Cat training cat

Kelly4NC · 11-30-2006, 09:27 AM

I wanted to get another outside kitty and I wanted to get a kitten so my other outside cat could more or less train the kitten to hunt mice and still stay around the house.

What do you think??
Do you think that the kitten will stay close and not stray if the other cat is with him and shows the newbie the ropes.

LPB · 11-30-2006, 09:46 AM

I think it's good to have two cats so that they have each other for company. If they're both fixed and the newbie is a young kitten, the odds are probably good that they will get along. Not 100%, but good. As one specialist on animal behavior said, Animals Like Each Other.

We have two indoor cats. Had the adult female for about a year and she was making us nuts. After we got the kitten (male, fixed), she had soemthing else to occupy her time and stopped following us around every second of the day and making noise.

EquineLaw78 · 11-30-2006, 09:51 AM

Well, I think the success of that plan may depend on your current cat's personality and the age of the new cat that you get.

If you're out in the country, I would be worried about vermin getting a young kitten. How old is your current cat? Male or female?

My neutered male cats have been far more accepting of newcomers than my lady cat. Jake "adopted" Walter when he arrived on the scene.

What about an adolescent kitten? What about a PAIR of adolescent kittens?

The barn where I ride just got a mama cat and her 5 kittens, and the kittens, at 8 weeks of age, were catching mice left and right. I think a great deal of that is just natural, and I'm not sure that an unrelated adult cat would bother to help train some kittens to which it had no familial connection. That's not to say that kittens wouldn't try to imitate the adult, even if from afar!

If you're going with kittens, I would say buddy them up with each other, and hope that Kitty Sr. at least keeps an eye out for them.

If you go with another adult, or young adult cat, I would personally be less concerned with buddying up.

It's been my experience that it's easier to assimilate a kitten in to an existing cat herd...but that kittens tend to disappear more easily than adults.

Hope that helps!

Kelly4NC · 11-30-2006, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EquineLaw78

If you're out in the country, I would be worried about vermin getting a young kitten.

I am but I only have a problem with neighbors dogs strolling onto our property.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EquineLaw78

How old is your current cat?

6 years

Quote:

Originally Posted by EquineLaw78

Male or female?

Male/Nuetered

Quote:

Originally Posted by EquineLaw78

What about an adolescent kitten? What about a PAIR of adolescent kittens?

I don't know I think I would have better luck with a kitten, because the older male cat is very mean.

Rocking Horse · 11-30-2006, 11:16 AM

Older male cats have been known to kill kittens..

I'd think twice about a kitten..

EquineLaw78 · 11-30-2006, 08:49 PM

Yikes! Are the neighbor's dogs itty bitty, or do they have kitty crunching capabilities? I have a vivid memory of my childhood dog, a Boxer, getting a hold of our cat and tossing her into the air, grabbing her and shaking her. (She ended up being OK, but we found out she was carrying a little of kittens...because she lost them that night...then later she died on the operating table when she was being spayed, but that's really not the point.)

It's been my experience that older cats have a harder time adjusting, but if there's plenty of food and space, that usually isn't as big of an issue.

Your cat may take to a kitten better, but honestly, I wouldn't expect the older cat to care about or for a kitten. That's personally why, if you decide to go with a kitten, I would get a pair. Kittens don't like to be alone -- they want to snuggle and have playmates. A lonely kitten will probably go wandering...and has a decent chance of disappearing for good.

An older kitten (9 mos. or so) or a young adult (1-2 yrs) should be much better as an independent acquaintance for your older cat.

But you know, as long as you provide a home with food and shelter for one of the thousands of homeless cats out there, I don't think anyone can fault you.

Good luck in your decision!

11-30-2006, 09:27 AM
Kelly4NC Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clyde, NC > 9 miles of friendly people, plus 1 old crab Posts: 3,242	Cat training cat I wanted to get another outside kitty and I wanted to get a kitten so my other outside cat could more or less train the kitten to hunt mice and still stay around the house. What do you think?? Do you think that the kitten will stay close and not stray if the other cat is with him and shows the newbie the ropes. __________________ *Support the wild horses on North Carolina Outer Banks* http://www.corollawildhorses.com/

11-30-2006, 09:46 AM
LPB Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 86	I think it's good to have two cats so that they have each other for company. If they're both fixed and the newbie is a young kitten, the odds are probably good that they will get along. Not 100%, but good. As one specialist on animal behavior said, Animals Like Each Other. We have two indoor cats. Had the adult female for about a year and she was making us nuts. After we got the kitten (male, fixed), she had soemthing else to occupy her time and stopped following us around every second of the day and making noise. __________________ Read my blog about women and horses! www.riderone.wordpress.com

11-30-2006, 09:51 AM
EquineLaw78 Yearling Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 976	Well, I think the success of that plan may depend on your current cat's personality and the age of the new cat that you get. If you're out in the country, I would be worried about vermin getting a young kitten. How old is your current cat? Male or female? My neutered male cats have been far more accepting of newcomers than my lady cat. Jake "adopted" Walter when he arrived on the scene. What about an adolescent kitten? What about a PAIR of adolescent kittens? The barn where I ride just got a mama cat and her 5 kittens, and the kittens, at 8 weeks of age, were catching mice left and right. I think a great deal of that is just natural, and I'm not sure that an unrelated adult cat would bother to help train some kittens to which it had no familial connection. That's not to say that kittens wouldn't try to imitate the adult, even if from afar! If you're going with kittens, I would say buddy them up with each other, and hope that Kitty Sr. at least keeps an eye out for them. If you go with another adult, or young adult cat, I would personally be less concerned with buddying up. It's been my experience that it's easier to assimilate a kitten in to an existing cat herd...but that kittens tend to disappear more easily than adults. Hope that helps!

11-30-2006, 11:16 AM
Rocking Horse Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,367	Older male cats have been known to kill kittens.. I'd think twice about a kitten.. __________________ ~ Too many freaks, not enough circuses ~

11-30-2006, 08:49 PM
EquineLaw78 Yearling Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 976	Yikes! Are the neighbor's dogs itty bitty, or do they have kitty crunching capabilities? I have a vivid memory of my childhood dog, a Boxer, getting a hold of our cat and tossing her into the air, grabbing her and shaking her. (She ended up being OK, but we found out she was carrying a little of kittens...because she lost them that night...then later she died on the operating table when she was being spayed, but that's really not the point.) It's been my experience that older cats have a harder time adjusting, but if there's plenty of food and space, that usually isn't as big of an issue. Your cat may take to a kitten better, but honestly, I wouldn't expect the older cat to care about or for a kitten. That's personally why, if you decide to go with a kitten, I would get a pair. Kittens don't like to be alone -- they want to snuggle and have playmates. A lonely kitten will probably go wandering...and has a decent chance of disappearing for good. An older kitten (9 mos. or so) or a young adult (1-2 yrs) should be much better as an independent acquaintance for your older cat. But you know, as long as you provide a home with food and shelter for one of the thousands of homeless cats out there, I don't think anyone can fault you. Good luck in your decision!