First time pet owner

[paneer]

I am rehoming a rescue cat later this month and very excited. (She is about 2/3yo).

I bought a bowl and a collar today. Am trying to see if I can get some bits of freecycle before I go out and buy stuff.

Got a quote for a cat flap (wall) for £280 + supply own cat flap. Sound about right??

Need to find a local vet to register with.

I guess I need to fund out whether my house alarm has a built in pet sensor too.

Anything else?

Both DD and I are very excited

Well done paneer! I can't comment on the cost of going through the wall even though it sounds quite steep (did you just get the one quote?) but you might like to read this ongoing thread about getting a cat for the first time.

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/1681116-Were-probably-getting-a-rescue-cat-soon-What-do-we-need-to-buy-and-how-much-will-upkeep-cost\thread}

Someone else can probably comment on the cat flap costs. Where you are might determine the amount as much as anything.

How exciting for you.

That does sound like a lot of money to make a hole in a wall. I would have thought about £80 would be nearer the mark. I should get a couple more quotes if I were you.

Yes-definitely get a couple more quotes. It sounds like one of those 'I don't really want to do the job but.....' amounts.

(If you're going to save any money, use some of it to buy a microchip cat flap. More expensive but it will be an excellent investment for you.)

Off to look at the other thread. I am so excited, and anxious that something might go wrong when the home visit happens. (No idea why).

Ordered a microchip cat flap today.

The first person (£280) only fits cat flaps. The second person is a builder who knows about fitting cat flaps (£200, but might be £150 is the wall isn't as thick). I am beginning to think it's London...

That still sounds like a silly amount of money to basically make a small hole. Are you anywhere near East London? I know a good builder.

I am in NW London. Do you think your builder will come out? How much do you think it will cost?

They say it's not just making the hole, it's making good too. And lining it so the cat does fall into the cavity.

There was another builder who was going to come out and quote me but decided the job was way to small for him

No I don't think he'd go that far. As for what he'd charge, any job that doesn't take him more than a couple of hours he charges £55 to £70 for usually. Ah, that does sound more complicated. I wasn't thinking of cavity walls, but you can buy tunnels for cat flaps that are meant for that sort of thing and cost about £7, so no making good necessary and the cat can't fall through.

I am getting the tunnel extenders as well.
It's trying to find someone who want to do it!

From what I understand the cat will need to be kept indoors for at least 3 weeks to start with, so no urgency. However, I don't want to frighten her when the hole gets knocked through either.

Arg, wish I had a normal back door!

Yes your cat will need to be kept in for three weeks. What sort of back door do you have?

Massive glass sliding doors, would cost me a fortune in glass.

Ah yes. That's what I've got and I got a cat flap put in them, but yes, that would cost even more.

The cat flap should be arriving tomorrow and I have just called in the builder for next week. Cannot get anyone else to do it, but just need it done now.