I would also love a #2 but my cat freaks out at the sight of another cat. I wish it was easier. I'd venture to say there would not be so many cats in shelters if cats would just learn to get along with eachother!

I will put a link below to a previous discussion that contains some helpful strategies, some of which I have tried successfully in the past. These include:

- Separate rooms for a few days (you'll need an extra litter box). We do this.

- Feliway diffuser to reduce anxiety.

- Rubbing both cats with the same towel back & forth to mingle odors.

- Putting a dot of cologne on oldster's face to mask new cat's odor. (We do this when bringing cats back from a vet visit too, to disguise those medicinal smells.)

Whatever strategies you employ, expect hissing, growling and sulking for some period of time. It's normal.

Here is a link that might be useful: some useful ideas

You've gotten some great advice...Like the above poster said, you will get that growling and hissing but hopefully in time, it will lessen....At one time, I also volunteered with a cat/kitten rescue organization and you always end up with another kitten or 2....I fostered quite a few fur babies but had to give it up...It just broke my heart when I had to give them up even though I knew they were being adopted into loving forever homes...But I did keep 2 little girls to go along with my grumpy orange tabby....It's been 4 years and he still growls at one of the girls..The other, he gets along fine...We think he just likes to show he's the "man" of the house....
Bless you and your daughter for caring and giving this furbaby a new home....Good luck!

I'm surprised the SPCA took that position. For one thing, multi-cat households are common, and you can be sure most of the cats in a given home were not acquired all at once. One would think the SPCA routinely adopts kittens or adult cats out to families who already have at least one other.

Also, from reading your post I would say it's most unlikely that you would return the kitten. But even if you did, considering the huge number of felines in need of adoption, wouldn't it be better to give the kitten a shot at a good home than to retain her at the shelter until the perfect catless person (maybe) shows up?

I should add that over the years my family introduced many new kittens/cats into our multi-cat household. We used the separate room technique. And yes, we had hissing, spitting, and sulking. They always got over it to one degree or another. Not a problem.

I hope you proceed with this adoption, Orie.

Susan

How old is the kitten, and what is the gender? At what age was your current cat neutered?

In my VERY multicat household, I have observed that in general (and there are ALWAYS exceptions to general rules), male cats who were neutered before the hormones kicked in around 6 mos of age are a lot more likely to adapt peacefully to new feline housemates than are males who were neutered after reaching sexual maturity. But even adult-neutered males tend to adapt well to female kittens. If the kitten in question is 3 mos old or less and female, I say give it a try. If the kitten is either sex and older than 3 mos, the adjustments will be more difficult for both felines (your resident cat may view an older kitten as a territorial threat). If the kitten is male and your cat was neutered late, there may be problems.

Laurie

Ok.... got the kitten 2 days ago but went a different route. Called our vet to get some ideas on this also. The girl was very nice and at the end told me they had 5 female kittens waiting to be placed and that I was free to come see them. I told her my problem was with the older cat not accepting the kitten and I would need a trial period. They have given us a week (until next Fri). The kitten is a female, 4 wks. old! So incredibly cute and sweet and we're already attached and so is she. Our older cat you ask??? Wow, pissed off! I am getting the growling, hissing, spitting and even lunging! He tends to be bothered more by the 'meows" than the smell. We have her in my DD room and sleeping in a very cushy bathtub! She just figured out the litter box yesterday. She is still using a nursing bottle, too. Incredibly loveable. Our older cat seems to have his moments. Sometimes he will come and rub and let us pet him. He's not the friendliest and most affectionate cat so he's not overly loving right now (never is) but we can tell he's miffed! I pray that it works out. I don't have the heart to return this little lap cat esp. if her sisters are gone from the vet. She'd be so alone and already used to us. I'm faced with, 1.- do I return her now and give up on this situaion before her sisters are adopted and she's alone in the cage? 2.- do I wait until Friday (my deadline) and hope that if I have to return her, her sisters are there?? 3.- do I keep her and just tell my other cat to deal with it (which seems so unfair). What are the chances that after some time, he'll adapt or just tolerate?? Oh, I got him very young also... 5-6 wks and got him declawed and fixed at 6 months. He's a boy of 7 and the kitty is 4 wks. What do you all think?? What would you do? I've done all the above that everyone's suggested.

You're cat sounds so much like my 3 year old boy. I love him but I sure wish he was more affectionate. Would love to get another (hopefully lap cat) but I don't know if I could deal with the stress of the introductions.

My girls and I were at Petsmart yesterday. All the way home I had to answer, "but why can't we get her????...." -- an adorable female calico (4 months).