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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

Tips for adopting an adult cat

22 replies

jaynebxl · 30/06/2014 14:49

Have just spotted the cat section so am reposting this from the general pet section.

I haven't had a cat for 10 years and now we are about to take on a friend's cat as they're moving abroad. She is 3 and gorgeous! She is coming with everything she will practically need but wondered if anyone had any tips for us about helping her to settle in?

OP posts:

splendide · 30/06/2014 16:29

I adopted a two year old cat and got some good advice here.

The best advice is to let her make friends at her own pace. We set her up in a spare room with a litter tray, her food (as far from the tray as you can make it) and her own bed and blanket and toys that smelled of her. Door was left ajar so she could explore if she wanted to.

She hid under the bed for 2 weeks, using her tray and eating but not ever when we were there. Then she started to come and say a brief hello when we took her food in, we never pushed it though just let her come to us. Then one morning she suddenly decided we were pals and went a bit nuts nuzzling and head butting me! Then we had about another month where we would have a big play in her room at meal times but she wouldn't come out.

Then all of a sudden she seemed to decide it was all safe and she was all over the house! Including my pillow at 3 am and sitting on the TV stand in front of the TV of an evening. It's honestly one of the most rewarding things I've ever done!

Anyway sorry about the essay! I do think it was really the right approach though, I honestly think it would have been forever before she trusted us if we'd chased her round trying to be friendly.

splendide · 30/06/2014 16:31

Oh should say her litter tray and food are downstairs now of course. We had two trays for a while though as a transition which worked well. One in her room and one where we wanted it.

PolterGoose · 30/06/2014 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

splendide · 30/06/2014 16:40

Oh yes I should have said that the cat I adopted was in a bit of a state and had had a really rough start so I think a happy cat from a good home would progress faster.

Original poster

jaynebxl · 01/07/2014 06:25

Thanks for the replies. This is a happy, well adjusted 3 year old so I'm hoping for a fairly short transition time but this is helpful.

OP posts:

CatKisser · 01/07/2014 06:37

For me I think the most important thing is never to force them to socialise - just let them get used to things in their own time, as others have said. Sounds a lovely cat! (Pics?!)

cozietoesie · 01/07/2014 06:42

If she knows your voice a little, I would have thought that would help - but Yes, I'd agree with letting her make the running. (Always within the boundaries of your own main rules and routines though - they're not daft and if they've always had a hankering to go on kitchen surfaces, for example, they'll take the opportunity to test the boundaries so set down your way of doing things from the start.) Nice food, lots of talking and some good space for them should work fine.

Lots of luck.

Snog · 01/07/2014 06:47

Here are a couple more ideas:
take a look at the product Feliway which is a plug in like an air freshener but designed to reduce cat stress. Use the same brand of litter and food the cat is used to.
Don't be carting the cat off to the vet until they are settled in if you can avoid it as mine took ages to recover from this!

Original poster

jaynebxl · 01/07/2014 06:57

Thanks. Here she is... I hope!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 01/07/2014 07:02

Beautiful girl - but also one who looks as if she likes her own way?

Original poster

jaynebxl · 01/07/2014 07:30

Apparently so cozie!

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 01/07/2014 07:38

Aww she is beautiful. How lovely it is that you are able to take her on too, so good that your friend doesn't have to worry.

When does she arrive?

cozietoesie · 01/07/2014 07:40

I should imagine that she'll lick you into shape as servants within a couple of days!

PolterGoose · 01/07/2014 07:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

jaynebxl · 01/07/2014 07:43

She arrives Saturday. 3 quarters of our family are super excited but I fully expect that all four of us will be wrapped around her finger (paw) very soon!

OP posts:

PestoSurfissimos · 01/07/2014 07:46

A similar thing happened with us. Our neighbours emigrated Down Under & we acquired their cat. The only difference was that we started integrating said cat into our household before they left. We had a good 6 months of feeding the cat at our house and her getting used to moving in here, before they left. So by the time they went, this cat knew she was 'ours' and had stopped living in our neighbours house.

PestoSurfissimos · 01/07/2014 07:47

Good luck with her!

cozietoesie · 01/07/2014 07:58

Who is the 'quarter' with seeming reservations?

Original poster

jaynebxl · 01/07/2014 08:20

The quarter is dh who has never had a cat and has previous experience of us getting animals and him ending up being the one who cleans them out (hens, hamsters, fish...). He also fell in love with each animal pretty quickly so I'm confident he will again here. He has given in graciously (once again) because he knows we are all so keen!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 01/07/2014 08:22

He'll probably end up being her biggest fan. Bet she makes a beeline for his knee as soon as she comes out from behind the sofa - it doesn't look as if there are too many flies on her.

cozietoesie · 01/07/2014 08:24

Huge ears by the way - do you know her breeding?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 01/07/2014 09:08

I'm that quarter too, gave in under pressure from the other three in the family and sure enough I'm the one organising vets, catteries, flea treatments, food, litter etc. 9 months in and we're all OK, if anything happened to them I would be upset as I am fond of them, but definitely not in love, the experience definitely hasn't turned me into a cat person. I hope it works out better for your DH.

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