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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

Bringing a new cat home - quiet spare room or in with the family?

26 replies

SunsetDream · 05/01/2016 22:26

I keep reading about introducing the cat to a quiet room so they can escape/ hide.

We have a quiet room, so we can but bed/ food/ litter tray in there for a while (or should the litter tray go straight to its permanent place?)

But it's across from the hall, so she would need to cross the open stairs to get to the family living room.

Or should we set some things up in the family room so she can get used to the family (although not disturbing her unless she approached)?

I can probably work out the answer, but want to ask the experts!

OP posts:

titchy · 05/01/2016 22:28

Everything in a quiet room. Pop in periodically - no eye contact! After a week or so open the door so cat can wander around. Once happy to wander move food and litter tray to permanent spaces.

Original poster

SunsetDream · 05/01/2016 22:32

A week! Keep the door shut, why? Glad I asked the question. I was thinking a nice quiet room with the door open so she can come out if she wants. The children will be harder to keep away! (Although they know not to approach her and let her come to them).

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DaftVader36 · 05/01/2016 22:34

Quiet room, definitely.

I used to sit in with ours and read a book quietly. She is currently tucked under my arm having spent early evening chasing DCs around the house to their amusement.

She was the friendliest thing in the shelter, but got her home and she really needed a quiet place to hide for a bit first. Took about a week.

Lonecatwithkitten · 05/01/2016 22:48

Despite the fact that I knew the tailless wonder really well having treated her and her kittens when they were initially taken from their neglectful home she had then spent 6 weeks in a rescue centre raiding her babies. She spent a month in the quiet room in the first weeks I would go in and sit with her and then later she would come out in the evenings. Even then it took her another 18 months to really settle and 3 years before she would interact with my Dad (really unusual he is usually a cat magnet).

Original poster

SunsetDream · 05/01/2016 23:13

She's come from a family home, but needed to be re homed because of the owner's needs. I don't think she's had any bad experiences (I mean neglect etc.) and is used to children.

I know she'll take a while, im hoping the dcs won't self combust waiting for her!

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CharleyDavidson · 05/01/2016 23:18

We brought our new kitten straight into the main living area. We don't have a spare room! But our main room is a living room/dining room and there we put the kitten in the dining room bit, in a corner behind the dining room table rather than in the main living room area. The children were old enough to leave him well alone and he would peek out a bit from time to time.

I stayed up late the first night and eventually he crept out and chose to come and sit right next to me on the sofa, so it didn't take long at all. He had been in a house used to a child picking them up all the bloody time whether they liked it or not.

Despite the cat coming to me first that first night, he's very much a hands off kind of a cat. He arches his back down to avoid a stroke if he doesn't want one and he prefers to sleep in his basket (on the pouffe) rather than on knees.

Unless you are DD2. Her, he miaows at until she picks him up. And will sleep on her bed every night. And will worm his way into her arms when she's sitting down until he's having a proper cuddle. Then he purrs his head off.

I've told her she's taking the traitor with her when she moves out (she's 11).

sashh · 06/01/2016 05:57

When you open the cat carrier the first thing the cat should see is the litter tray.

I'd put it in the spare room but leave the door ajar so kitty can explore. I'd put another tray where the permanent one would go.

This way kitty can explore as much as it wants or stay where she is.

PolterGoose · 06/01/2016 09:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes · 06/01/2016 10:17

We did quiet room with ours (adopted at a year from rescue but had been rehomed due to marriage breakdown therefore no history of neglect etc. All food, water, litter was in there. We would go in periodically and quietly and left the door adjar after DCs were in bed so they could explore when the house was quiet, they started coming out on the first evening. After a week or so we moved food and water to the landing and then downstairs after a couple more weeks, similar with litter trays.

prokupatuskrakedatus · 06/01/2016 17:39

When we brought Sev home, we wanted to do all the quiet room stuff - but Sev had different ideas:

He examined the litter tray and used it, inspected the whole flat for about 2 hours, had food and a drink (he acually drinks at meal times) and then went to sleep in the middle of the sofa.

So it very much depends on the individual cat (Felix was different).

Good luck.

cozietoesie · 06/01/2016 17:50

I'm inclined towards a quiet room but with the door very quickly left ajar (as soon as they 'know it') so that they can dive back there if they need to use the facilities or are suddenly overcome by strangeness or something.

In my own experience, it largely depends on the cat and the household so while a quiet room is a good starting place, it may not be needed for very long. All my Siamese boys, once they've bonded, have woken up, got out of bed, stretched and set off purposefully with a 'Now let me see what"s on offer...' look to them.

(They sleep in bed with the humans of course. Once they've bonded, anything else is rather regarded by them as punishment. )

Original poster

SunsetDream · 06/01/2016 21:09

I did the quite room, but left the door open (while I nipped to another room) and she started to explore the house! She just about looked at everything from bottom to top and back down again.

She's had a little feed, had a few plays and is fast asleep on the sofa!

I'm keeping her things in that room for now, but will reassess in a few days (the little tray, for example will need to be moved.

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cozietoesie · 06/01/2016 21:17

She sounds fairly relaxed with you then?

Original poster

SunsetDream · 06/01/2016 22:05

So far so good! I'm a bit taken aback (in a good way!) I was really expecting her to be shyer! Does this mean she owns us now?

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cozietoesie · 06/01/2016 22:07

Yep!

Seawig · 06/01/2016 22:51

Our first rescue was the same; I had our room all set up for Huntercat to hide out in while he adjusted to a not yet 2 year old DS and a 3 year old DD.

Nope. He was scrabbling on the door to get out and explore and has remained unphased by anything except the Hoover since.

Currently sleeping on my bed having terrorised small mammals in the neighbourhood all evening. Will pop out at dawn and then request breakfast when I get up, unless he catches something big in which case he will remain on my bed looking, um, very not hungry!

Enjoy your new housemate!

cozietoesie · 07/01/2016 08:44

How is she doing this morning? Has she used her tray yet?

Original poster

SunsetDream · 07/01/2016 11:23

She's fab! She's had a few plays, but is sleeping a lot (I think yesterday tired her out). She's used her tray several times, but no solids yet. 😺

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 07/01/2016 11:58

Cats spend a very large proportion of their day sleeping. Sounds as if she's settled right in.

PolterGoose · 07/01/2016 11:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cozietoesie · 07/01/2016 13:05

PS - remember to post a picture of her.

cozietoesie · 08/01/2016 21:28

How is she doing?

Original poster

SunsetDream · 08/01/2016 21:44

Much more independent today - stayed downstairs when I went up for example. Seeing a pattern of sleep, groom, play etc. (with food every now and then!)

I'll try to get a photo sorted!

Still a little unsure about feeding -at cat' protection she was fed twice a day, but I'm not sure about the portion size, she always leaves a little, but I've ended up doing about 4 little meals (2 pouches) she's just a little cat, but I think she ought to have more. What do you think? She's definitely underweight, but I want her to put weight on healthily.

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cozietoesie · 08/01/2016 21:51

Smaller and more frequent meals has always worked for mine so I wouldn't worry about that - if it fits in with your lifestyle of course.

As to amount? She's leaving some so she's not hungry. Is she genuinely a bit underweight (as opposed to you thinking she looks scrawny)?

Original poster

SunsetDream · 08/01/2016 23:09

That I'm not sure about - the vet I've registered with insists on a 'once over' as part of registration, so I'm going to ask then. It's when you look at her from above, her hips look bony and the ribs and stomach are very defined. She looks healthy otherwise

Maybe she lying about being starving 😼

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