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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.

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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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BakerStreetSaxRift · 21/04/2015 20:46

Sometimes I try and dilute the milk with water, but she's on to me now. Turns her nose up at me and flounces. Then I need to give her a Dreamie to apologise.

Northernlurker · 21/04/2015 20:59

Oh she is lovely Sounds like she's lived in a home before and was perhaps tolerating the house outdoors. I don't think much of the previous 'owner' either. Had he not even named her?

Just a thought but our cat adores the bean bag in my middle daughter's room. It's by the radiator, is furry and basically we think she regards it as a giant mummy cat substitute. We have caught her kneading with her paws and sucking at it sometimes. She clearly feels very, very relaxed there.

Original poster

magicstar1 · 21/04/2015 21:01

Pmsl, DH came home and sat on the couch where she'd been...she just came back and jumped on him! All she was short of saying was "that's my spot " She's comfy on his lap!!!

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Fluffycloudland77 · 21/04/2015 21:23

We've had some really harsh winters too, it must have been miserably cold for her.

Seriously who the hell locks a cat out for all those years?.

cozietoesie · 21/04/2015 21:29

Not really a cat person, I guess - or one with a hellish personal schedule. Gawd knows why he adopted her.

Is DH a convert yet? Is he looking proud?

Original poster

magicstar1 · 21/04/2015 21:31

He's almost there haha

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

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cozietoesie · 21/04/2015 21:38

Little floozie.

Corygal · 21/04/2015 22:24

Puddy is beyond adorable! You've lucked out. Completely gorgeous and already enslaving DH - perfect. Have a good sleep tonight (you may get company).

cozietoesie · 21/04/2015 22:34

The trick way to get that litter tray is to get DH to put her out tonight. Just put a regretful look on your face and say something like 'Oh Well - without a litter tray in the house, there's really no option, Darling.'

Odds are he'll be out at the supermarket getting one at some point tomorrow.

RoosterCogburnIsInTheJakes · 21/04/2015 23:20

I love cosies' suggestion.

What a beautiful cat. Is there any way you can install a catflap?

NeedABumChange · 21/04/2015 23:30

Aww she's lovely.

I would be worried about keeping her in over night if you don't have a cat flap. My cats would go nuts if I tried to lock them in at night- that's when all the nice come out to play.

Get some ping pong balls for her to chase.

Also at 8 I think she might technically be a "senior" cat which is mad as they live so much longer but as they get older they do need different levels of nutrients and protein so maybe look at getting the senior food? And if she is just eating wet food then maybe get the toothpaste gel stuff. Mine think it is really yummy and happily have it every other day or so. They just lick it off no brushing or anything odd.

Original poster

magicstar1 · 22/04/2015 12:17

Thanks everyone...I couldn't answer properly last night as the phone battery was going.

BakerStreetSaxRift I've been worrying that she doesn't seem to drink much water. I'll get some lactose free milk today and give it a go. Thanks for the tip about stroking her..we've both only ever had dogs til now.

NorthernLurker No he hadn't named her...said she was called Cat. From what I can gather, he and his wife adopted her from a pound when she was a kitten, but his wife died a few years ago. He has a dog, and I think his wife was the cat person. She has a lovely little house and he fed her, so probably thought she was fine.

NeedABumChange I can't see where we could put in a catflap. The front door is UPVC and the walls are extremely thick. Anyway, we're going to be doing a lot of renovations so maybe she's better off outside while the weather is nice. I've stocked up on enough food for the next couple of weeks, but I'll get the senior one next time. We're mixing the pouches with dry food so making sure she's eating both.

She slept on DH for about an hour last night...he was delighted and told me she loves him more .

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PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/04/2015 12:24

She's gorgeous and I'm so glad she's winning around DH!

cozietoesie · 22/04/2015 12:57

NeedABumChange

Lone was talking about age issues very recently. The latest guidance on lfe stages from ICC (and also the States by the way - it's much the same there) would put 8 years as 'mature' and not yet senior.

Seniorboy is stuck at geriatric just the same though.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/04/2015 13:53

Harry is just 'mature' then! I asked the vet about senior food and she said to let him have what he enjoys whether it's senior or not.

thecatneuterer · 22/04/2015 15:50

UPVC doors are very easy to fit cat flaps in. If the lower half is plastic, then you just cut a hole in a plastic. If it goes wrong or you want to put the door back to normal at some point then a new plastic panel is very cheap and easy to fit.

If the lower half is glass then you need a double glazing company to make you a new pane with a cat flap sized hole in it. it would probably cost around £100.

But is the little house at the front of your house or the back? If it's the back, then what do you have door wise at the back of the house?

BagelwithButter · 22/04/2015 18:01

I wish a cat would just turn up on our doorstep - I think that's the only way my DH would ever accept having one around.

There's a lovely 9 year old on Gumtree looking for a home (justified reason) and I'm so tempted to go and collect him before DH arrives homes from abroad. Bad idea, right?!

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/04/2015 18:53

Depends. You were lonely with him abroad and a cats less marriage wrecking than another man.

Does he want you seeing other men? Does he?.

The only thing that stops me getting another cat is the fact that my cat is an absolute psycho to other cats. Otherwise I'd be over run with cats.

BagelwithButter · 22/04/2015 19:05

Ha ha Fluffy Not that lonely without him, he's only been gone a week, I quite like being able to listen to the radio in bed at night, not to tidy quite so much. Don't think anyone is exactly going to sweep me off my feet anyway! Also have my (nearly) 16 year old daughter here with me.

He's just not that into animals. I did foster 2 dogs for 2 months each time. He was very good about that but I know he doesn't really want a pet full time. Ho hum...

Original poster

magicstar1 · 22/04/2015 19:29

That sounds simple enough thecatneuterer, it's a funny door decorationwise, so I'll get DH to check it out.
The house is laid out weird...the front door is at the side of the house, then a huge pair of sidegates, and the kitchen door on the side too. Her house is at the kitchen door. I can't put a catflap there as I have a home baking business, so can't have her walking on everything.

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