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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

My new cat!

60 replies

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 19:34

I am now a proud first time owner of a cat! I got him 2 1/2 weeks ago from the blue cross and he is wonderful- very affectionate but not the lap cat he made himself out to be in the first couple of days!!! He is an 18 month old neutered tom. I've been told he's previously lived with a family as a house cat and never been outside but from my experience playing with him ( and watching him stare at the birds on the other side of the patio doors ) he has a very strong hunt instinct 😬
I always thought I was more of a dog person but now I don't know how I lived without a cat for so long!

OP posts:

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Fluffycloudland77 · 20/04/2017 19:49

He's gorgrous, very Egyptian looking in his nose! They just take over don't they? We don't know what we used to talk about before asbo cat came along.

Is he going to be allowed out?.

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/04/2017 19:50

Gorgeous even. Thursday is cava night

Asmoto · 20/04/2017 19:52

Ooh, he's beautiful. I have a black neutered tom too - they're such lovely cats.

honeypooh2017 · 20/04/2017 19:57

He is gorgeous but then as the owner of two black cats I'm biased.

My two had never been out when I got them from a rescue centre and have spent 6 very happy years as house cats. Still classed as semi feral so they'll never be lap cats - I call them our bed cats as they love fuss from us while in bed in the morning.

Original poster

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 20:09

I think I'm going to let him go out but I have a few concerns- I initially chose him because he had been a house cat and I have nowhere to put a cat flap. I have a good sized garden with 6 foot fences but I've got a feeling that when he sets his mind to it he'll be over them in a flash! I work three days a week so if he goes out and doesn't come back before I go to work he'll be out all day- the rehoming centre said this was fine and lots of cats do this but I know I'll fret anyway! There is a pet sitter near me who can come and check on him/ let him in during the day if needed.
He is also a bit of a scaredy cat for a tom- when I'm in he prowls around the house as if he owns it but if other people are here he hides- my parents came to stay this weekend and he spent his days asleep under one of the beds. He came down each each evening for a bit of a fuss and some food but he's definitely nervous of other people. I'm hoping this is something he will grow out of as he gets used to his surroundings- after all he's only been here 2 weeks.
I did worry that he'd be lonely when I was at work but after spending a couple of unplanned days at home with him I've realised he spends most of it asleep on the sofa or playing with his ping pong balls!

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Original poster

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 20:17

Honeypooh- black cats are beautiful aren't they- he looks like a little panther when he's prowling around. I went to the shelter to see him specifically, there were lots of other cats but I'd read that black cats are less likely to be rehomed so I had to have him 😍

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gunsandbanjos · 20/04/2017 20:19

He's beautiful!! Again I'm biased as I also have 2 black cats, they're the best. He looks like my boy cat.

Original poster

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 20:21

Honey pooh- black cats are beautiful aren't they. I went to the shelter to see him specifically but there were so many other cats there I nearly wavered.... I'd heard that black cats are harder to rehoming though and once I'd met him I knew he was for me!

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gunsandbanjos · 20/04/2017 20:21

Both got a few white hairs on their chests too.

Original poster

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 20:22

Oops, thought the previous message hadn't posted!

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gunsandbanjos · 20/04/2017 20:24

I've heard they're harder to rehome too, can't think why, they're beautiful!

Original poster

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 20:24

Gunsandbanjos- I've called him Elvis because of his little white medallion!

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gunsandbanjos · 20/04/2017 20:25

Elvis is a great name, I have Newton and Hedwig.

Original poster

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 20:31

There are two things that disconcert me a little bit....
1- he bites occasionally, never in anger as far as I can tell (and he's never used his claws on me although he could) - he just sometimes comes up to me, rubs his head on me then chomps on my arm- it isn't hard and hasn't broken the skin and he looks shocked as soon as he does it! I just say no in a firm voice and move my arm away and he stops ....
2- he sometimes just stares at me- he sat doing it for 20 mins yesterday- I tried playing with him, distracting him and even giving him treats but it seems he just wanted to look at me....
Is this all part of being owned by a cat and I just need to get used to it?

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Original poster

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 20:33

This is him now- if he had fingers I'm sure he'd be sticking the middle one up !

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gunsandbanjos · 20/04/2017 20:40

Get used to the creepy staring! It's always fun when you are half asleep and realise they're staring at you from the bedside table.

Trustyourself2 · 20/04/2017 21:27

Ski37 you are very much mistaken. Oh no, no, no, you are not the owner of your beautiful, black Dcat, what made you think that? You are now his slave and you have many years of service ahead of you, all without gratitude or regard for your time and sanity! I am an old slave, with over 30 years experience and I welcome you to the world of subservience to the feline!

He is very sweet. One of my cats is a biter. You'll get used to it and you've done the right thing pulling away and ignoring him, even though this won't stop him, it'll save your skin somewhat. Get him a feliway plug in, which should make him feel a bit calmer. Could you put a cat flap in a wall or the glass of the back door? He'll be happier and safer if he can get back inside when you're not there. Do you have a shed you could put a cat flap in?

Weedsnseeds1 · 20/04/2017 21:43

He's beautiful. Love a black cat! The biting is probably over-excitement. You can get a cat flap fitted in glass doors, if that is what you have. They won't stay in your garden normally, but it's normal. Enjoy him

wtffgs · 20/04/2017 21:48

Awww!

I was once owned by a very haughty black cat. He was fab - soooo handsome but a bit ASBO

Happy cat-slave induction!!

FeedMyFaceWithBattenberg · 20/04/2017 21:54

Hello op!
Fellow black cat owner here too!
Pop a cat flap in your French doors!
Here's ours for our puppy and our cat!

Original poster

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 22:26

Thanks for the replies! I realised pretty quickly that he owned me and not the other way round !!!
I've had a feliway diffuser for a couple of days now and I think it's helping a bit- he doesn't cry outside my room any more but still meows at 6.00am every day- I don't need an alarm now!
I agree that the biting is probably over excitement - it's never an 'attack' and he doesn't do it for days then it seems to get the better of himself .... he always 'looks' ashamed afterwards and it doesn't hurt but it's not something I want to encourage and if I'm honest it does make me a little bit wary of him at times....
I'm looking into getting a cat flap in the patio door, I'm going to see how keen he is to go out first though- as I said before he's a bit of a scarcely cat - if he takes to going outside I'll get one if not he'll have to be content with sticking by me in the garden!
I guess I'm just going to have to live with the staring!

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Original poster

Ski37 · 20/04/2017 22:44

Feedmyface- your cat and dog are beautifu! I thought it would be a big job/ look intrusive to get a cat flap in French doors but I'm pretty impressed....
l think I'll let him sample the outside first though- if he's anything like he is inside he's all posture but a massive wimp!!!!

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ElizaDontlittle · 21/04/2017 06:47

He's gorgeous, and his personality completely shines through in your writing.
Someone is miaowing outside my bedroom door currently I should have put her in the kitchen!
My first cat was black, I do think they are the most elegant of cats. Even if they are elegant scaredy-cats!

TheWayYouLookTonight · 21/04/2017 16:07

OP he's lovely (although as you can see I too am biased!). This one is nearly 3 and still partial to an occasional overenthusiastic chomp on my arm...

YesItsMeIDontCare · 21/04/2017 16:17

I have a black rescue boy too - he gets a bit chompy as well!

He's beautiful OP, welcome to being owned by a cat 😸. And yy to a flap in glass doors, it'll be worth it for peace of mind.

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