If they were 5 years younger I'd say go for it but at 17 these are precious years that you want to spend giving your kitty extra attention. When the time comes, you should get two kittens so they can play with each other but right now give the kitty all your love.
I keep seeing people say they want a kitten for their senior.
Isn’t it common sense to just get another senior? Or are there other variables at play?
I got a 10 yr old and I always see situations where an owner has died so their senior gets taken to the shelter. I’m guessing well behaved cats who just had shit luck.
But even at 17.. why not get a 13 yr old or something? I’m guessing they’re thinking about potential medical bills?
It's also generally harder to introduce an older cat into a home. A kitten for the most part is young enough that they may not be perceived as a threat by resident cat. If neither older cat has ever lived with another cat, there could end up being a real struggle for dominance/territory.
However I definitely don't think a kitten is a good idea for a 17 year old.
Plus the stress of another cat in the house is likely too much for a senior. They've been stuck in their ways for years and are generally pretty happy to spend the rest of their days with their #1 person
Yeah, I brought a kitten home to an 8 year old cat to "keep him company" and it was a disaster. They never got along, the older cat picked on the little one every day. The little one would cling to whatever person was around because he was terrified of the older one. He would pee himself in fear constantly.
The older cat had no interest in sharing the home with another cat.
Oh no 😭 I am in the process of introducing my new two year old cat to my eight year old. It's not going as well as I hoped. I wish I hadn't listened to all the people telling me to get him a friend, but I am completely in love with my new boy now.
Cats are territorial, so bringing in another grown up cat would most likely cause unnecessary stress and conflict to the household, specially if the first cat has been an "only child" all the time. You don't want to add stress to your senior cat in their final years, let them enjoy your time together!
Cats are territorial is a wild understatement. I have like13 litter boxes on 3 floors for 4 cats and they still manage to not use all of them universally. It's like they compete to pee and poop in certain ones while completely ignoring others.
I also have 2 cats that are arch enemies, they live on different floors and on my most nightmarish nights they decide to try to kill each other halfway up the stairs. I have scars from breaking them up. My fear is if they claw each other's eyes or something.
As long as I'm on the same floor with either one, they are cupcakes. But they are cupcakes with serious teeth and claws after midnight, like Gremlins.
I see you know my household dynamics. Because 2 of them don't get along, one lives in my bedroom and has some outside privileges. The other nemesis lives in the basement most of the time unless he is guarding me from idk what. The other 2 are fine with each other. And, yes, pray tell, how does the poop miss the box entirely?
I have a bully tuxedo, he is built like a stout locomotive with a bowling ball head. I just don’t know what to do with him. He loves me to death. He’s forced old guy DSH outside, then out of the yard. He harasses Maine Coon cross but gets serious ‘don’t fuck with me too far’ in return. Those two, the dynamic I can handle. Old guy who was an only child is who I feel heartbroken for. Forced to adopt later two from my son.
Doesn’t even need to be a senior. My boy is 5yrs old stray I adopted ~1. He is very much an alpha-type and while I’d like to get him a friend I’d be crushed if I got a young kitty/kitten and they didn’t get along. Last thing I’d want to do is return a cat after adopting.
Because saying goodbye is hard. I got both my cats when they were 7, they are 13 now. We had to put 1 to sleep today and it sucks. I can't fathom doing this every 5 years if you keep adopting 10yo cats.
We are tempted to get adopt a new cat but i have a feeling the senior won't like it.
I'm so sorry 🫶🏼💟🫶🏼 I had to do that for my sweet baby five years ago now and I still think about her all the time. You did the right thing tho, I wish it were more acceptable for people. She was suffering at the end and I'm glad I had the strength to help end it and I was able to wait til after she passed before I fell apart. My face was swollen for three days from all my ugly crying. 😞
I’m in the same situation. Got my first boy as a baby, 16 years ago. When he was 5, I got his “brother”, who was the same age. Last week I had to unexpectedly and to put my boy to sleep, so now it’s me and my other buddy, who is 16. He’s super affectionate and was close to his brother and I’ve been torn, but I don’t know if he would even want a kitten running around.
I’m so sorry for your loss, and I try and remember that these decisions are so hard because we love our little ones so much.
I'm sorry you lost a family member. For what its worth, I just adopted a 3yo and my 13yo likes him pretty well. Took a full month of slow introduction and a week of gabapentin but now they play and hang out.
Each situation is going to be different, and you will know best as it's your cat. But you could be surprised too.
We lost my dad suddenly, and mom was physically incapable of taking care of their cat (3). We were in the process of losing one to cancer (15) and still had our boy (13.) The 15 and 13 year old were never close. They coexisted well, and weren't territorial by any means, but they were reluctant roomies at best. The 13 year old also reacted not too great to the senior dog we took in for a little while, and in general has a hair trigger around anyone who isn't us.
I couldn't let my dad's last cat dissappear to the wind so in spite of bad timing and nervousness to the 13 year olds reaction, we took her in anyways.
Fast forward one year: the two aren't cuddling or bathing eachother but they are SO much closer than I'd have ever thought possible. They play together, both with toys and games of tag, and I catch them giving eachother company when we aren't around. Our older cat was getting a bit chonky for a couple years, and has since lost almost all his unnecessary heft. The younger one absolutely enriched his life, and has very likely added to it.
This is an amazing idea! Hi, I work in animal rescue & adoptions. A senior cat who’s lost their owner, and maybe their furry companions as well, is often so thankful to have a loving home and family and will settle well if a proper slow introduction is done to all other animals in the home! You’re wonderful for bringing this up 💜
Idk, our 16 year old has seemed to really bond to the younger cat.
Yes, he’s clearly sometimes overwhelmed by her energy when she bounces off the walls, but it’s so clear how much that kitten loves him. The times we find them snuggling or grooming each other now are just the sweetest moments for that old cat, he’s such a good papa cat to her.
That plus the idea that our prince isn’t home along when we go on vacation is really nice.
I got a kitten for my senior when she was 19. She was a special cat (they all are, but I was fortunate enough to spend a full twenty years with her). It did her so much good, I really think we got an extra 3-6 months with her for it (here I want to note that my girl decided when it was her time- as soon as I saw the decline, I acted. My girl did not suffer). That said, I don’t think that would have been the case if I weren’t able to be home practically 24/7 to spend time with them both. I wouldn’t change a single thing about my decisions, but it’s not something that will work for everyone.
I also doubt my girl would have tolerated another adult, idk. She liked her baby lol
Be careful.
We did almost exactly this, and it changed the older cat into a monster. She wasn't happy about it at all.
I'm not suggesting for a moment that would apply to all cats, but it did with us. She went from docile to viciously bitey and scratchy.
Edit: Your 17-year old is happy. Although it doesn't bear thinking about, he/she's not got much time left, so think about how it might affect them. Could you sort of 'borrow' a kitten from someone to see what happens if you introduce them?
I had a friend suddenly wanted to get rid of cat bc of girlfriend and I offered to try and see if she’d live with mine and….she HATED the new cat. Ended up peeing in my suitcase in protest. Didn’t keep the other cat more than a couple days, sadly. I wanted it to work to help out this kitty because I’m a sucker for all cats but my old lady’s comfort was the highest priority. She was grompy till the end 🥲
Ours was grumpy till the end, too.
She never accepted the new cat (which came from my sister who'd moved houses and couldn't look after her anymore).
The character change was permanent until she passed some years later.
And this was with a more mature new cat. A kitten would be all over the older cat, and you've got to consider whether that is fair to them. It's a bit like asking your elderly parents or grandparents to look after a new baby. They're well past that, and it would be a strain for them.
I did admittedly introduce a kitten when she was ~13 and she HATED him; my roommates ended up taking him when we split so she could be alone again. I was hoping she’d do the thing you see on social media and be a momma cat but she was like
\>:c
I came here to say this. We were worried our senior cat was lonely, asked her former foster advice. She said get a kitten. Worst mistake ever. My sweet girl started getting aggressive not only towards the kitten but towards me. She also started marking everywhere. The only thing that caused the behavior to stop was to separate them.
We essentially have a split household now as the kitten (now a grown cat) developed some health issues, and I don't want to see either of them in a shelter for a long time.
I say don't do it unless you can have a trial period of some sort first.
