New to cats - advice please

[SarfEasticated]

We are just about to get a cat from our local cat sanctuary - a 5/6 yr old female. She is lovely and friendly and me and dd6yrs fell in love with her. We have passed the home visit and hope to pick her up on Saturday. We don't have much time to prepare so I would really appreciate some advice. Could you let me have your recommendations for the following?

1. Food - would like to feed raw if possible.
2. Cat litter - there seem to be different types - no idea which to choose
3. Toys - we have been recommended to play with her a lot to bond but not sure what toys
4. Scratching post - are these important?
5. Where is the best place to buy this stuff - online preferred.
6. Pet insurance - have been recommended pet plan - are they good?
7. Anything else I need but don't realise yet?

We have also been visited by mice recently and have had 'pet friendly' poison down. I assume I should remove it now - hopefully cat will sort them out? Any advice appreciated.
Thank you :)

I wouldn't claim to be an expert, but growing up with cats and having adopted my first pair in the summer, this is my two-pence worth for some of those questions!

1. I feed partially raw - I'm sure if you're interested you've done plenty of research on the subject and know about the different options and the proportions and such. It's generally recommended to make dietary changes gradually, rather than going straight from biscuits/pouch wet food to whole pieces of raw chicken on the bone. I'd say the ease of transition may depend on what your girl has been fed up till now; if she's had five years of solely dry food then it may be a slower job than if she's been on wet food before. My boys had a mix of biscuits and wet food at their shelter but took to pieces of raw chicken breast very easily - then chicken pieces on the bone, partially cut up with scissors, then other meats. They're still a bit fussy with some things like liver but will give most other butcher type meats and organs a go. Not sure whether I'll eventually try them on whole prey items like feeder mice or chicks - we'll see!

1. It's probably best to start them out on the litter they're used to - just ask the shelter, they'll tell you. Each type has their pros and cons, there are plenty of discussions on cat forums, so it's just picking what appeals to you and then seeing whether your cats agree - and they have the final say! My boys are on paper based which is what they had at the shelter and I wanted to use anyway, but thankfully since I started letting them out regularly they now do their business during the day outside in an area of woodchip at the end of the garden I've set aside for the purpose (and encouraged by putting soiled litter down there). The recommendation is one tray per cat plus a spare - and fancy 'hooded' trays can take some getting used to, so best to start basic.

1. Every cat is different in terms of what toys they prefer; it's very tempting to splurge on toys, but probably best to see how they like to play before you go crazy! (speaking from experience...) You can make plenty of free toys out of stuff you have lying around the house - scrunched up balls of paper or tinfoil, plastic bottle lids, cotton reels, crisp packets tied in knots, ping pong balls, good ol' stuff tied to the end of a piece of string! Some cats go crazy for catnip or valerian in toys, while others aren't bothered. In terms of the toys I bought, one of the faves is a thing called a [[http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=1396&pf_id=50999 boink]] - you 'fire' them across the room and they chase and bat at them, carry them around in their mouths, just love them. Hawkins Bazaar sell them for about 60p or something as well; I've had to invest in lots as they keep losing them under sofas or behind furniture! Their fave more expensive interactive toy is a Flying Frenzy rod toy. Cheap rod toys are appreciated too, but I seriously think it's worth the money as it's so much better - the toys can rotate as they fly around, and the feather ends rotate and whistle just like a bird in flight and they both go bonkers for it! They also love the little 'creature' ends and fight over them, when they catch them they growl and try to run off with their prey and it's already given them hours of fun. I bought mine and attachments from the [[http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=common/home Purrs in Our Hearts]] shop.

1. All cats have the desire to scratch to both scent mark with their paws and sharpen/remove the dead layer of claw. If you don't provide something for them to use, they'll just do it to your furniture or carpet! As well as traditional scratching posts they make cardboard pads these days and I can definitely recommend them - it's like a pad of layers of corrugated cardboard, which the cat sits on when they scratch and that holds it in place. They get worn out eventually and have to be replaced, but my boys love theirs. Many of the basic cheap posts are really too short for anything bigger than a kitten, as cats like to stretch when they scratch - so for traditional posts, taller is probably better. I also stuck a carpet tile on the wall with command sticky strips, and that's quite popular. A bit of catnip powder or spray will encourage scratching in the right place.

1. I can recommend Zoo Plus and Pet Planet as good, cheap online sources of cat items of every kind.

1. I'm with Pet Plan but they are expensive. I'll leave it to others who've had cats longer and have actually claimed to give the pros and cons of different policies or self insuring.

