would a third cat help? or....?

[myrnafaye]

Hi, Friends. I have Yuki and Mittens. Mittens is 12, a quiet, well behaved girl. Yuki is 2, and he is high spirited, full of beans. Their relationship is NOT a match made in heaven. I had hoped it would improve over time but it has not really. Yuki goes after Mittens - no one is hurt ever, and the chases is not even really aggressive but Mittens makes a lot of hissing and etc. Sometimes Yuki is relentless in his chase. So I wonder about a third cat, someone closet to Yuki's age. Would this help? I am also fearful that it could backfire badly - with more disruptive behaviors or worse. Comments appreciated, esp. from those who have had this problem.

 

[carebearbaby1]

Young cats need playmates, that's why they usually encourage getting two cats close to the same age. If you can afford a third cat I'd try it. This coming from someone who has 7 cats, lol.

 

[susanm9006]

It’s a bit of a toss up. A young cat could give the two year old a playmate and stop him from pestering the older. Or, you could now have one or both of the younger cats pestering and ganging up on the 12 year old. I have had it go both ways unfortunately. If you decide to proceed I would get another adult cat, a year or two old, from shelter that will allow you to return it if it doesn’t work out. Or, alternatively, a cat you can foster while you see how your cats react.

 

[myrnafaye]

It’s a bit of a toss up. A young cat could give the two year old a playmate and stop him from pestering the older. Or, you could now have one or both of the younger cats pestering and ganging up on the 12 year old. I have had it go both ways unfortunately. If you decide to proceed I would get another adult cat, a year or two old, from shelter that will allow you to return it if it doesn’t work out. Or, alternatively, a cat you can foster while you see how your cats react.

Many years ago, I had 2 cats and added a third because of disharmony between the first 2. The third cat eventually became the dominant cat but he was a really good cat. The 2 males would occasionally gang up on the female but sometimes not. So a third possibility is a combination of possibility A and B.