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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

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
RoastChickenDinner · 19/01/2016 17:56

I think defo worth it for your own peace of mind, xx.

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 19/01/2016 18:04

When she went upstairs was the first time I've seen her in full view and there was yet more cause for concern. On her tummy towards back between legs there's like a furry ball on a string dangling.
Not like the fat pouch cats can have (which she also has) but a thing all
Of it's own. I wish I could get a better look. I daren't google I will only see cancer or something! Can't wait for this vet visit honestly

OP posts:
wannaBe · 19/01/2016 18:23

The rescue needs to be named and shamed. Yes perhaps the previous owner bears some responsibility but if she's been taken into a care home suddenly (assuming there actually was an elderly owner) then there could be any number of issues at play which meant she was unable to see to the cat's needs. But a rescue taking in a cat, not vaccinating or chipping it, and sending it out to a new home without so much as a health check is beyond irresponsible. If that's the way some rescues operate you might as well go and buy a cat off gumtree.

Op you haven't done anything wrong, you have rescued a cat in good faith but the rescue shouldn't IMO even be operating as a rescue.

This cat sounds Feral to me, a bit of apprehension on moving to a new home is normal, but cowering under a table for four days, not coming out at all, and not being able to be handled at all isn't the mark of a domesticated house cat.

Only you can decide if you want to keep this cat, but at the very least I would speak to the vet and also get some advice from one of the reputable rescues such as RSPCA or cats protection. Perhaps one of them can look into this other rescue.....

Ruhrpott · 19/01/2016 18:28

Could have just been a hair ball. I foster for a local cat charity and am astounded at you getting a cat so quickly off them. When I have one people get a home check then they ring me up and I describe the cats personality to them. They then come and see them and if all are happy they are then allowed to take them. If we are not sure if they have been neutered they are checked by the vet. The last ones I had had shaved sides and one even a small wound where they had opened her up to look as they could not see a scar.

MiddleClassProblem · 19/01/2016 18:32

I agree that the rescue is responsible. I don't understand how they can justify their refining statergy. Having said that I have found many rescue cats will hide away for at least the first few days to two weeks. And I have handled feral cats and thus cat is 100% not feral.

RoastChickenDinner · 19/01/2016 18:44

Is she long haired? It might be a matt.

Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2016 18:54

Oh MrsM I have only just caught up but this seems all kinds of wrong.

Cats should be health checked, fleaed and wormed and vaccinated or have a vaccination plan in place before they even get to you.

I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. It should be a really lovely time and this is not what you signed up for at all. Poor cat and poor you. Sad

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 19/01/2016 18:56

I can't really get close enough to look at it further will have to leave it to the vet. I've not handled her at alI so there could be lots of obvious problems that I couldn't see under the table.

I might leave the carrier in the bedroom tonight and hope she gets used to it so I can get her in easier tomorrow afternoon

OP posts:
MiddleClassProblem · 19/01/2016 19:03

Don't forget, if she won't go in easily, putting her in backwards is your best bet x

Wordsaremything · 19/01/2016 20:07

First off apologies as I haven't read the full thread. Kudos to you for going down the rescue route rather than a breeder. It is the best way, and if the system works you will find a cat best suited to your circumstances.

however it seems you have been in a huge rush to adopt a cat. To be honest, I don't think I would have rehomed the first one to you either- an indoor cat on a busy road with a noisy three year old? No . Very annoying they didn't give any indication of that straight off though.

Poor Mimsy/ Callie. Is there any way you can keep her in a room of her own for a while? She must be frightened out of her wits. Even in a calm, child-free home they take time to settle, and it sounds like you've allowed heart rule head in adopting the first cat that came along next, from an unfussy local rescue , desperate to rehome. Your family might be just as bad a fit for this one as it was for the first. Why the huge rush?please , please tell me you haven't promised one to the child at Xmas and then got one afterwards? ( sorry if you have covered this already.)

Sneezing- alarm bells. Could be cat flu - or feline AIDS . Or it could be other things too. Vet visit ( which I think you've got organised)

Sorry to be harsh. I freely admit I prefer cats to three year olds!

You can't rush things with animals, you just can't - and they are all individual - especially cats. Keep the three year old well away from her for now. She's not a toy. And try to resist peering at her all the time. Best of luck.

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 19/01/2016 20:40

No I certainly didn't promise a cat to my son for a Xmas present! I got a cat because I wanted one nothing to do with him. He has also behaved really well since she has been here he's been quiet when asked and has left her alone and never gone to touch her. It's his home too, should people with young children not be allowed cats then?! It's fine to question my judgement on all these events but it is not ok to presume my 3 year old has been winding the cat up or behaving in any way inappropriately when he's acted beyond his years and been really good. I'm sure most cats would prefer a home with adults and quiet and going outdoors, but evidently there isn't enough of those homes is there as there's so many cats languishing in rescue.

I have admitted on this thread already that things have not gone ideally, but I am doing my best for this cat which is all I can do. I've made an appointment for the vet tomorrow and will be progressing from there.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2016 21:00

Always best to read the full thread and not make assumptions..

