Today we reserved two rescue cats and I'm so excited

[ThereMustAndShallBeTea]

I've wanted a cat for ages. We've just catsat four cats for a week and they clearly worked their magic on DH as he started looking at cat home websites while we were still there and today we visited a local centre and reserved two lovely boys :D

They're 3 and 10 and have always lived together.

Any suggestions re best place to get insurance, especially for the 10 yo? Slightly nervous as didn't realise 10 was considered so old.

Any suggestions for places to buy equipment? Online good though actual place might be nice as could involve the DC a bit more.

Stupid question: will we need one or two cat carriers to get them home? Is being squashed more or less stressful than being separated?

*let her out of her carrier

Ooh, mine love those beds that hook over the radiator, with a snuggle bag on it. that MKitten humps about 3 times a day, he's doing it now, and his purring sounds disturbingly like a heavy breather The only cat bed I've bought that has ever been used. It gives them a place that is their's alone.

We ended up letting them out last night - initially just for a bit so they could have a look round while the DC were in bed but then they objected so much to being put back in their room we ended up leaving the door ajar all night and they spent most of the night sleeping on us :)

Today we've been out for the day so they've had the run of the place in peace and now snuggling on the sofa.

They're not even hiding from the DC so am assuming they're glad to be here.

Would appreciate some advice on food. They're both on 30g of dry food and a pouch of meaty stuff per day. The centre advised increasing it slowly as they become more active. Dry food says 30-60g for their weight, so 30g sounds okayish, though I actually gave them 40g this morning now they've got the run of the house, but the meat pouches says 3-4 per day They both absolutely wolf down their food and the younger one is currently roaming the room looking for food debris from the DC - should I be increasing their food, maybe giving at least 2 pouches a day?

Yes try two pouches.

The pouch recommendations are usually based on the thought that they'll only be given wet food so, as Fluffy said, try lifting ther pouch allowance to two as they're getting some kibble also.

So glad they're settling nicely - but do try to prevent the younger one from eating the remains of family food. Not only might he ingest substances which aren't good for cats (there are a surprising number of them) but it could also lead to indisciplined behaviour on food-bearing surfaces. I'd be giving them a decent food amount at very regular times and setting down my house rules about surfaces. (Under the table food nicking is more difficult to contain with young DCs so you'll just have to be vigilant there.) Maybe, also, try giving them their dried food in a kibble ball or something similar to provide more interest and activity while they're confined to the house in particular.

Thanks, that makes sense and makes me feel less like I'm starving them! They're having a pouch + 20g of food a day now, does that sound about right?

Really need help managing their behaviour around food, it's ridiculous, younger one particularly. He is constantly jumping on the worktops and table - currently say no and push him off, but is it okay to squirt him with a water mister?

We have to shut them out of the room if we're eating or the younger one is immediately on the table trying to eat food off our plates. Can't remember if I mentioned he also climbs into the dishwasher to lick the plates. Obviously we're shutting the d/w door and not leaving any food out, but it's exhausting!

The other day I was eating on the sofa and he tried to swipe some of the food off my fork between my plate and my mouth.

Annoying thing is the kitchen door doesn't shut properly atm so we have to barricade it closed with anything heavy to hand, and even then he manages to push it open sometimes.

Got a feeding ball today but they didn't seem too interested unless it was constantly releasing snacks!

I just put mine on the floor when he jumps up after telling him he's a beautiful boy. I wouldn't mist him, he wouldn't trust me as much.

If your consistent it does get better.

You don't know what their other owners did though.

He goes crazy when I get the milk out of the fridge, so guessing they gave him milk? Wonder if he's always been like this or just since being in the centre.

Will hold off misting for now!

Eventually they do learn. The cat never bothers me for my food but will sit watching dh eat because he saves him some chicken. Obviously the 4 pouches a day aren't enough.