Is there any kind of rescue cat thread for novices....

[MagratsHair]

...that someone can point me to that explains what I need for a new cat? I haven't had a cat before, just a dog a few years ago who sadly died from old age. I'm assuming I need a bed, bowls, scratching post, litter tray and insurance.

As I'm new to cats is there a Cats for Beginners thread anywhere? I'll probably buy a book on cat behaviour so I know how to recognise a sad/angry/happy cat and I'd research cat health etc do you think this would be OK?

I'm anxious to give the cat a good home and don't want to get anything basic wrong

You don't really need a bed, mines got a dog bed but he sleeps in a utility room overnight, they usually claim a sofa or your bed.

I use side plates for food, cheap to buy and they fit in the dishwasher easily. I think plastic bowls have been linked to cat acne on their chins. You'll need a water dish though.

Pet plans got a good rep for insurance.

Litter trays are pretty much of a muchness, unless you go for a fancy covered one. Do you know what litter it's using now?.

There's lots of books or the library will have one.

Where's the cat coming from?.

Thanks fluffy, there's a local cats protection that I'll visit and a local charity in my city as well.

I don't feel prepared enough to go looking yet for the actual cat, I'd rather research cats generally first so I have some idea about them

I have a 9 year old ds and a 5 year old ds, am on a quiet cul de sac ( but with foxes) so I'd need a family cat. Ex h has had a cat so the boys know how to touch an animal etc .Does the cats background make much difference, would I be better going for one where the shelter knows the history or is a stray OK?

I'm really excited but trying to think with my head, not my heart

A cat will let you know if they are happy/ sad/ stressed etc its seriously not rocket science purring = happy, quiet or pitiful miews = sad, growling, hissing, spitting = I'm pissed off leave me alone

You need a litter tray

Food - the rescue place will advice you on what they have been used to eating.

A bed if you intend to keep them in somewhere like the kitchen at night.

Think thats about it!! I never bothered with a scratching post as my boy cat never used it, they use the mat by the front door instead

Go and have a look round a few places, I would advice a younger cat (under a year) as generally will still have kitten like playfulness so your children can play with them. I would think back ground irrelevant as long as nice nature and friendly.

How exciting - lucky puss

this is my favourite thread for novice rescue cat staff

I don't think it matters you know, it's that hard to figure a cats personality out when you've had them as pets.

They'll know what their cats are like. People often say the cat chose them in the rescue centre.

How exciting for you.

I think you do need a bed. If they don't have a bed how do they know where not to sleep ?

(More seriously, ours have access only to the kitchen and the (unheated) utility room at night, so they have heat pads under their beds and do sometimes choose to sleep in them)

When you go to a rescue they know the background/character of all their cats and will be able to guide you in the direction of those they think would be most suitable for your circumstances, location and family.

And don't worry too much about foxes unless you're getting a kitten.

There are some very good pet plans at some vets now (companion care) which is about £10 a month but that includes all flea, worm and booster care plus other benefits. I would recommend this as it does work out good value. The booster alone can be £60 .

The cat will need regularly defleaing - advocate is generally the best and what vets recommend.

www.cats.org.uk/midwarwick/adopt-a-cat/?cid=94442

Look at this beautiful girl! :)

Thanks for all your comments, I've been reading through the linked thread & have 2 books from Amazon arriving today :)

And this fine fellow!

www.cats.org.uk/midwarwick/adopt-a-cat/?cid=93518

All you need to know is that your cat will soon have you trained.

Oh they're both lovely!

I have only had one cat bed, it hangs over the radiator, it has only ever been used by a visiting stray. The cat sleeps:

On my bed
On me
On the radiator
On a shelf
On the microwave if she can get in the kitchen
In the garden
On the window sil
On a visitor
In a box
On a box containing 12 bottles of wine

She refuses to drink water out of a bowl so has a glass. I feed her dried food with wet as an occasional treat because I don't like the smell.

Both so cute, Isabelle looks so like my cat ,I glanced over t OK che CV k where she was!

You will be fine, get some books from the library, but don' t spend a lot of money. Cat' s like cardboard boxes with old jumpers in for sleeping or your pillow I use stainless steel shallow dishes from the puppy section of the pet shop- they last for ever and go in the dishwasher.

What is that gobbledygook? 'to check'

I think you should get both of them

They both look beautiful.

Oh, stop posting pictures! I'd love a cat but am allergic.

we've never had a cat bed, one cat sleeps on our bed, the other on a cushion on a kitchen chair, or on the spare room bed.

Scratching posts have always been a waste of time too - why on earth would they use that when they can use the sofa/bottom tread of the stair carpet/valance on spare room bed????

Never had insurance.

Dishes - we have a mixture of plastic cat dishes and china saucers from the charity shop.

Remember - they are In Charge. You might think you are but They Know Better.

We have found scratching posts invaluable. My last cat only ever scratched her post + the current kitty transferred her attention s to hers within a few weeks of coming to live with us.

It's difficult to generalise re cats their personalities vary such a lot.

Some of the cheapie scratching posts just aren't very tall - so bigger cats don't like using them since they can't stretch up fully as they'd like to. And some seem to prefer horizontal scratching rather than vertical scratching, or like sisal material but not carpet or vice verca - worth trying a few options before you write off posts and scratch pads completely. A bit of catnip powder or spray on the new area and then deterring them from returning to scratch the carpet or furniture with sticky tape or foil or just blocking it off with something temporarily so they lose the scent marking habit might help as well. My boys love the cardboard scratch pads, and they're pretty cheap to try out.

I've fallen for Chilli as well but I'm a little uneasy about the wording, could you take a look for me?

www.rugby.cats.org.uk/rugby/adopt-a-cat/?cid=89973

its the bit about the cat not being part of the foster scheme so CPL can't be held responsible for inaccurate info about the cat . Should that worry me or not?

It means the family is taking care of him rather than him being in a pen.

I'm always dubious about cats being dog friendly but they've kept him rather than put him into a rescue immediately so they obviously like him & are concerned for his well being.

We adopted two one year old sisters this time last year (first cats for us).

You need a sturdy carrier for transporting them home, to the vets etc.
Food and water bowls and a mat to put them on (we have to feed ours on a carpeted floor).
Beds / bedding - we haven't bought any. The cats adopted a pair of wooden storage boxes which we put old towels in. They have also got the DCs old playmat and buggy snuggle on the spare bed (we keep an old blanket tucked tightly over the entire bed to minimise hair on the human bedding). They also sleep on th sofa and our beds during the day but not at night.

Also consider whether you will need a catflap.

Ours use the scratching post but also the carpet and our divan bed.

We found that the spots we had earmarked for food and water bowls and litter trays didn't work out and we have had to do a bit of reorganising. Next doors cats took to intimidating ours through the patio doors in the kitchen so we had to relocate feeding to the dining room out of sight of the windows. Same with litter trays, they were in sight of the dining room window but have ended up relocated to the understairs cupboard as one of the cats started weeing in there instead of her tray (grim).

Chilli is breaking my heart. He's too much like my gorgeous boy who was killed on the road . He's gorgeous. You should have him and love him lots (the other two look lovely too!)

oh stealth I'm sorry about your boy

I'm going to phone for Paws tomorrow but Chilli is my second choice