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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

Choosing a rescue cat

42 replies

OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 11:04

Name changing regular here will out me but we are getting a rescue cat. Yay.i need a bit of advice over wether I'm letting my heart rule my head here.

We have a sensible 5 yo and DH is an experienced cat owner. I've had rescue rabbits and horses, but never a cat.

I want an adult cat, not a kitten and am massively biased toward getting a black cat 'cos they're cool and get overlooked in rescues.

We had a look round the rescue centre yesterday and found a gorgeous 2yo black female. Her previous owner has passed away. She seems quite shy but had only been spayed a few days ago. She rubbed her head all over my hand when I went to stroke her and seemed really nice, just a bit shy and reserved. I can't tell if she is just a little overwhelmed and will settle or if she will be too terrified and hate living with us. We aren't a noisy house by any means and if she moves in we will give her the downstairs loo room to herself acclimatise in for as long as she needs.

We are off to have a proper socialisation visit at the rescue centre in a few hours. What should I be looking out for. I just want to give the right cat the right home.

Help

(And I do promise pictures if we get her)

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 15/02/2016 11:18

Sounds as if you're regarding her as a family member already?

Roseberrry · 15/02/2016 11:22

How long has she been there? Surely they will have a good idea of her temperament.

With any rescue pet I would expect it to take at least 6 months until they start to properly settle and show you their true nature.
You sound as if you have put a lot of thought in to this though so that's the best start. Go have a play and cuddle, your heart will tell you if it's right!

Original poster

OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 11:25

You could be right.... :)

but I don't want to get this wrong for her sake!

I have had a couple of very difficult rescue bunnies. Which was fine, I was / am an experienced owner and didn't have young kids. I knew what I was doing and I was absolutely the right person to take them on.

I keep impressing on the 5 yo what a big responsibility rescuing an animal is. I think I'm scaring myself.

OP posts:

ophiotaurus · 15/02/2016 11:27

She sounds as if she likes you already! Let us know how you get on.

Original poster

OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 11:30

rose about a week.

I had a good chat to the carer and read all the cats notes.

they said she doesn't like being in th rescue centre and that she is a basically nice if slightly shy cat. But even the carer says she migh not be that shy in the right setting.

I don't mind shy, I'm not too bothered about having a fuss and cuddle monster jump g on my knee, ( I'm used to house rabbits) just a nice personality to share our lives with. I am definitely drawn to quirky and independent.

OP posts:

Original poster

OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 11:31

I'm talking myself into this aren't I?!

OP posts:

Roseberrry · 15/02/2016 11:44

Yep! Black cats are the best

Seawig · 15/02/2016 12:49

We took our small kids to the rescue centre and came home with Huntercat as he was bombproof while the others looked alarmed, horrified or hissed wildly at the kids.

He is still bombproof.

Took them a year later to get Feistycat and did the same test. She is bold, feisty in fact! Also copes absolutely happily with the kids noise and house life and is brilliant.

Seawig · 15/02/2016 12:51

Should add they are both a bit weird for cats.

Feisty goes nuts if you try and pick her up but if you sit down or lay down for more than 3 seconds she is on your lap.

Huntercat won't sit on laps as they are too small but is happy being held upside down like a baby and will purr while you carry him around and squeeze him gently or rock him. He also doesn't mind being used as a weight for double arm lifts.......

BadgersBum · 15/02/2016 13:00

We got chosen by a 2 year old black female last October, she was very nervy at first (don't have any backstory on her, she was taken to the RSPCA by someone who spotted her in their garden with a litter of kittens). She's still not keen on being picked up or cuddled too enthusiastically, and it took a few months, but she will happily come and sit on my lap, or on DH's lap if mine's not available, sleeps on our bed or on a floor cushion in DS's room, she follows me round the house like a shadow and, compared to the 2 previous cats I had from kittens, is a very good girl with her litter tray.

Sorry, am gushing now, am just so glad we decided to give my new best friend a home, especially when DH is on lates and DS has gone to bed.

Original poster

OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 16:43

We're back!

And she was even more gorgeous than I remembered Big beautiful green gremlin eyes.

She was much less jittery, hopped down off her high perch to investigate me, kept pushing my hand for head rubs and batted me with her paw when I foolishly stopped scratching her ears :)

Just hope the home visit goes ok.

And yes I did take small clumsy child. Who bounced in excitement, tripped, fell over her own feet, etc etc. Cat just stared at her in curious bemusement, as if I'd laid the whole show on just for her entertainment.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 15/02/2016 17:56

Was it a 'big sisterly' sort of bemusement?

I suppose there's no doubt now about your decision?

RubyChewsDay · 15/02/2016 18:02

Sounds fab

Original poster

OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 18:25

cozie it looked more like the result of a discussion that went

' humans! I am bored! Bring me entertainment!'

... And the humans obligingly brought entertainment. :)

OP posts:

Original poster

OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 18:27

I was utterly sold when she batted me for daring to stop scratching her ears.

She is going to rule the roost isn't she.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 15/02/2016 18:32

Ooooooh. This is all very exciting. When's the home visit?

cozietoesie · 15/02/2016 18:33

Is going to ? Sounds like she already is !

Original poster

OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 19:29

sparkilng waiting for a phone call. We're very rural and I think it's a one horse operation as far as home visits go.

I'm hoping its this week

Small person is vibrating with excitement

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 15/02/2016 19:31

NoWheelsOnMyWagon · 15/02/2016 19:35

You know you're doing the right thing! Black cats with green eyes are extra special

timtam23 · 15/02/2016 20:26

Lovely. I wanted to adopt a black cat but we were "found" by an abandoned kitten, who is tabby + white & would probably have been snapped up in a flash if he'd ever got as far as a rescue. Oh well. Next one will definitely be black or bla k/white

19lottie82 · 15/02/2016 21:29

Here's a photo of my rescue (back) cat, Pippa! She was really timid when we got her last October but now she's my best friend and doesn't leave my side when I'm at home

Wolfiefan · 15/02/2016 21:33

I love that she batted you. Training in progress. She sounds lovely.
Not lurking for pictures. Not me

cozietoesie · 15/02/2016 22:11

Gorgeous eyes in a gorgeous face.

Original poster

OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 22:36

I solemnly promise pictures if we get her ( fingers crossed for the home visit)

Not daring to get my hopes up

OP posts:

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