We may be getting a cat! am ridiculously excited

[Kenworthington]

We've wanted a cat for ages, thought I wnated a kitten BUT today me and dd went to the rescue centre and were chosen by this gorgeous boy! He's 6 years old, super friendly and loves sitting on laps being fussed over. Waiting for our home check visit- keep your fingers crossed! Also, any tip tips? I've been lurking in this section trying to do my research, we've never had a cat before (or rather- a cats never had us 😸)

Here's a pic isn't he a Beaut- look at that lovely fluffy tum

[cozietoesie]

What a great boy!

Do you have any idea when the home visit might be? (You must be aching to get him home.)

[Kenworthington]

Hopefully later on this week! Honestly though im a bit clueless, what do I need?? I'm really really hoping our road isn't going to be a problem for them 😁 the guy showing us around said he'd be the perfect cat for us. He was the only one banging the front of his little house thing to get to us, rest of them were really aloof lol
Agh I just want to be approved then I can sort stuff out (like wrong out how I can make him sleep on MY bed and not the kids mwahahahahahahaha)

[Kenworthington]

Working out.

[Wolfiefan]

Shut their bedroom doors! Works for us!
You can get gardens cat proofed if the road is an issue.
Glad to see you have the right mindset to be a cat slave!
To buy:
Cat carrier
Bowls
Litter tray and same litter as he's on now
Food. Again same as he's on now.
Cat tree or radiator bed type thing.
Book vet check and get him microchipped if he isn't.

[Kenworthington]

Oh good tips from the top, just what I need!
Apparently he's on 3 meals a day as he's a glutton.
Do they still use a litter tray when they can go outside then? (See? Clueless!), I guess he's just used to that in the centre. That's ok. I guess that's gonna be my job!
Really hope he's going to respect the leather sofas!
He's going to enjoy the log burner 😊

[Kenworthington]

Front of house has pavement and then raid but out the back is garden then onto school field. So that should be ok. NDN cat thinks our garden is Hers so she is going to be most put out!

[Kenworthington]

Raid=road

[Twiggy71]

It helps when you visit him to get his scent, do this with a blanket and gently rub the side of his face with it. Take the blanket home and rub it around the room you first introduce him to. So when he gets to your home he will recognise his own scent and it will help him to settle in more quickly. Hope this helps and good luck with your gorgeous boy.

[LAmusic]

Yes need a litter tray even if they are outdoor cats, always best just in case - you don't want to wake up to have pee all over your living room carpet!

[Kenworthington]

That's a brilliant tip thanks twiggy. Your cats gorgeous too- was he/she a rescue? X

[LAmusic]

And a basic kit list:
Litter tray
Litter
Food&water bowl (separate is best apparently!)
Food (best to see what he is being fed currently)
Some toys (fishing rod style toys, a laser is v popular with my cat)
A bed (not that he'll use it, but option)
A scratching post! (We've found the extra long one from pets at home is best!)

[Allergictoironing]

Cats shouldn't go out until they have been in their new home around 3-4 weeks, so they know that is their home now & don't run away looking for their old home. So a) you will definitely need a litter tray for that time and b) that should give you more time to think of ways to cat-proof your garden if the home check recommends it.

You should always provide a litter tray anyway - think of the poor thing with crossed paws if it wants a pee during the night if you don't! NDNs cat will only poo outside (except in the depths of winter) but does pee in the tray at least once or twice a day.

You should also get a decent scratching post, especially if you have a nice leather sofa . You may want to add toys to your list .

[Allergictoironing]

Argh cross posted with about 3 people!

[Dishevelled09]

We recently got a boy cat same age as yours from a rescue centre. Fell in love with him and took him home there and then ,we had experience of having a cat before and passed all their checks such as having a biggish safe back garden away from a main road.He loves Dreamies treats and we give him dried cat food whereas our old cat had wet. Best decision we made was getting an older cat, he's loving, litter trained and no trouble. He doesn't go far and the house wouldn't feel the same without him now. Laser pen is a great idea, scenting areas so he feels happy and there are apps for cats to watch too now! He also enjoys a bit of catnip but not all cats do.

[Kenworthington]

Thanks for all your replies.
Gosh had no idea they had to stay inside for 3-4 weeks!
Dishevelled - that's so good to hear such a great story. Thanks

[Allergictoironing]

A decent rescue should have ensured a cat is neutered, micro-chipped and has all their vaccinations up to date before re-homing, but check with the rescue as all of these are an absolute must.

[Wolfiefan]

If you whistle when you feed him he should learn to come to a whistle. Our cats always stay in overnight. Less chance of a road accident or fighting with other cats/wildlife!

[BorpBorpBorp]

ConCATulations! He's gorgeous. I agree with previous posters' tips, and also recommend you get some Dreamies or similar treats and train him to come when you shake the packet - v. useful if he accidentally gets out when he shouldn't and you need to get him back in.

[Toddlerteaplease]

What a gorgeous boy. Welcome to cat slavery, there is nothing better!

[Kenworthington]

Oh bugger, I can't whistle to save my life! Maybe I could sing him a song instead

He's def neutered and had all his jabs. Not sure whether microchipped. Hes in fine health apparently. He's from an rspca centre. Might they have done that already?

I'm going to try and keep him in overnight (mainly to try and avoid unpleasant gifts), tgough am prob kidding myself!

[Kenworthington]

Oh gawwwwwd I really really hope they come soon so I can reserve him. They wouldn't let me reserve without having check done first: knew I shouldn't have looked 😳

[CharminglyGawky]

The rspca will almost certainly have microchipped him, they are pretty hot on that!

He is stunning, I love cats, used to work in a rescue centre and miss it a lot now I don't. You've already had loads of great advice which will most likely be reiterated during the home visit and then again by the centre staff during the actual rehoming.

[ShotsFired]

A feliway plugin may be a good investment too. Basically cat crack so they get all high and dreamy.

Good luck, he's a beaut!

[cozietoesie]

A little story about a whistle. Not too cautionary, I hope.

My darling Twoago had a 'calling whistle' to come in - quite a distinctive two-tone whistle which he obeyed implicitly.

One late afternoon, I heard the whistle being used but as I'd just seen him flat out on the bed, I went to the back door and called 'It's OK - he's inside!' And then it was used twice more.

By the third time, I was becoming slightly tetchy so went out and yelled that he was inside. To protestations that I'd been heard the first time and no-one had called Twoago.

We sat and listened - with Twoago safely inside - and soon realised that the garden's 'watch blackbird' had clearly become rather taken with the two-tone whistle call and had adopted it as part of his song. Pitch perfect he was too.

He died - as did Twoago - but the whistle-call carried on as part of the singing vocabulary of the garden blackbirds. The call altered very slightly as time went by but I still felt nostalgia when I heard it rocketing across the garden of a summer evening. Hey Ho.

[Kenworthington]

Home check in 10 mins!!!!