Other thoughts: don't bother investing huge amounts in special luxury cat beds for when it turns out she loves sleeping on a windowsill or on your bed or in a cardboard box instead! A towel folded up on a pillow in a box is all the effort you probably need to make. And for flea/worm treatment don't automatically go for what the vet recommends - research first and decide what method you want to use. I go for Stronghold which is a back of the neck drop once a month, but I get a private prescription from the vet and buy it online as even with the £10 for the prescription charge it works out cheaper than buying it direct from the vet! And in the quest to encourage bonding, Dreamies are often useful. Also known as 'cat crack' - few can resist! (I also hand-fed my boys cooked chicken breast, and that won over even my most timid boy.)

That's really kind of you GPAC much appreciated. A lot of excellent and really helpful information. I will try and just get the mouse-like toys in the hope that it encourages her to get rid of our resident ones. I'm trying to protect our garden birds as there aren't many of them as it is.

Re raw food, I think I'll start (as you suggested) with her usual wet food and then give her bits of chicken on the side. We used to feed our dearly departed dog with this brand www.naturalinstinct.com/categories/Cat-Food/ so I thought I would use their cat food, but if I can feed wet and give raw chicken/fish on the side even better!

I like the idea of the corrugated cardboard scratcher, and we will definitely make our own bed for her - DD can decorate it.

Cardboard scratchers ahoy!

There are various templates and guides out there for making little cardboard and felt cat toys as well - more fun craft activities for your DD.

Re: insurance.

How good are you with savings? I have a friend who pays into a savings account instead of insurance as an insurance company Direct Line stopped paying out for a lifelong problem.

Toys - I have spent a fortune on DCat's toys. His favourite is a scrunched up sweet wrapper.

Don't you have to have insurance though, in case the cat causes an accident? Saving would be good - very sensible - how much do I need to put away?
I have ordered the flying frenzy toy - looks great - will also get that cardboard scratcher :)
Thanks again!

ime cats laugh in the face of scratching posts and attack the stair carpet instead

We don't have stairs - live in a flat . I'm hoping that when she is allowed out she'll take her frustrations out on the trees in the garden.

Petplan have been great with my cat, she's diabetic and has about £200 worth of treatment a month, they have been paying for this no questions asked for 3 years now and my premium has only gone up about £1 a month in that time (it's now about £23 a month). Saving can be good for a one off big bill, but would have quickly run out in my case leaving me to try and find a significant chunk of money every month.

Both my cats use their scratching post so I would say it is a must have to save carpets, but that may not be the case for all cats.

Cat litter I agree with those who say stick to what she is used to - one of mine is incredibly fussy and will only use one brand, she will go outside the tray if you use something else.

Those toys that are basically a feather on a string on a stick go down well with mine, they run after it, leap about and generally go crazy.

Good luck with your new kitty, I wouldn't be without mine now crazy critters!

My boys honestly love the Flying Frenzy. Just remember to keep the attachments out of reach when you're not using it, or they're likely to get chewed to pieces! They partially like playing with it in the garden because they can somersault everywhere trying to catch it and have softer landings on the grass!

That sort of third party insurance isn't required for cats since the law classes them as 'free spirits' - if a dog runs in the road and causes an accident, you're responsible, but if a cat does it you're not since the law realises you can't be reasonably expected to control what your cat does. The dog/cat owner/staff thing is that embedded even in the legal system!

Agree re insurance. We've had cats for over 15 years and never had it however when we kept pigs we got 3rd party insurance.

Thanks misog good to know. Maybe we'll do the insurance for the first year and see how she goes. The shelter said Petplan were the best as they offer a 'whole of life cover' so won't pay out once and the refuse to cover again.
I am ridiculously excited about her coming, and I am actually a 'dog' person really, but she has such a nice personality...

Well modom is home. Picked her up last night and she yeowed all the way home in the car, got into our flat, made a fuss of my husband and then hid under my daughter's bed. In the course of the night she managed to squeeze herself into the storage drawers under our bed and there she remains!
I have bought some Whiskas, and some kitty litter and also one of those frenzy toys. I have also bought some Dreamies, and thought that when she does come to us we would give her one, just to reinforce that we are nice.
Is there anything else we should be doing? We are giving her space and peace at the moment. Should I put her food close to where she is hiding or just let her come out in her own time...
Your thoughts would be appreciated!

Space and peace at the moment sounds like a good idea - if you can keep DD under control.

Has she eaten or drunk anything (to your knowledge) or used her tray?

