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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Going to adopt rescue cat for first time

44 replies

ocelot41 · 03/01/2016 09:24

Squee! DH has finally agreed to adopting a rescue cat after building work is finished on our extension . I think we are looking for a cat not a kitten and want a tolerant, friendly soul who likes a good stroke. Any tips to help me pick? Which sanctuaries are good? One cat versus a pair? Obvs its a 15-20 year commitment so I want to get the match right! but still stupidly excited

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TheGirlOnTheLanding · 03/01/2016 09:38

Very exciting! If you want a friendly lap cat, I'd recommend seeing how the cats at the shelter react to you - our old rescue came right up to me and gave me a right telling off when she saw me. She was a chatty bossy boots at home too. She definitely chose me, and I did what I was told!

The ones hiding at the backs of their pens were no doubt lovely cats but I'd imagine they needed a lot of time and patience before they'd be willing to trust people again. (A friend's rescue has just sat on her lap recently after being with her for over a year.)

Cheesypop · 03/01/2016 09:55

Congratulations! We have two cats, one bought off gumtree although effectively rescued as she was kept in one room in a top floor flat while her owner worked 12 hour shifts... could not have left her there! And one from a rescue place. He went in with his brother but we had to leave him behind Sad although the centre said they would be better split up.

Both have their own issues and idiosyncrasies, all cats do really, but the rescue centre one is the loveliest, friendliest little guy who adores being stroked. He will push his head under your hand for a snuggle and will sleep on you regardless of where you are what you are trying to do! He was really friendly at the centre and came out to see us and get stroked straight away. He definitely chose us. The gumtree one was quite friendly when we went to see her (I think she was happy to have human company!) but has a far more challenging temperament. She has formed a very strong bond with us after lots of love though she has a tendency to bite and scratch and has pica. We think she was taken away from her mum too young.

We got ours aged 5 months and 8 months and they were good times to get them. They were big enough to be eating well, litter trained, decent sized, not crying through the night like tiny kittens, but they were young enough to be full of energy, wanting to play, and adaptable enough to settle into our house well enough.

We love both of ours so much, they are so different and both so much fun! You won't regret adding to your family with a kitty or two Smile

Cheesypop · 03/01/2016 10:00

Also, re getting one or two; cats can get on totally fine on their own but now we have two we really like it. They love chasing each other around and wrestling. It was very hard to settle the two though after having had a single by herself for a year or so but thankfully the laid back friendly nature of the second one was ideal for settling him in to a household with an established cat. It was still quite hard work and quite stressful for a while though and I'm not sure I'd do it again.

In short, if the shelter has two that get on, take them both as having two is totally fab. If getting one and then one later, it is possible but can be really difficult.

Original poster
ocelot41 · 03/01/2016 11:37

Thanks all! I love the idea of a cat who likes playing but work from home quite a lot of the time (academic, so a lot of that is really concentrated study). Is there an age past which a cat would better learn when its playtime and when not, or had I better look for more of a peaceable lap top

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Original poster
ocelot41 · 03/01/2016 11:37

Oops. Lap cat obviously!

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drivinmecrazy · 03/01/2016 11:42

How strange! I have just posted a new thread about a home visit we're having tomorrow! We have decided we want a cat under a year old purely because our DC have never experienced the mania of kitten time! Our old cat was PTS last week at 19yo.
We found her at Woodgreen animal shelter, and as a PP has said, she looked at us and we at her and knew she was the right one for us. Am desperately hoping we get that same light bulb moment this time!
Good luck. I am manically excited yet nervous about going back to kitten stage again!

Original poster
ocelot41 · 03/01/2016 11:43

Oh how wonderful Drivin! Let us know how it goes!

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Original poster
ocelot41 · 03/01/2016 11:47

Am tucked up in bed feeling poorly, looking at rehoming galleries and cooing gently turning into mad cat lady

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Original poster
ocelot41 · 03/01/2016 11:51

Oh sorry, one more question! How many times did you visit before you were sure which cat/s would be your new overlords? Seems kind of a big decision to make on one meeting, but I know that sanctuaries get so busy!

