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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.

Original poster

Inherited a cat....never had one before. Help!

70 replies

magicstar1 · 31/03/2015 13:40

DH and I moved into our new house on Saturday. The previous owner said he'd adopted a cat from the pound years ago, but there was no point trying to take her with him as she'd just keep coming back, so he was leaving her with us. She's friendly, and keeps looking in the door, but he said she's an outdoor cat.

She has a lovely little house, and plenty of shelter. He left some boxes of dry food, and I picked up a few treats and foil packets of food in Aldi. I was thinking of bringing her to a vet to get a once over. Does this all sound okay? Can you tell me what we should be doing?

Thanks

OP posts:
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Sandiacre · 31/03/2015 14:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cozietoesie · 31/03/2015 14:00

I'd definitely be vetting her myself. (I would with any new cat - and as an outdoor cat she might well need eg worming and fleaing etc.) Do you have any idea how old she is?

Original poster
magicstar1 · 31/03/2015 15:28

Ah no he's a nice man. He asked us a few weeks ago if we'd be okay with him leaving her. He said she lives outside and just needs us to provide some food for her, but she's very independent.

I haven't a clue how old she is, but it was a good few years ago that he got her. We'll get her to the vet (not sure how yet lol), and have her checked for fleas etc.

Do they eat dry food mainly then? I thought it might be boring for her, so got some pouches. About 5 people told me to give her milk, but isn't that bad for cats? We've been sticking with water.

OP posts:
Lunastarfish · 31/03/2015 15:36

Cats are easy.

I feed 3 packets of meat a day plus I leave biscuits out. Amount will vary on the cat. I know people who feed more and less. Leave a bowel of water out.

Forget milk unless she's use to it (adult cats don't need it)

Even if she's an outdoor cat she'll want to come in when it's really cold. My cat loves a fleece blanket.

Visit the very for yearly injections. Check if she's been neutured (as a rescue cat she should have been).

I do think the owner has shirked his Responsibility's though

Fluffycloudland77 · 31/03/2015 17:29

I'd let her in, never met a cat who didn't love central heating during the winter.

We used to live near farm cats & the farmer said they all tried to come in the house but he didn't let them Sad.

I don't think he really loves her, you'd never leave a cat you if you loved her.

AndWhenYouGetThere · 31/03/2015 17:56

I'd let her in and give her a quiet corner to settle.

Haffdonga · 31/03/2015 18:04

Yes, what Lunastarfish said. You must make sure she's been neutered or you'll suddenly be the owner of a lot more cats than you'd bargained for.

And let her in

shaska · 31/03/2015 21:13

Let her in if you don't mind the idea, but if she's happy out then don't feel too bad if you don't want to.

They can just eat dry food but your instincts about wet being nice for them are generally shared on here, and it's currently thought that feeding only dry can contribute to bladder issues.

Definitely check that she's spayed.

Lots of cats will drink and love milk, but it can give them upset stomachs and it's not needed. You can buy cat milk (which is just low lactose milk I think) in the supermarket if you want to.

Welcome to cat land!

shaska · 31/03/2015 21:13

ha, look at us all going 'let her in!'. All so well trained.

sashh · 01/04/2015 08:00

Mine is only fed dried food, you need to have water down with it though, the cat will probably ignore the water and drink out of a puddle, but putting water out is the right thing.

As shaska said cows milk is not good for cats. I bought some 'cat milk' for my neighbour, his grandson loves giving my cat milk, then I looked at the ingredients and it said '100% goat's milk' so I buy that now.

When I say only fed dried food, I mean by me, the neighbour with the grandchil buys her cat treats and a different neighbour gives her wet food, along with all the other cats in the neighbourhood.

Do take her to the vet for a check up and vaccinations, oh and welcome to the litter tray.

Did we mention there is a charge for writing on this board? It is photos of your cat, we have to see them for you to be formally welcomed.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/04/2015 21:21

How's it going?.

Woozlebear · 01/04/2015 21:28

Give her wet food as well as dry- dry alone is connected to kidney problems.

And do see if she wants to come in! No half decent cat owner would just leave a cat to the mercy of someone else like that so I would doubt anything he says. I've known outdoor cats but they all want a warm house on a cold night.

And yy to vet and insurance. If she's a bit feral and doesn't like a cat basket try luring her into a dog crate if you can get hold of one with some food. Worked for one of ours.

Good luck!!

Original poster
magicstar1 · 02/04/2015 15:12

Thanks a mil everyone. I got home last night and she was yowling at the back door for food. DH said there was plenty in the morning, but it was empty by evening. I put out a pouch of food and she didn't lift her head until it was all gone. I left out dry food too...it'll take a while to get used to how much she eats.

We're going to take her to the Blue Cross to be checked over....silly question....how do I get her there? We've no carrying crate or anything. All we really have a loads of cardboard boxes from moving in. Would that distress the cat too much?

Here's her photo Smile and her little house:

Inherited a cat....never had one before. Help!
Inherited a cat....never had one before. Help!
OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 02/04/2015 15:23

She's gorgeous! I would definitely see if she wants to come in.

