Getting a 2nd cat, does gender matter?

[slackerinabox]

Are you sure it's not the gender of the cats, but just those specific cats? My mom loves cats, so consequently, I grew up around them. Based on my experiences, whenever I hear people say that cats are assholes, I assume that they were just around an onerous cat. Unless you get a cat of a specific breed that's usually very docile (like a Ragdoll/Ragamuffin), it's kind of a guessing game on whether the cat will be really friendly or not.

It could def. be that they were just assholes, but I have met my share of outwardly asshole male cats (asshole female cats seem to just ignore you). Now one is doing well living with my parents, so maybe it's me? Or I just have a particularly awesome girl cat that's skewing my views.

 

[NetWareHead]

Regarding the sex of newly introduced cats, Id say there is no hard and fast rule in any sense of the way. it depends on the personalities of both cats. I have known cats both male and female that were absolute dicks, very territorial, timid/afraid and not very personable. And I have known cats, both male & female that were very welcoming to new cats (of either sex), were joys to get along with and usually friendly. I really dont think it is a male/female thing. Like humans, animals have their own personalities too that are very real factors.

We have 2 senior cats (13 & 15 year olds) and were thinking about getting a new cat. We'd love a kitten but decided against it on the fact that young cats have a ton of energy and want to romp/play all the time. Our cats are not that sedentary but are definitely not young kittens in terms of energy. We didn't want to mess with their "golden years". We could see getting a cat that was older though.

And now that Ive said this, whats funny is that our upstairs tenants got a cat who is 1 year old. We were concerned about him meeting our cats but the new young cat is calm and cool as can be. He has bursts of kitten like energy but its usually when chasing a butterfly, squirrel etc... and not bothering out cats. All three of them get along fine and they even cat nap together.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have 2 female cats and 1 male cat. The male cat does not stink, nor does he spray and he rules the roost. He's a very sweet cat, very loving toward people and the most docile creature I've ever met. He does get after the 2 females from time to time. The females hate each other and it is bloody war if you get them together in the same room, they mostly ignore each other.

Fortunately, none of them spray, they all have their own boxes (although, the male is known to go in all three boxes and mark his territory).

 

[thedarkwolf]

Male vs female really doesn't matter, some cats just do better than others with new critters. Most cats are going to dislike anything new you bring in for a while no matter what. Some will hate the new critter for LIFE, they will eventually get to a point were they will just avoid each other but never like each other. Others will be ok in a day or two and become best buds. Grew up with tons of cats.

 

[nageov3t]

I have 2 female cats and 1 male cat. The male cat does not stink, nor does he spray and he rules the roost. He's a very sweet cat, very loving toward people and the most docile creature I've ever met. He does get after the 2 females from time to time. The females hate each other and it is bloody war if you get them together in the same room, they mostly ignore each other.

Fortunately, none of them spray, they all have their own boxes (although, the male is known to go in all three boxes and mark his territory).

yeah... I've had 2 male cats, both neutered at an early age. they've never sprayed and I've never even heard of a male cat "stink" before this thread.

 

[slackerinabox]

OK guys, I"m going to not let gender be a factor. As far as age, my existing cat is pretty spritely and bored these days (we have 2 kids and a baby), I was hoping the cat would be a nice companion/thing to chase around. I'll be open to any age, the idea of a kitten was just because I view them as more trainable

 

[z1ggy]

OK guys, I"m going to not let gender be a factor. As far as age, my existing cat is pretty spritely and bored these days (we have 2 kids and a baby), I was hoping the cat would be a nice companion/thing to chase around. I'll be open to any age, the idea of a kitten was just because I view them as more trainable

Sorry if I missed it, how old is the current cat? If she's lively, maybe a 1 year old cat will do. Not quite a kitten any longer, but also still energetic.

My current cats, both males, aged 2.5, are still psychotic. Run around like little fighter jets in my house, and then stop to wrestle each other.

 

[dank69]

OK guys, I"m going to not let gender be a factor. As far as age, my existing cat is pretty spritely and bored these days (we have 2 kids and a baby), I was hoping the cat would be a nice companion/thing to chase around. I'll be open to any age, the idea of a kitten was just because I view them as more trainable

They are if you get them early enough.

 

[slackerinabox]

Sorry if I missed it, how old is the current cat? If she's lively, maybe a 1 year old cat will do. Not quite a kitten any longer, but also still energetic.

My current cats, both males, aged 2.5, are still psychotic. Run around like little fighter jets in my house, and then stop to wrestle each other.

