Cat Introductions: Does your Senior Need A Friend?

Many cat guardians with senior cats may wonder if introducing a new cat friend into your household is a good thing or an added stressor. While there are no black and white answers, I’m here to guide you on best practices!

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[LoreTheDarkElf]

I adopted a senior who was picked up as a stray. No medical history, they guessed his age at 13 based on his teeth, black cat with big orange eyes. We knew we'd be providing end of life care for him, and he passed 2 years later, but for those two years? He was the most loving cat I had ever known, and I was blessed to have him for the time I did. RIP Cerberus, we love you.

[shirleygiordano]

I took in an 18 year old cat. I was just drawn to him. I was blessed with 7 years with that tuxedo cat. He lived to age 26. I now have Skittles, an orange domestic shorthair. Around 4. Both rescued.

[griffinmoth]

My senior boy grew up with another cat and a dog, but he's been a solo act for several years now. We adopted another adult cat last year because I knew I would be out of the house a lot for nursing school (haha not anymore) and I didn't want him to get lonely. I was sure to ask the people at the rescue for cats who are good with other cats, who aren't too high energy. As you can see from my icon, they are now BEST FRIENDS. My old man has a new energy for playing that I haven't seen in years. They chase toys together and daydream about hunting the pigeons together. We used the Jackson approved cat introduction method and it worked wonderfully. It won't work out so well for everyone, but I wanted to share my success story!

[kenishamt]

Thanks for the feedback Jackson, we've been thinking this over for months now...wish i could give so many more cats a loving home. The kennels at the HS are so tiny.

[jessicabarczewski]

I had adopted my cat Noe as a senior and didn't want a companion for my him cause he seemed mellow and enjoyed chilling beside me and didn't seem interested in being active. Then I found a homeless kitten and was surprised that my senior seemed to tolerate the kitten. Eventually, my senior came out of his shell and became playful and rambunctious. I think having a friend brought out the kitten in my senior.

[NOYB]

So interesting. I had two cats for 15 years, Grady and Baby Girl. To say that they barely tolerated each other would be an understatement. But they were used to each other, they were their own pack, even if it was a tense one.

We lost Baby Girl quickly and unexpectedly to cancer in 2007. Grady was 17 and 1/2 years old at the time, and honestly, the last thing we thought was that he would miss her or that he needed another cat or cats to feel comfortable. Boy were we wrong. Within 2 days of Baby Girl not coming home, Grady started wandering the house howling. He went somewhat off of his food and seemed depressed. It was really obvious to us that even though he didn't have a snuggle grooming love match with Baby Girl, she was his pack and he didn't like being the only cat in the house.

We weren't ready for more cats. We were still really stung with the unexpected loss of Baby Girl. But we also thought there was a high probability that Grady would just fade away if we didn't do something. So we wound up adopting two 7-month-old brothers, Rufus and Feats, who had been found near their dead mother at 2 days old and lovingly bottle-fed and raised. Our thinking was that they were old enough to not totally be into everything, but that when they wanted to play, they would play with each other and leave Grady out of it. Grady could basically hold court as the senior cat in the household and observe them rather than joining in given his advanced age.

The Brothers spent a month in quarantine. Two weeks to ensure that they were healthy enough to be neutered, and then two more weeks to acclimate and recover from their neutering surgery. In that final week of quarantine, we started the careful introduction process.

Grady lived to just past his 19th birthday. I credit Rufus and Feats with that absolutely. Bringing these young active cats into the house gave an air of feline youthfulness that permeated to and through Grady. he never engaged in play with them, and they never tried to engage him in play. That's what each brother was for to the other. But when quiet time would come, I'd find one or both brothers curled up with Grady looking out the window at the birds or snuggled up to him on the couch. It was the best decision I ever made, and I know that we were lucky that both of the brothers came from a rescue environment that got them used to other cats, and that Grady, even if grudgingly, was also used to having another cat in the house.

Rufus and Feats turned 13 in April. We have two other cats as well, 13 and 12 years old respectively. They are a pack, and this has made all the difference in our household, both past and present.

[marquisedevulpes]

I love senior cats.. it is very painful to lose them, but every minute spent with them is worth it <3

I legit applied to be a foster during these hurricanes yesterday (with a senior cat already) and this video pops up

[beka]

I got two new kittens with my senior cat and he loves them but he has been super playful his whole life. The best part is kittens love him too. So he gets all the attention from me and his younger playmates now. Those kittens respect him as boss too as he had to teach them some manners in the beginning lol. I used the techniques this video talks about and for me worked out well. I have the triangle of cute perfection in my house now.