My cat will only eat dry food (I've tried most wet food brands with no luck). I make sure he's got water in the kitchen and he's also got a bowl outside but he much prefers the bucket of rainwater!

Regarding getting her to the vet, I would invest in a decent carrier as a cat could easily escape from a cardboard box. I have this for mine. It's great as it can be opened from the top or the front so it makes it easier to get him in depending on whether I have to shove him in or have a fight about it!

patienceisvirtuous · 02/04/2015 15:28

Aw she's lovely. Yes, you'll definitely need a cat carrier for the vets. Second a top-opening one. So much easier!

I also would let her in when it's cold/wet if she wants to come in that is...

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/04/2015 16:03

Other cats could be stealing her food though. Don't use a cardboard box, they can get through card really easily.

Wilkos do cheap carriers, moving usually an expensive time so I'd be surprised if you had cash to splash on one. Don't buy wicker ones, if she's sick in it you'll never get it clean.

She's a lovely little thing. Is the door on that house glazed?.

AnulTheMagnificent · 05/04/2015 00:35

Just to add - if feeding her outside you might want to protect the food if you are leaving it unattended. It is slug season now and I have to be vigilant about removing the outside bowl in the evening and feeding only indoors, if I forget I find a bowl of slugs at night which I leave on the grass until morning.

I am going to put the bowl on a little pile of sharp gravel as slugs don't like it, but then there will be flies... So, if you are able, I would do as all the others have said, and let your cat indoors.

A vet check would be good too. When you have your carrier you may find it is tricky to get cat inside. I get one that opens top and front to give the best options.

Easiest way I found is to place the carrier with the front facing forwards (door open) on the edge of a table or surface so that there is no space for cat to step backwards - ie: a drop.
Feed cat face first through the door, and as there is nowhere for back feet to go, cat will go forwards. Push tail inside and shut door quickly.

thecatneuterer · 05/04/2015 01:48

Oh my god - DO NOT TRANSPORT A CAT IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN A PROPER CAT CARRIER!!! Is that plain enough?

The amount of people that try to bring cats to our clinic in cardboard boxes never ceases to amaze me. It never ends well. Many have been killed in the process. Many more have been lost. The last one was just a couple of days ago.

And when you buy a carrier make sure it has a metal door rather than a plastic one as the plastic ones can be broken by a very scared/determined cat - with the same consequences as above.

Original poster
magicstar1 · 05/04/2015 23:36

Thanks ...but seriously...no need to shout. I asked for advice so I can do the right thing.
I've been feeding the cat pouches of food and dry food, plenty of water out too. She's come into the house for a bit of a wander, and has let me pet her and followed me around while hanging out washing.
I've ordered a proper carrier to take her for a checkup. I think she's very skinny, the last owner just left the dry food only and she's not that fussed about it.

We really are doing our best.

OP posts:
Corygal · 05/04/2015 23:44

Congratulations on your beautiful new kitty! She's a stunner with those white paws.

Of course she wants to come in, give her time to get used to the idea. Within months you will be having lovely bedtime cuddles and snuggling up on the sofa. Delicious.

You sound like just the sort of staff she needs.

thecatneuterer · 06/04/2015 01:14

I know - it wasn't a nasty sort of shouty - I just wanted to make sure the message didn't get overlooked:)

I think it's great that you're taking her on and getting her checked out.

Original poster
magicstar1 · 07/04/2015 21:06

I brought her to the vet today. She didn't want to go into the carrier lol, but didn't complain too much. The vet said she's about 8, is a bit undernourished, but a lovely placid cat. I told him I was worried she was wheezing last night, so he gave her antibiotics for that. She'll have to get wormed and checked for fleas, but he didn't want to stress her out any more.

She sulked a bit when I got her home but she's happy now lol

OP posts:
girliefriend · 07/04/2015 21:17

She is lovely Smile am guessing if she is 8yo she must have been spayed otherwise would be pregnant!!

Sounds like you are doing fine, being outside is fine in the summer but my guess is she will want to come in when its cold/wet. Can you get a cat flap?

Am surprised vet didn't do a quick check for fleas, would only take a minute. Advocate is generally pretty good at getting rid of fleas and keeping them at bay, its a very quick treatment - just stick on the back of her neck.

Original poster
magicstar1 · 19/04/2015 21:01

I'm back for an update and more advice please.

She now has a name...Puddy (as in Puddy Tat) Blush. She's finished her antibiotics and seems to have lost most of the wheeze. I'll bring her for the flea and worm check this week.

So we've been feeding her the pouches and she's looking sturdier. She doesn't want the dry food now, but we're making sure she's getting a mix. She was a bit wary about coming in the house at first, but I think I've created a monster lol. She's now at the door when we get home, first through it, into the kitchen and over to the food cupboard. This evening I found her sitting on the sofa curled up on DH's jumper! I think I should get her a bed for the living room, but I'm not too sure about her toilet habits. We have no catflap so hopefully she call to go out?

OP posts:
QOD · 19/04/2015 21:17

Awww that's lovely

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