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Pointlessfan · 03/01/2016 11:56

We got our cat from CPL, he was 9 so an older cat but still going strong. He definitely chose us (or thought we looked gullible) as he came to lick my hand when we went to choose.
He is the friendliest, most tolerant cat in the world, he puts up with a lot from our toddler. He's definitely a lap cat and sleeps most of the day now he's older (14).
We only visited CPL once and they did a home visit. Have fun choosing your cat!

drivinmecrazy · 03/01/2016 11:57

We only needed one! We spent a few weekends visiting rescue centres till we found Phoebe. She was a black cat, just the kind I always said I didn't want! It was a match made in heaven.
trust your instincts. Your perfect feline is waiting for you!
I've been scouring the pics on the interweb and have a couple I might like the look of. Am not giving DDS any say in it because they will just pick the first ball of fluff they see!
DH & I are hoping to have a bit more self restrain

Original poster
ocelot41 · 03/01/2016 12:19

Its funny, I have heard that before - your cat will choose you. Reminds me a bit of the aliens in Toy Story, aka ' You have been chosen!'..Cat home lot just been in touch to say they would like to do a home visit. What sort of thing are they checking for?

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Pointlessfan · 03/01/2016 17:46

I think mainly they want to make sure that your are not a crazy cat lady with hundreds of cats already! Also that there is somewhere safe for the cat to go outside. Despite being told that before our home visit I remember thoroughly cleaning the house to make a good impression. It was the last time the furniture wasn't covered in cat fur!

Original poster
ocelot41 · 03/01/2016 18:32

Nope, am crazy cat lady in the sense that I love em but s/he would be our sole Overlord. There are a lot of cats in the neighbourhood though - neighbours on both sides have two. Would that be a problem for a rescue cat in terms of fighting etc?

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Fluffycloudland77 · 03/01/2016 18:40

They'll fight whatever you do. It's normal.

You'll know when you find the right cat.

RoastChickenDinner · 09/01/2016 10:37

Have just found this talk group and love this thread! We got a rescue cat from the SSPCA in November, and it has been great, one of the best decisions ever.

We too knew straight away, even though the shelter lady said, 'ooh I'm not sure she'll suit you'. As soon as we went in she was all over us (including DCs age 6 and 2.5) wanting pets and kisses, to the extent that I didn't want to leave!. According the the shelter lady her behaviour totally changed after we had been, previously she'd been very quiet and just sat there, but after we left she was up wandering around and at her door looking for attention.

Now she follows me around the house a lot of the time, waits for me to finish my dinner so she can get on my knee, and sleeps beside me in bed (DH has thought better of complaining!).

I think it just depends on the cat how much play they want to do, ours is 7 and still likes to play, but is probably more of a snuggler.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!, xx.

cozietoesie · 09/01/2016 11:04
Smile

I love that her behaviour changed at the shelter after your visit.

Grown cats are great. Kittens are fine but to be honest, they can be a bit of a PITA at times - and you don't always know who you'll end up with. (They grow so quickly as well - the kitten phase is over almost before you realise it.) With a mature cat, you have more of a chance, I think, of getting what you see. Not entirely of course because they adapt to you as well as vice versa - my own elderly boy (who came to us at about 14) has become much more sociable since joining us. (All things being relative of course.Grin)

RoastChickenDinner · 09/01/2016 11:16

Thanks Cozie, and I agree, their personality is already established in the main.

I have turned slightly into a crazy cat lady and all I want to do is talk about her!

I even weighed her the other day because I thought she was looking a bit skinny Grin (turns out she is about 150g heavier than when she went into the shelter Grin

KitKatCustard · 14/01/2016 20:00

We have two rescue cats, a brother and sister and both are brilliant, although very different personalities. Both extremely affectionate and love cuddling up to us.

We got them at about 9 months old. They'd been born under a shed and spent their "formative" months in a pen at the cat shelter. Took them no time at all to adjust to a house (STAIRS!!!" TELLY!!! GARDEN!!!!!!!!) and they have recently moved almost 300 miles with us - and are still brilliant.

Apparently they weren't popular because they are black. As soon as the cat-lady told us that I wanted them. And am amply rewarded. Did I say they were brilliant? :)

Wolfiefan · 14/01/2016 20:05

We rescued a mum and son 2 years and 18 months!
They were lovely. He was very playful but not at the mad shredding everything stage. We lost her earlier this year at 19.
We now have two Tortie terrors. 6 months old. You wouldn't be able to work whilst they tried to shred the sofa or attack your feet!

Wolfiefan · 14/01/2016 20:05

Oh and whereabouts are you? Re shelters.

Original poster
ocelot41 · 30/01/2016 16:16

Oh sorry Wolfiefan, didn't see that last post for a whileBlush

SE London

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SunsetDream · 30/01/2016 16:21

Have you found a cat?

cozietoesie · 30/01/2016 16:57

SE London is CHAT territory if I recall? Smile ( If you haven't found a cat yet.)

Wolfiefan · 30/01/2016 17:01

Don't worry. I know of a wonderful rescue but it is SW London. Sad
Have you found your perfect match yet!