I have a dilemma. A few weeks ago we got Maisie. Maise has settled in fantatically but wants to play with my old lady cat Widget all the time (shes 17). Widget is having none of it at all (but tolerates Maisie quite well considering)! I have been wondering whether it would be better to get Maisie a kitten companion? Is this likely to work or would two kittens gang up on Widget making her life miserable?

There's no guarantee another kitten would bond with your new girl and every chance they would both make widget's life a living hell, if two of them are chasing her. The reason to get another pet is if YOU want one, rather than because you think your new kitten will be lonely. It's always a bit of a risk, you never know how well they'll get along.

I'm fortunate in that our cats do generally get along fine and have enough space to get out of one another's way when they need to- but I've also owned cats in the past that hated one another, one so much that she refused to come in during the daytime, so there's really no telling. Chances are, a new kitten probably would get along with your kitten - they are naturally playful - but an older cat like Widget probably would not want to play and might become more withdrawn. We took the risk of getting 2 kittens together, hoping they would focus on one another and leave our then oldies alone- and we were lucky, they did - but then one of the 2 died unexpectedly and we then gradually introduced 3 more kittens at intervals of approx 3 months each - and luckily we choes breeds that were known for their sociable friendly temperaments, so afte a bit of initial grrrr-ing and hissing, things soon quietened down. It was a risk though - and fortunately for us, our only oldie moggie Minty tends to stay in the attic anyway, so she does get some peace and quiet away from the madder youngsters.

IF Widget hasn't got space to get away from a couple of youngsters, personally, I would hold fire on getting another kitten- imagine how she'll feel being gradually usurped by younger models - let her live out her twilight years gracefully and then consider getting another kitten - your by then adult Maisie should be more tolerant of a newbie than an oldie like Widget might be.