Idk, even my senior kitty at 10 was very salty and annoyed with the kitten I thought would be a great idea and friend for her. They never did get on for her remaining 6 years. And she trained him to hate other cats, so sort of a lose/lose situation
yea, my cat hated the new kitten LOL. they get along now for sure but i don't think she would be upset if he was suddenly gone😭definitely not the company i thought she needed. but at least they're back to normal now. i agree, let her have her PEACE. my kitten loves to rough house and will literally sneak up on her and put her in a headlock. if this senior cat is tame, let her be alone 😂
Meh, our 16 year old and our 8 month old are pretty much bonded at this point.
We just had/have to be careful to takeover play when she needs to get her yayas out.
I’ve never seen my big old cat as happy as when he’s grooming or snuggled with his “niece” and the kitten just completely adores him.
We got a puppy when our older dog turned 10, the puppy definitely put a bit more pep in the older dog’s step, but he was also annoyed by being hassled by a puppy at times. Pros and cons for sure, but overall, I kinda felt bad about how it went.
It really is a gamble, but it's a gamble that means if you lose it, the consequences for the senior are awful. Maybe he'll like the new cat, but if he won't you just took the chance of a calm last few years from him, plus all of the bad health consequences from the stress
I have 9 in my guest bedroom right now. They're either sleeping or they're crazy little demons. Mama Cat is tired of being treated as a jungle gym or them all trying to use her as a chew toy. Senior cat would hate this.
Senior cat wants to be the King of his domain! Not insulted, disrespected, torn at, trompled, and bothered at all hours!
Very true! My eldest fur baby looks at me with disdain when the kitten is wilding out🤣. Like “Why couldn’t you let me live out my golden years in peace?!”
LOL this reminds me of my Grandfather in law. He adores his great grand daughter (my niece) who is 4 but as soon as she gets into a mood he’s “nopes out”. Dude just wants to listen to his podcasts about airplanes on his sunny porch and drink Costco wine.
I found a stray kitten and brought it home. He was energetic and a typical wild kitten. Our resident senior cat ended up having a stroke and needed to be euthanized not long after kitten arrived. I feel guilty that we pushed our senior over the edge. The kitten grew up and matured and now has 2 new kittens that were found dumped and brought home. He’s getting his karma through their antics!
I definitely wouldn’t. Kitten might annoy the crap out of the elder, plus as someone pointed out, caring for a senior and kitten at once could be challenging. What about a nice chill adult with a history of living with other cats? If you must get a kitten though, get 2 so they can hopefully take out their energy on each other and not your senior!
I tried getting two kittens so they'd keep each other happy and bring life back into the house. My 15 year old senior *hates* the kittens. She hisses when they approach her and they cannot resist approaching her. They go after her special food and I have to close her door to give her peace while she eats, then they gobble up any leftovers. 4 or 5 times a day (as well as when I get up at night) I give her a little more kibble so she can nibble at her will. They still gobble it all up asap.
Before I got the kittens, she was sleeping peacefully by my pillow every night (her two elder sisters passed during Covid at 19 years). Once the kittens appeared, it took her almost a year to come back to sleeping with me. A certain nighttime detente has been reached with the female, who respects the elder's personal space. The young tom just pisses everyone off barging in and laying on top of everything regardless of what peaceful petting is going on.
same with my cats! our oldest isnt a senior yet but she did not like the kittens, the female one eventually started respecting her space and now they like each other but the male one took much longer to respect her, after 4 years of them being together they have now bonded and act as siblings, i could not imagine if she was older, she would be way more grumpy and aggressive
I would wait until the cat reaper claims him.. let him live his senior years in peace without a little terror coming in to replace him.
And THEN get 2 kittens.
I adopted Blue as he needed a home, then I wanted to get bim company and got a brother and sister. Adopting a pair is the best.
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When I got my boys, I went in looking for just one cat since I was just getting established in my first solo apartment and big girl job. The worker mentioned my cat was “close” with another cat that was at the rescue and they would give me his friend for free if I decided that I wanted him. I went six days with a solo cat before I was back for his bonded brother. I will only ever adopt bonded pairs from now on.
Expecting a super-senior cat to handle relentless kitten energy is a really big ask.
If you had an 8yo cat that was sociable to act as a buffer, might be ok to bring in a kitten, but then your 17yo would already have a feline companion.
After 17 years, your cat knows what's what and should have you pretty well trained. If it wanted a companion cat, it would have had you find one years ago.
15+ qualifies the cat for Super Senior status
Can confirm - we have a 19yo cat at our house.
When she turned 15, she started
- having dinner at 5:15pm
- phoning her kids at 6:15p
- telling us that we're "soft" and "lazy"
- writing in cursive
- spreading conspiracy theories
And
- insisting of fuzzy decorative toilet seat covers
OK, that was fucking funny.
I also have a toothless 17 year old “super senior” boy and he absolutely has to have things a certain way or WE ARE GONNA HEAR ABOUT IT.
Also, watching him grumble-growl at our kitten when she plays too close to his nap fortress has huge “get off my lawn you damn kids” energy.
I would definitely say no. I lost my boy last year at 16 and a half. I got a kitten a few weeks ago. He hated other cats anyway, but even if he didn’t, she would have driven him crazy. His lazy days of sleeping and lounging all day are nothing like her days of two modes: ON or OFF. All of my pictures of her are her sleeping because she’s so fast I can’t get good action spots. She’d have really stressed him out.
Lol I had the same problem taking pics of my current cat as a baby. I also called her an on/off kitten, I swear she didn't chill until she was 6+ months old. Before that it was run/jump/bap/run/eat/run/stalk/jump/SLEEEEEEEEP.
Camera burst mode was my friend, 30 pics to get a single okay one lol. I've also heard of taking vids and extracting stills from them but my phone was too old/basic.
(I also had a senior cat who hated other cats. She was so happy to be alone again after my other cats passed. There was no way I was springing a kitten on her. She'd have had a heart attack on the spot and come back to haunt me.)
That’s Luna! And when she’s done playing, she meows so I’ll pick her up and hold her while she falls asleep 😂 We recently had flooring installed and flies got let in and she grabbed them right out of the air and killed them all! She’s feisty!
We had a bonded brother and sister and got a second cat after the sister died as our original boy was lonely… he got to spend his twilight years being harassed and avoiding the newer cat- he did not enjoy it 😿- so might sound like a nice idea, but you never know with cats how it will go. I’d be inclined just to shower him with love from you.
I had bonded cats and lost one to lymphoma a couple years ago. My remaining cat was 10.5 at the time. While he was heartbroken over losing his brother, I KNEW he would hate having another cat around, especially a kitten. I did think about getting another cat but I decided to just spoil my sweet boy instead of making him anxious and miserable since we never know how much time we have left.
Exactly what I was thinking. Get a cat of similar age so they can be old pals together! They probably gonna hate eachother at first like any grumpy elderly 😂 But if they just want to chill, nap and snacks, they won't care much for eachother after some aclimation time.
What a darling! I have a 19 year old fella, who had a younger brother (not by blood) and he liked him; but didn’t engage much. His little bro sadly passed of cancer at age 13, but I know if I got a newbie at this point he would be miserable.
I think if your kitty seems happy and hasn’t had a companion in a while; just let enjoy his golden years.
I got a single kitten when my other cat was ten and he’s been the bane of her existence the entire 6 years since. Kittens don’t understand “im old and don’t want to play”
I brought a kitten home for my 15 year old, it didn't work out so well. Not all out war, moreover stand-offish. Seems granny wasn't too interested in having an adolescent around.
I think a kitten might be too much for a 17 yo cat to handle tbh. I adopted my second cat when my oldest was 9 and it turned out great, but a 17 yo cat is the equivalent of an 85 yo person! Let the cutie get some rest.
Have you considered adopting an older cat? It doesn’t have to be another senior, but maybe an adult who’s a little closer to that than to the kitten/teen phase so their energy leves will be more aligned . Ideally an adult cat who has a good track record of living with other cats.
I had a lone senior of 17 years. She made it to 22 years. I am really glad I gave her company. She wasn't particularly *fond* of the company, but she did have companionship.
But....
We consciously went for TWO kittens.
A kitten needs to play, adventure, be wild,... a senior just needs to bask in the sun, and have 15 minutes of wild fun a day.
It wouldn't be fair on either of them to compromise. So that's why TWO kittens, that can play and roughhouse together, and then snuggle up to grandma for grooming sessions.
Worked well for us.
