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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.

Original poster

What are the essentials for being a good cat owner?

54 replies

Patchworkpals · 04/09/2017 14:46

There's a cat looking for a new home locally, it's in a bit of a state at the moment. We don't have any current pets, can and will pay for insurance, flea, worming, chipping, vaccinations and give it lots of TLC. We do have a toddler. We could spare about £50 a month towards anything it might need (obviously it'll be more some months and less others).

Is there anything else I'm missing?

The cat does currently have fleas, we have flea treatment drops ready and have a can of indorex. If we treat the cat straight away and have the house sprayed with the indorex will we avoid an infestation or not?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 04/09/2017 14:51

Is this a private re-homing?.

I would take it straight to a vet for advocate flea treatment & a program injection (£25-30) to stop them breeding. Then indorex the house anyway.

Has it had vaccinations?.

£50 a month is fine, mines pigging out on gourmet for way under £50.

Allergictoironing · 04/09/2017 15:00

If you have a toddler, you'll need somewhere for the cat to get up onto and feel safe well out of the way of curious little fingers.

Oh, and I didn't see spaying/neutering on your list, if it hasn't been done yet. VERY important!

thecatneuterer · 04/09/2017 15:04

What's important in a good pet owner? Neutering Neutering Neutering!

You sound very caring and responsible and the cat will have landed on his paws if you take him/her.

bonzo77 · 04/09/2017 15:07

At least 2 litter trays in quiet spots away from its food. De-sexing, chipping, flea / worm treatment urgently. Seriously, get the spot on stuff on it before it goes in your house. We had a flea ridden newcomer (didn't notice till she'd been in the house a couple of days), and front line and indorex did sort it out.

Vinorosso74 · 04/09/2017 15:11

Yes I would also take it to the vets before you take it home. Do not use Bob Martin treatments on the cat (dodgy) and Frontline doesn't work anymore. An MOT might be in order for the poor cat! If this was from a rescue they would have deflead, neutered, chipped, vet checked etc before homing (am not saying you should go to a rescue).
Agree cat needs somewhere it can escape your toddler. High up shelves or the like but remove anything breakable!
Patience as a new cat can take time to settle, a "safe room" is recommended at first but that depends on the cat and size of your home.

EachandEveryone · 04/09/2017 15:22

Has he lived indoors before?

Original poster
Patchworkpals · 04/09/2017 15:26

Definitely will be having it neuteured! All this sounds easily do able. We have stronghold spot on but will ask the vet for advice on this. Don't worry I wouldn't touch bob Martin with a barge pole. We have a downstairs bathroom that isn't used very often and has a cupboard we can leave open if it's really timid. There's also a perfect high shelf in there.

I don't know if it has been vaccinated at all, but I would assume not.

My biggest concern is pregnancy, we will cope if it is pregnant but it would be a challenge.

OP posts:
Orangebird69 · 04/09/2017 15:28

Please do not let the cat out until it's neutered!

Original poster
Patchworkpals · 04/09/2017 15:30

Each I'm not sure. But it is incredibly friendly to humans so I would assume so. It's underweight so I'm confident it's a stray rather than feral.

There is the possibility it belongs to someone who just isn't doing their best by it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Patchworkpals · 04/09/2017 15:32

orange we are going to try and catch the cat tonight. The person who found it has just been feeding it in their garden. Once we have it, it will be staying indoors until neutered.

OP posts:
Orangebird69 · 04/09/2017 15:34

Fab. Good luck! Flowers

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/09/2017 15:35

Don't use Stronghold,ask the vet for Advocate and worming treatment too ,my cat is on a plan for£10 per month which includes an annual check up.

A tall tree to get away from toddler is a must.

Cat flap too- we have a micro chip one which stops all the neighborhood cats visiting.

How excitingSmile

Vinorosso74 · 04/09/2017 15:37

Stronghold works well as the monthly spot on but not sure on severe infestations.Well, welcome to a life of cat slavery!
Oh and once kitty is moved in the rules on here are we need photos Smile

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/09/2017 15:39

Bugger, that link doesn't work. Look on Zooplus and it's called Natural ll cat tree for £59.

Lweji · 04/09/2017 15:40

we are going to try and catch the cat tonight. The person who found it has just been feeding it in their garden

I'm sorry but it sounds like it could be traumatic for the cat, unless he was previously a house cat.
I'd ask advice from RSPCA, or a cat shelter, about how best to adopt the cat without making it too anxious. Particularly if you also have a toddler.

MycatsaPirate · 04/09/2017 15:43

Get it to a vet asap. Get it health checked, neutered, flea treated and wormed.

Then food, somewhere away from the toddler - a cat tree is a good idea so it can lie up high away from small fingers preferably in front of a window.

Also invest in a brush. We have three brushes, a soft brush, a brush with the bobble bits on the end which massages their skin and a furminator which removes all the dead hair.

I wouldn't bother buying a cat bed. We have various cat beds and they are all ignored in favour of human beds, window ledges, sofas and laps. :o

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/09/2017 15:43

Hang on, this cat might already be chipped , don't get your hopes up just yet! Straight to the very to see if it is before anything else.

Original poster
Patchworkpals · 04/09/2017 15:46

Definitely not chipped. The people who found it took it to the vet and had it checked for a chip.

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/09/2017 15:47

Oh phew! Crack on thenGrin

Original poster
Patchworkpals · 04/09/2017 15:50

Lweji I have been thinking about that. I'm torn between agreeing with you and thinking it's got to be better off in a home with healthcare, fresh food and water and free from parasites than on its own. If it looked like it was able to take care of itself I would completely agree with you but I really think it would benefit from a home. I intend to take it very gently. Me and my toddler aren't actually home until the weekend so it will have a very quiet house for a few days to help it settle.

I hadn't thought about talking to the RSPCA, I'll definitely do that this afternoon.

OP posts:
Original poster
Patchworkpals · 04/09/2017 15:52

There will be photos!

OP posts:
Lweji · 04/09/2017 15:53

Where I work there are a few (were many) feral cats.
Some were adopted easily, but one or two had to be returned, it seems.

I agree with you that, ultimately, the cat will be better off at your place, but cats can get very stressed.

Good luck. I hope it goes well.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/09/2017 15:53

I study Lick e Lix for coaxing him in, it's like crack to cats!

Also limit him to one room to start with so he feels safer and get some Feliway.

ASqueakingInTheShrubbery · 04/09/2017 15:53

See if your vet does the Healthy Pet Club. It's about £10 a month and covers all vaccinations and bug treatments.