Mary Allen
Adult and kittens can often be kept together, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Find out here how keeping an old cat and a young cat together can work and what you as the owner should avoid.
Keeping young and adult cats together can work very well. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the mother and her own kitten or two other cats. Because the main thing is whether the older cat gets along well with other cats or not: if a mother cat normally lives like a single cat, she can still reject her young after a few months. In contrast, there are also older cats that get along very well with strangers and young conspecifics.
If you already have an older cat and want to get a young one, you should still pay attention to a few things.
Adopt Kittens From Shelters
One-year-old cats that no longer elicit “Oh, how cute!” cries often end up in animal shelters. However, these cats can be well suited as second cats. Their advantage is that they are already well socialized with other cats, but are still willing to learn and adapt.
It is worth looking specifically for such a cat. At one year, cats are agile, strong, and playful, just not quite as high-spirited and clumsy as they were half a year ago. And the older first cat might be glad not to have to put up with too much of a pain in the ass.
Education of the Young By the Old Cat
Kittens, like puppies, enjoy some puppy protection, but only when they are really small, and not always. Very soon they will have to play by the rules of adult cats. They learn this from around the age of three months until they are around one year old, although the learning phase is never quite over. This teaching and learning period can be helpful in bringing a young and an old cat together, because the older cat accepts a young one that she can still “train” according to her rules, possibly better than an equally adult cat.
Better to avoid extreme characters
It can become problematic if the first cat is not really a boss and is now faced with a competitor in the best months of boorishness. There are many such cases, which end with the first cat being very upset. People should never neglect their older first cat just because a cute little cat has moved in. Therefore, as the owner, make a conscious decision to take time for your adult cat.
The goal should always be domestic peace. And you get that by combining the characters well.
A shy young animal goes better with a reserved old kitty. A dominant first cat will also get along with a cheekier kitten.
It is better not to pair extreme character differences, i.e. not to put a frightened kitten in front of a Rambo tomcat. Even a quiet old cat and a cheeky, exuberant young cat don’t go together.
Cat Seniors Need Their Rest
It’s not a good idea to suddenly throw a young kitten in front of a senior cat. Senior cats usually need more rest and attention from their owners. They don’t move as much as they used to and need special food. A young cat that is hyper is definitely not the right partner for a cat senior.