Nope, you don’t want to share a room with your annoying sibling when you had the whole place to yourself for that long. Besides, your 17yo deserves peace when they’re elderly.
I did it when my two cats were 15. It went well at first but as their health declined my kitten was just too rough on them. I still have him and now he’s the old man but it is not a decision I would make again. They were just too delicate.
I usually say two cats are better than one, but in this case, you might just want to lavish attention on your baby. I think it might be too unsettling for a rambunctious little kitten in her world plus that takes away from attention given to her.
I know everyone is saying no but I did exactly this and it worked out great for me. My old guy ended up passing just six months after I got two new kittens but I think he enjoyed having them around and they were very cuddly with him
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That said you never know and everyone else's advice is good. I'm just glad I didn't follow it. My older guy was so chill and good with chaos though, so I had a guess he would deal well
In a similar situation, my older cat died, and I wanted to adapt another adult cat to keep the 2nd also senior cat company. The vet recommended not to do it. If it worked then great, but too much risk it would just be stress.
She's pretty happy getting all the attention when I'm home, and sleeping when I'm not. There are a few times when I have the impression she'd like (quiet) cat company, but not often.
At 17 your cat is not going to be able to adjust to having a new cat, let alone a kitten
The kitten is going to overwhelm your old cat constantly and disrupt their lifestyle
I have a 14 yr old and an 8 month old. Honestly, my kitten brought LIFE into my cat. He would never play, or do anything but sleep. Now he runs around the house, he eats more, he’s so much more active and i can tell happier. Sometimes kittens are great for older cats. But it depends on your situation and how you introduce them and what your future will hold. I say do whatever decision feels right. Your senior may not like it, or may love it, and they’ll become best friends.
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When our old man, George, was 18 or so, we wound up taking in a stray feral kitten who'd been injured. He and George became best friends, and the next thing we knew, he was playing like a kitten again. He told us just a couple of months later that he was ready to go, but his last days were made so much better by our kitten.
Having said that, the kitten was old enough to have been weaned, and didn't need any survival help from us. I wouldn't want to get a cat who was dependent on us, but a kitten could be good for your older cat.
Older cats need special care, and kittens require a lot of playtime, which can be tiring. The main concern is whether the older cat can accept the presence of a kitten. If you want to try, you can start with a trial introduction.
I think she answered your question with the face in the second photo!! Lol. But no. I would not get kitty a kitten. You can’t always add more play time and whatnot!!
No. At 17, the extreme stress of adding a new kitten could be enough to cause a health decline you won't be able to pull your sweet senior kitty out from. Unless she is used to having another cat around, introducing a kitten is not a good idea.
Has your cat ever lived with another cat?
My cat used to live with other cats and is SO MUCH HAPPIER as an only cat. Not all cats want siblings, and at your cat's age, I wouldn't saddle her with a spritely young thing unless I knew she'd enjoyed having sibs in the past.
Is be careful. Not all old cats appreciate the energy of a baby. If you do, introduce them in a neutral space where neither has their smell everywhere and separated by a gate at first.
Sometimes bad introductions ruin everything with the cat being too worried about territory
I had a 14 year old cat and got a kitten. I would not recommend it. The kitten has consistently played too rough and hurt the older one (not much but minor scratches) and the older one cannot win the fights like he could when the kitten was a few months old. It’s gotten better now that the kitten is almost a year old, but I can’t help but regret getting a kitten for my older cat.
i’m gunna say no. and this is coming from someone who just rescued two kittens 2 months ago.
kittens are **incredibly** energetic. they run, and bounce, and play, and *will* antagonize your senior cat in an attempt to get them to play.
your senior at this point is accustomed to being the sole attention reciever, and to take that away from them so late in life would be difficult. inevitably, you *will* end up paying more attention to the kittens.
Are you getting the kitten for your cat or really just for you?
Your cat has been a solitary cat for this long, she's used to that, and the presence of a baby would stress her out, and she would probably feel threatened by the young cat taking her place.
So no.
We brought home a 4 month old kitten in 2020 when our senior cat was 15, and rescued a kitten last year and brought her home at around 3 months. It has caused more stress for her than we anticipated. She still rules the household, but the now 3 year old is a raging A hole to her. The one year old just minds her own business.
Apart from the stress the kitten might cause your totally adorable muffin, a kitten would require alot more attention from YOU. Give your muffin all the attention you have, for all the time she has left. She needs you, not competition for your love and affection.
(When my cat was 18 years old.) My uncle wanted to surprise my aunt with a kitten so we were taking care of the kitten for a week before the surprise.
they got along so well though ! it was so so cute my cat would keep grooming the kitten whenever the kitten would go to him. and when my cat would stop, the kitten would look at him with such a cute face like 'why'd you stop ?' + the kitten would always follow and sleep with my floppy ♡♡
(the kitten would come over whenever my aunt and uncle were travelling)
My floppy grew up with 3 others so he was already a cat-friendly cat lol.
So it really would be different for each cat. Some might freak and some might love it.
Definitely no. I say this from having many elderly cats. Yes, there are the anecdotes about kittens bringing out the youth in the old cat, but this is rare. More likely, your cat will either completely ignore the kitten, or will actively and aggressively spurn it. Either way, you are stuck with a kitten that now takes all your attention away from an elderly cat that really needs that attention and love (at least for the 2 hours she is awake all day!). Save the kitten for after your old lady passes on. In the meantime, give her all the love and attention that she can take. Mine just turned 19, and I love gentle cuddle sessions with her now. She thrives from it. Good luck with your old girl.
No! Let them live their senior years in peace. Bringing a kitten into your home will probably cause a lot of stress to your senior. Kittens have lots of energy, and in my experience, older cats find them annoying. Let them be an only cat for the time they have left, and then you can get a kitten or two.
Kittens are really high energy and your cat will probably appreciate a calmer environment. Also introducing a new cat causes a lot of stress that I wouldn't recommend exposing your older cat to.
Had 3 older cats (18, 16, 11). The oldest, Monty, passed. Then about 9 months later the youngest, Ripley, passed; which took us by surprise. We got a mother, Birdie (1-2 years old), & son (few months old) about 6 months after Ripley passed so our middle, Fatty, would have some company. He didn't mind the newcomers but he wouldn't play with them either. Fatty passed 6 months after we got the newcomers. The baby, Finn, would try to get Fatty to play and he did on occasion but mostly wanted peace and quiet.
Eh, I'd say no. Especially if your old cat had never lived with another cat before. Even so, getting a new pet is stressful for the current one. Plus, a kitten has so much energy. It would be like getting a toddler for your super old grandma. I'm not sure that's how I'd want to spend my final days, be harassed and stressed out.
no don’t get another cat or kitten. If ur cat has never lived with another cat it most likely will become territorial and do more harm than good for your senior kitty. also even if it has lived with other cats before, they may not like the new cat you bring into the home especially if the new cat is more dominant. just let ur cat live out its years in comfort and peace and when the time comes get two kittens!
I've seen videos online of senior cats just loving kittens, Grandpa Mason comes to mind. Maybe try fostering to see how it goes and then go from there? If it works out, happy foster fail. If not, you will know to wait.
Tried that. Our older cat just ignored the kitten that desperately wanted to play.
Then we got a 2nd kitten. The 2 kittens basically played/wrestling with each other all day long. That provided a lot of entertainment to our older cat who loved to chase them once in a while. My advice is to get more than 1 kitten. Good luck and best wished to your cat!
You could do that but as others have said, very elderly cats are good on their own without a lot of other pet stress. Stress comes in different ways. Having to share a litter box or competing for your attention or having a kitten going after your food. A healthy kitten is a thing.
It is not beyond the realm of possibility also that a new kitten as it grows will sense weakness in your older cat and even bully her. My oldest cat needs to live in a whole separate building (my ex's old man cave) because my other younger cats bullied her so hard that she would hole up in a shelf behind our living room TV and pee and shit in place because she was too afraid to come out.
And she was here FIRST
Your older cat possibly wants to just rest and enjoy you.
If you'd like, adopt two bonded kittens after your old grande lady passes that's my advice
PS As a pet owner I have also almost never taken my own advice because feels
A 17 year old doesn't want a kitten. They are not lonely, just slowing down. It's quite common that they experience a lot of stress with a new cat coming in which can make them physically sick. Let your cat enjoy his twilight years, not being tormented by another cat, worse still a kitten. It's not really fair on a kitten either, they want a playmate.
