Rescue kitten as a friend for my youngest?

[gizzy]

At the moment I have 3 cats, Felix - 11 yo, Domino - 8 yo and Gizmo who just turned one. My friend has found and rescued and mother and her 8 kittens and has offered us one and I'd love to rehome a cat. Money wise we are not rich by any means but we can afford the kitten and the injections, neutering ect and will have the money in any emergency as our vets do a monthly plan if we need it.
I'm visiting the kittens tomorrow as I really think Gizmo needs a friend, she keeps trying to play with the older ones and they do not like her! F and D are not her friends at all with Felix grooming her once every blue moon. I'll be looking for a playful one like Gizmo so she has someone to play with, Is this a good idea? I really think I should cause /gizmo tries so hard to be social and play and has no one to play with but me

[Lilith]

Hi there and welcome 8 kittens? Ouch. I bet she was glad to have her stomach back to herself again!

Sounds good to me - you understand your present lot and what makes them tick; you're prepared for vet expenses etc. And you're very right in considering an outgoing kitten as a friend for Gizmo, who sounds to be a cat who longs for the company of an equally playful cat. A boy might fit in best; they're more laid back as a rule, and the biggest boy in the litter might be a good idea; however a litter of 8 is going to mean smaller kittens but never fear, by the time they leave Mamma at three months they'll be well socialised in the rough and tumble of a large litter; couldn't be a better start for them. A new kitten will need a quiet place to retire to and gradual introduction and a lot of sleeping time, but by the sound of Gizmo you'll soon have the two of them flying around non-stop. You may be daunted by the size difference when you bring kitten home, but don't be; a lot of kittens seem to have the personal body-image of a sabre-toothed tiger lol

Lots of good advice/articles on here and there will be more people along soon with more advice; please let us know how you go on and hope it all works out fine - no reason for it not to

[gizzy]

I'd never seen a litter of 8 before the poor cat! As for the vet bills as well, all vaccinations are £50 in total at my vets practice for their first ones as well as money off neutering which we got for Gizmo when we got her lost October, she was so tiny and is still really small so I'm just hoping this kitten doesn't draft her she s got tiny legs and a long body!
When we got her I took residence in th front room with a make shift bed for me and a few different beds, a water and food bowl and a litter tray for the kitten then the other cats met her one by one, I think the other two will freak out again but gizmo should be her friend within a week, we have plenty of toys and everything boot the food for her as of now but I can just get that when we go shopping. I'm a bit weary of sleeping downstairs with it as I don't want to make gizmo feel out of place as I normally call for Gizmo at bedtime and we both sleep through the night, I don't want her to feel left out or replaced.
I am thinking of buying some of the feliway thing as it's only a tenner now and getting it set up on the landing and front room to calm everything down in general

[Crewella]

I agree with Lilith, with care it sounds like a good plan. For a sociable cat, having a playmate can make a real difference - I really hope the intros go well!

[gizzy]

thank you! i'm glad someone sees my logic, when discussing it with other people i was ridiculed

[Crewella]

I don't just see the logic - I've been there! My Daz is a few years younger than the rest of my gang, and when he first came to us caused a few ruffled feathers by chasing poor old Grumpy Nellie and generally upsetting the oldies. A few months later I took on a little feral that had come in to the rescue with kittens - Daz camped outside her door from the day she arrived until I let him in, they became inseparable and peace reigned at last! I really hope it all works out as well for you.

[gizzy]

I'm realy hoping that happens like that with gizmo, just have no idea how the kitten will be sleeping/where cause I don't want to ruin gizmos schedule we have together for bed and make her feel left out. But I'm sure the kitten wouldn't be happy on her own in the front room each night :/ not sure how to go about it?

[Crewella]

I always start with the new cat in a room of their own and take it from there, though I admit I've never introduced a kitten. All my adoptees have come to me as adults.

[gizzy]

I just don't want to mess up Giz I guess it could join me in my bedroom though I'm unsure if i'm getting her now as the woman has offered her someone else after I said I wanted it