Thread: putting different temperments together

Go with your heart,it will most probaly be no easier introducing a kitten,I sometimes think they don't feel so threatened by bringing in an older cat because normally they are already that bit quieter,no wondering when & where the newbie is going to pounce...!

true, but I could go either way. He hasn't done so well when introduced to older cats in the past, but I'm hoping for the best if we decided to go that route. I just know when he was introduced to my mom's kitten, he didn't have a problem with her at all (there was hissing and fighting with the adults). It was almost as though he knew he could expect "misbehaving" out of a kitten.

We have introduced various cats to our home over the years, some kittens some not and I have to say if a cat is going to like another cat they dont have to be a kitten. We have a tortie and a ginger that dislike each other intently and the ginger was a kitten when he came in, but our 3 coonies are liked by all. If the new cat seems quite quiet and will be subservant to your current puss then the chances are they will get used to each other and may not become the best of friends but will live happily with each other. Good luck - I always believe the cat chooses the owner not the other way round and if you have a cat in your heart its right!!

I should say we have a dog as well and she has accepted them all

Having had a kitten in the past introduces to our old man things did not go well. Having had him with Mums cats and knowing he was rehomed to us from a multi cat house though we new he could settle with others. The kitten bullied him dreadfully and it was not a happy house. Jasper and Bailey however have been completely different, in just a week we still get the odd hiss sometimes but other wise everyone is very happy.

Max my coonie is the softest lump he will accept any other cat.
I think the problems are more with females.

It's a difficult one I think, because it all depends on the individual cat's temperament and experience.
Kitten or older cat, male or female, it could go either way, as previous posts have shown.
But if your existing cat is mellow and laid-back, then that's a good start.

Kittens are sometimes easier to introduce because they are so obviously junior that the older cat does not feel so threatened, in fact they feel they are able to boss them about and establish a pecking order. Things aren't quite so clear cut with an older cat.

Having said all that, there's no reason why you shouldn't go with the female cat if you have set your hearts on her, especially with sensitive introductions.