I recently traveled for vacation (5days) during which time my kitten (7months old) stayed with my friend who has a kitten herself (8months). My Leo definitely missed me and my partner and his home, but in some moments he has me wondering if he misses having a cat friend. Do question is: what behavior made you decide to get another cat...are you happy with your decision?
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What made you decide to get another cat?
- Thread starter Ulalazawa
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We started off with Casper, who was a very social, confident cat who we got at already 9 years old.
We adopted Cocoabean who was about 3-5 years old when Casper was about 10 years old, because we thought he'd enjoy having a friend and we just also really wanted another cat.
That worked out really well. They did become very good friends and it was delightful to watch them together.
Before Casper passed at almost 18 years old, we happened to have decided to purchase the next cat. I was already on a list for a Maine Coon kitten but knew it would be a couple of years before our turn came up. Once he passed about 4 months later we decided we didn't want to wait that long and I happened to see a kitten available from a different breeder I had met some years ago.
Luna came home to us at 16 weeks that September. We did all the right introductions between her and Cocoabean but Cocoa, being now MUCH older than when she first came to us, really never appreciated the kitten being here. It's now 3 years later and while they live very peaceably together, by no means are they bonded. Cocoa is 13+ now and while Luna has settled done cosiderably she has little patience for Luna's antics. Thankfully Luna is a very good girl and really does not cause any trouble. They do play sometimes but have never once groomed each other.
So we experienced the complete opposite each time. We finally got a chance to get the originally reserved MC and wound up declining. I think until Cocoa leaves us, we'll be a 2 cat household. I don't think it's fair to do that to her at her advancing age now. We'll see what happens when she leaves us but that isn't anytime soon as she's still pretty healthy.
We adopted Cocoabean who was about 3-5 years old when Casper was about 10 years old, because we thought he'd enjoy having a friend and we just also really wanted another cat.
That worked out really well. They did become very good friends and it was delightful to watch them together.
Before Casper passed at almost 18 years old, we happened to have decided to purchase the next cat. I was already on a list for a Maine Coon kitten but knew it would be a couple of years before our turn came up. Once he passed about 4 months later we decided we didn't want to wait that long and I happened to see a kitten available from a different breeder I had met some years ago.
Luna came home to us at 16 weeks that September. We did all the right introductions between her and Cocoabean but Cocoa, being now MUCH older than when she first came to us, really never appreciated the kitten being here. It's now 3 years later and while they live very peaceably together, by no means are they bonded. Cocoa is 13+ now and while Luna has settled done cosiderably she has little patience for Luna's antics. Thankfully Luna is a very good girl and really does not cause any trouble. They do play sometimes but have never once groomed each other.
So we experienced the complete opposite each time. We finally got a chance to get the originally reserved MC and wound up declining. I think until Cocoa leaves us, we'll be a 2 cat household. I don't think it's fair to do that to her at her advancing age now. We'll see what happens when she leaves us but that isn't anytime soon as she's still pretty healthy.
I've had 2 so long I can't remember. Its nice having two kittens. Friendship and playing are guarrantied, and its nice to watch. Usually helps with excessive attention demands as well.
Do note that as cats get older at some point adding another no longer guarranties friendship. Not a great rush, there is no hard cut off, but right now friendship is 100% guarrantied and that wont be true forever.
Do note that as cats get older at some point adding another no longer guarranties friendship. Not a great rush, there is no hard cut off, but right now friendship is 100% guarrantied and that wont be true forever.
For the first time in 30 yrs we have only 1 cat. He is 14yr and only likes cats, humans are useful to him but he prefers us at a distance. My decision of if/when to get a second kitty is different than yours.
There is always an adjustment period after the introduction but when we've had 2 young cats they've become friends and cuddle buddies. As long as you give Leo extra attention and love early on you're likely to have the same results. Most rescues will work with you to find a good match and be willing to take the kitten back if it doesn't work out.
Do you have enough space, resources, patience, and love for 2 kittens?
