At last - I have cats!

[Allergictoironing]

Well not quite yet, but as soon as the logistics of getting a few days off work so I can settle them in has been sorted, fitted around days when either my DSiS or SiL can come with me to collect them.

Now madly ordering Stuff on line for them like a large cat tree, litter trays, beds, feed bowls, brush/grooming mitt, carry basket(s), litter, food, window screens (they will be indoors only cats).

So what have I forgotten? I've been wanting this for years, and planning seriously for months, and now it's a reality my mind has gone blank!

They're lovely. I want O'Malley, he looks so miserable.

I wanted about half of them! There were 3 in particular that were very friendly & I could happily have taken home, but I was Claimed. Plus I'm pretty sure they will find new homes very easily, whereas mine have been there near enough a year - obviously waiting for me .

We did have to search my DSis when we came out of the area with 8 gorgeous tiny kittens...

Oh my goodness, I feel like I know those two little kitties! My two ginger boys are Rolvenden rescue kitties too and I am always checking the Rolvenden site just in case I can convince my hubby to have another one. I have seen their photos on the site lots of times and I'm elated to see they have now got a lovely home. Ruth and Allan who run the rescue centre are absolute saints. One of my boys, Angus, is actually Mr July in this year's Rolvenden calendar

Well can't resist posting a photo of my Rolvenden rescue pussies the week after we brought them home. They are about 3 times the size now and absolutely spoilt. Please do post some piccies. Gosh I'm excited now.

If the boy is big, like Starcat, you need to make sure that you have a big scratching post that can take his weight pulling on it without wobbling and is tall enough to allow him to fully stretch out. I have the Ancol Fat Boy or there is the SmartCat Ultimate (in Sisal and Cardboard versions) here. If a scratching post or cat tree isn't steady enough, that will put the cat off ever using it again and your new boy might use the sofa instead. Also get a cardboard horizontal scratcher. Most cats like having both types.

I'd recommend getting a couple of books by Vicky Halls, a cat behaviourist. It's amazing what you can learn about making your cat's life as happy as possible.

Finally, I'd recommend a cat water fountain. Cats naturally prefer running water and they can actually taste water, so they like it filtered. Starcat has this one He drinks so much more water, which means he's less likely to develop kidney problems or urinary tract issues.

Icequeen that's great! I actually live about 40 miles from Rolvenden, but when I first started researching Kent rescues I just kept being drawn back to their site. I think Ruth's attitude to indoor cats is part of it, I was always determined mine would be indoor and many rescues still seem to disapprove for some reason. When she called me back last night to confirm the collection date, she said they realised those poor darlings had been there a whole year . I have saved up a good budget for Project Cats (as it's known in my family) and I fully intend to donate more than she suggests for the adoption.

Starsmurf thank you - just the kind of practical advice I need . I have plenty of family with cats but mostly smaller ones - the biggest (DSis's boy) is maybe the size of my smaller cat! My DSis has that Fat Boy for her bigger cat and he loves it. I already have a Very Large tree ordered which will go by the big window so they have Cat TV, but if the boy starts to hurl himself at it like hers does to his, I will get a Fat Boy too. I looked at cardboard scratchers, will see how they get on first - NDN's little girl won't touch any form of scratchers!

I am a complete Jackson Galaxy addict so do have a fair idea of the whole cat behaviour subject, but will have a look for those books too.

Ruth at Rolvenden recommended I look at water fountains. She did mention 2 in particular which are very easy to clean but like an idiot I didn't write the names down. It's something I will be researching in the next 2 days, and will look at the one you linked to.

I'm so excited - will be hard to keep my mind on work for the next week .

My cat likes water ....from the bird bath!!!

Good luck for tomorrow. I hope all goes well.

It's next Wednesday 6cats, not this week sadly. There's no way I could have got 3 days off at that short notice right now.

Nearly all the important stuff is in the house now bar the Tree, which is due to be delivered tomorrow or Monday. I'm going to need the weekend to do some furniture re-organising so the tree can go where I want it - my back means that heavy stuff can get moved about a foot then I have to sit for 10 mins, and I have some significant shifting to do.

The cats are currently on Royal Canin for their dry food, so a friend who is on their dog breeder programme asked her supplier what she could get the Indoor cat food for - she was quoted their "special" price the same as I can get it from Pet Planet ! I think I know where I'll be getting mine from...

Oh well, got that wrong. You have got another loooonnng week to wait so play with Maxine in the meantime.

Oooh pretty!

If I get desperate I can always go and play with NDNs cute little black & white girl, who adores me

12 hours to go! I've rearranged the living room at least 3 times tonight, (litter tray, food, bed etc.) and still not 100% satisfied that it's perfect yet.

