We got our cat Jasmine in 1999 to replace our older cat Fluffy who died suddenly that year. She immediately showed herself to be a very nice, cute cat. She also immediately and literally threw herself at our older cat Pumpernickel (here is how they sleep together at night). Anyways, for whatever reason, she apparently thinks highly of him (and he of her as you can see).
The only problem is, he is about 5 years older than her–and morbidly obese on top of that, as you can see. Clearly it is all but inevitable he will die before her, tragically.
Of course Jasmine’s happiness is important to us. So as soon as the unfortunate event occurs, we plan on replacing Pumpernickel with a male Ragdoll cat (we hear they are very nice, and get along nicely with other cats).
My only question is: will that work? I have lived around dogs and cats all my life. And from my past experiences with animals that befriend one another, I don’t think that would work with dogs. But on the other hand, ironically I think it just might work with a cat?
Am I wrong? If there is anyone out there who is an expert on cats, please chime in .
I’m not a cat expert, but I think that a Ragdoll might be too laid back for a Siamese. Cats DO mourn the loss of their feline buddies. We’ve always had to wait for a while to add another cat into the family so that the human family members could mourn the cat who had died or been put to sleep.
If you want a Ragdoll for the long, luxurious coat, you might consider the longhair Siamese, the Balinese.
Male cats always get fat when neutered, get a female one. Also, when ever we have introduced new cats there was a period of fighting with the older cats, but it eventuall calmed down (once the kittens learned to leave Sassy alone) (we brought in two kitteens at a time so that they could play with (ie not bother the older cat, Sassy Seen Here ) each other. They get along well now.
We also once brought in a adult cats (maybe a year ago), and they still fight.
So if you are bringing in Kittens be prepaired to protect them from the adult, and I wouldn’t reccommend bringing in an adult cat.
Oddly, Unfixed males are much more friendly to kittens than any other type of cat.
Now I desperately want a Ragdoll. We’ve already got a laid-back cat and a chatty cat, so I want a floppy lapcat, too. I’m turning into my mother-in-law.
I’ve heard that Ragdolls aren’t good if you like to be away from your cat occasionally- they really do follow their owners everywhere. I’d like that, but some people might find it intrusive.
How active is your Siamese? If she’s reasonably calm a Ragdoll might be okay.
(Ow! Stop hitting me. I couldn’t help it – classic old joke.)
It’s very hard to predict how an animal will react to a replacement you bring in. When our black cat Maggie died a couple of years ago, we got * two* new cats – a male and a black female. Our other cat, Midnight, treated the new black cat pretty much like Maggie (only now Midnight was at the top of the pecking order), and we can’t help thinking that the physical resemblance had a lot to do with it. On the other hand, she still, after four years, isn’t reconciled to having a brown and white male cat around, and she still hisses at him.
My parents adopted two littermates back in the early 90s, who grew up together and were generally inseparable. When they were about eight years old, the dominant cat developed a bone tumor and died. The other cat seemed completely lost and became very “clingy.” When my parents got a new kitten, though, the older cat didn’t trust her at all; and six years later, it would be more accurate to say that the older cat tolerates the younger cat than that she likes her.
I have a feeling that the age difference had a lot to do with this - a kitten will want to play a lot more than a more sedentary, older cat will. You might consider getting a pair of younger cats who will be willing to play with each other rather than a single younger cat (if you can handle having three cats around.)
Here are some tips on how to introduce a new cat to an “established” cat, when the time comes.
You’ll never know 'til it happens. Cats are just like us in many ways, and you can’t really shield them entirely from life’s various twists and tragedies. Some will get along with a new cat, some will hate the new cat.
Some cats are very particular, and hold long grudges. When my sister first got her cat (it’s now about 12 or 13), they lived with another girl and her male cat. The two cats were very affectionate. Big fat Iggy (the boy) would open up the cabinets at night and pull out the cat food bag to feed dainty Bella.
Well, one day Iggy day jumped out the window of their 2nd-floor apt. My sister and her roommate realized what had happened when they saw Bella sitting at the open window, crying and crying. About a week later, my sister came across the much filthier Iggy as he was rifling the garbage cans outside their building, and brought him back inside. Bella never forgave him for abandoning her, and was cold to him for the rest of the time they lived together.
Just like with people, it’s hard to predict how a cat is going to react. My latest addition, a kitten adopted last summer, has integrated himself nicely into the household. On the other hand, my first cat was a male tabby, very affectionate and attached to me. I brought in another male later and the two of them fought all the time. I finally had to give the second cat to my Aunt. A few years later when my Aunt died I took him back. He became best friends with my first cat and the two were inseparable after that. Cat #2 missed my Aunt terribly though and that might have had something to do with his change of heart.
I think that if you want to bring another cat in after you lose your older one, go ahead and do it. Just give everyone time to adjust-it may take a while. Jasmine will probably miss her old friend no matter what but I think that cats used to having other cats around are even lonelier when they’re a single again. Even if she doesn’t get to be as close with the new guy it’ll be company for her. And you of course.
No, they don’t. I’ve had a couple of neutered male cats, and I’ve always free-fed them (that is, I leave a bowl of cat kibble available 24/7, unless they are to go to the vet’s the next day and need to have an empty tummy). Neither cat got fat, or even plump. In fact, I’ve never had a really fat cat, and I always free feed, and give the occasional treat of human food to those cats who want it. Not all cats like human food, many are perfectly happy to just eat cat kibble and the occasional kitty treat.
I DO always provide toys for my cats, which might have something to do with their ability to stay within a healthy weight range. And I play with all my cats, too. Most cats are perfectly happy playing with empty boxes and paper bags. Right now we have three empty boxes in the living room because the cats insist on them.
My brother, who owned a Balinese during his marriage, believes them to be members of the weasel family, with more fur and a better attitude. Freakishly high energy levels, stole small objects (such as watches,) made random bizarre noises. Very cute but very, very odd cat.
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