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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

CPL home check tomorrow

632 replies

MrsMoggy · 08/01/2016 18:52

Hi all,

This subject has probably been done lots of times so apologies in advance. Got a home check tomorrow for an indoor cat who we haven't actually met yet. What should I expect to be looked at and what questions may I be asked?

So far I have answers to where the cat would eat and use litter tray, where it could have privacy in first few weeks, what vets I may sign up to, feeding schedule, what I'm going to buy etc. can anybody think of anything else?

Thank you

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Seawig · 15/01/2016 19:04

Fingers crossed for you. Both times the cats that were right stood out to us from now they reacted to the kids in their pens.

Hope you have a similar sense of whether any of these would suit.

MiddleClassProblem · 15/01/2016 19:07

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

cozietoesie · 15/01/2016 19:23

The cats that are left might be the 'no-hopers' then. You'll have to count how many of them are black. Sad

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 15/01/2016 19:36

They're all black or black and white cozie by the looks of it. I don't mind what colour it is at all. Just want a friendly one and to be honest wouldn't like a very old one which a couple of them are. There were some beautiful ones earlier in week but they've been snapped up

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cozietoesie · 15/01/2016 19:56

Stands to reason, sadly. (The black/black and white thing.) What do you count as very old?

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 15/01/2016 20:30

I don't know really, I wouldn't really like one over 8 years old which I know isn't really old at all but seeing as the cat senior care plan at my local vets is 7 years and older it does make me a bit hmm. I don't know really, I just want one that likes to play and be friendly and have a cuddle ideally but obviously they will be nervous at first so no way of knowing

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Shriek · 15/01/2016 23:52

oh good luck for tomoz!

I don't think they would necessarily be nervous by any means, especially as they've been a bit starved of one-to-one being rescued and installed into a cattery.

So long as you are not looking to 'make it happen' as you will know when you connect with one. I think black cats are gorgeous, they are all 'felix' to me and comical

cozietoesie · 16/01/2016 00:05

I seem to recall that the powers that be have recently revised the former categorisation of cat life stages to reflect longer and better lives. (Cat food packets have 'Senior' as 7+ but that strikes me as daft these days - I'd see 7 as prime of life almost.) I'd be a bit edgy about, say, a 19 year old with health problems but 7 or 8? I wouldn't hesitate. if you'd seen Seniorboy getting on top of the bedroom door at 16 (blighter) I reckon you'd think the same. Grin

I'd relax about ages and see if anyone there 'calls' to you. Smile

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 16/01/2016 16:40

Well I've been to the ladies house today...

There were only two occupied pens as they'd had such a good week of adoptions. In one was "mimsy" a 3ish year old black and white chubby girl. Her owner was an elderly lady who's had to go in a care home. She'd only been in the shelter two days and was very reserved and sad looking. Well of course I fell for that so we've brought her home! Mimsy, now named Callie, is hiding under the table as we speak. I think it will take quite a while for her to get used to us. Unfortunately next Saturday we have to take her back to the next county to get her chipped, wormed, flea prevention and health check at the vets, this will be funded by the rescue as they've not had time to do it.

My main concern about Callie at the moment is that she seems to be sneezing a lot. This wasn't mentioned by the lady at the rescue

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Original poster
MrsMoggy · 16/01/2016 16:41

Forgot to add that Callie has always been an indoor cat so at least she won't be pining to go outside which is good as we needed a house cat

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RoastChickenDinner · 16/01/2016 16:50

That's great news MrsMoggy. Congratulations on your new addition, please send us a photo when Callie comes out of hiding!

cozietoesie · 16/01/2016 17:44

She'll be mourning the loss of her previous owner so it wouldn't surprise me if she were a bit quiet for a short while. Keep an eye on the sneezing, though, and mention to the vet when you're there. (Just in case her vaccination schedule hasn't been perfect.)

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 16/01/2016 18:12

Yes it's very sad for both Callie and her owner of course. With her only being in the rescue for two days as well she's had no time to adjust. I will definitely be mentioning the sneezing to the vet and keeping an eye on it. Will get a picture if she ever emerges. I got hissed at when I tried to approach her before so giving her some peace. She was very downcast in the shelter it was sad

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MiddleClassProblem · 16/01/2016 19:16

Aw bless her. Congratulations! Fingers crossed the sneezing is nothing much. Hope she settles in soon once she figures out where everything is and who gives out the dreamies x

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 16/01/2016 19:59

I have offered some dreamies but they've been rejected so far. She is still very wary, huddled against the wall under the table. Hopefully when we go to bed she will come out and have something to eat and drink and use the tray

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MiddleClassProblem · 16/01/2016 20:01

Yeah maybe decamp to another room so she can have a roam. And set up a camera baby monitor or Skype from phone to phone/iPad for surveillance lol x

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/01/2016 20:17

It's a big change for her, she's been separated from her mummy. It's a relief for her previous owner that she has a forever home now.

Don't take the hissing personally, she's only got a few ways of communicating and that's one of them.

Dh got hissed at the other night.

cozietoesie · 16/01/2016 20:17

I'd maybe put a largeish old cardboard box around - with, say, an old fleece/throw/towel in it. Somewhere she can hide yet still see what's going on. Then go about my business and let her adjust in her own time. Do you all have routines that she can grow used to?

You've a nice issue of timing though if she's to go to the vet next weekend. If she's just learning to trust you and is then put in a carrier and vetted by you? I don't know what's for the best on that one - although she clearly has to go. I wouldn't try too hard with her though. This is going to be a long relationship and I'd let her make all the initial running

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 16/01/2016 20:28

Thank you for all the responses

Yes cozie it isn't ideal that she's got the vets next week at all but there isn't really anything I can do about it as it's only my husband that drives and with it being half an hour drive away I can't get there any sooner than next Saturday. It's really unfortunate as she may just be starting to trust us then. Ah well, it's for her own good so not much to be done.

I've got one of those little pet igloos that she will hopefully make herself confortable in overnight. The rescue sent her with her own blanket so will put that in there too.

I've essentially committed to Callie for the rest of her life so am willing to wait just want her to be happy

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MiddleClassProblem · 16/01/2016 20:32

Don't for get the carrier can be another hidy hole and it gets her comfortable being in it so it's not just the thing that comes or for vet trips. Some you can take the door off.

MiddleClassProblem · 16/01/2016 20:32

I'm so excited for you!

cozietoesie · 16/01/2016 20:38

I actually found Seniorboy in his carrier yesterday when I had to deny him his bed for workmen reasons. (I'd left it out with a fresh towel in it.) Fair brought a lump to my throat. Smile

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 16/01/2016 20:40

The carrier I'm currently borrowing the lid and the door both come off so it's now open on the floor with the blanket in since she came home. I just heard a lot of snuffling and she'd come out for all of 30 seconds to have a quick look and then retreated back but it's still progress. When my son is in bed she may be a bit more confident as he is the noisiest member of the house. It's surprisingly emotional this whole process! I keep feeling sorry for her previous owner too as it was no fault of her own that she was given up

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cozietoesie · 16/01/2016 20:48

I'll say it's progress. Smile Best to try not to get too excited by it though. Keep everything real calm and normal - maybe even sit and watch a movie? ( Maybe she was used to that sound with her previous owner so might find it reassuring in some way.)

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 16/01/2016 20:51

I saw she was out and then ignored her to give her some space. It's hard to keep my 3 year old calm around her as obviously he wants to look at her and stuff

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