CPL home check tomorrow

[MrsMoggy]

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

Of course. Has she a decent hiding/'withdrawing' place to go to if he's around and gets too overheated for her? (Bet you sometimes wish you had one yourself! ) Up high is usually good if it can be arranged in some way - eg on a shelf.

We've not really got any shelving as in a rented place. We do have a huge ikea unit but it's in the other room so if she ventures there she should get some good vantage points. I've still got stairgates on so once she ventures upstairs she can have space up there until bedtime

Ah - a stairgate is good. She should learn that fairly quickly.

How is Callie doing this morning Mrs Moggy?

She must have come out in the night as she's had a bit of water and food and used the litter tray. Found her in the little igloo bed this morning but she hissed when I approached and still won't have any dreamies. She's ran back under the table again

Our advice at rescue was always crack on as normal and almost pretend the cat is not there but I would never be able to follow that advice myself and with a 3 year old it's near impossible. At least she knows where the main things are x

At least she's made the bed her home and has used her tray. When PPG first came home she didn't seem to wee for ages.

I'm sure she'll come round. V early days and everything has happened so quickly for her that she prob doesn't know what's going on!

i would get her seen as an emergency at the vets; although caveat to that is i don't have experience rehoming dcats; we had one that was pretty much wild, you could only hold it by the scruff of the neck as its outstretched claws were like confronting a set of boxing gloves covered in razors! and hissing and spitting. we sat with it for hours safely (((hugged))) until it starting purring and it hasn't stopped since! but we knew it didn't have any injuries or illness, and was very young. Although a 3 yr old is still considered young, this was still a feral kitten. she is now the most sweet little girl she is a little unsure of strangers but otherwise all normal.

i just think its definitely worth ruling out as its behaving like an injured/sick animal, but as i say, defer to others who have rehomed and found that this is normal for dcats. Poor love xx so glad she has found such a patient caring home.

I really can't take her the vet today, haven't got a way to get there and the rescue is closed, and it is them who are funding the initial check etc until I get insurance, which I can't get until she's had the initial check.

I think she's just sad and probably a bit depressed, she's only left her actual owner 4 days ago and in that time she's already been in two different environments. I think id be a bit unhappy and pissed off too in those circumstances. I'm going out this afternoon to give her a chance to roam, will monitor food and litter activity when I come back

The emergency vets won't want to see her. It all sounds normal for a traumatised cat. She doesn't know where her owners gone or who these new people are and they are really sensitive animals.

She's eating and drinking which is excellent.

I don't think a vet is necessary, and would be likely to traumatise her even more. Everything you describe sounds like par for the course for a new rescue cat in it's new home. They frequently hide under furniture for a week or more and often don't even eat, drink or use a tray for a good few days. It's all perfectly normally and in a couple of months she will be a normal, loving cat and all this will be forgotten.

Yup all normal sounding behaviour and it's great that she isn't so anxious she's already got eating. Going out is a great idea. Let her get the lay of the land a bit and find some hidy holes or high up spots

Using the igloo, her tray and having a bite to eat are all very good news. Best to ignore her though - no trying to feed her Dreamies etc. (Which, by the way, my own boy doesn't like - not every cat does. )

Husband had to nip home after couple hours being out and she hadn't touched food or water or used tray this time and was still under the table. Does anybody think it would be worthwhile moving her to the bedroom? Obviously we would be in there at night but a lot less often than when we are in the living/dining room where she is now. Unfortunately we don't have a spare bedroom she can claim for her own

I'd at least try one more night where she is just as even though you don't realise, she's already acclimatising a bit to that room. Also only move her if you have space for tray, food and water to be out (obviously food not near the tray and where someone won't accidentally trip on them in the night) as she may not venture far for a few days at least

Not using her tray nor eating/drinking in only two hours is nothing to be really concerned about I think.

I'd go in there yourself this evening and watch a movie/read something with some music on/listen to some music. All the while paying no attention to her.(At least not physically - using her name outside the door before you go in is useful for her to recognise and locate you.)

Do you know what her life was like with her previous owner?

I won't be in until about half ten tonight now so she will have more time to herself. Tomorrow between 9 and 12 it will just be me in as son will be at preschool so hopefully bond a little then. Just feel maybe we made a mistake putting her in the main room as she probably thinks we are in her face even though we are "ignoring" her

Sorry missed the previous owner part of post.

I'm really not sure what the situation was other than she lived as an indoor cat with an older lady. The rescue woman said it sounded like she'd had a lovely life and I certainly think she was fed a lot as she's quite big in my opinion

She'll likely have had a calm and ordered life then - possibly with lots of telly going on.

This is huge for her as well as you - and the trouble is that you can't tell her what's happened even as a starter. Imagine if your 3 year old was suddenly yanked away and put with some strange people without explanation? It's not the same thing of course but that might give you an idea. She's likely panicking a bit and has lost her bearings - you have to give her some new ones.

Keep things as ordinary as you can, lots of non-physical communication (I really wouldn't be touching her at the moment) and let her make all the running in terms of coming out. That last is very important to my mind.

Yes I'm just going to get on with things and won't try and keep my toddler quiet any longer as the reality is she will have to get used to it. I will leave her under the table.

Honestly can't stress enough that I'm happy for her to take the lead I'm just worried about her. I wish she'd had the health check before she came to us as I keep imagining she's got some life threatening illness or something when I'm probably just seeing things that aren't there. I just feel stressed being responsible for this poor cat

You'll do fine.

I've been where you are more or less - although I didn't have a 3 year old tugging my sweater and shrieking 'CAAAATTTTT'

We got there.

Quick before bed update...
Just got in and she was in the igloo again. She'd had another wee in tray but food and water not touched. We didn't speak or make eye contact. We've put little one in bed and come to bed ourselves so she can carry on being peaceful until the morning

Well done.

Has she had a poo yet?

No poo yet

She hasn't eaten any food that I can see since last night. I'm going to put out some wet food in the morning as she only came from the shelter with dry as that's all they use there