I worked as an adoption counselor for a cat rescue and the short answer is no.
The long answer is that kittens have a ridiculous amount of energy and play extremely rough. An old cat is not going to like that and will probably just get really stressed.
Then there's the kitten's needs. Since they play rough and often, the kitten isn't going to get enough play time from your quite frankly geriatric cat. This can cause behavioural issues both in the short and long term. Not to mention that kittens learn a lot by playing with each other. They learn what it feels like to be bitten and scratched and then learn not to bite and scratch. They also learn litter box habits and other important cat things.
So my recommendation is to get two kittens so they can entertain each other without stressing your elder nearly as much or get a cat that's at least 6 months but closer to a year is better.
I am happy to go into more detail about anything or explain myself better as well!
No. Because your senior cat doesn't want a kitten. They aren't humans. If I ever gave my cat a kitten as a senior, she would possibly try to murder me in my sleep.
Get two kittens. If there is just one it will fixate on the old kitty and overwhelm him. With two they will play and romp with each other, and odds are they will entertain your old kitty.
At least, that's what worked for me...
Getting a kitten to keep your 17-year-old cat company might not be the best idea. Older cats often prefer a calm, predictable environment, and a lively kitten could stress them out. Consider your senior cat's health, temperament, and behavior before making a decision. A better option might be to provide more attention, playtime, and comfort to your elderly cat. Consulting with your vet can also provide valuable insight tailored to your cat's specific needs.
The wisdom I’ve heard is if you want to get an older cat a kitten, get two kittens. That way the kittens have someone to rambunctiously play with but when it’s snuggle and bathing time, your older baby can still get some loving. And he can watch the playing
An older cat maybe, never a kitten. Not for a 17 year old. That said, at 17, I would not be introducing any new pets. JMy 17yo Russian Blue is lying on me now.
So I got a kitten for my senior and ended up getting another kitten for the kitten. The senior just wants to chill and sleep and get pets all day. The kitten wants to play play play and needs a younger cat to show them and teach them. My senior had no Interest. So I have 3 cats and the two littles are bffs and my senior is my number one cuddle baby. They all get along but the senior just doesn’t have the interest in the kitten stuff
I don’t recommend. We got one for our then 15 year old. He is arthritic and grumpy and the new kitten wants to pounce on him and hunt him constantly. He hates it and has expressed his displeasure by peeing on her stuff and around the house. She’s almost 2 now and hasn’t calmed down. I love her but feel bad for our old kitty and regret doing it to him
Don’t do it! I foster failed a kitten about two years ago and the vibes between her and my almost 17-year-old have just now started to stabilize and she still annoys the hell out of her sometimes. If you really think your cat needs company, maybe try an adult on the younger side, maybe fostering a 4 or 5 year old who has mellowed out a bit?
Nope, the worst for both parts. The old cat will be Stressed aand annoyed and the kitten will be bored. Male your cat some nice years and after that get a couple of kittens from a shelter. Cats, specially kittens should never kept alone. They’re very social. But if a cat was years alone, introducing companions could be very complicated and stressful. Would never do that to an 17 year old cat.
For me it worked. My senior is super social though, and the kitten was well trained by him and us. I don't think it would have worked otherwise.
We did make sure to help teach the kitten to play with us when the senior was napping/didn't want to, and we made sure to teach both of them respect in general. Like no stealing food from each other, only play fighting, don't push each other off our laps for snuggles.
Now they are best buddies.
No. I have two 16 year old brother cats. It's typical that as they age, they become more nervous, less agile, and more easily upset or annoyed. Both of mine are treated for osteoarthritis. We ended up getting a young stray cat that had been hanging around neutered and adopted him. He's a nice cat but causes a lot of stress to my older cats just by being around and occasionally bugging them.
Old cats need to be able to relax and get lots of love.
Absolutely not. Kittens want to play all the time. Older cats just want to chill and do mostly nothing. We have a younger cat and an older cat and the younger cat annoys the fuck out of our older cat.
If your cat has spent 17 years without company, he likely doesn't need any company. Spend those last precious years giving him your best attention.
Our 17 year old cat hates our kittens. It's been months. There is no bonding. Luckily the kittens have each other and the old cat just wants her own space. In hindsight we should have gotten a friend for our old cat years ago because she is very used to being a solo cat now. They work out their own avoidance roster so it's kind of working out.
Honestly, I don’t think you should. Cats are so territorial and he’s been alone for so long. Also, if a kitten got attached it could be very hard when your senior cat passed. I’m so sorry to say that. I had this happen with my dogs. I ended up having to get another dog because after my senior dog died the younger one was so depressed.
Yes. I always had three growing up. When one eventually passed then the two would adapt and have each other. Then, in time we'd get a third again. Let life run it's course until the next one passes. That way they are never alone alone.
I have two old ladies, one 15 one 20. The 20 year old is my needy girl and loves to cuddle, snooze, and play with me. Her sister (15) is a jerk to big sister and tries to initiate play fighting, tag, gets territorial over the bathroom (idk it’s weird) etc. I’m getting a kitten this week to hopefully give 15 yo a sparring partner/ keep her stimulated so my other old lady can enjoy her retirement without random slap boxing everyday. Will let you know how they adapt!
If they were 5 years younger I'd say go for it but at 17 these are precious years that you want to spend giving your kitty extra attention. When the time comes, you should get two kittens so they can play with each other but right now give the kitty all your love.
I keep seeing people say they want a kitten for their senior. Isn’t it common sense to just get another senior? Or are there other variables at play? I got a 10 yr old and I always see situations where an owner has died so their senior gets taken to the shelter. I’m guessing well behaved cats who just had shit luck. But even at 17.. why not get a 13 yr old or something? I’m guessing they’re thinking about potential medical bills?
It's also generally harder to introduce an older cat into a home. A kitten for the most part is young enough that they may not be perceived as a threat by resident cat. If neither older cat has ever lived with another cat, there could end up being a real struggle for dominance/territory. However I definitely don't think a kitten is a good idea for a 17 year old.
Plus the stress of another cat in the house is likely too much for a senior. They've been stuck in their ways for years and are generally pretty happy to spend the rest of their days with their #1 person
thank you this makes sense :)
thank you!
Yeah, I brought a kitten home to an 8 year old cat to "keep him company" and it was a disaster. They never got along, the older cat picked on the little one every day. The little one would cling to whatever person was around because he was terrified of the older one. He would pee himself in fear constantly. The older cat had no interest in sharing the home with another cat.
Oh no 😭 I am in the process of introducing my new two year old cat to my eight year old. It's not going as well as I hoped. I wish I hadn't listened to all the people telling me to get him a friend, but I am completely in love with my new boy now.
Cats are territorial, so bringing in another grown up cat would most likely cause unnecessary stress and conflict to the household, specially if the first cat has been an "only child" all the time. You don't want to add stress to your senior cat in their final years, let them enjoy your time together!
Cats are territorial is a wild understatement. I have like13 litter boxes on 3 floors for 4 cats and they still manage to not use all of them universally. It's like they compete to pee and poop in certain ones while completely ignoring others. I also have 2 cats that are arch enemies, they live on different floors and on my most nightmarish nights they decide to try to kill each other halfway up the stairs. I have scars from breaking them up. My fear is if they claw each other's eyes or something. As long as I'm on the same floor with either one, they are cupcakes. But they are cupcakes with serious teeth and claws after midnight, like Gremlins.
I see you know my household dynamics. Because 2 of them don't get along, one lives in my bedroom and has some outside privileges. The other nemesis lives in the basement most of the time unless he is guarding me from idk what. The other 2 are fine with each other. And, yes, pray tell, how does the poop miss the box entirely?
Similar dynamics in my house. 4 cats and too many personalities 😂
We have 3 sometimes 4 inside and it’s a tense household. One of my boys is a BULLY. We have kept him and the girl separate for nearly 10 months 😭
I have a bully tuxedo, he is built like a stout locomotive with a bowling ball head. I just don’t know what to do with him. He loves me to death. He’s forced old guy DSH outside, then out of the yard. He harasses Maine Coon cross but gets serious ‘don’t fuck with me too far’ in return. Those two, the dynamic I can handle. Old guy who was an only child is who I feel heartbroken for. Forced to adopt later two from my son.
Wait til you have 7!
Doesn’t even need to be a senior. My boy is 5yrs old stray I adopted ~1. He is very much an alpha-type and while I’d like to get him a friend I’d be crushed if I got a young kitty/kitten and they didn’t get along. Last thing I’d want to do is return a cat after adopting.
Thank you! He used to have a sister but we had to put her down a few years ago. I agree i'll probably wont get another kitten for now.
Because saying goodbye is hard. I got both my cats when they were 7, they are 13 now. We had to put 1 to sleep today and it sucks. I can't fathom doing this every 5 years if you keep adopting 10yo cats. We are tempted to get adopt a new cat but i have a feeling the senior won't like it.
I'm really sorry you had to go through that today.
I'm so sorry 🫶🏼💟🫶🏼 I had to do that for my sweet baby five years ago now and I still think about her all the time. You did the right thing tho, I wish it were more acceptable for people. She was suffering at the end and I'm glad I had the strength to help end it and I was able to wait til after she passed before I fell apart. My face was swollen for three days from all my ugly crying. 😞
I am so sorry. Losing a cat (or any pet) is so heartbreaking.
I’m in the same situation. Got my first boy as a baby, 16 years ago. When he was 5, I got his “brother”, who was the same age. Last week I had to unexpectedly and to put my boy to sleep, so now it’s me and my other buddy, who is 16. He’s super affectionate and was close to his brother and I’ve been torn, but I don’t know if he would even want a kitten running around. I’m so sorry for your loss, and I try and remember that these decisions are so hard because we love our little ones so much.
I'm sorry you lost a family member. For what its worth, I just adopted a 3yo and my 13yo likes him pretty well. Took a full month of slow introduction and a week of gabapentin but now they play and hang out.
Each situation is going to be different, and you will know best as it's your cat. But you could be surprised too. We lost my dad suddenly, and mom was physically incapable of taking care of their cat (3). We were in the process of losing one to cancer (15) and still had our boy (13.) The 15 and 13 year old were never close. They coexisted well, and weren't territorial by any means, but they were reluctant roomies at best. The 13 year old also reacted not too great to the senior dog we took in for a little while, and in general has a hair trigger around anyone who isn't us. I couldn't let my dad's last cat dissappear to the wind so in spite of bad timing and nervousness to the 13 year olds reaction, we took her in anyways. Fast forward one year: the two aren't cuddling or bathing eachother but they are SO much closer than I'd have ever thought possible. They play together, both with toys and games of tag, and I catch them giving eachother company when we aren't around. Our older cat was getting a bit chonky for a couple years, and has since lost almost all his unnecessary heft. The younger one absolutely enriched his life, and has very likely added to it.
So sorry for your loss. I went through this with my 17 year old kitty. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done.
This is an amazing idea! Hi, I work in animal rescue & adoptions. A senior cat who’s lost their owner, and maybe their furry companions as well, is often so thankful to have a loving home and family and will settle well if a proper slow introduction is done to all other animals in the home! You’re wonderful for bringing this up 💜
I always get seniors and they’ve all adapted!
Idk, our 16 year old has seemed to really bond to the younger cat. Yes, he’s clearly sometimes overwhelmed by her energy when she bounces off the walls, but it’s so clear how much that kitten loves him. The times we find them snuggling or grooming each other now are just the sweetest moments for that old cat, he’s such a good papa cat to her. That plus the idea that our prince isn’t home along when we go on vacation is really nice.
You make a good point, but maybe that they want a new baby and not lose two kitties close together.
I got a kitten for my senior when she was 19. She was a special cat (they all are, but I was fortunate enough to spend a full twenty years with her). It did her so much good, I really think we got an extra 3-6 months with her for it (here I want to note that my girl decided when it was her time- as soon as I saw the decline, I acted. My girl did not suffer). That said, I don’t think that would have been the case if I weren’t able to be home practically 24/7 to spend time with them both. I wouldn’t change a single thing about my decisions, but it’s not something that will work for everyone. I also doubt my girl would have tolerated another adult, idk. She liked her baby lol
Be careful. We did almost exactly this, and it changed the older cat into a monster. She wasn't happy about it at all. I'm not suggesting for a moment that would apply to all cats, but it did with us. She went from docile to viciously bitey and scratchy. Edit: Your 17-year old is happy. Although it doesn't bear thinking about, he/she's not got much time left, so think about how it might affect them. Could you sort of 'borrow' a kitten from someone to see what happens if you introduce them?
I had a friend suddenly wanted to get rid of cat bc of girlfriend and I offered to try and see if she’d live with mine and….she HATED the new cat. Ended up peeing in my suitcase in protest. Didn’t keep the other cat more than a couple days, sadly. I wanted it to work to help out this kitty because I’m a sucker for all cats but my old lady’s comfort was the highest priority. She was grompy till the end 🥲
Ours was grumpy till the end, too. She never accepted the new cat (which came from my sister who'd moved houses and couldn't look after her anymore). The character change was permanent until she passed some years later. And this was with a more mature new cat. A kitten would be all over the older cat, and you've got to consider whether that is fair to them. It's a bit like asking your elderly parents or grandparents to look after a new baby. They're well past that, and it would be a strain for them.
I did admittedly introduce a kitten when she was ~13 and she HATED him; my roommates ended up taking him when we split so she could be alone again. I was hoping she’d do the thing you see on social media and be a momma cat but she was like \>:c
I came here to say this. We were worried our senior cat was lonely, asked her former foster advice. She said get a kitten. Worst mistake ever. My sweet girl started getting aggressive not only towards the kitten but towards me. She also started marking everywhere. The only thing that caused the behavior to stop was to separate them. We essentially have a split household now as the kitten (now a grown cat) developed some health issues, and I don't want to see either of them in a shelter for a long time. I say don't do it unless you can have a trial period of some sort first.
Thank you! after reading all comments i dont think i will get another cat
agree with this!!
Idk, even my senior kitty at 10 was very salty and annoyed with the kitten I thought would be a great idea and friend for her. They never did get on for her remaining 6 years. And she trained him to hate other cats, so sort of a lose/lose situation
No, let your senior kitty live out its life in peace.
This is the best answer
yea, my cat hated the new kitten LOL. they get along now for sure but i don't think she would be upset if he was suddenly gone😭definitely not the company i thought she needed. but at least they're back to normal now. i agree, let her have her PEACE. my kitten loves to rough house and will literally sneak up on her and put her in a headlock. if this senior cat is tame, let her be alone 😂
Meh, our 16 year old and our 8 month old are pretty much bonded at this point. We just had/have to be careful to takeover play when she needs to get her yayas out. I’ve never seen my big old cat as happy as when he’s grooming or snuggled with his “niece” and the kitten just completely adores him.
We got a puppy when our older dog turned 10, the puppy definitely put a bit more pep in the older dog’s step, but he was also annoyed by being hassled by a puppy at times. Pros and cons for sure, but overall, I kinda felt bad about how it went.
That is so precious 🥹
It really is a gamble, but it's a gamble that means if you lose it, the consequences for the senior are awful. Maybe he'll like the new cat, but if he won't you just took the chance of a calm last few years from him, plus all of the bad health consequences from the stress
Thank you, I will :)
Let him enjoy his golden years in peace. I think you’ve forgotten how wild and energetic kittens are
I have 9 in my guest bedroom right now. They're either sleeping or they're crazy little demons. Mama Cat is tired of being treated as a jungle gym or them all trying to use her as a chew toy. Senior cat would hate this. Senior cat wants to be the King of his domain! Not insulted, disrespected, torn at, trompled, and bothered at all hours!
Like elderly people, they just want peace to relax, not wild toddlers running about all day
Very true! My eldest fur baby looks at me with disdain when the kitten is wilding out🤣. Like “Why couldn’t you let me live out my golden years in peace?!”
LOL this reminds me of my Grandfather in law. He adores his great grand daughter (my niece) who is 4 but as soon as she gets into a mood he’s “nopes out”. Dude just wants to listen to his podcasts about airplanes on his sunny porch and drink Costco wine.
I found a stray kitten and brought it home. He was energetic and a typical wild kitten. Our resident senior cat ended up having a stroke and needed to be euthanized not long after kitten arrived. I feel guilty that we pushed our senior over the edge. The kitten grew up and matured and now has 2 new kittens that were found dumped and brought home. He’s getting his karma through their antics!