There is always an adjustment period after the introduction but when we've had 2 young cats they've become friends and cuddle buddies. As long as you give Leo extra attention and love early on you're likely to have the same results. Most rescues will work with you to find a good match and be willing to take the kitten back if it doesn't work out.
Do you have enough space, resources, patience, and love for 2 kittens?
When I got patches I was originally going to get his brother as well. But the people I was getting him from decided they couldn't part with his brother. So my hubby got Tik he was ready to come to us immediately. 3 weeks later patches came home. They bonded and two kittens was fantastic watching them play and grow together. Unfortunately we lost Tik at just 2 years old. Patches was going to be a only cat but seemed less playful after he lost his pal. Then my hubby spotted some kittens playing and that was it I was picking a kitten. Patches was 3 and introductions went well. I've never regreted getting Bandit it was what the house needed Patches loves him and started playing again. That little guy brought joy back into the house for all of us.
My cat peaches is 9 and very sociable. Maggie is territorial and very attached to me, 8 yrs old. Coco is 7 and is very timid. Peaches and Maggie somewhat accept each other. So you can only hope. It might take weeks or one day
I got Miles in April '19. He was 10 months old. He was the last available Male kitten. I wanted a play pal for Miles. I needed to save money as another Turkish Van kitten wasn't cheap. Fortunately in September '19 , I won a slot machine Jackpot at a Casino. I had enough then to purchase "Jackpot" my Red/White boy. I received him in November '19 at 3 months.
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I had lost a cat 4 years before I found Lila, and had never gotten another one. I always thought, "one day, I'll find the one who needs me." And I did on Labor Day weekend 2014. I decided to keep her almost immediately. She was very sickly but tough as nails, a feisty little thing (not aggressive, just a fighter and SO self confident) and my Papillon dog absolutely loved her. He couldn't get enough of play bowing at her, then darting away, begging her to chase him and once she was strong enough, she would, yet he was so gentle with her. My male cat Goof took a liking to her, but she was annoying to him. She followed him around, swiped at his tail, and he put up with it until she got big and strong enough to take a little discipline. He never hurt her at all, but told her she was crossing the line.
My girl Sarah was a little less happy about the new addition, but she's kind of territorial. They spend a lot of time cuddled up against one another now, so I guess they're good.
I don't regret keeping her at all. Not for a second. She's one of those cats who just kind of balanced out the household. She brought a lot of fun and mischief with her, but it leveled out the older cats and gave the dog someone to play with. She's also cute as heck, which helps.
My girl Sarah was a little less happy about the new addition, but she's kind of territorial. They spend a lot of time cuddled up against one another now, so I guess they're good.
I don't regret keeping her at all. Not for a second. She's one of those cats who just kind of balanced out the household. She brought a lot of fun and mischief with her, but it leveled out the older cats and gave the dog someone to play with. She's also cute as heck, which helps.
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Great question. Probably the biggest reason why my Dad and my brother got additional kittens 2 months after I brought my then kitten Boaz home, besides for the fact that each of them really wanted cats of their own, was because Boaz needed kitten playmates REALLY BADLY! Kittens that live with no other cats lose out on being able to correctly develop their social skills. Kittens that are raised as solitary kittens are WAY more likely to play attack the humans in the house, which means using their teeth and claws HARD.
Boaz was an aggravating little ankle biter whenever we'd walk past him. We were thankful that there were no small children in the house or this behavior from Boaz would have had disastrous consequences.
On a less important, but still important, note, kittens that grow up solitary will have a much harder time accepting new cats into their home if the owner later wants to get additional cats.
Adding 2 more kittens to the house when Boaz was 4 months old helped greatly! His play attacking of the humans stopped IMMEDIATELY. Because of Boaz spending his first 2 months as a solitary kitten, however, there was still damage done that persists to this day. He still struggles with social awkwardness around other cats and he will still attempt to play rough with the humans once in a while. As a friend of mine would say, "110% vigilance is key."