No she hasn't eaten, drunk or used tray yet. She hadn't eaten before she left the cat home either so she must be hungry. I have moved the food and water down to our bedroom so she can smell it. I guess I could put the litter tray in there too and just shut the door?
DD is at school so we will have a quiet day today.

I'd put the litter tray in her place as well and leave her in peace and quiet. Hopefully, she'll use her tray and eat some wet food or drink some water soonish. (I'm not too worried about the calories as she's a young cat but getting some liquid into her would be good. And out of her!)

Good luck

PS - maybe also draw the curtains a little so that her place is a little darker as well as peaceful?

Yes good idea - will do that now. She is around 5 years and the sanctuary described her as pretty bomb-proof, so I know she will be fine, but it is a bit of a worry...

Maybe put the food and water very close to where she's hiding, then she doesn't have to go too far to get them.

Leave her on her own for a while.

Sarf

First Use of Tray is a concern whether they're 5 weeks, 5 years - or much much older. Owners always breathe a sigh of relief after there's a change (of house/owner/whatever) and seeing that mussed up tray gives you a good feeling at any age.

She sounds (from her intro to the house) as if she'll be just fine but this change is huge for her so you just have to be patient. It's hard, I know and you'll have to resist going in every two minutes to see if she's done her duty yet. Just go about your business and don't worry too much about making normal household noises. (Although I'd hold off heavy hoovering or noisy DIY type hammering for a few days yet if you can.)

Crikey its Traywatch here. I keep walking outside and peeking into our bedroom window to see if anything has happened.
There was an overpowering smell of cat food from under the bed during the night so maybe she had done a poo in the storage drawer (on my winter clothes)! Oh I hope she's ok, would feel terrible if she was unhappy.

She'll likely feel a bit nervy (who wouldn't?) but I dout she'll be unhappy, probably just thinking cautiously until she gets you all worked out. As I said, it's a really big change for her. Do you know any of her history?

And stop walking past the window! She can probably hear or sense you there. Go and watch a movie or read a book or something.

PS - when my Mum died and Seniorboy changed houses, he hid for - Oh, it must have been weeks! - until he decided to come out. (He was deeply bonded to her and elderly even then.) We only knew he was alive because bits of ham were going missing from the kitchen where they had been left out and his tray was being used. (At least we had that, I suppose.) We never did find out where his hiding place was.

I am working from home so have lots to do - it's just the waiting - won't go down there again!

Apparently she was found straying in SE16 after her owners movedhome and didn't take her. She was being fed by neighbours so was healthy and well nourished. I like to think her owners did take her when they moved but didn't keep her in, so she just went to her old home. Or maybe she didn't like the new place. I don't know why they would have a lovely friendly cat for 5 years and then just dump her. I think her sociable friendly nature really helped her. I asked the home if we should worry about her straying, and they didn't seem to think it would be a problem. Like I say, I don't really know cats that well, so don't have a body of experience to draw from.

There's plenty of experience on this board - for most things anyway - so don't worry.

Sadly, people do dump cats when they become an inconvenience for one reason or another. (Not saying that was necessarily the case with her.) The Lodger (a cat who lived with me for a good while) was abandoned as a kit and had to raise himself on the streets until he found some real suckers us. I don't know why. Maybe people think that cats can 'look after themslves' out there, trying to put a positive interpretation on it.

Well she is out! went down to put my shoes away and she was there trying to get out of the drawer - had her dinner, and a wee in the tray. Covered it up too - clever girl. We had a stroke fest on the bed and she covered me and the furniture with her scent and she made it a bit of the way through the bottom half of the flat before turning back. I guess she will get comfortable with each room at her own pace. She is massively lovely though. I do know not to tickle tummy or touch feet, or stare directly into eyes, is there anything else I should know? Is there a cat equivalent of a play bow?

Well done both of you. Eating and using her tray as her signals of relaxing.

(Although I give you half an hour before you start worrying about when she's going to poo!)

I think my only real piece of advice at this stage would be to let her make all the running. (That's going to be tough for you when DD gets home - how old is she?) You'll get to know her body language over the next few days and weeks but until you do, I wouldn't initiate too much physical with her - lots of talking to her of course: that's just fine. She sounds a pretty laid back sort of character but right now, you just don't really know her and she might have eg a dislike of being touched in a certain way which you're not aware of.

(If DD is really irrepressible, get her to confine herself to firm sweeping strokes on the back and flanks - they're about as unexceptionable to a cat as you can get.)

Best of luck, anyway, and let us know how things go.