Laser pointer. My parents have a cat that tends to go shack-whacky in the wintertime, as she usually burns extra energy outdoors but hates snow. I suggested one of these as a Christmas gift for her. Within a week she’d already learned that the sound of the chain on it meant play-time, and would perk up when she heard that noise.
Yep, the cat needs a friend. I’ve had several cats in my days – right now I have four – and the single most important advice I give to people who’s thinking about getting one is: “Get two or get none.”
However, the best thing one could do is get siblings. In your case that’s not possible, and that makes it difficult, because you never know how either cat reacts on the other. Therefore, I really couldn’t recommend on getting another, because all hell might break loose if you do.
I’m no fan of laser pointers, because most cats are more stressed than amused by the red dot they cannot catch, to my experience.
Entertain the cat with toys, I believe is my best advice. And if the cat is active, seems healthy and is curious, don’t feel guilty, it probably’s living a good life.
Weasel Ball?
(1 more vote for a new kitten)
I’m gonna be contrary and say that my cats couldn’t hate each other more- the older cat sees the younger as a pushy milk-and-table-scraps stealer and the younger sees the older as a scratching post. I’m constantly breaking up cat fights (well, I was until I trained the dog to do it for me. Yay for dogs wanting to be helpful!) YMMV, and so forth. The younger cat came with the house and may see the older cat as an imposter, so you may have more luck than I did.
I’ll second the laser pointer. Great fun and best of all it takes little effort on your part. Certainly playing with your cats more actively is good but sometimes you just want to chill while kitty wants to play. With little more than a flick of your wrist you can keep the cat entertained for a long time. Just be careful…my cat played so assiduously with the red dot one time that she was panting (very weird to see a cat do that and I do not think it is a good thing) so pay some attention to not run them too hard.
As for a second cat you never know. Many times a second cat is great but I got a second cat and now some 8 years later they both still have nothing to do with each other. One is a hyper-bitchy cat and to this day she will hiss and spit if the other cat gets within 2 feet of her. Mostly they just totally ignore each other.
Another vote for a laser pointer and a new kitten. My Loki used to act really bored (and kind of destructive) until I went and picked him up a little brother, who I named Phoenix. After a few days of hissing and posturing, they are the best of friends. They wrestle all day and cuddle all night. Also, I don’t feel as bad about leaving him at home alone anymore.
aawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! 
I like the new kitten (or even a playful adult cat) idea.
How about a window birdfeeder? I used to have one that had a one-way mirror that suction cupped to the window so the cat could see the birds but the birds couldn’t see the cat.
For those of you recommending an additional kitty, what do you suggest? A kitten, or another adult cat? Same, or opposite sex? Or doesn’t it matter?
We have two unrelated cats[ul]
[/ul] --a stray male and a Humane Society female. The male is about a year older, with the vet’s best bet. We got them both within a couple of weeks of each other, when they were young adults.
The male wants nothing more than to be a friend to the female. It’s obvious that he grew up in a gang of other cats, and wants to relive his childhood. The female tolerates some of this attention, but doesn’t have a clue how to play with him–she obviously grew up in a catless household. They do agree on the standard rules of tag, and every once in a while, they will start chasing each other around full-tilt.
They don’t really keep each other company very much, though. As far as we can tell, they just sleep all day when we’re gone, usually in different rooms.
We do have a Feline Entertainment Device (aka a bird-feeder) that hangs in a tree in the front yard, with special chairs in the front window for the cats to sit in.
Favorite toys:
-an old children’s sock stuffed with catnip-sprinkled pillow batting
-fur mice, especially the ones that rattle
-a ball of string (kitchen string, not yarn), which requires a human to roll into a ball, then requires at least one cat to chase the ball around and create a long piece of string
-plastic jacks (one of the cats fetches, and the jacks are definitely his favorite fetching toy)
-the plastic ring from a milk jug
Recycling isn’t a problem. They play with a toy for a few days–maybe even a week–then lose it under a piece of furniture or in a corner, and become interested in another toy for a while. Then we find lost toys when we clean house, and the toys are all suddenly new again. Until they get lost.