If I had known then what I know now, and what far-reaching consequences I'd get stuck with for likely the rest of my cat's life because of him being solitary for 2 months, I would have possibly adopted 2 kittens myself, but more than likely wouldn't have gotten a kitten at all and maybe adopted an adult cat instead.
I’ve rarely had only one cat since I was a little kid. In recent years I’ve had up to five. But the last couple of times ... I adopted Madeleine (my avatar) as company for Freya, the last of the clowder of five. Then when Freya died, I adopted Phoebe as company for Mads. That wasn’t a success, because as it turned out Mads really didn’t want a young lunatic for company, or probably any feline company at all. When Mads died it was the complete opposite: Phoebe was lonely. She had 24/7 human company but clearly wanted another cat as well. I adopted Daisy less than a week after Maddie left us, and she and Phoebe get on well. They’re not cuddle-up-and-wash close, but they do play and share the extremely small bedsit we now live in perfectly amicably.
U
Ulalazawa
I had Nobel as a solo cat but we loved with other animals. When I finally got my own place he got lonely so I got Lily. They were both under 5, I was told Lily was under 2 but that was determined to be incorrect later. They tolerated one another at best. Lily, though older, was always accepting to other animals of all types.
Lily passed in 2020 and after the first day of going on our quarentine walk, we came home to Nobel pressed at the door, we knew he couldn't be a solo cat.
We expected a long adoption process but brought Magnus home less than a week later. We introduced them and I am amazed every day with how bonded they are with 14 years difference between them.
But Magnus was trouble and once we went back to work, despite being home, it was too much on him. We got Calcifer last Nov. Calcifer came from a foster home with 3 elder resident cats, plus his mum and many siblings. Well he's worked on Nobel over his almost year with us and all three play with a groom one another. Calcifer is still teaching the other two how to cuddle. I think he'll get it....he's rather invasive and stubborn
Your cat got on well with your friends cat, so a similar personality to your friends cat would be an excellent fit.
Photo of Nobel and Calcifer yesterday.
I had Nobel as a solo cat but we loved with other animals. When I finally got my own place he got lonely so I got Lily. They were both under 5, I was told Lily was under 2 but that was determined to be incorrect later. They tolerated one another at best. Lily, though older, was always accepting to other animals of all types.
Lily passed in 2020 and after the first day of going on our quarentine walk, we came home to Nobel pressed at the door, we knew he couldn't be a solo cat.
We expected a long adoption process but brought Magnus home less than a week later. We introduced them and I am amazed every day with how bonded they are with 14 years difference between them.
But Magnus was trouble and once we went back to work, despite being home, it was too much on him. We got Calcifer last Nov. Calcifer came from a foster home with 3 elder resident cats, plus his mum and many siblings. Well he's worked on Nobel over his almost year with us and all three play with a groom one another. Calcifer is still teaching the other two how to cuddle. I think he'll get it....he's rather invasive and stubborn
Your cat got on well with your friends cat, so a similar personality to your friends cat would be an excellent fit.
Photo of Nobel and Calcifer yesterday.
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I adopted Remy and Maisie together, so I wasn't "in need" of a third cat and I also vowed that I would never get a third cat, let alone a kitten, but the pandemic hit and I had just moved into my house where I had the space for more animals. I started having dreams about kittens and that planted the seed and I ended up adopting Flora. Best unplanned decision ever. 
I'd say that if you have the time, money and space to give another cat a home, your current kitty would probably love having a playmate.
I'd say that if you have the time, money and space to give another cat a home, your current kitty would probably love having a playmate.
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We got Mozart and Maggie about 5 weeks apart when they were just kittens. They bonded immediately and were basically inseparable their entire lives. We got Miller when Mo and Maggie were about 3-1/2 years old. While they all played together, and got along with no real issues, Miller was always the outlier. He was always the third wheel, as Mo and Maggie were so bonded.