[chrisponte]

We adopted two bonded brothers that were between 6 months- 1 year. One of our boys developed FIP and passed away. :( His brother became very needy, destructive, and was clearly lonely. We went to the rescue where we originally adopted and explained the situation. They gave us several cat friendly options. We ended up with a cat that had had his brother adopted but not him. He was about 6 months younger than our cat. We started the introductions off with the typical closed room, scented beds, graduated to a stack of baby gates (all within 24 hours), and couldn’t keep them apart. They have been best friends ever since.

[SmithMrCorona]

Gotta say, Jackson's advice has really helped me and my relationship with my cats. I was always a good caretaker, and I had a lot of experience, even working for a vet in my teens. But there was a lot to learn. There a lot of "cat experts" out there, but this guy is legit. Since I started following JG's advice several years ago, my cats and I have become much better friends and roommates.

[TheTigresswarrior]

I just got a second cat, my senior is 13. The new cat is 4, he's real chill. Introducing them was easier than i thought it would be. He knows his boundaries so he doesn't bother her. He's been here almost two months and its been pretty good. Their not friends yet but she accepts him. She just won't let him on the couch, that's her spot. She'll let him on the bed when she's on it if he stays in his side.

[TheSilverVixen]

We have six cats currently, our youngest is the most recent adopted and he's 4 months old. He was IMMEDIATELY taken in by our oldest who will be 17 next month. They've bonded so closely, it's so cute.

[tapsnjazz]

Have not finished the video yet, but I love that she is asking and researching before getting another cat!

[chobits]

We got two tom kittens when our girl was 18 years young. She now adores them more than me!

[bellasmom]

I think energy level is an important consideration, but personality type is very important to consider as well for compatibility. I adopted two kitten sisters in 2008. Their temperaments were so different that I questioned that they were really from the same litter. One bullied the other and had to be the dominant cat, and didn’t want to share anything with her including me. She died four years ago of cancer and I was reluctant to get another cat because my remaining cat is more relaxed now that she isn’t being bullied. She’s now 12 and I wish I could ask her if she would like a kitty friend because I don’t want to get into another situation where she’s bullied. I wish our senior cats could interview prospective adoptees.

[sarahd.]

I am always so glad that I can return to your videos about these important topics.

We've been considering getting another cat for our (technically) senior (she is still very playful if done right) but always put it off for so many reasons, some valid, some less so. Now we're in the market for two kittens, and it's all thanks to you that I feel even remotely prepared! My family used to adopt via the "cat distribution system" (so random strays who would walk up to our door and decide to stay with us lol) and had NO clue about an orderly introduction, so naturally our (very much) senior back then did *not* like the random kittens showing up.

Thanks to you, we'll do it right now, over 20 years later. No shortcuts anymore, unless our little gremlins demand them and want to cuddle each other right from the bat.

[midnightkitty]

We already had a 4 year old Ragdoll, then one day a neighbour offered me a ( Maine Coon ) kitten.
I immediately took the kitten, and after following the cat introduction guidelines, our Ragdoll accepted the kitten and they have lived happily ever after.

[SusantheNerdy]

Thank you! I had asked this question too. I don't strongly want another cat, but worried I was not doing right by my senior cat that she doesn't have another cat around - but she wasn't raised with cats (the opposite, she was raised with dogs) and has been living alone for almost 4 years now and seems overall very happy and playful, but she is definitely velcroed to me when I'm home (fine by me ❤️)

This gives me more reassurance that she's ok in her happy life and I don't want to stress her at *all*, so if I decide *I* need another cat, maybe. But not for her. I think she likes being Queen of the home and this reinforces that.

Thanks Jackson!

[The.Devils.Advocates]

I think your advice is GENERALLY good, BUT doesn't necessarily apply to ALL situations, Jackson! My 7 year old boy is an ankle attacker, a midnight sprinter, and a boredom caterwauler. He was used to having a dog in the house to chase and wrestle with to help get some of his energy out (an hour a day with the feather toy was just not enough for him), but I moved out of my parents' house and he lost his best dog friend. We just got a medium energy young kitten and he actually LOVES IT. He gets occasionally irritated when she follows him around and brushes lovingly against his side, and gives her a little hiss to back off. But they actually spend 6-12 hours a day chasing each other, fighting, and then falling asleep in the room together! Getting a kitten for my "technically senior" was the best decision I ever made. HOWEVER the important thing to note is that he's also extremely high energy for his age. I think energy is more important to match than age. He can keep up with a kitten easily and actually initiates play more than she does, and she respects his boundaries really well. He's been so much calmer and I don't end up having my ankles stalked or being sneak attacked around corners anymore. He sleeps well and the kitten is helping him lose weight to get back in shape.