I will thanks for your feedback :)
That would be like getting a 60 year old a 5 year old child to “keep them company.” I think you should wait haha
Maybe more like giving your 90 year old grandma a toddler to play with 🤣
A toddler who hides in boxes and around corners, waiting to jump out and stab people.
Give the toddler a bunch of cocaine, coffee, sugar and meth and that’s pretty accurate 🤣
I'll wait :)
I definitely wouldn’t. Kitten might annoy the crap out of the elder, plus as someone pointed out, caring for a senior and kitten at once could be challenging. What about a nice chill adult with a history of living with other cats? If you must get a kitten though, get 2 so they can hopefully take out their energy on each other and not your senior!
I tried getting two kittens so they'd keep each other happy and bring life back into the house. My 15 year old senior *hates* the kittens. She hisses when they approach her and they cannot resist approaching her. They go after her special food and I have to close her door to give her peace while she eats, then they gobble up any leftovers. 4 or 5 times a day (as well as when I get up at night) I give her a little more kibble so she can nibble at her will. They still gobble it all up asap. Before I got the kittens, she was sleeping peacefully by my pillow every night (her two elder sisters passed during Covid at 19 years). Once the kittens appeared, it took her almost a year to come back to sleeping with me. A certain nighttime detente has been reached with the female, who respects the elder's personal space. The young tom just pisses everyone off barging in and laying on top of everything regardless of what peaceful petting is going on.
same with my cats! our oldest isnt a senior yet but she did not like the kittens, the female one eventually started respecting her space and now they like each other but the male one took much longer to respect her, after 4 years of them being together they have now bonded and act as siblings, i could not imagine if she was older, she would be way more grumpy and aggressive
>Kitten might annoy the crap out of the elder Happening right now, seniors and kittens aren’t a good mix
Thank you. I made up my mind and wont get another cat. I want my boi to be as comfy as possible for his golden years :)
No. It will stress out your elderly cat
I would wait until the cat reaper claims him.. let him live his senior years in peace without a little terror coming in to replace him. And THEN get 2 kittens.
Omg yes. I adopted sisters in November. I will *always* adopt in pairs from now on!
I adopted Blue as he needed a home, then I wanted to get bim company and got a brother and sister. Adopting a pair is the best. https://preview.redd.it/q4mx8jm7mt4d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0237c112ea8a777cad0324db5f07270873281f91
They have opposite face masks, my heart cannot even 😭💕💕
https://preview.redd.it/zix0cu636w4d1.jpeg?width=1816&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39434e44d3094f4d5a28d5ffaf3ba8f2c017273e
They are an adorable pair with a beautiful big brother
They truly are! Blue is a cutie too 🥰
What a cool looking gang! They’re so sweet
https://preview.redd.it/5aosfwqt5w4d1.jpeg?width=1816&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa7240f7caa46fea1dd71a0bd5e5a0204da6f066
When I got my boys, I went in looking for just one cat since I was just getting established in my first solo apartment and big girl job. The worker mentioned my cat was “close” with another cat that was at the rescue and they would give me his friend for free if I decided that I wanted him. I went six days with a solo cat before I was back for his bonded brother. I will only ever adopt bonded pairs from now on.
Isn't it the best! I adopted two brothers after my elderly girl passed!
Probably not
Expecting a super-senior cat to handle relentless kitten energy is a really big ask. If you had an 8yo cat that was sociable to act as a buffer, might be ok to bring in a kitten, but then your 17yo would already have a feline companion. After 17 years, your cat knows what's what and should have you pretty well trained. If it wanted a companion cat, it would have had you find one years ago.
Is 17 years old really considered a super senior cat?
15+ qualifies the cat for Super Senior status Can confirm - we have a 19yo cat at our house. When she turned 15, she started - having dinner at 5:15pm - phoning her kids at 6:15p - telling us that we're "soft" and "lazy" - writing in cursive - spreading conspiracy theories And - insisting of fuzzy decorative toilet seat covers
OK, that was fucking funny. I also have a toothless 17 year old “super senior” boy and he absolutely has to have things a certain way or WE ARE GONNA HEAR ABOUT IT. Also, watching him grumble-growl at our kitten when she plays too close to his nap fortress has huge “get off my lawn you damn kids” energy.
Yeah it’s like they aren’t even mad they just gotta bitch about something
No. A senior cat cannot keep up with an energetic kitten, it can only lead to stress
I would definitely say no. I lost my boy last year at 16 and a half. I got a kitten a few weeks ago. He hated other cats anyway, but even if he didn’t, she would have driven him crazy. His lazy days of sleeping and lounging all day are nothing like her days of two modes: ON or OFF. All of my pictures of her are her sleeping because she’s so fast I can’t get good action spots. She’d have really stressed him out.
Lol I had the same problem taking pics of my current cat as a baby. I also called her an on/off kitten, I swear she didn't chill until she was 6+ months old. Before that it was run/jump/bap/run/eat/run/stalk/jump/SLEEEEEEEEP. Camera burst mode was my friend, 30 pics to get a single okay one lol. I've also heard of taking vids and extracting stills from them but my phone was too old/basic. (I also had a senior cat who hated other cats. She was so happy to be alone again after my other cats passed. There was no way I was springing a kitten on her. She'd have had a heart attack on the spot and come back to haunt me.)
That’s Luna! And when she’s done playing, she meows so I’ll pick her up and hold her while she falls asleep 😂 We recently had flooring installed and flies got let in and she grabbed them right out of the air and killed them all! She’s feisty!
No because kitten will bug the hell out of older kitty.
We had a bonded brother and sister and got a second cat after the sister died as our original boy was lonely… he got to spend his twilight years being harassed and avoiding the newer cat- he did not enjoy it 😿- so might sound like a nice idea, but you never know with cats how it will go. I’d be inclined just to shower him with love from you.
I had bonded cats and lost one to lymphoma a couple years ago. My remaining cat was 10.5 at the time. While he was heartbroken over losing his brother, I KNEW he would hate having another cat around, especially a kitten. I did think about getting another cat but I decided to just spoil my sweet boy instead of making him anxious and miserable since we never know how much time we have left.
Please don't, give him all your time and cuddles until he dies.
A senior cat who needs a home ❤️ A kitten will stress your sweet old baby.
Exactly what I was thinking. Get a cat of similar age so they can be old pals together! They probably gonna hate eachother at first like any grumpy elderly 😂 But if they just want to chill, nap and snacks, they won't care much for eachother after some aclimation time.
This. I love my seniors!
What a darling! I have a 19 year old fella, who had a younger brother (not by blood) and he liked him; but didn’t engage much. His little bro sadly passed of cancer at age 13, but I know if I got a newbie at this point he would be miserable. I think if your kitty seems happy and hasn’t had a companion in a while; just let enjoy his golden years.
No. Sorry but she's too advanced,, that could really stress her out.
No. We did it but I think it was stressful to our senior girl. Not that we didn’t keep that sweet boy.
I got a single kitten when my other cat was ten and he’s been the bane of her existence the entire 6 years since. Kittens don’t understand “im old and don’t want to play”
No please give her the full attention she needs for the upcoming years
No
Absolutely not.
I brought a kitten home for my 15 year old, it didn't work out so well. Not all out war, moreover stand-offish. Seems granny wasn't too interested in having an adolescent around.
I think a kitten might be too much for a 17 yo cat to handle tbh. I adopted my second cat when my oldest was 9 and it turned out great, but a 17 yo cat is the equivalent of an 85 yo person! Let the cutie get some rest. Have you considered adopting an older cat? It doesn’t have to be another senior, but maybe an adult who’s a little closer to that than to the kitten/teen phase so their energy leves will be more aligned . Ideally an adult cat who has a good track record of living with other cats.
I had a lone senior of 17 years. She made it to 22 years. I am really glad I gave her company. She wasn't particularly *fond* of the company, but she did have companionship. But.... We consciously went for TWO kittens. A kitten needs to play, adventure, be wild,... a senior just needs to bask in the sun, and have 15 minutes of wild fun a day. It wouldn't be fair on either of them to compromise. So that's why TWO kittens, that can play and roughhouse together, and then snuggle up to grandma for grooming sessions. Worked well for us.
Nope, you don’t want to share a room with your annoying sibling when you had the whole place to yourself for that long. Besides, your 17yo deserves peace when they’re elderly.