Apparently my babies know something is up, as they've been quite restless at the shelter the last few days...

Good luck for today! I'm really excited for you and the kitties. So lovely they have finally found their forever home. I bet you feel you are about to pop with excitement. When we got our boys from Rolvenden, we also reserved them but asked Ruth if we could wait for a week so we had the Xmas holidays to settle them in. Longest week ever

Please post some piccies when you can.

Oh how gorgeous!m

Mine had been in the rescue centre for fourteen months - it's really sad. They will adore having a loving home :)

It's been a week and a half which actually was good as it allowed me to go on a spending spree for litter trays, cat tree, feed bowls, toys etc. Also to rearrange the main furniture in the living room to accommodate the rather large cat tree - not a big deal for most, but with arthritis in my back & bulging discs I could only push larger things like a big chest a couple of feet then rest, and of course building the "2 person build" cat tree solo was interesting!

Just have to clear a couple more surfaces off e.g. laptop is currently balanced precariously on top of a biscuit tin and a couple of ornaments on top of the bookcase, and rearrange the cat stuff for the umpteenth time, and I'm ready.

As you can tell, I'm just a LITTLE bit excited!

Looking forward to seeing lots of photos later!

How are they settling in? Hope all is going well Op.

One has settled in hiding under a coffee table tucked into the corner of the room that has a long tablecloth on it, the other has settled in behind the sofa. They did eat about half a pouch of food between them during Wednesday night and a very small amount of dry food.

I went out for a couple of hours yesterday & came back to find tablecat had moved into the carry crate that I'd left out for them, but she moved back under her table when I was out of the room. Sofacat started talking last night, a soft "creeling" sort of noise which he'd done a small amount of in the car on the way home, and tablecat came right out to the edge of her table for a bit when he did that. She joined him behind the sofa for a bit too, but went back to her table later.

Bearing in mind that the only lives they've known to date was either semi-feral colony at a caravan park, or at the rescue in cattery pens, I think they are doing well so far. My only concern is that as of last night there were no signs of litter tray use (and no smells indicating they'd pee'd or poo'd anywhere in the room). I haven't been in that room yet this morning to check for litter tray use or eating last night, I'll wait until I've done all the morning moving about stuff and can settle down quietly on the sofa for a bit.

MY only problem is that sofacat sits right behind my end of the sofa, which means I don't dare use my recliner in case he gets a bit squished or trapped!

Well they've very thoroughly used the litter tray overnight, eaten most of the dry food that was there, drunk a load of water & clearly been exploring a bit as a couple of things had been knocked down off the chest in the corner of the room. Oh and eaten a handful of Dreamies I'd put in a couple of places.

Of course there's absolutely no sign of cats this morning - they seem to have found a way to get UNDER the sofa (which is about 2cm off the floor only!). But faint creeling noises coming from behind/under me just now, so I assume that's where they are.

That sounds really good. The fact they've eaten, used their litter tray and explored is great. Now it'll just take time for them to gain their confidence around you, but I'm sure it won't be too long before they have you firmly under their paw!

Yes. It sounds as if they're making their adjustment - and this is HUGE for them. Your ignoring them and letting them make all the running seems like the best way to go.

Remind me - how many trays do they have?

I know just how massive an adjustment this must be for the poor darlings, which is why I'm letting them do their own thing in their own time. I do chat to them, just commenting on something on television or telling them when I'm going out of the room, but physically ignioring them apart from the occasional look behind the sofa or under the table from a distance, just to check roughly where they are.

I only have 1 tray in use at present, as they are staying up the far end of the living room by choice & a second one up there would have to either be right by their food or sharing the under-table shelters with tablecat. I do know they used to use the same tray at the shelter, but I may well put another one up the other end of the room tonight just in case.

Currently both behind the sofa (rather than UNDER it!), both facing the same way one behind the other, and I'm happy to say both slow blinking at me if I look at them & slow blink at them .

I love a cat rescue thread! They sound like they're settling just fine, OP.

(Not placemarking for pics when they emerge, oh no.)

Sounds pretty positive given their previous situation.

I'd try to place another tray if you can - they may have had to use one at the shelter but one tray isn't really enough for two cats. It may help them to adjust to new surroundings if they have another as well.

Yes boss . Whatever it takes to settle them & make them content I'm happy to try.

Manatee that may take a while - black & charcoal tabby cats that like to hide in the shadows don't make for great pictures. I'm anticipating maybe a week or two - my current ambition is to actually see them moving from one place to another before I go back to work after the bank holiday, though that is a bit unlikely tbh.

Photos please!