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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:

Original poster

QueenStromba · 14/03/2013 18:10

Oh, and she doesn't seem the least bit bothered now by her trip to the vets. She really is the most chilled out cat ever - the only things that bother her are closed doors, not using both hands to pet her, vets looking in her mouth and not getting some of our food.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 14/03/2013 21:18

You don't make the stock with salt, onions, garlic or chives do you? If you do she can't have it.

Onions, garlic, chives and lilies are all part of the alium family of plants and are poisonous to cats.

cozietoesie · 14/03/2013 21:26

She won't be bothered now, QS. She's home ! (And safe with her people.)

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 07:52

She doesn't really like the Royal Canin - she's only eaten about half a pouch since 4 yesterday. Should I just put her back on the Whiskas?

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cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 08:17

Personally, I would - but modest amounts. (That's not a lot of food to have eaten for a cat who was being sick and is a little off colour.) Why not try her on, say, a third of a Whiskas pouch and see if it's food in general she doesn't want or just the RC.

How is she doing otherwise?

cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 08:20

PS - you could always ring the vet at Battersea and quickly ask them of it's OK given that they gave you the RC as a solution to her problem. Veering away from recommended treatment might not go down too well if you have to take her back there today. They should be up and doing shortly.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 08:44

She was miaowing at me for food this morning and when I put it down she had a sniff at it and wandered off - not like her at all. It took her a good 20 minutes before she got around to eating any and even then she didn't seem impressed with it. Other than that she seems fine now. No more vomiting and I scooped out a normal looking poo this morning.

I'll give battersea a call in a bit and see what they say.

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cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 08:59

They get likes and dislikes for food. If you have any sealed RC pouches hang onto them because she might take to it again.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 09:57

I'm waiting for Battersea to phone me back. In the mean time I've folded and given her some mashed up Whiskas because she was crying for food.

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cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 10:03

I think it'll be OK myself. Just don't give her too much at one sitting because if she's hungry and you give her a whole pouch, say, she might pig the lot and then sick it up from eating too much too fast. Modest and more often is probably the way to go if her insides are a little dodgy at the moment.

cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 10:06

PS - I always fold and mash jelly pouches a bit. I think they prefer that.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 10:09

She only ever gets about a quarter of a pouch at a time anyway because that's all she'll eat in a sitting.

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cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 10:12

Gosh - that's not much. She really must like her food very fresh indeed. Either that or she needs the attention that comes with it - which is probably to be expected with her history.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 11:02

I think she's just a fussy old mare :)

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Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 13:00

Hmm. She's not really eating the Whiskas either - she's only had about a quarter of a pouch and a few dreamies today. I'm going to try her on some steamed white fish.

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cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 13:27

They get days when they're not that hungry - especially when they're older and not so active. She hasn't been sick today, the vet thought she was broadly OK yesterday (?), she's had a poo and I assume she's drinking?

How is she if you touch her mouth? (Not to look inside it but just, say, rubbing the middle joint of your forefinger up and down at the side of her jaw like a little stroke.)

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 14:10

Rubbing her on the jaw makes her purr :)

The vet didn't seem too concerned about her yesterday, no signs of dehydration etc. I've not seen her drink anything but I've only seen her drink a couple of times since she got here. She's had another little bit to eat so I'm going to hold off on the fish for a bit.

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cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 15:59

Good. I was concerned that she might have a grumbling dental issue.

See how it goes then.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 16:29

Thank you again for all the advice and hand holding

We haven't even had her a week but we're already in love with her and I'm a massive worrier. The sensible bit of me is saying that it's just a bit of a dodgy tummy but the rest of me is convinced that it's something serious and she's going to die. I'm actually really glad we got an indoor cat - I'd never stop worrying if she was going outside (it doesn't help that my childhood cat broke his hip and then vanished shortly after we let him back outside).

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cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 16:33

One thing they never tell you about getting a mature cat is that if they're older and have a lot of life experience they're often very good at getting people 'under the paw'.

(Not looking at you of course, QS.)

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 16:55

She walks all over me - literally! Apparently last night I slept through her climbing over me to go see DP because he was still awake on the laptop.

She definitely knows how to endear herself. She's particularly cute in the mornings - the second I start stirring she's on top of me looking for a fuss. Nevermind that the reason I stirred this morning was her cold, wet nose on my chest! She's already figured out not to bother trying to get DP's attention early in the morning.

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cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 16:59

As it should be.

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 17:58

She seems to have got her appetite back :)

She just enthusiastically emptied her bowl and wanted a refill.

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cozietoesie · 15/03/2013 18:10

Excellent ! (But maybe delay it for an hour or so - to allow the rest of the food to start going down.)

Original poster

QueenStromba · 15/03/2013 18:24

We're still talking about a quarter of a pouch in total. I've been giving her about a sixth of a pouch today to avoid wasting it. She'd left about half the last time I fed her and then I gave her another little bit once she ate that. Even on a normal day she's the last cat in the world who would overeat.

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