Adding a third cat?

[kajero]

I can't figure out our cats. We've had the female since she was a kitten. The male cat we got when he was four years old. Both cats are fixed.

Sometimes they get into big fights. They bat each other with their paws or maybe bite each other. The female growls, hisses, and yowls. She rolls over on her side and looks like, "you can come and get me at any time." Yet, she can get away at any time. The male cat doesn't utter a peep.

I also give them treats in their dishes. Sometimes the female cat walks away and leaves something for her brother.

Then sometimes we see the female cat grooming the male cat or both of them cuddling together. Either they have short memories or their fighting is just playing -- which we have decided it really is.

[Melalvai]

We made 2 attempts at a 3rd cat. The 2nd attempt sort of worked, but it was a relief when one of the older ones died. The "kitten" and the other old cat, although they didn't get along when there were 3 cats, they get along better now there are only 2. (The one who died got along with everyone.)

3 cats was a lot of work, especially when one was in poor health. 2 cats is so much easier. From now on we are a 2 cat family. Ok, 2 cats and 1 snake.

[Biciclista]

I'd get a female. And hope that the 3rd cat doesn't end a peaceful coexistence there at your house.
When we brought Nutmeg home, Aggie went ballistic and is still troublesome at times. I'm glad I have her though. good luck.

[TrekDianna]

ooo I currently have a total of 14 cats. Not all are in the house obviously. There are three who have a cat door and come in and out. There are 9 who hang out at the barn (but have an enclosure they are put into at night due to the number of coyotes who roam the lower property) and there is one that is not ours, but comes to the back deck for food every night. The three who come into the house ignore each other for the most part. They all sleep in different rooms. The only time they "work" together is when they gang up on the dog. The barn cats who all get locked into the enclosure at night (it's actually half the barn including two stories and a totally wire meshed and roofed area of about the same size as the barn...some of those cats sleep in a big pile so you can't where one ends and one begins if it's a few of the black ones piled up together. They all get along.