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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

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 22:38

How is DD doing? Is she talked out yet? Smile

Original poster
OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 23:16

Got her to bed - eventually still chattering

We now have approximately 973 artworks dotted around the house, consisting of black cats and a small girl, mixed media, mostly in crayon and chewed felt tip. :)

OP posts:
loraflora · 15/02/2016 23:43

I had some of the same worries when I got a rescue cat who was more reserved than that. When we went to look at her she hid in a corner and shrank away when I tried to stroke her. I thought she might end up being one of those cats who only come in for meals and was prepared for that. Of course she now has her own special seat on the sofa and miaows if we're not paying her enough attention. She's still reserved with other people, but not with her people.

Original poster
OooLookShoes · 15/02/2016 23:53

That's reassuring lora

OP posts:
RedOnHerHedd · 15/02/2016 23:56

Not place marking at all...

We got a rescue kitten, white and ginger boy who is currently lying on the bottom of my bed keeping my feet warm. He'll sleep there all night now until DH's alarm goes off in the morning, when he'll ask us for breakfast. He's like a baby. Needs constant cuddles. He doesn't go outside - his choice. He sleeps all night with us and follows us around everywhere. And when I'm having bad days (nervous breakdown) he doesn't leave my side. He's so loving.

Can't wait to see her picture! Fingers and paws crossed for you!

Seawig · 16/02/2016 08:45

She sounds awesome! Hope you get your check soon and you can start the new species in the house adventure.

cozietoesie · 16/02/2016 09:35

Wee soul. Smile. With any luck, she'll have got it out of her system in the next day or two and before the home visit.

YouSaffBridge · 16/02/2016 10:53

We've just got a rescue cat and have 4yo DD. We made sure we got one who had been around kids before and that the rescue centre was confident wouldn't be either too scared or too bitey.

We've had her just over a month now and she's been an absolute dream. I love watching her and DD together. Yes, the first week or two we did watch the two of them together very carefully and there was much repeating of "don't put your fingers near her eyes" and the like Grin But DD has been very solemnly impressed with the need to be careful with her. We have tried to get DD to feed her as much as possible to encourage some bonding. The cat has nipped at DD a few times when DD has moved too quick or poked too hard, but she has never used teeth and actually in the past two weeks there has been a lot less of it, now the cat simply gets up and leaves. They really are very good together though now.

Good luck!

Original poster
OooLookShoes · 16/02/2016 15:48

Thank you all for reassurance

No news yet on visit, but small person has calmed a little :)

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 16/02/2016 19:25

This makes me very happy. Your DD sounds adorable.

Original poster
OooLookShoes · 20/02/2016 20:09

Hi. Sorry for not updating sooner, we had our check in the week and collected her today. She meowed a bit on the way home but was pretty calm all things considered.

She is now ensconced in the utility room, with a litter tray, food& water, scratching post comfy bed ( to ignore)

She is crouched in the carrier still peering out. Though she has eaten a bit. Planning to let her introduce herself to the house at her own pace.

No pics as yet,as there's not much to see- just 2 luminous eyes :)

OP posts:
Original poster
OooLookShoes · 20/02/2016 20:12

And dd has been so good, really calm and very helpful, despite being the most excited she has ever even.

Made me laugh though, we were setting up the litter tray and food and got her to measure out food, spread the litter and fill up the water bowl. She announced ' my goodness there is a LOT of work in owning an animal' !

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 20/02/2016 20:52
Grin
WitchWay · 21/02/2016 15:12

placemarking for pictures Smile

Sparklingbrook · 21/02/2016 15:16

Brilliant. I hope she ventures out in time, lots of new sounds and smells to get used to.

cozietoesie · 21/02/2016 15:22

Many many years ago, I saved a picture of a panther snarling. It had been take against a black background so all there was was eyes and a snarl. The description of Shoescat brings that to mind. Smile

Wolfiefan · 21/02/2016 15:27

Shameless place marking. And congratulations!

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