Mozart passed in October of last year at the age of 16. Maggie followed him over the bridge a mere 4 months later, in February of this year. We now just have Miller, who just turned 13. We have thought about getting him a playmate, but decided against it, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, we think he is really enjoying being the center of attention, unencumbered by the other two cats. Second, we are just not home enough early on to properly introduce them. And third, and perhaps most selfishly, after losing Mo and Maggie so close together, and Miller being diagnosed with diabetes just recently, we simply can't bear the thought of losing another cat when the time comes. Hopefully Miller has at least a half dozen good years left. After that, we may have to take a break for awhile.
Mozart passed in October of last year at the age of 16. Maggie followed him over the bridge a mere 4 months later, in February of this year. We now just have Miller, who just turned 13. We have thought about getting him a playmate, but decided against it, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, we think he is really enjoying being the center of attention, unencumbered by the other two cats. Second, we are just not home enough early on to properly introduce them. And third, and perhaps most selfishly, after losing Mo and Maggie so close together, and Miller being diagnosed with diabetes just recently, we simply can't bear the thought of losing another cat when the time comes. Hopefully Miller has at least a half dozen good years left. After that, we may have to take a break for awhile.
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I got my first kitten Akila from a friend who had an accidental litter. Unfortunately, she wasn't equipped nor very educated on caring for a very young mother and kittens. I tried to help educate her but she ended up needing to let the kittens go very young. They all went to friends at barely 8 weeks old.
Now, I have a ferret and a polecat too, and Akila became best friends with them when she was big and strong enough to play with them. But because she was so young and never had mother to teach her the ways of being a cat, she behaved like the ferret/polecat!
She also developed a bit of separation anxiety as I am home most of the time.
I felt bad for her and felt she needed feline friend to keep her company and show how to be a cat.
The shelters in my area rarely have younger cats for adoption and I thought since Akila was only about 8 months old and full of energy, a young playmate would be the safest bet! I was looking at breeders that had young cats and kittens for sale, but ended up coming across Aten, my second kitten!
He was around 4 months old. I instantly felt attached to him even from a photo. So I went to see him and fell in love. He was very sickly, thin and weak (only weighed 2lbs) But such a happy kitten, he came to me straight away and didn't stop purring, head bumping me and trying to get in my coat! That was it, he seemed the perfect match for Akila with his relaxed and friendly energy, so I adopted him.
He needed lots of care to get better, but Akila fell in love with him instantly. She knew he wasn't well and treat him like her own kitten. Even letting him "suckle" her. They didn't even need much introduction at all, It worked out perfectly!
Aten was semi feral, so at 4 months as apposed to Akila at barely 8 weeks. He behaved far more cat like. And as he began to recover and settle in, he taught Akila how to play like a cat rather than a ferret and has eased Akila's separation Anxiety.
I have only had Aten for a few months , but I'm pretty sure the two are a bonded pair. They love each other to bits and I couldn't be happier with the decision to adopt a friend for her.
This is them right now, in their favourite tatty box
Now, I have a ferret and a polecat too, and Akila became best friends with them when she was big and strong enough to play with them. But because she was so young and never had mother to teach her the ways of being a cat, she behaved like the ferret/polecat!
She also developed a bit of separation anxiety as I am home most of the time.
I felt bad for her and felt she needed feline friend to keep her company and show how to be a cat.
The shelters in my area rarely have younger cats for adoption and I thought since Akila was only about 8 months old and full of energy, a young playmate would be the safest bet! I was looking at breeders that had young cats and kittens for sale, but ended up coming across Aten, my second kitten!
He was around 4 months old. I instantly felt attached to him even from a photo. So I went to see him and fell in love. He was very sickly, thin and weak (only weighed 2lbs) But such a happy kitten, he came to me straight away and didn't stop purring, head bumping me and trying to get in my coat! That was it, he seemed the perfect match for Akila with his relaxed and friendly energy, so I adopted him.
He needed lots of care to get better, but Akila fell in love with him instantly. She knew he wasn't well and treat him like her own kitten. Even letting him "suckle" her. They didn't even need much introduction at all, It worked out perfectly!
