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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

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!

My new cat!
My new cat!
My new cat!
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19
chemenger · 21/04/2017 16:34

My black foster is a biter; I think we have figured out it means he wants to play rather than be stroked or held. I really hope he gets adopted soon to a home where he can go outside to work off some energy. I'm taking him to a rehoming day tomorrow, hopefully someone will fall in love with him when they see him in the flesh. He is a very beautiful cat with the softest fur and a loving nature, I don't understand why nobody wants him. Anybody in the Lothians want a lovely black cat?

ilovewelshrarebit123 · 21/04/2017 16:55

He's a handsome chap!

I've had Ivy cat fur two months now, she goes out and at first I was beside myself worrying she wouldn't come beck.

She goes out first thing and stays out all day while I'm at work. She's seems happy with this and comes in starving!

One tip, put some dreamies in a tub, shake them every time you give him some. When you want him in, shake dreamies and he'll come running Wink

Original poster
Ski37 · 22/04/2017 21:39

Why didn't anyone say owning a cat could be so stressful? He managed to get completely over excited today chasing the shadows in the sun to the point he was growling and panting- I shut the curtains to block the sun and shut door and left him on his own for a while and he fell asleep and calmed down- is this normal cat behaviour? I think he is more than stupid enough to do the same thing again!

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YesItsMeIDontCare · 22/04/2017 22:25

Totally normal. Get him a Bolt Laser and watch him go nuts after a red dot. It's Leroy's main source of exercise!

EachandEveryone · 23/04/2017 01:17

I work three 12 hour shifts a week and I don't have a flap I just don't let her put those days and when I'm at home she comes and goes. Mine never goes far but I hear boys are different. Can you cat proof your fences my friend got someone in to do this and it works line a dram. I'd be really nervous letting him out but maybe that's just me I'm also new to all things cat!

esk1mo · 23/04/2017 01:33

cats have periods of laziness where they sleep for 6+ hours then periods of insane crazy hyperness, sprinting around the house etc Grin puffy tale, sideways running included.

also my cat bites me (just a little nibble) when she wants to play instead of being stroked, so i distract her with a toy. i know alot of people whose cats do this, its not meant aggressively - they never draw blood. when a cat is angry you'll know! they swipe and hiss and screech.

Medicaltextbook · 23/04/2017 01:43

OP that is a gorgeous cat and I'm not biased- never owned a cat.

Original poster
Ski37 · 24/04/2017 18:55

Thanks for the replies again- I just wasn't sure about the panting as I've read this isn't normal for cats. He's been chasing shadows again tonight and has done the same thing ( daft cat!) I don't know if it's exhaustion or excitement! He recovers very quickly though. I tried to film him while he was doing it but it only lasts a few seconds and he seems well in every other way. He was given a clean bill of health from the rehoming centre but I'm going to book him in for a check up anyway.

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Original poster
Ski37 · 24/04/2017 19:37

This is him mid 'shadow hunt' - I've been trying to keep him off the table but as you can see it's not really working!

My new cat!
My new cat!
OP posts:
Original poster
Ski37 · 02/05/2017 23:53

So Elvis has just been outside for the first time tonight- and scared the pants off me in the process! I've been letting him follow me outside the patio doors when I go out but he hasn't really been interested other than putting his two front paws out. Today I burnt some food so opened one of the windows a small amount- not enough to let a cat out ( or so I thought) - quite stiff to push to get a decently opening- and again no interest in it from the cat.... I think my mistake was to relax!!!! Left the room to answer the phone and came back to find no cat and an open window!!!
Luckily he really is such a scardey cat he was just sat outside the patio doors , meowing, and looking a bit perplexed as to how he'd found himself on the wrong side of them- he didn't resist me catching him and bringing him inside again!
I am going to let him outdoors but I just wasnt ready for it tonight. Or for the heart stopping moment when I thought he had gone....
He's now lying I his back expecting a tummy rub for his adventures... I'm not sure I can forgive him yet 😹
Please tell me the anxiety gets easier when you let your Dcat outside ......

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MsMims · 03/05/2017 00:35

He's gorgeous! Very panther like.

