Getting a rescue cat - first time cat owner. Can I ask some dumb questions please...?

[Rarry]

We have just been approved for an eight year old rescue cat which will arrive in the next few days. We've never owned a cat before, so I have some silly questions to ask please...?

How often do you feed your cat and what time of day. I know what type of food I need to give and how much, but wasn't told whether cats are fed once or twice a day and whether I should feed the cat in the morning, evening or both...?

So we need to get a cat litter tray and I know what type of cat litter to get and when to clean it - but can I just dump the poo down the loo or what do I do with it...?

Which pet insurance should I get for an eight year old cat...?

What toys ought I get. The cat likes to play and to be groomed. Any recommendations?

It also likes its scratching post - but boy, there are so many to choose from. What should I get...?

And any other advice anyone would like to pass on?

Thank you - looking forward to joining this board .

Hope it goes well with your rescue puss.

We had a timid rescue girl come to us, but she soon settled in.

I've skim read - has no-one mentioned Catnip Toys yet? Get a Catnip Cigar. RainbowCat will happily lie there, hugging his cigar and furiously pummelling it with his back legs. RainbowCat is very old now, but he still goes kitteny on Catnip.

Not that this was a shameless post for picture updates.

Good luck today!

Lifesalemon hope your cat is ok now.

For pet insurance I just think like - holiday insurance! Imagine going somewhere exotic with no insurance, you just wouldn't!

Thanks all.. The cat is now home and upstairs.

She seemed very confident and was coming over for a stroke, so for now I left her to explore upstairs but have brought the children down so she has got a bit of peace and quiet to settle in.

We got her a pet carrier and we've left that in her room in case she wants it, but she seems fine.

We have got a free month with pet plan with the rehoming process. I think we'll probably continue with that.

I'll update later with photos

Well done.

One very small tip on top of the other and excellent advice. When you bought the tray, you probably bought a companion plastic litter scoop - the sort that are fluorescent orange with vertical gaps in them.

They're hopeless when used in anger in my experience. You're far better off using something metal with rigid sides so that you can get pee up properly. A metal flour scoop is ideal but they run a tad expensive (about £10) so an alternative is a cheap metal trowel. You may have one in a shed which can be washed over but Poundland and their equivalents are usually good cheap sources.

Look forward to the pictures.

He's fine now thanks greyhound
He just seems very accident prone so its a good job for him that cats have nine lives.

Pleased to hear she's settling in ok OP
Looking forward to photos.

That's what dd said when our cat was knocked down (and killed) I thought they had nine lives!

Rarry enjoy, cats are fab.

I've never understood the dhole keep it locked in one room to start with approach. Put them in a quiet room in their carrier. Leave the carrier door and the room door open. They'll come out when they want to. Ensure they can find their litter tray and water/food easily enough and don't force them to do ANYTHING. They'll come round. I speak from experience as a person who had 6 pet cats and currently fostering 7 rescues. Do not be cheap with litter. Get a good scratch post. Also do not be cheap with food. Avoid what's sold in supermarkets in general. Try higher quality (and cheaper in the long run!) food from pet shops such as petsathome. Good dry food such as Royal Canin means less smelly poos too.

Thank you all for the advice and good wishes. Amazingly, she has settled in well, is in total control and has got everyone in love with her!!

We left her in 'her' room go an hour, but then opened the door and let her out... She initially went and hid under my other daughters bed. I took the children downstairs and after a while, she came out and sat at the top of the stairs and watched us in the living room... By the end of the evening she was on the sofa next to me having her tummy rubbed.

She's currently sleeping on my daughter's bed, so she has well and truly taken over the house .

I will put some photos of her up later, I promise.

Oh and cozie - the trowel is great advice, thanks

And here she is

Oh she's beautiful - and wow, tummy rubs! Sounds like that's gone really well. Congratulations!

Aah! How fantastic.

Settled in already. That's nice to see.

Oh yes, it looks like you're doing just fine And what a pretty face!

Cute!

Oh, she's lovely! What's her name?

Oh she's so cute. She has a very sweet face.

Oh she is gorgeous! Glad she's settling in so well.

What a lovely cat! Sounds like she's already so happy with you. What's her name - she looks like a Cleo to me

Very pretty. We have been looking at pictures of rescue cats and the white and tortoises shell look is super lovely. As is ginger, our old cat was ginger, as is tabby, and black is nice too. I just love them all!