She's about 4.5 years old right now, but as energetic as ever. Well, more like bursts - she lays around but gets obviously bored/fussy. 1 year old seems like a good idea, let's see what the shelter has.

 

[rudeguy]

OK guys, I"m going to not let gender be a factor. As far as age, my existing cat is pretty spritely and bored these days (we have 2 kids and a baby), I was hoping the cat would be a nice companion/thing to chase around. I'll be open to any age, the idea of a kitten was just because I view them as more trainable

DRUGS! Give her drugs!

 

[Aikouka]

I hate cats. My past dog (died years ago) saved me from a thief once.

Cats are lazy and useless in my opinion. I sleep better at night knowing my dog would give up its life to protect my house and me included.

Dogs rule in my book.

I can understand people preferring dogs as more of a companion. Although, I think that protector/territorial aspect of dogs leads to one of the things that I hate about dogs: the small, yappy little fuckers.

 

[Genx87]

I have a girl cat who gets along smashingly with kids, dogs, cats, even birds. I'm thinking of getting a 2nd kitten and have heard that 2 female cats is a bad idea - true?

I have two female cats. Had them since they were kittens. Both work well with each other. Make sure you gently introduce each of the cats so they can set their territory. Also if you have a kitten and an older cat. Be prepared to play with the kitten so it doesnt terrorize your older cat.

 

[Grooveriding]

Female cats are more prone to being territorial, so if that's the case for your current cat, there may be more friction with the new female cat when she arrives. Male cats are also prone to certain health issues, such as cardiomyopathy, that don't effect females.

All in all though there she be no issue, there just is more chance of issues when introducing a new female cat to the current female cat resident.

One of the effective ways of introducing a new cat is isolating them from one another for the first week or so. Pick a room, not your current cat's favourite though, and put the new cat in there with the door closed. They'll be aware of each other by scent and probably your current cat will sit outside the door of the room where you have the new one. After a few days you can also open the door, sit there and let them get a look at one another. Then after the week is out try introducing them without the room. Having two litter boxes can help as well.

 

[Gooberlx2]

The only times I've really had problems with fights and stress marking/peeing is introducing a male into a household with an existing male, where one is weaker. IME, if there's enough space, two female cats might not get along, but they'll largely ignore each other. Introducing a second cat of opposite gender usually works out fine, though an existing male is more likely to warm up to a new female than vice versa (again, IME).

Of course, it's all variable by the individual cat(s). Old asshole cats might not ever warm up to a new cat regardless of age or sex. Other cats might be pliable to kittens, but standoffish of other adults for territory reasons. Or perhaps all the adult wants to do is lay about, while kittens are terrorist bundles of energy.

 

[slackerinabox]

Thanks for all of your advice, picked up a female kitty and was convinced to get 2 instead! I'm officially a crazy cat lady now:
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=38d41516b9c2425afb082e37f11f4261&oe=55FD7B3B

https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=6889b7c84f6044fdcb3cc79ab0ce4fd0&oe=55EF8E9C

 

[Captante]

Male cats typically stink even when fixed.

I've had 8 male cats in my life & not one of them stank any more then the 6 females ... they were as a rule a bit more sloppy. I had all of them fixed as early as possible though and from what I've read earlier = much more effective since they never learn to spray.

And I think the main issue with how well cats react to a new arrival is age more then sex. Many older kitties just never fully accept new arrivals.

 

[MongGrel]

My wife loved her female cat for 18 years, said somehow she would never have a male again.

Somehow we have two males now that are about 10, neither stink.

One is so picky it's ridiculous, I used to call him metrocat for awhile.

If they have been fixed it's not a problem.

They all have personalities, is what I've always found interesting, cats of even the same variety can act very differenty.

 

[Rakehellion]

It mostly depends on the human contact the cat experiences during the first ~8 weeks of life regardless of gender.

I raised 7 kittens from birth. The males were friendly and the females weren't awful, but they certainly didn't like being touched.

I supposed it's genetic too.

 

[slackerinabox]

I raised 7 kittens from birth. The males were friendly and the females weren't awful, but they certainly didn't like being touched.

I supposed it's genetic too.

Yeah, the older cat is behaving exactly as expected - hissy and curious, sniffing everywhere. But we have a closed room set aside and the kittens are running around playing, following the vet tech's advice to a T. Not worried, I think they'll learn to get along just fine. If not our old cat can just claim the office and have her own space.