Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 6 yr old black cat, Starr. She was abadonned as a kitten and I brought her into my home with an older cat. He has since passed on, when she was only 1 yr old. Since then I have a moved twice finishing school. Starr adjusted fairly well, but b/c she was near a construction site as a newborn kitten she is defensive and somewhat aggressive. I honestly sometimes thinks she thinks I am another cat, when she bites, she draws blood. I have gotten use to the warning signs and I am able to leave her alone when she gets irritated. However, when she had the older cat around she was fine. Since I have started a new job, Starr, while seems to be mostly happy and having no behavior problems (except for biting if annoyed) seems very lonely. I am gone more than I used to be. She is also overweight, despite all that I have tried. She cannot groom herself well due to this. My family members at home have found another abandonned kitten, Moon, and I wanted to take him home with me. He is playful and sweet with no signs of aggression. He has been able to get along ok my mom's 2 cats, they leave him alone for the most part. He is only 6 weeks old and I am planning on bringing him home at thanksigiving (he will be about 9 weeks). Starr is very dependent on me, since it has been just the two of us. She follows me everywhere and "nurses" on her blanket at bedtime. She is more aggressive to strangers, she only allows a few pets before she turns and snaps or bites. She never attacks out of the blue. I would like the new kitten to be her friend and entertain her during the day-- it would be great if they groomed each other. Am I dreaming or could Starr, a defensive and somewhat aggressive cat, adjust to a new kitten? I will follow all the tips and keep them separated at first etc. I am also worried about her agression, thus far only showed towards humans, but she hasn't been around any other cats since she was young. Any advice would be helpful! By the way, my vet had recommended I get another cat to help Starr lose weight, not be bored out of her mind when I am gone since she is so dependent, and to help her groom. I am just wary -- but this little kitten is sooooo sweet!

Starr hasn't been around any other animals in 5 yrs?
When you do bring home the kitten there are steps to take to make sure they get alone.
Don't just throw them together. (I tried it doesn't work).
You need to keep the kitten in one room with the door closed so they can smell each other and get used to the fact there is another cat in the house. After a while switch Starr and Moon. Put starr in the closed room and let moon explore the your home.
This way Star can smell him and moon gets to explore with out the other kitty.
Always supervise any meetings at first.
There are other things to do that I am sure others will tell you.
Good Luck,
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Please be sure that you have an "out" for this kitten if he doesn't work out for Star. I had a cat who would not have ever accepted a kitten under any circumstances.

Good luck!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!