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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

Getting our 1st cat

20 replies

madamginger · 24/02/2017 17:35

DD has been asking for a pet cat for years, and after careful thought we have agreed.
We are getting a 4 year old rescue cat from a local sanctuary, she has previously lived with kids so we hope she will settle here, we have 3 dc.
We are just waiting on a home visit, and hopefully she will come home in 2 weeks.
I am just looking at what we need to buy and I'm a bit overwhelmed!
What is essential and what can I wait to buy once she's here?

OP posts:

Weedsnseeds1 · 24/02/2017 18:40

Good ( rescue will probably advise what she's used to), litter tray, litter, water and food bowls, toys ( don't go mad, screwed up balls of paper, milk bottle neck rings, wine corks etc. are normally perfectly acceptable as toys), flea treatment in a month's time, wormer in 3 months, scratching post or pad ( buy the cheap cardboard ones until you find out if she prefers vertical or horizontal scratching). Don't waste money on a bed, it probably won't be used!

Weedsnseeds1 · 24/02/2017 18:42

They don't need special bowls either, if you have a couple of odd cereal bowls or similar kicking around they will do perfectly well. Oh, and a brush if long haired. And some Dreamies!

Vinorosso74 · 24/02/2017 18:55

Maybe a cardboard box and fleecy blanket as a bed. Then you can use blanket on bed or sofa for cat to sit on (or next to).
Pet carrier to get her home in.
The rules here are we need photos of new cats

Original poster

madamginger · 24/02/2017 19:00

No photos yet, she was very shy and I didn't want to overwhelm her at the shelter. She didn't want to come out of her little bed!
She's black with white socks. ❤️

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 24/02/2017 19:46

Two essentials are a good carrier and insurance if you don't have significant savings you could dip into if necessary.

For the carrier make sure it has a wire door, not a plastic one (avoid Argos cheapo jobs). And for pet insurance you do largely get what you pay for. Pet Plan is a good one.

The rescue will advice on flea and worm treatments I'm sure. Other than that, just food really. A cardboard box with a fleecy blanket would be a good idea too. And of course litter tray and litter (my preference is the wood pellets - it doesn't smell).

Vinorosso74 · 24/02/2017 20:12

Oh god yes decent insurance and I second Petplan-not the cheapest but good cover.
Sorry, I didn't mean to demand pics right now but once she's settled in. Ours is B&W with white socks too.

Weedsnseeds1 · 24/02/2017 21:54

Top loader carrier, never front loader, unless you were one of those kids that could crush the X shaped block into the rectangular hole...

Wolfiefan · 24/02/2017 21:57

Keep her on the same food and litter as she is used to.
To start with set up her food and water and a comfy space to hide in and litter tray in one quiet room. Once she's happy in there she can come out and explore the house.
Get her microchipped and ensure she can't get out for the first few weeks. Is she definitely neutered?

Original poster

madamginger · 24/02/2017 22:22

The the rescue will chip her and she was spayed by her previous owners.
She will be vaccinated and vet checked before she comes home and she comes with 7 days insurance.
I am going to make a nest for her under the dining table where it's quiet.
The litter the recue use looks like pellets, any idea what brand that would be?
And they had boxes of whiskers stacked around the place so i assume that's what they use but I'll check with them.

OP posts:

TrustySnail · 24/02/2017 22:29

Is it woodchip litter? There are several brands of this if so.

Look forward to seeing pictures once your new arrival has settled in!

TheWayYouLookTonight · 24/02/2017 22:36

Fleecy pet blankets are really cheap and really useful instead of a cat bed, you can put them on whichever piece of furniture the cat makes a beeline for -helps with the cat hair!

thecatneuterer · 25/02/2017 09:05

The litter will be wood pellets. Pets at Home do their own brand.

Trustyourself2 · 25/02/2017 21:00

Cats mostly like to be up high, so if you have a spare surface she can use to sleep, that'd be best. See where she's happy being when she arrives. The rescue centre might give you a blanket or bed she's been using to bring home with you.

A tip for putting a cat into a front loader cat box is to put the back of the box against a wall and put cat in backside first.

Good luck and hope she settles in well worth you all.

Original poster

madamginger · 25/02/2017 21:29

We have a Kallax unit in the dining room so she might like it up there, it's next to the window so sunny and warm too.
The shelter tell me she's litter trained, she's new to them so she's still in the quarantine ward, she was only handed in 2 weeks ago, she was given up after they had a new baby

OP posts:

LowDudgeon · 25/02/2017 21:36

If you have space, get a cat tree. We've had 4 cats & they all like sitting/napping on top, plus there are lots of scratchy bits.

Our cat dishes are all pottery - they go in the dishwasher & (I imagine) are much nicer to eat out of than plastic or metal

Trustyourself2 · 25/02/2017 21:51

Ah, what a shame. But she'll be very happy with you. Just let her settle in and come to you in her own time. If she's a confident, outgoing puss, she'll adjust quickly. If she's a cautious, quiet girl, she'll need a fair bit of time to get to grips with her new home & family. She'll soon start to train you and before you know it you'll be a cat slave like the rest of us.

It's best if you have 2 litter trays. The general rule is 1 tray per cat + 1. Put her food down away from the litter tray, as no-one like's to eat where they piddle. Also, put her water in a glass away from her food as well. For some reason cats like to drink from a glass and will drink more if it's away from their food.

It might seem like you're getting a lot of instructions, but you'll be an old hand before you know it.

SuburbanRhonda · 25/02/2017 21:56

Do you have a garden, OP?

You might find your cats prefer going outside to using a litter tray. I've had cats all my life and the only one that had a tray was one I got as a kitten. Once she was old enough she went outside like the others.

Original poster

madamginger · 25/02/2017 23:01

Yes I have a garden, it's about 60ft with trees and shrubs to hide in! We have lots of cats in the neighbourhood as well.
Thanks for all the advice, it's appreciated.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 26/02/2017 00:54

So many people get rid of their cats when they have babies. It really boils my piss. I think midwives are often to blame for this as they seem to have a hostility to cats.

Vinorosso74 · 26/02/2017 07:48

There's so many old wives tales about cats and babies it annoys me too. At least she will have a new home with you. The health visitor who came over when DD was a few days old looked in horror at our cat curled up asleep on a beanbag and was quite abrupt saying keep it away from the baby and some other stuff. She clearly hated cats and wonder if people got rid of their cats due to her.
The midwives who came over however loved the cat; one commented how maternal she was and another was asking if she was coping ok with a new baby.

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