I’ve got two cats and I’ve been thinking about getting a third for a while now.
It’s a well-thought-out decision; I’ve got the space and the funds.
However, I’ve had my two big babies for 10 years now, and I’m worried that a new kitten might really unsettle them. I’ve done my homework on how to introduce them, but I’m stuck on one thing: what sex the new one should be.
I keep hearing and reading that you should get a cat of the opposite sex to your current ones to avoid any rivalries.
The thing is, I’ve already got one of each – a male and a female.
The female is very dominant and likes to be the centre of attention (though I’ve noticed she gets quite maternal whenever she sees a kitten or even a human baby). My male is the complete opposite: an absolute sweetheart who just stays in his corner and never says a peep.
I’d really appreciate your feedback, advice, or any personal experiences to help me decide...
I’m worried that if I get a female, my current female might mother her at first but then try to dominate her once she’s grown up.
But I’m also scared that if I get a male, my current boy will be pushed around too much, as he’s so (perhaps too) passive.
I’ve heard that two spayed females get along better than two neutered males...?
Thanks in advance for your replies! 💕
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
As long as you're planning to have the new kitten neutered by the age of 6 months at the latest, the choice will really come down to temperament. If one of your females is quite bossy, you’d be better off adopting a more submissive little female, as a male might end up being more territorial than a female. If your two females are pretty chilled out, a young neutered male who isn't dominant would also work perfectly well.
Hi everyone, I have two neutered females at home and I’m looking to get a third cat. I was wondering if it would be better to get a male this time, or if I should stick with another female?
I’m in the same boat, except in my case, my female is definitely the boss but very chilled out and quiet. My male, who is the submissive one, is chatty, sociable, and much more active. He’s always pestering the female when she isn’t in the mood to play with him. Because of that, I’ve decided to go for a third male who isn't too dominant—someone laid-back and friendly (a Sphynx, as they're a very adaptable breed). I’d suggest looking more at how your current two interact with each other to help decide on the sex (though it’s not a huge deal if both your cats are neutered). Mind you, I haven’t got the third one yet, he’s arriving this weekend!! So, we’ll see how it goes. From everything I’ve read, it’s the way your cats get along, rather than just their sex, that will determine what kind of cat would be the perfect match.
Hi there, the ideal thing would be to see the litter WITH their mum. How the kittens behave with her tells you so much about their future temperament. The dominant one will hog the teat that gives the most milk and shove the others aside, and they'll constantly pester the others quite roughly (just for play). Since you'll be getting the new little one neutered early on, I don't think the sex matters much—focus on finding a gentle, sociable personality above all else.
At a rescue centre or the RSPCA, it’s quite rare to see the kittens with their mum... However, they’re sometimes kept together in the same pen, so these kinds of observations will be really helpful for me.
Thanks!
The local rescue centre will be able to give you some advice. A dominant cat is one that will be the first to come and explore; it's a cat that isn't afraid of anything and is always leading the way. They are wonderful cats, but when you have several cats, getting them to get along can be a bit trickier, especially if you have two dominant ones.
Thanks very much!
Hi there,
Ideally, you want to see the litter WITH their mum. The way the kittens behave with her tells you an awful lot about what their future temperament will be like. The dominant one will hog the teat that gives the most milk and shove the others aside, and they’ll probably keep pestering them quite roughly (just for play, of course). Since you’ll be getting the new little one neutered while they're still very young, I don't think the sex matters all that much; focus on temperament—gentle and sociable—above all else.
The RSPCA or a local rescue will be able to advise you.
A dominant cat is one that’ll be the first to go exploring; they aren't afraid of anything and are always leading the way. They’re wonderful cats, too, but when you have several cats, getting them to get along can be more of a challenge, especially if you have two dominant ones.
Hi there, thank you so much for your advice. However, how do you tell if a kitten is dominant or not? Since I’m planning to adopt from a rescue centre, it seems quite difficult to judge that through a small cage...
I’d suggest going for a female; males can be quite territorial and it might cause a few issues.
Try to pick a kitten that isn’t too dominant to help avoid any clashes.
I’ve got four cats myself—one male and three females (all neutered) ranging from 11 down to 2 years old.
Just remember that the older ones should always come first to ensure the introduction goes smoothly.