I think you are doing everything you can MrsM.

Vinorosso74 · 19/01/2016 21:37

I agree with Sparkling you are doing your best for the cat.
I don't think much of the rescue place mind. To rehome a cat without all the vet checks and vaccinations seems very irresponsible. I know you had an unfortunate time with CP but their procedure (and am sure most other rescues) seems sensible ie.rehome cat once it's been vet checked, chipped and vaccinated.
Hope all goes well at vets tomorrow.

timtam23 · 19/01/2016 21:46

Hi MrsM. Mimsy/Callie's behaviour sounds par for the course in a cat who is used to old ladies rather than 3 yr olds. Hiding for days after adoption also sounds normal and not an indication of a feral cat. I think keeping her in your bedroom sounds sensible, 3 year olds can be noisy & unpredictable and cats aren't keen on that (I have had two 3 yr olds and my cats were definitely thinking Shock and kept well out of the way - the DCs are 7 and 6 now and a lot calmer around our remaining cat). The expense of the vet trip is not ideal but I think for peace of mind it is a good move. I hope there are no major health problems and that you are able to keep her.

Ruhrpott · 19/01/2016 22:32

I think it is completely not your fault and that rescues should rehome suitable cats to families. The last cat I fostered also went to a home with a three year old. The difference is I had fostered her for a month and knew she was very, very friendly and had never bitten or scratched us and was a complete lap cat who loved being stroked. I could say that I was pretty sure she would be fine around a young child and she is. They now send me regular updates and are really happy with her.
We have a grumpy rescue tom cat with attitude who no way would I trust with a young child.

RoastChickenDinner · 20/01/2016 07:58

Morning, I 've just seen a post on another page about a national scheme for vaccinations, you pay for the first one and the second is free. Not sure how accurate this is but might be worth mentioning. Hope you had a settled night and good luck today, xx.

SunsetDream · 20/01/2016 08:17

I just wanted to come on and add support. I'm new to cat ownership so not as knowledgeable as people on here.

FWIW, when we saw cats, in hindsight, we were told some cats would be suitable for us that wouldn't have been. In the end we found a CP lady who knew exactly what we needed and helped to guide us.

As an outsider, I would say:

1 see what the vet says

2 I was warned cats could go into hiding, ours didn't, but I was ready for it.

3 and I say this with no emotion attached. If she's not the right cat for you, there's nothing wrong with re homing her again. She also needs to find the right home. You can keep going with her and it could all work out. You could also try to find a new cat. I don't say this lightly at all (for all the reasons we got our cat from CPL) but this is a LONG term thing, so has to be right and the cat has to be happy too. If she's not the cat for you, better decide sooner rather than later.

Hope you can make a decision you are happy with. All I can say is it's been hard for my dcs with regards having to be calm and respectful and our cat is relatively confident!

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 20/01/2016 08:28

Morning all. This will be my only post today until we get back from the vets (appt not til 4pm). She stayed in our room last night. She was hidden down my side of the bed but she managed to fall asleep so hopefully wasn't too frightened. When I woke up this morning she was in her igloo again. Once the little ones gone preschool I will be going back up there for an hour, I didn't get much sleep worrying about the cat and all.

Just want to hear what the vet has to say now. If she's given clean bill of health/something easy to treat then I will persevere trying to settle her for a couple of weeks and if she's still as timid as now by that time then I will have to consider rehoming for everyone's sake

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 20/01/2016 08:31

Good luck MrsM. Hoping for good news, and that things will work out for the best whatever has to happen. x

MiddleClassProblem · 20/01/2016 08:41

Sounds like a sensible plan. Let us know how you get on at the vets. I hope you get some better answers from age to health x

Wordsaremything · 20/01/2016 09:00

That sounds like a good plan Mrs M. I was too harsh last night and I apologise.

MiddleClassProblem · 20/01/2016 16:59

How did it go?

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 20/01/2016 17:12

Just got out of there. She has what the vet thinks is cat flu. She's had injectable antibiotics which should work for 2 weeks and we've been given liquid painkiller to put on her food which we need to warm up to
Make more appealing as she can't smell it. If things don't improve in the 2 weeks got to have more serous involvement.

We've been given the advocate but can't put that on her until she recovers from flu. We also couldn't get her microchipped today as she will have to be sedated at a later date to check she's been spayed too.

She has a lot of excess skin but good muscle tone underneath. She's either been very overweight or had litters. She is also more like 5 or 6 years old rather than the 3 years old we were told. She's also got mild gingivitis on her teeth and I will have to arrange vaccines when she's better

OP posts:
RoastChickenDinner · 20/01/2016 17:17

Goodness me! You were right to be concerned then. Poor Mimsy and poor you, xx.

MiddleClassProblem · 20/01/2016 17:28

Well done for following your instincts and taking her. Poor thing sounds like she's had a time of it. How are you doing? Was she ok in your room today?

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