Having had both free roaming cats and cats who instead have access to a secure outdoor area, I would definitely recommend cat proofing your garden.

The biggest cause of death in cats is being killed by a car, and then there's things like poisoning (accidental or deliberate), dogs, getting trapped in garages/sheds, going missing and unpleasant people. All totally avoidable. I'd also worry that with his temperament he could be spooked and inadvertently put himself in harms way in a panic.

Welcome to the feline side, you'll be hooked now Grin

TheCatOfAthenry · 03/05/2017 00:47

Just adding to the black kitties here - this little guy coming to us when he's ready!

My new cat!
AvaCrowder2 · 03/05/2017 00:48

Lovely wee beastie. Let him out if he is brave enough, he will get used to his territory.

I love all the black cats on this thread. Aren't they just glorious? Thanks for the pictures.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/05/2017 13:40

Black cats are the best. These are my two.

My new cat!
My new cat!
exWifebeginsat40 · 03/05/2017 13:50

he is lovely. don't let him out at night though. with one of ours we let him out after breakfast and then he comes back in the evening because he's hungry!

i have a black and orange cat and she is awesome. funny and sweet and a stone cold killer.

My new cat!
Want2beme · 03/05/2017 14:29

Here's mine! She's a real "alpha" diva. Thinks she owns the place.......

My new cat!
MabelFurball · 03/05/2017 15:27

Our boy Bobble used to like rough boys games. He would try to gnaw your arm and liked being pulled along gripping on to a towel.

After being outside in the rain he would come running in and loved being rubbed by a towel. His sister would look on distainfully.

JJmom16 · 04/05/2017 14:46

Looks exactly like my cat. He's a indoor cat but he also shows signs of being a hunter but I don't let him out (previous cat got taken and found him dead so I refuse to let my little one out).
Black cats are beautiful and very loving I've never had one like him before. Enjoy.

Purplebluebird · 05/05/2017 12:58

I had a beautiful black cat too, they are amazing. I love black cats. Yours is gorgeous too ^^ I don't know about the biting tbh, but the staring you will have to get used to. Mine used to do that aswell - and when hungry before dinner time, I'd sit with 4 cats just staring at me for ages. Shock

Purplebluebird · 05/05/2017 13:00

This is my beauty diva Toddy. She's half Norwegian forest cat (I got her when I lived in Norway, forest cats are given away for free!), so she turns to a fluff ball in winter. She's squinting at the sun here, but she has beautiful eyes!

My new cat!
Purplebluebird · 05/05/2017 13:01

Anyone else's black cats go dark brown in the summer?

user1467976192 · 05/05/2017 13:01

My little black beauty

My new cat!
MabelFurball · 05/05/2017 15:08

Yes our boy used to go a bit lighter - you could even see hints of tabby markings in his fur.

purple12 · 07/05/2017 09:09

He's gorgeous and some of what you wrote remind me of when my little fuzzy arrives. We also thought we'd keep him inside but became obvious that he REALLY wanted to go out and that stressing about him running out of any open door (particularly in the summer and after a scary situation with him jumping out of a first floor window when we forgot to use child lock (he was fine - we were scared!)) we let him out.

That was the most anxious time, the first few times he went out. For the first few months he never left the garden and then suddenly - whoosh, he was on top of the shed, prowling along fences and all. Now, a lot less stressed and he loves it but always comes home at night (food time) so yeah, I think the 6 ft fences won't be a challenge! Also we don't have a cat flap but we put a waterproof tunnel thing in the garden which he can shelter in, if it rains but as I work at home, it isn't actually too much of a problem as during most days I can be a good servant.

Good luck and enjoy!

Original poster
Ski37 · 03/04/2018 13:42

Update - it is one year ago today since I adopted my lovely boy! As the rehoming place predicted he has turned into an amazing cat- full of personality, very active but also a great big lap cat when I get home from work. I decided to mark the occasion by giving him a catnip toy. He decided to mark the occasion by bringing me a mouse to play with under my bed at 5am this morning ( it’s the first time he’s ever brought something upstairs ) 😼
I credit all you cat lovers on mumsnet for helping us get through the the first year unscathed by answering all of the (many) questions I’ve had this year!

My new cat!
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