Aten was semi feral, so at 4 months as apposed to Akila at barely 8 weeks. He behaved far more cat like. And as he began to recover and settle in, he taught Akila how to play like a cat rather than a ferret and has eased Akila's separation Anxiety.
I have only had Aten for a few months , but I'm pretty sure the two are a bonded pair. They love each other to bits and I couldn't be happier with the decision to adopt a friend for her.
This is them right now, in their favourite tatty box
M
Morpheus1967
Sorry for your loss. Breaks for humans are always nice 
you can always cat sit at that point! My friends are really loving being the only non-pet household that they know currently, for this reason. And it's comforting that your pets can "live in" with someone they know for a weekend or so.
you can always cat sit at that point! My friends are really loving being the only non-pet household that they know currently, for this reason. And it's comforting that your pets can "live in" with someone they know for a weekend or so.
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I had two cats, Ebony and Tom (Tom wasn't actually mine, he was my mum's cat, but he decided he was in love with my Ebony, so when I moved to my own place, Tom came with me cause he and Ebony were really bonded together and would look out for each other
3 months after I moved into my own place, Tom was found to have a severe spinal problem - vet advice was to put him to sleep (his spine was crushing itself and poor Tom was suspected to be in pain by that point)
Ebony, my sweetpea,, his death hit her really really hard, so I adopted Tigger as a friend for her, but very nearly had to return her to RSPCA cause Ebony wasnt taking to her, thinking Tigger was going to hurt her (Ebony thought that) but then days before I made that phone call, something clicked with Ebony of "oh Tigger doesn't want to hurt me" and she started to spend time giving Tigger a few licks (when Tigger stayed still long enough), then when Ebony was sadly lost to cancers, Tigger made it clear she had to have a friend, she cannot cope with being an "only cat", so I went to a rescue and got Willow.
When Tigger goes though, I may keep Willow as an "only cat" cause I think she would possibly not tolerate another cat after Tigger goes (she flies at other cats in a rage, she sees red and flies at them when she sees them in the garden, she will never hurt Tigger though)
3 months after I moved into my own place, Tom was found to have a severe spinal problem - vet advice was to put him to sleep (his spine was crushing itself and poor Tom was suspected to be in pain by that point)
Ebony, my sweetpea,, his death hit her really really hard, so I adopted Tigger as a friend for her, but very nearly had to return her to RSPCA cause Ebony wasnt taking to her, thinking Tigger was going to hurt her (Ebony thought that) but then days before I made that phone call, something clicked with Ebony of "oh Tigger doesn't want to hurt me" and she started to spend time giving Tigger a few licks (when Tigger stayed still long enough), then when Ebony was sadly lost to cancers, Tigger made it clear she had to have a friend, she cannot cope with being an "only cat", so I went to a rescue and got Willow.
When Tigger goes though, I may keep Willow as an "only cat" cause I think she would possibly not tolerate another cat after Tigger goes (she flies at other cats in a rage, she sees red and flies at them when she sees them in the garden, she will never hurt Tigger though)
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Hello, Only joined today. First post here.
I am retired and shouldn't have adopted my three new kittens as not sure how I can afford them now. I have two adult older male cats, both fixed. My orange cat is near feral and goes haywire if brought inside. I got him when he was young, but never had any success in keeping him indoors. He is very standoffish and hardly friendly, though he tolerates an occasional petting outside. He stays outside quite happily and is content to mooch off us for food and treats and vaccine when needed.
My other cat , Mischa, (standard issue tabby, 13 lbs, a bit overweight) is 90% indoors and lately has been insisting to spend more time outside. It's all because we recently rescued 3 kittens. The kittens, now 6 months old, seem to irritate Mischa by sniffing at his butt and generally being 'kittensome'.
So why did we rescue these three? Well, the first, a long haired Tabby female was given to us and since our two were fixed males we just figured a kitten would be a pal for our indoor Mischa as he'd only had our two indoor dogs as friends..
