My cat needs a companion. Will a male kitten get along with her?

Question

I'm thinking of getting Josie a companion since I'll be starting full time work very soon, she hasn't gotten along with females her age or older. She was a rescue after the floods we had here & was pregnant when she was spayed. She's very affectionate & stays indoors, would a young male kitten be a possible match. I have more background on her if needed. Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 5 years and 11 months old

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

It's kind of you to think about getting Josie a kitty friend for company, since you'll be starting work soon - I'm sure she would appreciate it, if you can find her a good match :) You're right that it can sometimes be difficult to successfully introduce adult cats to each other, so a kitten may be easier. And generally speaking, male/female pairs tend to do better - so I think a male kitten is a great option. To help make the introduction go as smoothly as possible, I would recommend setting up a separate room for the kitten when you first bring him home - he should have his own food and water bowls, litter box, toys, and a scratching post or cat tree. Keep him in this room with the door closed for the first week or two, so that Josie can get used to smelling him and hearing him through the door. You can also help her to associate good things with the kitten by feeding her treats outside his door a few times a day. Once she is no longer reacting at all when she hears him or smells him under the door, you can start to leave the door open for short periods so that he can venture out into the house. This way, Josie will already be used to his presence before they actually meet face to face. Feliway pheromone diffusers placed around the house can also help to reduce Josie's stress and encourage more social behavior during the adjustment period.

My cat needs a companion. Will a male kitten get along with her?

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