Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    	With Sparky being still fairly young I think bringing
    	a kitten into the house might not be too difficult.  
    	When Cary and I moved in together almost 2 years ago,
    	his 3 1/2 year old cat, Brandi, came with us.  Well, me
    	loving cats and never being able to have one (my parents
    	didn't like cats) I told Cary I wanted a kitten.  Enter
    	Sasha.  Brandi of course didn't like her much to begin 
    	with.  But after a month or so, the growling stopped and
    	Brandi and Sasha would eat side by side.  Shortly thereafter,
    	they were playing together, eating together, sleeping together
    	and grooming each other.  They aren't close like that anymore,
    	partly because of us adding two more to the brood and partly
    	because that's just the way Brandi is.
    
    	I say go for it!  But be prepared for Sparky to be upset at
    	first.  It might take some time for her to accept the new
    	kitten.  Or you may be lucky (like others here) and she'll
    	love the kitten right off!
    
    	JJ
    

    You might try tuckering Sparky out by playing chase the catnip
    mouse and so forth.  I thought my Little Bit was crying to go out,
    but it turns out he wants games and cuddling.  Sparky is still in the
    young high-energy stage, too.
    

    
    
    	You might try getting her a little friend but just so you
    	are forwarned. When Catnip arrived as a baby kitten, there
    	was a larger cat in the house who spent a huge percentage
    	of her time trying to do Catnip in. That didn't totally
    	settle down. Catnip learned to be a good little hider.
    	After the big kitty passed on, we got a kitten. Catnip
    	at first wanted to commit mayhem but I tended to interfere
    	as Catnip is quite a hunter and she (I have watched this
    	happen) can kill large rabbits, etc and I was concerned
    	about what would happen if she got into the kitten with
    	her claws and/or teeth. MAYBE I am just an overprotective
    	cat-mom but I do worry about things like this. Anyhow, she
    	went into a funk of some sort. She sulked, got real quiet,
    	less friendly and attacked the other more than they ever
    	did socialize. She seemed DEPRESSED. Now that I have only
    	Catnippy, she is loving, friendly, a real family member
    	and has TONS of personality that seemed to be pushed under
    	the rug by having another kitty in the house. I have decided
    	to not add to my cat family in deference to Catnippy. She
    	is getting older now. She is 10. She has been an 'only cat'
    	for 1 year and seems so pleased with being the only one that
    	I will not spoil it for her. Maybe your little one will be
    	okay with a little pal but I kinda think that in the push-pull
    	of relationships, they tend to act in a different way when
    	the population increases. Whatever you decide, good luck and
    	many happy adventures to all of you.
    
    					kim and the one and only Nipper
    

    I say go for it.  Just be prepared for alot of hissing and growling.
    Don't worry about it.  As long as you don't see blood, leave them
    alone.  It only "Sounds" like they're killing each other.  
      If you bring in a kitten, the kitten will be more interested in
    playing than anything else and that usually wins the older cats over.
    It just takes a few days for the resident cat to figure out what
    this little upstart is for.  
      Adjustment periods can take from one day (in the case of Bonnie) to
    a few months.  Be patient and let them work it out on their own.
      Nancy DC and the House o' purrs

    
    
    yeah, i say goferit, too!!  we have a coon cat, rocky and they are
    traditionally territorial i've heard ... then came wanda .. she just
    landed on our deck in the middle of winter .. i gave her some food
    and she gobbled it down so fast i thought she must be stray .. we
    put up a few signs saying we'd found her, but we got so attached to
    her so fast that a couple days later we went around and took down the
    signs ;'} ... anyway, rocky did not like wanda one bit at first ...
    it did sound pretty bad at times, but they survived and in a couple
    weeks they were playing together.  it was worth the wait because 
    they are so cute together ... rocky is sweet and walks up to wanda
    and gives her kisses, but she's a hellion and usually bats him (she
    always wants to play.  one of thier favorite games is to reach under
    the door at each other ... they can do that for ... minutes (i was 
    going to say hours, but that's a gross exagerration) ...
    
    i have to say that rocky isn't as affectionate with us as he was
    before (he doesn't snuggle on the couch with me anymore though i try to 
    encourage him ... once in awhile he'll come under a cover if i hold it
    up for him depending on his mood), but he still walks with us .. he's
    like a dog in that respect ... when we go hiking through the
    surrounding woods he'll come with us .. and he doesn't stray very far
    and always comes bounding when we call him ... also, when i go visiting
    my brother who lives down the street he'll come and sit on their deck
    until i'm ready to leave then he'll escort me home.  he's a dearie.
    wanda is fun to watch ... she's into fireflies big-time these days ...
    she practically turns cartwheels trying to get them, or moths or 
    whatever ... also, she's very affectionate and gives me back massages
    when i go to bed ... when she first came to live with us she drove
    me crazy singing and knitting when i wanted to sleep, but now i find
    it soo soothing and love it.  they are both wonderful and i hope if
    you decide to get another kitten that they'll get along well after
    a short adjustment period.  
    
    janice & dave, rocky & wanda

    
    
    let us know if you decide to get a buddy for sparky, okay?
    
    hmmm, i've just reread your basenote and sparky sounds a lot like
    wanda .. she loves to go off on adventures, and sometimes comes home
    with wounds ... i was hoping that having her spayed (she got spayed
    this morning and is doing fine ... i'll pick her up tonight) would
    perhaps make her more content to stay closer to home .. ????  hmmm,
    i guess it didn't have that effect on the sparker, huh?    
    
    janice, rocky and wanda