Hi, just looking for some external advice about whether I am letting my own heart overtake prioritising my cat's needs. Any insight very much appreciated.
As some background, I have two Devon Rexes, one male who is 2.5 years and a female who has just turned 1. We had the boy for about 1.5 years before we introduced the youngest, and they have a funny relationship. At first, they played relentlessly, and then the boy seemed to have had enough of the kitten. They would play half the day and he would spend the other half hissing and yowling at her. There was never any violence, but it caused him stress and for a couple of months he was not quite himself. Now they have settled into a dynamic - he is still grumpy and hisses to warn her off from time to time, but they run around like absolute maniacs all the time, share food, and cuddle together when in the mood.
We had wanted to get a third kitten initially to distract our girl from bothering the boy all the time. I'd also just always wanted three cats I think. We have the opportunity to take a third in, and I would really love to, but I can't tell if I am asking for trouble when our eldest struggled last time. On the one hand I think a third could change the dynamic for the better by taking some of the pressure of our older boy when he's not in the mood, but it could also reset all the work they've done to get along and set us back to square one. I really love my cats and don't want to make life harder for them.
What do others think? Thanks folks.
As some background, I have two Devon Rexes, one male who is 2.5 years and a female who has just turned 1. We had the boy for about 1.5 years before we introduced the youngest, and they have a funny relationship. At first, they played relentlessly, and then the boy seemed to have had enough of the kitten. They would play half the day and he would spend the other half hissing and yowling at her. There was never any violence, but it caused him stress and for a couple of months he was not quite himself. Now they have settled into a dynamic - he is still grumpy and hisses to warn her off from time to time, but they run around like absolute maniacs all the time, share food, and cuddle together when in the mood.
We had wanted to get a third kitten initially to distract our girl from bothering the boy all the time. I'd also just always wanted three cats I think. We have the opportunity to take a third in, and I would really love to, but I can't tell if I am asking for trouble when our eldest struggled last time. On the one hand I think a third could change the dynamic for the better by taking some of the pressure of our older boy when he's not in the mood, but it could also reset all the work they've done to get along and set us back to square one. I really love my cats and don't want to make life harder for them.
What do others think? Thanks folks.