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 Pet Central
Q&A
Q: When I leave town,
my cat misses me. Riley is 5 years old; he’s an indoor and outdoor cat,
and neutered. I’m thinking of getting a kitten for Riley, and for me too.
But my neighbor tells me Riley doesn’t like the cats he encounters outside.
Am I better with a female or male kitten? And do you think getting the
kitten is a good idea? -- M.R., Sacramento, Calif.
A: First, allow us
to lecture. Riley belongs indoors. He’ll live longer, and indoor cats
can be as happy as outdoor cats. Lecture over.
It’s my feeling that
cats are way more social than most previously assumed. Riley may instantly
take to the newcomer, but he may throw a hissy fit and the two might never
become chums. It’s not a favorable sign if Riley doesn’t seem to like
other cats.
"There’s no
predicting," says certified applied animal behaviorist John Wright,
of Macon, Ga. "There’s one thing for sure, you’ll notice a change
in Riley. For sure, so much depends on the way you introduce a kitten.
Take it slow. At first, confine the kitten to a single room."
After a day or so,
let the kitten check out the rest of the house for an hour or so, while
Riley sniffs around the kitten room. Begin a toy and blanket exchange
program, so both cats clearly understand who’s on the other side of that
door. When they are introduced, try to distract both with toys. Keep their
meetings as positive as possible. You play with one cat, and have a friend
play with the other; or put the cats together for a tuna party. You could
try a brand-new product called Feliway. a spray with properties that mimic
feline friendly pheromones (available only through vets). Spritz it on
household objects the cats commonly rub their cheeks against.
"Although, there’s
no research to predict whether Riley will be happier with a male or female
companion; in my own experience, opposite sex cats tend to do better,"
Wright commented.
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