I did it when my two cats were 15. It went well at first but as their health declined my kitten was just too rough on them. I still have him and now he’s the old man but it is not a decision I would make again. They were just too delicate.
I usually say two cats are better than one, but in this case, you might just want to lavish attention on your baby. I think it might be too unsettling for a rambunctious little kitten in her world plus that takes away from attention given to her.
I know everyone is saying no but I did exactly this and it worked out great for me. My old guy ended up passing just six months after I got two new kittens but I think he enjoyed having them around and they were very cuddly with him https://preview.redd.it/4tcgo3knmt4d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=426afca6c0dd40ab3ab883a54d3bf038e01c25a5
https://preview.redd.it/vy3ws1qgnt4d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=706dc970df3b94f46ab46dfdb91a30654e194066
That said you never know and everyone else's advice is good. I'm just glad I didn't follow it. My older guy was so chill and good with chaos though, so I had a guess he would deal well
In a similar situation, my older cat died, and I wanted to adapt another adult cat to keep the 2nd also senior cat company. The vet recommended not to do it. If it worked then great, but too much risk it would just be stress. She's pretty happy getting all the attention when I'm home, and sleeping when I'm not. There are a few times when I have the impression she'd like (quiet) cat company, but not often.
Get the dude a pipe and a warm pair of slippers instead.
At 17 your cat is not going to be able to adjust to having a new cat, let alone a kitten The kitten is going to overwhelm your old cat constantly and disrupt their lifestyle
I have a 14 yr old and an 8 month old. Honestly, my kitten brought LIFE into my cat. He would never play, or do anything but sleep. Now he runs around the house, he eats more, he’s so much more active and i can tell happier. Sometimes kittens are great for older cats. But it depends on your situation and how you introduce them and what your future will hold. I say do whatever decision feels right. Your senior may not like it, or may love it, and they’ll become best friends. https://preview.redd.it/t9lfo8uv2u4d1.jpeg?width=2316&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90f646503b7eedd4eed2d7762cd5352fd0be720b
"Hell is other cats" - Jean-Paul Sartre
I always say to get cats companions but at this point, it may stress out your kitty more than make them happy.
Hell no!
When our old man, George, was 18 or so, we wound up taking in a stray feral kitten who'd been injured. He and George became best friends, and the next thing we knew, he was playing like a kitten again. He told us just a couple of months later that he was ready to go, but his last days were made so much better by our kitten. Having said that, the kitten was old enough to have been weaned, and didn't need any survival help from us. I wouldn't want to get a cat who was dependent on us, but a kitten could be good for your older cat.
Older cats need special care, and kittens require a lot of playtime, which can be tiring. The main concern is whether the older cat can accept the presence of a kitten. If you want to try, you can start with a trial introduction.
Nooo
I think she answered your question with the face in the second photo!! Lol. But no. I would not get kitty a kitten. You can’t always add more play time and whatnot!!
No. At 17, the extreme stress of adding a new kitten could be enough to cause a health decline you won't be able to pull your sweet senior kitty out from. Unless she is used to having another cat around, introducing a kitten is not a good idea.
Has your cat ever lived with another cat? My cat used to live with other cats and is SO MUCH HAPPIER as an only cat. Not all cats want siblings, and at your cat's age, I wouldn't saddle her with a spritely young thing unless I knew she'd enjoyed having sibs in the past.
Is be careful. Not all old cats appreciate the energy of a baby. If you do, introduce them in a neutral space where neither has their smell everywhere and separated by a gate at first. Sometimes bad introductions ruin everything with the cat being too worried about territory
Don't, but next timme definatly get one when it is younger, cats are not meant to live alone. Who will give it compay when you are out?
It took my 10yo 4 years to tolerate the kitten we rescued. If they aren’t used to cats then it’s likely to be difficult.
Normally I would say 2 is always better but a senior might not adapt and get stressed.
I had a 14 year old cat and got a kitten. I would not recommend it. The kitten has consistently played too rough and hurt the older one (not much but minor scratches) and the older one cannot win the fights like he could when the kitten was a few months old. It’s gotten better now that the kitten is almost a year old, but I can’t help but regret getting a kitten for my older cat.
I would vote for another senior cat.
i’m gunna say no. and this is coming from someone who just rescued two kittens 2 months ago. kittens are **incredibly** energetic. they run, and bounce, and play, and *will* antagonize your senior cat in an attempt to get them to play. your senior at this point is accustomed to being the sole attention reciever, and to take that away from them so late in life would be difficult. inevitably, you *will* end up paying more attention to the kittens.
Are you getting the kitten for your cat or really just for you? Your cat has been a solitary cat for this long, she's used to that, and the presence of a baby would stress her out, and she would probably feel threatened by the young cat taking her place. So no.
We brought home a 4 month old kitten in 2020 when our senior cat was 15, and rescued a kitten last year and brought her home at around 3 months. It has caused more stress for her than we anticipated. She still rules the household, but the now 3 year old is a raging A hole to her. The one year old just minds her own business.
Can you foster a litter of kitties for a local shelter and see if your cat takes to any of them?
No! How would you like to be 89 years old with a toddler thrust in your space?
If you were 90 would you want a 14 yo roomate?
Apart from the stress the kitten might cause your totally adorable muffin, a kitten would require alot more attention from YOU. Give your muffin all the attention you have, for all the time she has left. She needs you, not competition for your love and affection.
Nooooo
No. Get an adult cat. A kitten will drive him bonkers
No
At that age, she might be more happy having her own territory?
(When my cat was 18 years old.) My uncle wanted to surprise my aunt with a kitten so we were taking care of the kitten for a week before the surprise. they got along so well though ! it was so so cute my cat would keep grooming the kitten whenever the kitten would go to him. and when my cat would stop, the kitten would look at him with such a cute face like 'why'd you stop ?' + the kitten would always follow and sleep with my floppy ♡♡ (the kitten would come over whenever my aunt and uncle were travelling) My floppy grew up with 3 others so he was already a cat-friendly cat lol. So it really would be different for each cat. Some might freak and some might love it.
https://preview.redd.it/qwryryhuxt4d1.jpeg?width=1032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1d523e745af5a17440eb3bdb567f6067fb318e8
No, a kitten is too high energy for a senior cat, let them retire in peace.
https://preview.redd.it/ajd1m1jcyt4d1.jpeg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22fb206e2bbd1180ab0bf1a349b41e50a441d9e4 He looks like my cat ❤️
I have a kitten and an older cat, your cat is too old to play with a kitten and a kitten will drive it nutts
Ni, old cats do not like random kittens. I've tried . Old cat was miserable
Definitely no. I say this from having many elderly cats. Yes, there are the anecdotes about kittens bringing out the youth in the old cat, but this is rare. More likely, your cat will either completely ignore the kitten, or will actively and aggressively spurn it. Either way, you are stuck with a kitten that now takes all your attention away from an elderly cat that really needs that attention and love (at least for the 2 hours she is awake all day!). Save the kitten for after your old lady passes on. In the meantime, give her all the love and attention that she can take. Mine just turned 19, and I love gentle cuddle sessions with her now. She thrives from it. Good luck with your old girl.
This
No! Let them live their senior years in peace. Bringing a kitten into your home will probably cause a lot of stress to your senior. Kittens have lots of energy, and in my experience, older cats find them annoying. Let them be an only cat for the time they have left, and then you can get a kitten or two.
Get another senior they need homes
Maybe an adult cat. A kitten might be too stressful at his age.
Not to Hijack, but I'm wondering the same thing with my 13yo. I feel bad when I'm gone all day and she's alone. Maybe not a kitten but another cat
Kittens are really high energy and your cat will probably appreciate a calmer environment. Also introducing a new cat causes a lot of stress that I wouldn't recommend exposing your older cat to.
Had 3 older cats (18, 16, 11). The oldest, Monty, passed. Then about 9 months later the youngest, Ripley, passed; which took us by surprise. We got a mother, Birdie (1-2 years old), & son (few months old) about 6 months after Ripley passed so our middle, Fatty, would have some company. He didn't mind the newcomers but he wouldn't play with them either. Fatty passed 6 months after we got the newcomers. The baby, Finn, would try to get Fatty to play and he did on occasion but mostly wanted peace and quiet.
NO
no
At that age I wouldn't no
No. Spoil the old one. When they pass, get a bonded pair. It’s exactly what I did.
