Cats are like F1 Drivers?
Discussion
I imagine having 2 cats must be a bit like an F1 boss having 2 drivers. They are both selfish, spoilt and competetive. 
Until one of them died, I had 2 cats. A young aggressive, competitive one (Garfield) and an older, bigger, more laid back one (Charlie). They had an uneasy truce, Garfield would always try it on, but eventually big Charlie would have enough and have to show Garfield who was boss.
It's been a few months since Charlie's untimely demise, and Garfield has got used to ruling the roost. However, he does seem to get bored and miss the company of another cat.
So, should I get another cat? The thing that worries me is that the 2 of them might not get on and end up fighting the whole time. I don't want to end up with 2 unhappy cats rather than 1 slightly bored one.
Ideally I am looking for a sort of Rubens Barichello of cats!
Any advice?
Until one of them died, I had 2 cats. A young aggressive, competitive one (Garfield) and an older, bigger, more laid back one (Charlie). They had an uneasy truce, Garfield would always try it on, but eventually big Charlie would have enough and have to show Garfield who was boss.
It's been a few months since Charlie's untimely demise, and Garfield has got used to ruling the roost. However, he does seem to get bored and miss the company of another cat.
So, should I get another cat? The thing that worries me is that the 2 of them might not get on and end up fighting the whole time. I don't want to end up with 2 unhappy cats rather than 1 slightly bored one.
Ideally I am looking for a sort of Rubens Barichello of cats!
Any advice?
I did this, Cat no 1 moved out to a neighbours after cat no 2 moved in.
Having said that Cat no 2 now lives happily with cat no 3 although they had a few disagreements at first.
Maybe a kitten would be a better option, would keep Garfield young, occupied and kitty will likely conform to Garfields rules rather than making his/her own that Garfield would have to abide by or argue.
>> Edited by mxdi on Friday 25th February 20:42
Having said that Cat no 2 now lives happily with cat no 3 although they had a few disagreements at first.
Maybe a kitten would be a better option, would keep Garfield young, occupied and kitty will likely conform to Garfields rules rather than making his/her own that Garfield would have to abide by or argue.
>> Edited by mxdi on Friday 25th February 20:42
We had 2 from the CPL when our other rescue cat (Trevor) died. It was my idea that having 2 meant they would keep each other company and we would not be as important to them as we were to Trev.
How wrong we were, Garfield (Co-incidentally) spent the first year living upstairs and Panther (Guess colour) lived downstairs.
Eventually we got them to live on the same floor, and they are better now that we have moved house as well, but it was a mistake taking 2 adult males, both (it turns out) late neutered and putting them in the same place.
However a younger cat coming into a home where there is already a pecking order should settle quickly and as long as it is not too playful could be good company.
See if the local CPL will let you "try before you buy”, although it may take a couple of weeks for everything to settle.
Cheers
Paul
How wrong we were, Garfield (Co-incidentally) spent the first year living upstairs and Panther (Guess colour) lived downstairs.
Eventually we got them to live on the same floor, and they are better now that we have moved house as well, but it was a mistake taking 2 adult males, both (it turns out) late neutered and putting them in the same place.
However a younger cat coming into a home where there is already a pecking order should settle quickly and as long as it is not too playful could be good company.
See if the local CPL will let you "try before you buy”, although it may take a couple of weeks for everything to settle.
Cheers
Paul
I did go to the local RSPCA and they asked me a few questions about Garfield and how territorial he is. He is quite territorial, so any newcomer would have to take the number 2 role which means either an up and coming cat with maybe a few F3 wins under his collar, or an older David Coulthard type who is past it's prime and knows it.
The thing is if I get a younger cat, which seems to be the favoured option, at some point the roles will have to reverse and there will be plenty of trouble for a while. Whereas if I get an older cat, the status quo would remain the same?
The thing is if I get a younger cat, which seems to be the favoured option, at some point the roles will have to reverse and there will be plenty of trouble for a while. Whereas if I get an older cat, the status quo would remain the same?
Depends really, is Garfield a RB character himself? - I mean if DC and RB moved in together they would be at odds, however if Webber were to occupy the same space as either he can bow to their experience, with the knowledge that he is a better driver and bide his time. I think the role change would be quite natural in this situation.
I've only ever had cats in pairs, but I do suspect that bringing a new cat into an environment where one feline is already comfortable would lead to the newcomer being either a threat or a victim.
The best way to handle it would be to sell your car for an absurdly low price, and hope that both cats would be extraordinarily empathic, leading you all you to bond....
The best way to handle it would be to sell your car for an absurdly low price, and hope that both cats would be extraordinarily empathic, leading you all you to bond....
justayellowbadge said:Define absurdly low?
I've only ever had cats in pairs, but I do suspect that bringing a new cat into an environment where one feline is already comfortable would lead to the newcomer being either a threat or a victim.
The best way to handle it would be to sell your car for an absurdly low price, and hope that both cats would be extraordinarily empathic, leading you all you to bond....
There's a 308 GTB I've got my eye on!
P.S. sympathy from cats...unlikely. I suspect you may be right about the feline situation which is why I've kept off getting another. But have recently been offered the choice of either a young'un or an old'un who need a good home.
danhay said:
Ah but how old is your Gar'?
7
in which case he no longer has any thing to prove other than age and experience - exactly like DC. JB has some experience and a lot to prove, so I would disagree with you on this point.
I say get a Webber (2-3 year old neutered male) knows what he's capable of but willing to listen to advice from an older guy even if they were not that great.
gopher said:
in which case he no longer has any thing to prove other than age and experience - exactly like DC. JB has some experience and a lot to prove, so I would disagree with you on this point.
I say get a Webber (2-3 year old neutered male) knows what he's capable of but willing to listen to advice from an older guy even if they were not that great.
You may be right, he's already got a taste for the Iams Senior.Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff