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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

We're probably getting a rescue cat soon. What do we need to buy and how much will upkeep cost?

311 replies

QueenStromba · 10/02/2013 16:45

We're moving soon and have found a flat that we're close to signing the contracts on where the landlord is willing for us to have a cat. If it all goes through we'll be getting an adult cat from Battersea. What do we need to buy and where is the best place to buy from? So far we're thinking:

Transport cage
Litter tray
Scratching post (which will probably be ignored in favour of the sofa)
Cat toys
Food and water bowls

I'm thinking a cat bed would just be ignored in favour of climbing all over us while we're trying to sleep, the sofa, the laptop, whatever point on the carpet the sun is hitting. Should we get one anyway?

Also, neither of us has owned a cat as an adult (we both had them as kids - DP for longer) so we have no idea how much it costs to feed them (is it a whole tin or half a tin a day?), insure them and how much vet bills will cost. How does microchipping work? Is it just the one off cost or is there a yearly charge or just a charge if you change any details etc?

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/03/2013 17:45

She must be so happy to be out of her pen though.

cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 17:51

Yep - her teeth might make it a little difficult to enjoy dried food so I'd leave some biscuits down (they won't go off quickly) but favour wet food.

2 or 3 pouches a day I would say depending on how active she is - which with her age and her being a house cat is likely to be on the lesser side. But you'll be able to judge when you get to know her. She might be a self-limiting cat which will make life easier for you. (No diets to enforce - you may want to put some meat on her bones but, equally, you won't want a fatty chops.)

As she's an older house cat, my inclination would be to give her her food in several meals (say - half or 2/3 pouches) on several occasions per day if the timing suits your and DP's living and working arrangements. That gives her interest throughout the day and means a steady flow of food through the body. Seniorboy has four meals (breakfast, lunch, tea and supper) but that's just what suits him. You'll find out what suits her soon enough.

cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 17:54

....She's barely stopped purring since she got here......

Awwww

thecatneuterer · 09/03/2013 18:09

Awww indeed. I've been thinking about you today. So glad to hear it's all gone so well.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 09/03/2013 18:31

Thanks guys. We're over the moon with her. We've had to laugh at Battersea's suggestion that even if she came over to us we should only give her a couple of strokes and then stop - that just results in headbutting!

Should we be worried that she hasn't used the litter tray yet? How often to cats go? And she was microchipped today which didn't bother her even at the time - how long should we be careful of it?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 18:36

I wouldn't worry about the microchip at all.

As to the litter tray - she may just be waiting for a little. I wouldn't worry about it at the moment. You'll likely find that she'll use it when you're both out of the room. Nothing you can do at the moment. (That's why I said it could be tense.) She's eating and seems happy so let nature take its course.

SnowyWellies · 09/03/2013 19:14

Yes, what cozie said re the litter tray. My cats will never use it if we are around- and they have been with us for years. Cats are quite private.

Also- i find pouches so expensive... tins are much better, we have two cats, and keep dried food down all day then use half a tin for them both at night. (Mind you- they seem to get first dibs on the dog food.... cue 3 dogs sittng patiently while the cats have a good go... )

She sounds like she is settling in beautifully.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/03/2013 19:18

My cat is loving the Aldi tinned food, the tuna, salmon and chicken is cereal free. 45p a can.

My cat has no shame and goes to the litter tray in front of me. I think he's a Jack Russell with a cat disguise on.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 09/03/2013 19:34

We're only feeding her pouches because she came with some - we're going to switch to tins once they're gone. She's been fed on Whiskas pouches at Cattersea - should we try her on Whiskas tins before we try anything else?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 19:39

Try her on whatever you fancy, to be honest - you'll soon find out if she doesn't like it. Probably best to buy singleton packets or tins to start off with just in case she really hates it.

Fluffy reckons the Aldi food and I would, myself, start at the cheaper end of the market if the food is good quality. Supermarket own brands tend to be better value in my experience because there's no advertising to pay for etc.

cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 19:44

PS - Once you find a few noshes she likes, I'd keep some different cans or pouches around to vary flavour and texture. Just to keep her interest going because for indoor cats, food is quite a big thing.

She can have treats as well of course (the odd bit of roast chicken for instance) but you're best to go with cat food because that's nutritionally balanced for cats - and if you feed her too many treats you're raising the bar a tad high!

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/03/2013 19:49

The thing to look for is higher protein levels, eg gourmet is pricey but has 14% protein, aldi cans is 9.5%.

Just don't let her near onions, garlic, lilies, paracetamol. All highly poisonous to cats. Dead within a few hours poisonous.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 09/03/2013 19:51

We have a tin of Sainsbury's salmon which we'll try her on tomorrow then - it's the only one they do individually in our local one so hopefully she likes salmon or we could end up dismissing their whole range. She didn't touch the Sainsbury's biscuits I put down for her but has had some of the Whiskas ones she came with. Unfortunately we're miles from the nearest Aldi - they just don't exist in London postcodes.

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cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 19:52

Seniorboy is on Gourmet, Coop and Sainsbury's. He's a fussy blighter though. I have to give him a different one each time.

cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 19:54

Don't worry if you just can't get one someone here recommends. She might hate it anyway! (They all have different tastes.) Just buy singles of a few different kinds and see how they go down.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 09/03/2013 19:59

Thanks for the tip about the onions, garlic and paracetamol - I didn't know they were as bad as lillies. I'm thinking of getting some fake lillies because they're my favourite flower and I know I can't have fresh anymore.

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cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 19:59

Oh - and if she was used to Whiskas pouches, why not get a variety box of those for the cupboard. Then you know you've got those in hand.

thecatneuterer · 09/03/2013 20:40

Regarding food I think I mentioned somewhere before that I always use Butcher's Classic tins. It's cheaper than most, most cats seem to like it and it's vet recommended. Apparently it's good for mouths/gums (I never did understand why, but that's what the vets say). Worth a try.

Older cats rock in my opinion. They tend to be less trouble than youngsters and more loving. I've had lots of cats over 20 and quite a few 25 year olds. A few years ago I rehomed two elderly cats to someone I knew. The owner had died and the cats were 23 and 25 when they were rehomed (and came with all their vet papers dating back to the 1980s). They both lived happily and without any medical problems for another two years and brought a great deal of joy to their new owner.

cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 20:48

Wow. Makes QS's new girl seem like a baby!

Ponders · 09/03/2013 21:30

don't let her near onions, garlic, lilies, paracetamol. All highly poisonous to cats. Dead within a few hours poisonous

I did not know that

Original poster

QueenStromba · 10/03/2013 08:22

Well it seems that the comfiest place on the bed is on top of me! How long will it take before I stop noticing? She also used the litter tray during the night and played with her balled up bit of paper. Is there any way to persuade her not to play in the bedroom at night? She miaowed at us a bit too during the night but we ignored her as Battersea advised because we don't want her to get into the habit of waking us up.

She finished off her Whiskas biscuits and even seems to have picked at the Sainsbury's ones. We've tried her on the Sainburys tin which she likes. DP gave her a bit much though - how long is it ok to leave that down for?

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 10/03/2013 08:26

She's just settling in. They are a bit nocturnal though. I locked ours in the kitchen on his first night and he miaowed a bit but we ignored him.

I leave food down for a few hours.

cozietoesie · 10/03/2013 08:45

I'd wait for a little while to see how things pan out because it's real early days. I've always found that my cats tend to adapt their routine to fit in with ours (sleeping when we sleep) so you might get this as well in due course.

Great that she's used her tray and eaten more. Hope she's drinking some water as well.

You're doing fine it sounds.

PS - I leave wet food down for a few hours or until it starts to look 'tired'. (Or overnight for supper.) Depends a bit on what temperature you keep the house at: we're not given to tropical level heating.

QOD · 10/03/2013 09:06

Aaaah I love puddy tats!!

Lil tip, in Poundland they often sell little blankets with the paw prints on, dog ones and most importantly, but not always, cats ones. Buy a couple and then when you sis's her fave spots, ie on your pillow during the day ..... Start putting them on there.

My cat actively searches his out now.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 10/03/2013 09:44

I haven't seen her drink any water but she's had a wee.

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