I have a very neurotic and needy cat... should I get her a friend? If so, what species of friend?

Don’t really know how to answer your question, but I like your house. :)

The best (but not the most convenient gift) is a live mouse a day. My cat gets really cranky during this bad stretch of winter when he can’t go outside and forage for prey.

What you are describing as neurotic behavior is what I call normal. Jumping, pawing, poking, sitting on my keyboard or external hard drive, ripping a few holes in the screens, and scratching. I have little wounds on the backs of my hands and wrists.

She looks very sweet. Introducing another cat is tricky and not always very successful. What if they hate each other? What, then, do you do with cat #2?

Here is Milo, recently, at his most baleful.: http://i48.tinypic.com/2epn11z.jpg

I would probably advise against a rat or rabbit, as those might just seem like “prey” to Daisy. I would definitely get another cat, and hope that it will calm your other cat down.

I would not introduce a new animal companion to an 11 year old cat.

Most older cats are not very receptive to new creatures, especially new cats. :(

@gailcalled Good to know other cats do these things! None of my mom’s other cats do, which is why we always thought Daisy was a little “special.”

I am afraid of introducing another animal in case they don’t get along. Or she tries to eat them.

A dog from the pound that has a history of living with cats.

I think cats do better if they have friends. We were worried when we got our newest kitten, Timmy. The first day our oldest cat, who is 8 hissed and seemed mad. The second day he was in love with the kitten and almost seemed to “mother” him. They cuddle and snuggle. They get on very well. Maybe your cat would enjoy having a playmate.

You might have the best chance with a young kitten. Kittens enjoy what you could call kitten immunity—older critters seem programmed (just as we are with babies) to put up with certain behaviors that we would not allow in an older child or adult. They don’t see them as rivals or threats because they are so clearly subordinate.

At the same time the first cat can train the youngster as he or she pleases. I heard of one household that added a kitten to a single older cat who was very queenly, fussy, aloof, demanding, and set in her ways. She promptly taught the newcomer to groom her and couldn’t have been happier with the attention.

A young kitten is also highly adoptable and would probably be easy to place if it just didn’t work out.

Every animal has it’s own personality. Did she play with cats that weren’t bullying her? My cat sleeps all day except for short forays outside.

@Jeruba good point and excellent suggestion. This winter I pet-sat a kitten for an acquaintance. I have two male cats of my own (ages 8 and 9.) We introduced them slowly, with the help of a transparent barrier. I ended up purchasing two sliding screens for ~$10 at Home Depot. While relations started off quite tense, they got used to one another fairly quickly and at the end of the three weeks, they romped together and even cuddled sometimes. I think she actually conditioned my cats to be more affectionate and active.

I would imagine you might be able to approach a local shelter about a “trial” adoption, in which you slowly introduce your cat to a potential new friend. I’d also imagine they’d be more receptive if you were willing to “donate” the adoption fees in the event that the relationship didn’t pan out and the second creature had to be returned to the shelter.

Thanks, @Jeruba and @Beta_Orionis for your great ideas.

@faye She did interact positively with the one cat that did not bully her. If my mom would let me, I’d just nab that cat from her, too, but she’s her favorite. :)

How about a mouse.

@lilikoi: See second answer, first sentence.

t@fireinthepriory: A friend just got an 8 week-old kitten. He is super-agressive, intimidates yoda the pug, and more seriously, uses everything but his litterboxes for toilet issues. I don’t know whether this is typical behavior for a very young and as yet, unneutered cat.

He gets snipped on Thurs., weather permitting.

If he refuses to use litter box after that, back he goes,

I wouldn’t get a rabbit or any other animal just as a pet/friend for your cat. However, one of my two cats is in love with my rabbit, and it is so cute. They are good friends, always lying down next to each other and I’ve even seen them groom each other! The other cat doesn’t really like the rabbit though. Rabbits are complicated animals so make sure you do research if you are seriously thinking of getting one. Rabbit.org is a great site.

My Jilly does all those things that you find neurotic: this, this, and this and I am so glad she does. She is eleven and even though she lost half of her life when Jacky died, I would not get her another cat. Another cat is just that: another cat. A stranger. She would never take to any new cat to replace her twin. If I had room I would have considered a big gentle cat-friendly dog.

I think a new kitty pal is the way to go, but..I am surprised no one mentioned getting her a fishtank to watch! lol