Sophie Stinky Toes has been an 'only cat' for about 18 months. I'm thinking about another rescue.

[Siwsan]

THINKING about it so I thought I'd come here for some advice.

I'm browsing the local Humane Society web page. Undoubtedly, if I decide to do this, it might involve several visits to see if there is a connection with a specific cat. That's what my brother did when he found Dude. That cat just gravitated to him.

So, here's where I need advice. Sophie isn't particularly territorial. She and Boudicca got along, for the most part. After Boud died, Dude stayed with us for about 6 weeks and Sophie pretty much just tolerated him. When she sees a feral, out in the yard, sometimes she just stares and sometimes she gets pretty vocal, but not scary vocal like Boud did. Boudicca was VERY territorial.

Issues: Sophie is around 12 and pretty small - maybe about 5 lbs and still very spry. I'm almost wondering if getting a kittin-ish cat might be easier for her to accept. Dude is HUGE (much bigger than Boud was) so I wonder if that featured into them never really bonding. She might have been slightly intimidated by him. And, maybe I should get another female cat.

If I do this, I'm also thinking about getting a big crate for the new cat, just for at night, during a period of adjustment.

Anyway, any advice? Am I overthinking this whole process??

[SheltieLover]

1. I've always let the cat or dog choose me

That has always worked well.

Yes, do the crate.

Would a kitten be too active for her?

[Siwsan]

2. She's shockingly active. Nobody believes me when I tell them how old she is.

Even a cat more her size just seems like a good idea. I just don't want her to stress. I do enough of that for both of us.

[Phoenix61]

3. At twelve she may not care too much.

That being said. If you can get a kitten that got to stay with it’s litter mates until at least 8 weeks it will want to bond with another cat. I ended up with CJ who was supposed to be a TNR back to his pack. He was about 6 months old and instantly bonded with Spot who was about 12 then. Forward 8 years and Spot has passed and CJ has decided to bond with me. He definitely brought a lot of joy to Spot who had never had a kitty friend before.

[Siwsan]

4. That's about the age I was thinking of. Nothing tiny. Just not a BIG cat.

[regnaD kciN]

5. Twelve years old is scarcely old for a cat...

Most of the feline members of our family have lived to be 17-19.

[applegrove]

6. When i got a kitten for one of my cats i read you should put them on either side of a closed door

for a few days. They can smell each other and the kitten will stick their paws under the door to play and the older cat cannot resist. After a day or more they will be dying to actually see each other and be used to each other in many ways. Worked for me.

I've had two male kittens brought home to older female cats. Both males ended up bossing the females around or being aggressive with them.

[Karadeniz]

7. Usually grown cats despise kittens, recognizing that there's something seriously bananas about

Them. However, that's usually a short term situation. The adult pretty quickly realizes a yahoo isn't a real enemy. If you feed them fairly closely and play with a fishing rod/cat dancer toy together, that'll speed acceptance up.

You might start the newcomer off by itself in a bathroom. Sophie will smell and hear kitty. After a day, you can carry kitten out, sit near Sophie with it, let Sophie sniff it out...several times. Next, let Sophie into the bathroom with you and try out the cat toy again. Brush Sophie.

Once you're letting kitten out on its own, you'll need to frequently take it to the litter box. If kitty has a poop outside the box, pick it and kitty up and put them both in the box. If it's pee, you'll need an enzyme liquid and don't clean it with detergent.

A 3-4 month old kitten seems about right for Sophie.

It'll work out!!!

[Merlot]

8. i wouldn't put new cat in crate at night if you want to get any sleep

just put them in different rooms.