Two weeks later, a friend of my son said two black 4 or 5 week old male kittens had turned up in his back yard, no mom in sight. He spent a week begging us to take them off his hands. My husband, bless his heart, felt sorry for them as black cats are often bypassed at shelters... So now we have 5 cats, two fixed males and three yet to be fixed kittens. Plus two adult neutered small dogs.
All kitties haven't been outside yet and seem quite happy and healthy, other than fleas, which are terrible this season. All three have upcoming appointments to be fixed. They've also been dewormed several times at home, plus had several 3in1vaccines and even rabies shots.
As a retired senior, these three kitties will outlive me, I keep asking him to rehome one or two, but my husband has fallen in love with them, especially the voids, and doesn't want to part with any.
The concerns are for how to afford them going on. Food, vet care, flea meds, etc. Prices keep rising!
I am retired and shouldn't have adopted my three new kittens as not sure how I can afford them now. I have two adult older male cats, both fixed. My orange cat is near feral and goes haywire if brought inside. I got him when he was young, but never had any success in keeping him indoors. He is very standoffish and hardly friendly, though he tolerates an occasional petting outside. He stays outside quite happily and is content to mooch off us for food and treats and vaccine when needed.
My other cat , Mischa, (standard issue tabby, 13 lbs, a bit overweight) is 90% indoors and lately has been insisting to spend more time outside. It's all because we recently rescued 3 kittens. The kittens, now 6 months old, seem to irritate Mischa by sniffing at his butt and generally being 'kittensome'.
So why did we rescue these three? Well, the first, a long haired Tabby female was given to us and since our two were fixed males we just figured a kitten would be a pal for our indoor Mischa as he'd only had our two indoor dogs as friends..
Two weeks later, a friend of my son said two black 4 or 5 week old male kittens had turned up in his back yard, no mom in sight. He spent a week begging us to take them off his hands. My husband, bless his heart, felt sorry for them as black cats are often bypassed at shelters... So now we have 5 cats, two fixed males and three yet to be fixed kittens. Plus two adult neutered small dogs.
All kitties haven't been outside yet and seem quite happy and healthy, other than fleas, which are terrible this season. All three have upcoming appointments to be fixed. They've also been dewormed several times at home, plus had several 3in1vaccines and even rabies shots.
As a retired senior, these three kitties will outlive me, I keep asking him to rehome one or two, but my husband has fallen in love with them, especially the voids, and doesn't want to part with any.
The concerns are for how to afford them going on. Food, vet care, flea meds, etc. Prices keep rising!
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I had no time to decide really. My husband and I just pick random cats off the street, depending on their condition. When we think a certain cat seems abandoned and cannot live outdoors, we take them. Some we managed to get new homes, the older ones with health issues we keep like Bourbon and Barley who have both high maintenance. Bourbon is asthmatic while Barley has a range of various health problems.
I started with two cats because I think every being deserves to have someone their own species to interact with. No, I never regretted it. Here are the first two we adopted (Swanie and Cindy). They did not know each other previously. I miss them both so much.