Both cats will probably find it easier to adjust if you get a kitten instead of a grown cat. I don’t think the sex makes a difference, as long as everyone is fixed anyway. Our two nutured males don’t want anything to do with eachother, but one of them absolutely adores his kitten (who is getting a little big for “kittenhood”, but will always be Doc’s girl).
My cat talks to me and I assume it is hungry and feed it. It is more likely explaining how to solve global warming and I don’t understand cat. :dubious:
I know the difference between “I’m Hungry” and other noises (tho I have no clue how the other ones translate) because Smokey does the “Timmy’s stuck in a well” dance between me and the kitchen, while mewing loudly, until I come in and feed her.
One of my cats can’t see the laser pointer when I shine it around the room. He has excellent sight, judging by the amount of mice he catches. He has a strong urge to run after strings trailed about or feathers waved around, but he does not react at all to the laser pointer.
However, the other cat does react, and then non-reaction cat starts attacking reaction cat. Hilarity in KC.
I’m gonna start with the suggestion of a second kitty, but since that might not work in every situation, I’ll also second (or are we up to 12ths?) the laser pointer. Our little girls love the thing!
Obligitory link to really cute kitties: Here
Mark
I was one of those who got a second kitty in part because our first kitty was demanding more and more attention and I was starting to feel guilty. We got a kitten, although some people recommend getting an adult cat because kittens are -really- playful, and older cats sometimes don’t like that. In my case, I knew that Cordelia practically acts like a kitten herself, and in addition, she needs to be queen of the household, which I figured she’d have an easier time establishing with a kitten.
We wound up getting a male, which I prefer because my experience is that males tend to be more easygoing. He’s a Siamese, and very social. For a while, Cordelia wouldn’t have a thing to do with him, but he was absolutely in love with her from his first look, so he’s been very persistant, and she eventually came around. She adores him now, except when he chases her around too much. But she’s not bored and starved for attention anymore, and she’s also getting more exercise.
Plus, I think the little guy is adorable!
Of course, if you get another cat, I urge you to adopt a homeless kitty from the SPCA or an animal shelter, rather than get one from a breeder or “friend with oops kittens”. But that’s years of SPCA fostering talking 
Awww…I am loving all the cute kitty photos!
I’ve had different sex cats who barely tolerate each other, adult cats who liked a new kitten and adult cats who hated the new kitten and same sex cats who got along great and…
I’m not sure there’s a general rule, with cats. Is there? They are such quirky animals. My cat Elvis was a street-tough stray last summer who moved in. He’s somewhat battle scarred. I got him neutered pronto, but he seems extremely territorial and has run every cat off the block; I haven’t seen another cat around here since August or so. (Lots of strays around here. :()
I hate that he goes outside still, BTW. But he’s used to it, desperately wants to and is a PITA if I don’t let him. He’s usually out for an hour or less a day. Luckily there isn’t a busy street for about 1/2 a mile, and he’s a wary cat.
Anyhow I also ditto a shelter kitty. Save a life! Spring throw-away kitten season is fast approaching, and there will be kittens aplenty in shelters. You’ll pay a little, but that usually covers health screening, shots and speuter so it may actually work out cheaper than getting a “free” one.
Yeah, that’s what I kind of figured. Thanks for all the input, everyone!
In my experience, female cats tend to be crankier and less companionable than male cats. This is not a hard and fast rule, and I still love my Terry and Hepzibah and Mom’s Mina and Dad’s Willow. My parents have many critters.
Oh – and Loki looks JUST LIKE my Duncan.
Wow - are cats really that social? Should I be feeling bad that I just have my one fuzzybutt at home? She doesn’t seem lonely.
Honestly - somebody give me reasons here. If I tell my partner that we need another cat, I’m gonna need some serious ammo to back it up. Cites?