How will rehoming my timid cat affect my outgoing cat's personality?

Each kitten can have its own personality that differs from the "standard" for the breed. In general I find male cats to be more "cuddly" than females but there are exceptions to that rule. Also kittens can have drastic changes in their personality as they grow into adults. So you may look at adult cats for adoption as their personalities are more set. The other consideration is that in a shelter setting it is hard to really judge a cat's personality since there can be strange noises, smells, environment. At the end of the day if this kitten is really "speaking" to you it could be she is meant for you and you can help mold her personality through lots of interaction and play.

Sometimes when you bring a new animal into the house you have to be prepared for the fact that it may effect the personalities of other pets. Usually it is related to stress so you could try buying a pheromone diffuser to reduce this. Otherwise it could just be that she prefers the company of the kitten and this has changed her personality.

That will depend on the personality of the kitten. If you are worried about adjustment, you could invite the people where it is going to find a new home a few times to come and play with the kitten. That way the kitten will be familiar with them and their smell before moving into their home. It is also a good idea to give the new owners the same cat food the kitten is used to eating and some of the toys if available. Then I do not think there will be a big problem moving to a new home.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Cats tend to be quite adaptable and able to adjust to a new environment well, so I think Blueberry and her kitten will probably do just fine! Of course, every cat is different - some cats love the extra stimulation and socialization that comes with having other cats in the household, while other cats prefer to live on their own and are stressed by having other animals around. You know Blueberry best and might be the best judge as far as how she'll do. If you're worried about how she'll respond, you could always consider this a "trial run", and let your friend know that if your cats don't seem to be adjusting well, you could take them back to find better arrangements. You should anticipate that the first week or two will be an adjustment period and your cats might do a bit more hiding than usual, and initial encounters with the other household cats will probably include some hissing as they figure each other out - but within a few weeks Blueberry and her kitten should be looking more relaxed and comfortable in their new surroundings. Good luck - hope this helps!

If your older cats have been together for several years, they probably have their "territories" picked out. It is quite possible that they just don't like each other. Having more than one pet is often like being placed with a roommate that you didn't choose - sometimes it is a great fit and sometimes you can't wait to move out! It is hard for me to tell you if getting new kittens will help or hurt the current situation, as it would just depend on how happy your current cats would be with new, and very young roommates. Kittens like to play, a lot, and often need to be taught the rules of the house. There will likely be a lot of fighting at the start until the kittens grow up a little. There is a possibility that kittens will help the other cats mellow out together, but my gut feeling is that this may not happen. If you do decide to get new kittens, remember that you will need a drastic increase in litter boxes (and feeding stations and water bowls). Veterinary behaviorists recommend 1 more litter box than you have cats, so that means 6 boxes! And they all need to be in different areas of the house to give a sense of privacy. You will also need additional quiet space so that everybody can feel safe in their own area.

While you can't predict how any cat would react, I would avoid adding stress to both your feral cat, and you, and a new cat until everyone is settled in and comfortable in your home. This would introduce a lot stress to everyone which may lead to increased behavioral issues, or may cause your feral cat to not bond with you as closely. Once your feral cat has settled in some and seems more comfortable, you can then re-evaluate if a kitten would be a good addition to the home.

No, I don't think you've made the the wrong choice. It takes time for a new cat to adjust to the new home, and since she is shy, I would recommend keeping them separated for longer than three days. I will give you a method for introducing them. Keep the door closed, and for a few days, feed them both treats on other side of door so they associate each other's smell with a good experience. Then let the other cat in the new cat's room while the new cat is in a cat carrier. They can smell each other, but not be in contact. If either becomes upset or show signs of aggression, remove the second cat from the room, and try again later. Praise them when they interact appropriately. When they are interacting well with each other through the carrier, you can let the new cat out of her room, and see how she interacts with the other cat. Praise them when they interact appropriately, and separate them with any sign of aggression or upset. I would get a cat tree with lots of shelves to give the cats vertical space to get away from each other. I would keep the new cat in her room when you go out until they are comfortable with each other. Best of luck, I hope this helps!