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Hi Ulalazawa,
I've had 2 cats on and off throughout my life. I've always enjoyed it. The first time I got a 2nd cat, my first cat was across the country in TX (had to move to Philly quickly for a job), and I was waiting for my mother to fly 2 year old kitty out to me, but was very lonely in my new town and couldn't wait for first kitty to arrive, so I went to the SPCA and got a kitten. This was in the late 1997, and the kitten from the SPCA came home with an upper raspatory infection. My cat from TX finally arrived and was fully vaccinated, but somehow still contracted the upper raspatory infection, and got very sick and died at age 2, after $4k in vet bills and syringe feeding/subcutaneous fluids for 3 months trying to save him. I believe there was something else wrong with this kitty that the vets never figured out. Then when SPCA kitty was 6 he had seemed very interested in our neighbors' cats for years, and never hissed at them, and when face to face with them, all he wanted to do was smell them and check them out. Someone dumped a box of kittens on a friends doorstep, and we brought one of those babies home for our 6 year old boy. It was a great success. When those 2 boys died, 2 years apart, I had really wished that I had not waited for both kitties to die, and promised myself that I would never go without 2 kitties for very long. I adopted 2 bonded senior kitties, and still am lucky enough to have one of these awesome boys. Remaining boy, Stevie is 10.5 and is the sweetest cat I've ever had (dog like - loves to be pet 24/7 and gazes into your eyes with "the look of love."). Stevie stopped eating & drinking when bro died and totally changed his behavior. He was extremely depressed. He has come around since then, amen! I tried to rescue an 8 year old cat in June after Stevie's bro died in April this year, but 24 hours after I brought him home I got an email disclosure stating that rescued kitty has FIV and I personally don't trust cats who do not know each other to not bite each hard (how FIV is contracted), so I had to return rescue kitty due to rescue facility's negligence in notifying me of his life and death, contagious disease. Then I purchased a retired Ragdoll breeding queen, 2.5 weeks ago and it has been a rough start. I'm sure that things will work out in the end but the new 3.5 year old, female (Kittybear), recently neutered kitty, is scared of everything. This is the first adult cat to adult cat introduction that I've done in my 50 years of life, vs. cat to kitten, and it is proving to be much more difficult. Jackson Galaxy always says most cats need another cat. Also, I LOVE this video on YouTube because it is a detailed description of a Facebook survey that the host ran on THIS VERY TOPIC. I watched it repeatedly before getting my newest addition, to confirm that I was doing the right thing getting 2nd kitty again. Check it out here: Best wishes to you!
I've had 2 cats on and off throughout my life. I've always enjoyed it. The first time I got a 2nd cat, my first cat was across the country in TX (had to move to Philly quickly for a job), and I was waiting for my mother to fly 2 year old kitty out to me, but was very lonely in my new town and couldn't wait for first kitty to arrive, so I went to the SPCA and got a kitten. This was in the late 1997, and the kitten from the SPCA came home with an upper raspatory infection. My cat from TX finally arrived and was fully vaccinated, but somehow still contracted the upper raspatory infection, and got very sick and died at age 2, after $4k in vet bills and syringe feeding/subcutaneous fluids for 3 months trying to save him. I believe there was something else wrong with this kitty that the vets never figured out. Then when SPCA kitty was 6 he had seemed very interested in our neighbors' cats for years, and never hissed at them, and when face to face with them, all he wanted to do was smell them and check them out. Someone dumped a box of kittens on a friends doorstep, and we brought one of those babies home for our 6 year old boy. It was a great success. When those 2 boys died, 2 years apart, I had really wished that I had not waited for both kitties to die, and promised myself that I would never go without 2 kitties for very long. I adopted 2 bonded senior kitties, and still am lucky enough to have one of these awesome boys. Remaining boy, Stevie is 10.5 and is the sweetest cat I've ever had (dog like - loves to be pet 24/7 and gazes into your eyes with "the look of love."). Stevie stopped eating & drinking when bro died and totally changed his behavior. He was extremely depressed. He has come around since then, amen! I tried to rescue an 8 year old cat in June after Stevie's bro died in April this year, but 24 hours after I brought him home I got an email disclosure stating that rescued kitty has FIV and I personally don't trust cats who do not know each other to not bite each hard (how FIV is contracted), so I had to return rescue kitty due to rescue facility's negligence in notifying me of his life and death, contagious disease. Then I purchased a retired Ragdoll breeding queen, 2.5 weeks ago and it has been a rough start. I'm sure that things will work out in the end but the new 3.5 year old, female (Kittybear), recently neutered kitty, is scared of everything. This is the first adult cat to adult cat introduction that I've done in my 50 years of life, vs. cat to kitten, and it is proving to be much more difficult. Jackson Galaxy always says most cats need another cat. Also, I LOVE this video on YouTube because it is a detailed description of a Facebook survey that the host ran on THIS VERY TOPIC. I watched it repeatedly before getting my newest addition, to confirm that I was doing the right thing getting 2nd kitty again. Check it out here: Best wishes to you!
