So, after 6 years of leaving in a tiny little place on the wrong side of the tracks, I am finally moving into a nice little townhouse with some more room in a much better neighborhood.
As part of the deal I am now allowed to upgrade my cat situation.
Wrigley (sorry no pic now, will try to link one when I get home) is about 3 years old, female, and has a very good temperment. She has hissed and spit at the neighbor cat during the few times they’ve found each other on opposite sides of the window or screen door, but in general she has a peaceful nature.
My question is as follows:
I know that one of the primary reasons cats have issues with each other is dominance and the defending of territory. Would it be smarter to get a second cat (either kitten or fully grown, I am hoping to elicit opinions on which of the two would be easier as well) and just heave them both into the new place at the same time?
On the benefits side, this seems like the kind of thing that would get around the whole ‘territory’ issue. Since the townhouse would be brand new to both cats, neither would have any sort of claim to it.
On the drawbacks side, I feel for poor Wrigley who would, after a stressful car ride, be dropped into her strange new alien digs to find a strange new alien cat as well.
So in particular I am hoping to get opinions on the following points:
- Kitten versus same-age cat
- Male versus female
- Letting Wrigley set up dominance in the place versus mixing them together immediately.
Thoughts?