Dear Siouxsie, Thomas and Dahlia:
I live with a seven-year-old neutered cat, Westley, and I'm thinking about adopting a kitten. I have the feeling that Westley is getting lonely and wants a catfriend. But I'm getting a lot of different views about what age the new cat should be. Some say a cat Westley's own age, some say a kitten, some say a young cat. If you guys got a new brother or sister, what age would you want him or her to be?

~Judith

Siouxsie: This is a great question, Judith! Thank you for being so thoughtful about Westley's feelings. You're a very good human.

Thomas: You're right, there are a lot of different viewpoints on what age and gender cat you should adopt if you already have a cat in the house. But I think the most important thing to consider is the present cat's personality.

Dahlia: That's right. You'll want to get a cat whose personality complements Westley's. If Westley is a quiet cat, it would be better to get a cat who also enjoys a quiet life.

Siouxsie: If Westley likes to play and wrestle and he needs a friend to help him work off some excess energy, they you'd be advised to get an active kitty who can be a playmate as well as a friend.

Thomas: In terms of gender, we've found that it works best to get a cat of the opposite gender. Since Westley is a male, if you bring another adult male home, you may find that they fight for territory and stuff, even if the new cat is already neutered. And hey, I love my girls!

Dahlia: Oh, Thomas, I love you too! Can we snuggle now?

Thomas: Okay, but you keep that big lampshade on your head away from me!

Siouxsie: Dahlia is a lampshade-head! Dahlia is a lampshade-head! Nyeah nyeah nyeah nyaaaaah-nyaaaaah!

Dahlia: You're mean!

Thomas: Siouxsie, you stop that right now! It's not Dahlia's fault that she's got a hole in her tummy and the vet made Mama put a cone collar on her so she wouldn't lick it and irritate it.

Dahlia: And I might have to have another operation so they can stitch the hole shut! *sob* I hate operations!

Thomas: There, there ... it's all going to be okay ... dang it! I don't like your lampshade either! I can't lick your head very easily while you've got that thing on.

Siouxsie: I'm sorry, Dahlia. I'd hate wearing a lampshade, too.

Thomas: Anyway, Judith, back to your question: You could adopt a kitten, but we hope you'll consider adopting an adult cat a bit younger than Westley. Shelters are always full of adult cats hoping to find forever-homes, but it seems like humans only ever want kittens. So we adult cats sit in our cages or our rooms, pining away for a home we may never see, all because humans are afraid to adopt cats that are full-grown.

Dahlia: It's true. And Thomas should know: He was a shelter cat, and he was three years old -- all grown up. If it hadn't been for Mama's compassion, he might still be waiting for a human to take him home. Even though Mama's committed to adopting adult cats, she brought me home even though I'm still a kitten. She knew that I'd need a special family and a human who'd be willing to help me get big and strong.

Siouxsie: I welcomed Thomas into my home (well, with a few little scuffles along the way) and accepted him as one of my minions. His age mattered less than the way Mama introduced him to the family. You can read about the best way to introduce a new cat in this column. We've also written The Paws and Effect Guide to Introducing a New Cat, which is available for $3.00 US plus shipping.

Thomas: And I welcomed Dahlia right away, even before Mama knew she was a girl cat. I love other cats, and I love to make friends with them. She's my best little sister! *purrrrrrr*

Siouxsie: I like Dahlia well enough, as long as she keeps her distance. It took me a little while, but I've kinda gotten to enjoy her company. She's no Sinéad, that's for sure, but Sinéad talked to me from over the Bridge and asked me to keep an eye on Dahlia and make sure she stays out of trouble. I still miss my sister Sinéad!

Dahlia: So, Judith, we'd recommend that you adopt a female cat a few years younger than Westley and similar in temperament. You'd be doing a great service by giving a lonely adult shelter cat a forever-home, and Westley will thank you for bringing a friend into his life.

Siouxsie: Don't forget that a proper introduction is the key to success with any cat adoptions, so please follow our advice on introducing a new cat. Let the cats decide when it's time to come together, and expect that there might be a bit of hissing and growling at first as they sort out their territory. It's just feline nature.

Thomas: Most shelters will allow you a one-week foster period to determine whether or not the new cat will get along with your current resident. If it doesn't work out, you can bring the new kitty back to the shelter. But it's so sad ... *sniffle* ... that happened to me, and I cried and cried!

Dahlia: It's okay, Thomas; you've got a forever home now, and you'll never have to go back to the shelter again. Mama promised! She promised me, too!

Siouxsie: We don't think you'll have to send the new cat back, as long as you talk to Westley and ask him if he wants a friend -- and listen to and respect his answer! You might be surprised to find that he has definite feelings on the type of cat he'd like in his life.

Thomas: Good luck, Judith. Please write back and let us know how things go. We'd love to hear about your new kitty.

Dahlia: I love my brother and sister and I love my Mama. Thomas and I were very lucky shelter cats who found a wonderful forever-home, and we're so grateful for it. We're sure your new cat will feel the same way.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail us at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the material in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.