily is a year younger than Mingo. Mingo is now five and Lily, four.

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I've always only had one cat at a time so I have no personal experience, but I do think that cats older than, say, two might have a harder time adjusting to a new cat. My cat would go bananas if I changed the dynamic at this point. She's four.

Sir Eats-A-Lot was beating up on me all the time, so I said, "I'm gonna get you somebody else to beat up on." So, I adopted Chesterfield. Best thing I could have done.

Meep came along later. She was feral and her mom abandoned her under my car; I didn't have the opportunity to think that one out beforehand. Having other cats to straighten her out was good, too.

Cats seem to be synergistic.

Your heart tells you when it's right and the cat selects you.

My first cat, Toby, was adopted after my step mother's cat passed away. We got Toby after I begged for months to my dad. So one day he came home with Toby, a gorgeous seal point kitten for me. The thing is, we always had animals, dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, bunny, etc. My dad has a real soft spot for all animals, and so did my dad's wife. They were SPCA window shopper's. Not long after we got Toby, my step mother came home with this big fat black and white cat called Fritz, she just could not resist him. Then a year later, a friend of mine, who's cat had a litter, asked if I wanted one. I chose the little runt, and of course, my parents said yes, that was Chewy. Then When I moved out, and took all the cats with me (no-one wanted to separate them, so my step mom agreed to let me keep her cat (Fritz). Once out of the house, my husband and I just fell in love with Hank at the pet store (still a shelter cat, our pet stores can't sell cats, only house and adopt out shelter cats), and we just couldn't leave him behind. None of my cats were ever planned, even now with my new three kitties. We just decided one day to go to the shelter and see (after losing all our cats in a very short period). We adopted three, only knowing that we wanted two (at some point), but they all chose us, and we couldn't leave them.

I have never had only one cat. Not for long anyway. The current ones I currently have... Onsa and Samai I fostered since they were 10 days old, they are now 2 yrs. Kumal chose me. I wasn't going to the shelter to adopt, only to volunteer. He is 4yrs.

I think if you can afford another cat, and take care of it properly, then anytime is the right time. Go to the shelter...the cat may choose you.

One cannot really say. For me it just happens. I was perfectly fine with Bourbon then my Barley, out shivering in the cold with ringworms, caught the eye of my husband. He picked him up, and he is with us ever since. Then Brandy came unexpectedly when this Indonesian lady at the vet clinic had 24 cats and literally begged me to keep just one. So I did. Unfortunately Brandy did not really go along fine with my 2 resident cats. She is currently at a friend's house and I am figuring out how to re-introduce them again. I tried twice already.