Old cat, unfair to introduce a new cat?

[fwaggie]

Hi all,

My Sqweek is 21 years old, deaf as a post, heart murmur, slightly iffy kidneys and rather unsteady back end and apart from those few things, is normally a happy wee purry thing. Every now and then he does howl right after breakfast/dinner/supper (until I attract his attention when he immediately stops and starts cleaning himself aloofly), and he's too deaf and slow to be given free access to outside, so is only allowed out when it's quiet, where he wanders off for 10 minutes and comes back in.

I've been thinking about adopting a RagDoll, maybe around 2~3 years upwards, but I'm in a conundrum as to if introducing a new member of the family will stress Sqweek out too much (or at all)?

Has anyone found that if you have a pair of cats and one passes on, that the other one appreciates a new cat? Or is it better (at this kind of age) to let them while away their remaining years sleeping their heads off, dreaming of catching that 8 foot rabbit?

He did have something wrong with him (eating slowed down and stopped for 3 days) for which he went to the vets, who couldn't find anything but gave him antibiotics and cortizone which really made a difference, he's like he was a couple of years ago now, always coming up and saying hello and lying by my side with one paw on my leg.

[fwaggie]

Thanks, I think my biggest worry is the wanting to play part. A young cat will see Sqweek and just think "play mate" (and hopefully not "enemy"!) and want to play.

About once a month Sqweek has a mad 10 minutes and looks like he's 5 again but usually he's content with lying next to me or on a bed all day with the odd mealtime and a couple of "checking the perimeter" wanders round the garden, he really can't do proper playing now.

I think I've left it too late really, should have done it when he was 15 or so.

[fwaggie]

Thanks all, I kind of came to the same conclusion myself, and wanted others opinions.

I knew that kittens would be way too much, even young cats, but you're right in that even a change of environment, upsetting the balance in the home, even with another old cat would be stressful for him, and I think it would be long term stress (or rather longer than I would want him to put up with) as these old moggies are set in their ways.

Ok, he shall remain king of the castle with his only faithful servants being myself and the lodger.

Now if I could find a cat food that he likes for longer than 3 days life would be perfect!

[fwaggie]

Mobile Chicane said:

Applaws chicken pots. Bob will eat these even if he isn't hungry, the greedy git.

Thanks, I'll try them.

I've seen things that he hasn't tried, bought 4~6 pouches which he has loved. So, knowing he has wolfed all the pouches I've bought I go and buy boxes of the pouches.

The first pouch out of the first box he turns his nose up at. It's supposed to be the same bloody stuff!!

Applaws chicken and rice, had to throw away boxes of it, wouldn't touch it once I'd bought the boxes!

Various fancy Kitekat things... grrr!

Nowadays he gets fed breakfast, dinner and supper, and if he eats it, he eats it, if he turns his nose up, he goes hungry. (and I obviously try to buy what I think his current favourites are, and have dry food out as well)

[fwaggie]

Mobile Chicane said:

That's bad if he won't eat Applaws chicken pouches!

Could be time to wheel out the big gun: raw rabbit. Fishmongers often sell this as no game licence is needed. I've never met a cat who didn't go wild for rabbit.

If still no joy (which I doubt) casserole it for yourself.

I just think he's cleverer than he's letting on and knows when I've bought a few pouches and knows when I've bought a box and does it to wind me up!

That or the manufacturers sell the best stuff to supermarkets in boxes that are only to be sold via the pouch, and the rest of the stuff goes into the boxes of pouches sold to the public at a slightly cheaper cost.

Not that I'm cynical or anything! But I can't think of any other explanation for it!

I know as a rule he doesn't like the meat flavours, detests beef, and likes some fish flavours. He only likes the gravy in the gravy pouches, the jelly ones some fish flavours he'll eat it all (but hates pate cat food). It doesn't matter what he likes at any one time, it doesn't last and if I feed him the same thing for a few weeks he'll get bored of it (which is perfectly understandable) but then trying to find something else he does like is a right pain.

My next cat will definitely be on dry food only, far easier!