This is very long--sorry!
We have three rather wussy cats: a bossy-but-small Siamese girl, 6, a slightly shy Balinese girl, , and a shy Balinese variant boy, 2. They're all rescue cats, and the two Balineses in particular were very shy and withdrawn when they first came here. They've had enough trauma in their lives and I don't want to cause them any more.
We've been looking for a Maine Coon to add to our family, but have this week been offered not one, but three gorgeous cats--none of which are Maine Coons!
I'd like advice on which might suit us best. I know it's difficult for you to advise from a distance, but what I want to hear is all sorts of opinions so we've got a lot to go on. We might end up not taking any of these cats, but at the moment, we're just not sure. I want them all!
First off, we have a three-year-old snow Bengal and her half-Bengal two-year-old daughter (who looks like a green-eyed, brown marble, not very typey Bengal). Both are speyed, and until last week lived with an old lady who has had to go into sheltered accommodation, and could only take one cat: so she kept her elderly Siamese and handed the other two over to the CPL.
In their home the mother was very friendly, the daughter more reserved (but not unfriendly); they were let out, and didn't have any problems with neighbourhood cats, or with their Siamese friend. Now they're in care, they've had to be separated because the mum has become very hissy and cross (the fosterer says she's just really fed up wtih being confined in the cat-runs--they've only been there since Monday). She's very vocal and demanding, apparently (which is just what I like in a cat). The daughter, however, is now ridiculously affectionate and sociable.
Both have been very hissy and spitty with the other cats that they've seen, and the fosterer suspects that the reason they were OK with neighbourhood cats was because they were the ones in charge. This could cause trouble with our cats here. However, the person who took them to the rescue, who did see them at home and with their Siamese friend, says that they were both very loving, gentle, quiet cats for Bengals, and doesn't think they'd cause trouble here.
The other cat we've been offered is a two-year-old Ragdoll boy who is, apparently, huge. He's used to living with his breeder and her queens and stud cats (he's neutered, and has not been used as a stud cat--was sold as a kitten but returned to her when his owner developed asthma). He likes to go out, and can't at her house, as he keeps getting on the road and he was knocked over recently (he's fine now). He is described as extremely affectionate, sleeps on her bed (again, we like this), very sociable, and if her queens have a go at him, he just lies down on the floor and ignores them.
It sounds to me as though the Ragdoll might be the best option; however, I have been advised not to get another male, as males are more territorial and more likely to have a bit of a go at our existing cats. And the Bengals are also truly gorgeous.
While we'd love another cat or two, I don't want to cause us, or our existing cats, any more stress than we have to. I know we'll have to take care over introductions, and I do expect some ruffled fur: but I don't want to get the Bengals, for example, if their nature is confrontational and they'll cause our cats ongoing upset; or get the Ragdoll and have him be all male and hormonal with us (even though he's neutered, you know what I mean).
Help! What do you think?
