Help settling in our rescue cat

[MiyakoOdori]

We've just adopted a lovely pure black boy cat from CP. He was very friendly and sat on DH straight away at the centre and very happy to be around the children etc.

We've so far got all the food recommended and some toys that he likes too. I was wondering what kind of bed cats seem to prefer and whether it would be a good idea to get a feliway plug in or a spray to make his first few days comfortable.

I want him to be happy and content as much as possible. We plan for him to just have down stairs to get used to and introduce the children one by one and we've discussed with them about our cat needing time and quiet to get used to his new surroundings

Does that sound ok so far? Any suggestions would be fab!

[MrsBertMacklin]

The common wisdom is that cats like to be enclosed from all sides so attackers can't surprise them. I have this snazzy number for BertCat, but she's much happier sleeping on my dressing gown (fleecy and soft) or the throw on the sofa (textured and soft).

Do you have a scratching post? High places that he can safely retreat to if it gets a bit too much?

[MiyakoOdori]

I thought about cleaning the top of the fridge it's easily accessible from the counter or table would that be suitable? We've got the fire place too which is fairly high up.

Il add scratching post to the shopping list! And get one of those beds too!

Thank you :)!

[cozietoesie]

I've never yet had a cat that chose an official 'cat bed' - although some posters have used 'dog beds' with considerable success. The Siamese just head straight for the main 'people bed' and the non-Siamese have slept where they fancied that was quiet, and warm enough. (The airing cupboard or a sofa corner seem to be favourites.) I wouldn't spend £££ on one myself - a cardboard box with eg an old fleece in it seems to have attractions that we may not be able to see.

[sashh]

Mine has never slept on a cat bed.

She prefers:

My bed
bookshelves
under the laptop (i have a laptop stand)
in the desk drawer
on top of the wardrobe
on top of the radiator (ignoring the radiator bed)
on the windowsill
on me
in the airing cupboard
On the side of the bath

Her absolute favorite is on any item of clothing I have worn and then taken off, so a cardigan that I have taken off or a dressing gown.

[hollinhurst84]

It's a wait and see really
I was all prepped for my CP cat planning to be off hiding for a while. Opened the carrier and he strolled over and sat on me (and hasn't really moved off me since)
He likes the back of the sofa, my bed or sleeping on my hip
These pics were after having him for 5 days, I binned the "settling your new cat in" handbook after I realised he was a complete weirdo who wanted to be attached to me from day 1

[cozietoesie]

That's real Siamese/Oriental behaviour, hollinhurst. Not weird at all when you view it in that context.

[hollinhurst84]

I'm sure there is some oriental there, this picture is of his head shape
He very much arrived and went "you my hooman? Good"

[cozietoesie]

You just can't tell unless you know their detailed history.

A few years back, there was a poster who had a large litter of half-Siamese (definitely were because Mom - a little hussy if ever there was one - was a full Siamese) where all the kits were either black or black and white, if memory serves.

[hollinhurst84]

He will be remaining a mystery! Don't even know if he was always stray or has ever had a home. Or indeed how old he actually is

[MiyakoOdori]

Loving the pictures of everyone's cats!

Ok I think il get one just in case he fancies a bed of his own!

We don't really know on his little bit of why he was at cp his owner just had a change in circumstance which could mean anything really!

He's so friendly and chatty so I'm sure he'll adapt quite well he's going to be very spoilt the dcs have told me he's got to have lots of toys!

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

Miyako, I think it really depends on the cat. Both our previous cats weren't remotely interested in catbeds when there were human beds (and human laps) available, although LandingCat did like the radiator hammock for a while in his middle age when his joints started to bother him. Current cat loves his cat bed - it's just a cheap fleece doughnut type but it's on the landing outside our bedroom and he can spot anyone coming upstairs. It's also warm up there. However, that's only his night time bed. The rest of the time he has a favourite chair, a box on its side with a fleece blanket in it, and the DC's upper bunk beds which he tries out like Goldilocks till one is just right. I'd just give your new arrival a few options and see which appeals (although it might change over the weeks and months to come.)

For high up retreating, we have bunk beds, but a high shelf or the fridge are also options. You can customise a shelf or two by fixing carpet or sisal to it (better grip) if you've space. Look at Jackson Galaxy's website or Pinterest for 'catification' ideas. We need all our shelving space for our own crap possessions so have never done it, but none if our cats have tried to climb on our kitchen units or shelving (not while we've been in the room, anyway.)

[cozietoesie]

You'll have to post a picture of him yourself, Miyako.

[hollinhurst84]

Pets at home do a scratch box called willow scratch box that mine adores. It's about a tenner and when it gets worn you can flip the cardboard over. Has a ball in it and catnip
Might be worth a look, mine likes a nap on it too

[MiyakoOdori]

I figured a bed in the lounge and then he can hunt out a space for himself there's plenty of sofas,beds,boxes for him to laze!

Il look into getting a shelf put up but I'm not sure where I'd stick it! We've got a huge bay window which isn't accessible to anyone but a cat so he might be happy to look out on his kingdom from there

[cozietoesie]

You'll all figure each other out a bit more over the next couple of days.