Advice on adopting a cat

[NeatFreak]

We are visiting a rescue centre today to (hopefully) adopt a cat. We have been thinking about it for almost a year and now is the right time so hopefully we will be able to rehome one.

I have a cat basket already and as soon as we get the go ahead will get food, bowls, litter tray etc but I wondered if there were any hints or tips out there that you don't know about until you've been a cat owner, like the best place to buy worming/ flea treatments, how to settle the cat in- anything useful really!

Hello, the best advice I was given was to introduce our cat to the house slowly so she got used to a couple of rooms at a time rather than being faced with the whole house at once.

zooplus.co.uk and petplanet.co.uk are great places to get food and flea / worming treatments

Feliway spray and plug ins can also help cats feel calmer and more settled.

Oh, and my vet (who is a little bonkers so feel free to ignore this bit!) says that cats don't like plastic bowls as they smell odd. So our cat has china bowls - in fairness to the mad vet, she does seem to prefer them.

How exciting! I hope you have a lovely time getting to know your new puss

Thanks . Dd is very excited so i just hope we are able to find the right cat for us!

I'm sure one will find you! My DH and I have adopted a cat and a dog - both chose us, we had very little say in the matter (cat jumped in my handbag and dog hid in my DH's coat)

Have fun!

Thanks, like you said we were chosen by a cat- an ex-stray with a serious flea allergy but sooo cuddly and affectionate so fingers crossed all goes to plan. Just waiting for the home check then if that goes ok he will be neutered before we bring him home!

Sooooooo exciting!

I am sure he will settle in brilliantly. Have fun with your new furry purry!

PS don't worry about flea allergies - you can keep the blighters at bay with products like spot-on and advantage

I have a large Maine Coon wrapped around the keyboard, patting my fingers with his huge furry paws as I type. We rescued him a few weeks ago and he has settled in like a dream (although he does get a bit bitey when playing, but more holding your arm in his mouth than digging his teeth in). He chose us - he was waving to us through the bars of the cage at the rescue centre (DD1 very cynically said that he probably does that with everyone ). Good luck with your new furry friend! There's nothing nicer than a purry cat on your lap. Ours likes to hold my hand with both front paws and suck my thumb!

Our cat chose us too.

I was a cat-hater and only agreed to get one for dd's sake but now I'm as much the cat's slave as anyone.

We let her get used to a room at a time, according to advice, but it was obvious right from the start that she was right at home - she came out of the crate purring!

If only I'd known how lovely it would be, I'd have had a cat years ago.

Oh er Mrs, a Maine Coon! You lucky soul.

OP, I've found Petmeds online by far the cheapest for Frontline flea treatment, Drontal and the like.

Wishing you a long and happy time with your new friend. :)

Thanks for the tips. I'm still waiting to arrange a home check and getting so impatient! The shelter rang earlier to say that the cat isn't a male as they thought and they were worried I'd change my mind but I'm not bothered. I now need to rename him though...

I had cats years ago and remember frontline being expensive (but the best) so its good to know I can buy it online.

any tips on the best litter and tray? Do any cats actually use scratch posts or sleep in normal cat beds?! My previous two didn't... Ds is only 2yo so I'm hoping he first scare he/she too much!

They prefer to have their water in a seperate place to their food rather than next to it, one of those little known things that seems to be completely true!

Update- we are collecting our little kitty today and are very excited. Thanks for the advice