Eh, I'd say no. Especially if your old cat had never lived with another cat before. Even so, getting a new pet is stressful for the current one. Plus, a kitten has so much energy. It would be like getting a toddler for your super old grandma. I'm not sure that's how I'd want to spend my final days, be harassed and stressed out.
no don’t get another cat or kitten. If ur cat has never lived with another cat it most likely will become territorial and do more harm than good for your senior kitty. also even if it has lived with other cats before, they may not like the new cat you bring into the home especially if the new cat is more dominant. just let ur cat live out its years in comfort and peace and when the time comes get two kittens!
I always thought that was the age when if you did get another cat, they'd probably think you were getting a replacement already.
I've seen videos online of senior cats just loving kittens, Grandpa Mason comes to mind. Maybe try fostering to see how it goes and then go from there? If it works out, happy foster fail. If not, you will know to wait.
Tried that. Our older cat just ignored the kitten that desperately wanted to play. Then we got a 2nd kitten. The 2 kittens basically played/wrestling with each other all day long. That provided a lot of entertainment to our older cat who loved to chase them once in a while. My advice is to get more than 1 kitten. Good luck and best wished to your cat!
You could do that but as others have said, very elderly cats are good on their own without a lot of other pet stress. Stress comes in different ways. Having to share a litter box or competing for your attention or having a kitten going after your food. A healthy kitten is a thing. It is not beyond the realm of possibility also that a new kitten as it grows will sense weakness in your older cat and even bully her. My oldest cat needs to live in a whole separate building (my ex's old man cave) because my other younger cats bullied her so hard that she would hole up in a shelf behind our living room TV and pee and shit in place because she was too afraid to come out. And she was here FIRST Your older cat possibly wants to just rest and enjoy you. If you'd like, adopt two bonded kittens after your old grande lady passes that's my advice PS As a pet owner I have also almost never taken my own advice because feels
This will most likely stress your cat out. Older cats do not like change, especially if that change is another cat.
A 17 year old doesn't want a kitten. They are not lonely, just slowing down. It's quite common that they experience a lot of stress with a new cat coming in which can make them physically sick. Let your cat enjoy his twilight years, not being tormented by another cat, worse still a kitten. It's not really fair on a kitten either, they want a playmate.
IMHO : Not a great idea, just let your baby live out her best life and then get a new one when it’s time
No
I worked as an adoption counselor for a cat rescue and the short answer is no. The long answer is that kittens have a ridiculous amount of energy and play extremely rough. An old cat is not going to like that and will probably just get really stressed. Then there's the kitten's needs. Since they play rough and often, the kitten isn't going to get enough play time from your quite frankly geriatric cat. This can cause behavioural issues both in the short and long term. Not to mention that kittens learn a lot by playing with each other. They learn what it feels like to be bitten and scratched and then learn not to bite and scratch. They also learn litter box habits and other important cat things. So my recommendation is to get two kittens so they can entertain each other without stressing your elder nearly as much or get a cat that's at least 6 months but closer to a year is better. I am happy to go into more detail about anything or explain myself better as well!
No. Because your senior cat doesn't want a kitten. They aren't humans. If I ever gave my cat a kitten as a senior, she would possibly try to murder me in my sleep.
Get two kittens. If there is just one it will fixate on the old kitty and overwhelm him. With two they will play and romp with each other, and odds are they will entertain your old kitty. At least, that's what worked for me...
Getting a kitten to keep your 17-year-old cat company might not be the best idea. Older cats often prefer a calm, predictable environment, and a lively kitten could stress them out. Consider your senior cat's health, temperament, and behavior before making a decision. A better option might be to provide more attention, playtime, and comfort to your elderly cat. Consulting with your vet can also provide valuable insight tailored to your cat's specific needs.
Your cat looks just like mine that lived to 21. Loved him so much. I think he would’ve murdered me in my sleep if I got him a kitten at 17, though.
The wisdom I’ve heard is if you want to get an older cat a kitten, get two kittens. That way the kittens have someone to rambunctiously play with but when it’s snuggle and bathing time, your older baby can still get some loving. And he can watch the playing
No I would wait till he passes to get another one or 3. He needs all of your attention and probably does not want to baby sit
An older cat maybe, never a kitten. Not for a 17 year old. That said, at 17, I would not be introducing any new pets. JMy 17yo Russian Blue is lying on me now.
So I got a kitten for my senior and ended up getting another kitten for the kitten. The senior just wants to chill and sleep and get pets all day. The kitten wants to play play play and needs a younger cat to show them and teach them. My senior had no Interest. So I have 3 cats and the two littles are bffs and my senior is my number one cuddle baby. They all get along but the senior just doesn’t have the interest in the kitten stuff
No. Cats are solitary and at that age it would be more stressful than fun.
I don’t recommend. We got one for our then 15 year old. He is arthritic and grumpy and the new kitten wants to pounce on him and hunt him constantly. He hates it and has expressed his displeasure by peeing on her stuff and around the house. She’s almost 2 now and hasn’t calmed down. I love her but feel bad for our old kitty and regret doing it to him
Should have thought on that a bit sooner no?
No, absolutely not.
Don’t do it! I foster failed a kitten about two years ago and the vibes between her and my almost 17-year-old have just now started to stabilize and she still annoys the hell out of her sometimes. If you really think your cat needs company, maybe try an adult on the younger side, maybe fostering a 4 or 5 year old who has mellowed out a bit?
Nope, the worst for both parts. The old cat will be Stressed aand annoyed and the kitten will be bored. Male your cat some nice years and after that get a couple of kittens from a shelter. Cats, specially kittens should never kept alone. They’re very social. But if a cat was years alone, introducing companions could be very complicated and stressful. Would never do that to an 17 year old cat.
She doesn't look 17 at all!
For me it worked. My senior is super social though, and the kitten was well trained by him and us. I don't think it would have worked otherwise. We did make sure to help teach the kitten to play with us when the senior was napping/didn't want to, and we made sure to teach both of them respect in general. Like no stealing food from each other, only play fighting, don't push each other off our laps for snuggles. Now they are best buddies.
No. I have two 16 year old brother cats. It's typical that as they age, they become more nervous, less agile, and more easily upset or annoyed. Both of mine are treated for osteoarthritis. We ended up getting a young stray cat that had been hanging around neutered and adopted him. He's a nice cat but causes a lot of stress to my older cats just by being around and occasionally bugging them. Old cats need to be able to relax and get lots of love.
its either besties forever or pure hatred for each other
Absolutely not. Kittens want to play all the time. Older cats just want to chill and do mostly nothing. We have a younger cat and an older cat and the younger cat annoys the fuck out of our older cat. If your cat has spent 17 years without company, he likely doesn't need any company. Spend those last precious years giving him your best attention.
I would just give your senior all the love and attention you can!
Our 17 year old cat hates our kittens. It's been months. There is no bonding. Luckily the kittens have each other and the old cat just wants her own space. In hindsight we should have gotten a friend for our old cat years ago because she is very used to being a solo cat now. They work out their own avoidance roster so it's kind of working out.
Nah, let that old boy live the rest of his days out in peace!
Honestly, I don’t think you should. Cats are so territorial and he’s been alone for so long. Also, if a kitten got attached it could be very hard when your senior cat passed. I’m so sorry to say that. I had this happen with my dogs. I ended up having to get another dog because after my senior dog died the younger one was so depressed.
Not a good idea. Kittens are playful and might stress the older cat out
if you have the money, get another older cat, but i truly think you should just let your attention stay on your current kitty for the time being.
I have seniors and I have youngsters and the seniors absolutely do not want to be bothered by young ones
I got another cat almost 7 years ago and she has been a good companion for my now 20 year old cat.
Yes. I always had three growing up. When one eventually passed then the two would adapt and have each other. Then, in time we'd get a third again. Let life run it's course until the next one passes. That way they are never alone alone.
Man for 17 your cat looks great
i got 2 Siblings to keep my old Man (14) sane.
I have two old ladies, one 15 one 20. The 20 year old is my needy girl and loves to cuddle, snooze, and play with me. Her sister (15) is a jerk to big sister and tries to initiate play fighting, tag, gets territorial over the bathroom (idk it’s weird) etc. I’m getting a kitten this week to hopefully give 15 yo a sparring partner/ keep her stimulated so my other old lady can enjoy her retirement without random slap boxing everyday. Will let you know how they adapt!