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The litter tray

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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:
RonSwansonsMoustache · 04/09/2017 17:47

If it's feral/partly feral it might not take very well to being in a house at all, let alone in a house with a toddler.

Lots of outdoor/barn/feral cats don't adjust well to domestic life and you may find it gets very stressed indoors and wees/poos everywhere. If it's not litter trained, it won't automatically use a tray either.

If you are going to take it on, get it chipped and install a micro-chip flap so it can come/go as it pleases. Cats that are used to outdoor life need access to outdoors all the time. If it was a kitten, I would have said to keep it indoors at night but it sounds very timid and not too used to humans.

Good luck, but I don't imagine it will be easy.

EachandEveryone · 04/09/2017 17:50

I think cat flap too. In fact it will be easy it that way if it's streetwise you may hardly see it! Boy or girl?

Orangebird69 · 04/09/2017 17:51

All 5 of my cats were ferals when I rescued them. They are now the most loving creatures ever. Use the litter tray, have NEVER toiletted indoors where they shouldn't and hang about indoors most of the day even though they have unlimited access to outside. They really can make lovely pets.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/09/2017 19:56

If it's not coping & winter is harsh it's better off in a home.

I'd give it a whirl, you don't know till you try. Most cats love a warm house & a bed.

Original poster
Patchworkpals · 04/09/2017 20:08

So it's home and is being really confident already. We will get it to the vets tomorrow evening. It's eaten and is perched happily on the windowsill, didn't even complain when put in the cat box. It's been flea'd and DP is just going to give it some space now. Picture should be attached, sorry for all the colouring but I didn't name change for this and don't want it to be too outing.

What are the essentials for being a good cat owner?
OP posts:
Boatmistress17 · 04/09/2017 20:10

After all the medical stuff has been covered -
The most important thing is a comfy lap!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/09/2017 20:11

Poor cat, she's looking very thin. She'll be gleaming in a few weeks.

RonSwansonsMoustache · 04/09/2017 20:20

Aw, poor little thing. I'm glad she's inside okay and has eaten, that's the most important bit.

PinkPuffin · 04/09/2017 21:39

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Want2beme · 04/09/2017 21:45

Oh, she does look poorly. So glad you've taken her in. Won't be long before she blossoms. The main thing to realise is that cats rule. The sooner you accept that, the better it is for everyone.........

MycatsaPirate · 04/09/2017 22:21

Cow cats are amazing!!

Although mine is being a little shit tonight, she has gone out the front and vanished. I will need to stay up til she comes back. Probably terrorising a leaf somewhere.

Your little cat looks gorgeous op, despite being a bit bedraggled. A bit of TLC, some food and a warm bed and she will be so much better in a few weeks.

Love stories like this.

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/09/2017 10:06

How is she getting on?

DavetheCat2001 · 05/09/2017 10:23

Aww great work OP.. you sound lovely, lucky cat to have found you.

Hope things work out.

I'm off to meet a rescue cat this afternoon too. Haven't had a cat for 3 years, so hoping we're a good match!

DanHumphreyIsA · 05/09/2017 15:10

Oh what a sweet little thing, I hope it all works out for you!

Original poster
Patchworkpals · 06/09/2017 18:04

She's doing really well. I got her to the vets today for a check over. She has conjunctivitis and a runny tummy but other than that just needs to drink lots and gain weight.

She's got some powder to go on her food and eye drops, I've picked up kitten food because it's higher in protein (James Wellbeloved cost me the earth Shock. )

She's just being very lazy but liking a lot of fuss at the minute. She likes to sit in the living room with us but up on a chair out of the way. I'll be getting a big tree when payday comes around.

I'm going to just keep her inside until she's gained a bit of weight and is more confident, then I'll start the whole process of neuter, chip and vaccinate.

Her name is Maisy, I don't think I've mentioned that.

OP posts:
Scribblegirl · 06/09/2017 18:09

Maisy is gorgeous but poor love, like others have said she's a scrap! I would guess that she was a domestic who was dumped if she's adapted to home life so quickly.

I agree with a PP, once she's found her feet and isn't too scared, a soft lap and lots of cuddles are a must.

She's a very lucky girl to have met you Smile

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/09/2017 18:41

All the B&W cats I've met have been lap cats.

I'm so glad you got to her before the cold weather kicks in.

Original poster
Patchworkpals · 06/09/2017 19:06

If anyone has any tips on how to encourage her to eat and drink more I'd be grateful for any advice.

I'm convinced she has had a home previously but I'm withholding judgement because I don't know their circumstances. I'm genuinely just feeling pretty lucky to have found her, she's incredibly sweet.

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/09/2017 19:23

She's gorgeous, I'm glad she's adapting so well.

Fluffy, you haven't met Harry. He may be black and white but it'll be a cold day in hell before he lowers himself to sit on a lap!

Snorktastic · 06/09/2017 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MycatsaPirate · 06/09/2017 20:10

Dreamies are also cat crack. I have never met a cat that doesn't like them.

The creamy cat soups are very popular in this house (by the cats, not the humans) and the clear soups (Gourmet?) are also popular. As are fresh roast chicken, thick ham, anything I may be eating at all....

DanHumphreyIsA · 06/09/2017 20:23

We had a an issue with one of our cats not eating, it wasn't so much the food, but she developed a problem with her eyes and needs drops 4 or 5 times a day. Whilst adjusting to this, she had a very hard time trusting to come out of hiding, even to eat. So what I used to do is gently dab a tiny bit of food onto her mouth ( I had to slowly reach in to where she was hiding, without startling her), she would lick her lips, realise it wasn't eye drops time and come out to eat quickly.
I got some Gourmet pate to do this, and none of them will eat anything else now.

Also, none of them were really fussed about drinking water (apart from one) until I got a ceramic bowl, and now they all drink it. I'm not sure if the ceramic maybe keeps it cold or what, but definitely made a difference to plastic and metal bowls.

She's a very lucky kitty to have you caring for her.

Original poster
Patchworkpals · 06/09/2017 21:34

I really hate the smell of wet cat food Envy but I'll definitely give these suggestions ago. I can't believe cat soup is a thing.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 06/09/2017 22:00

Cat Soup actually has a 'section' now in the online supermarkets. Grin The trouble is the price! (You'll nearly faint.)

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 06/09/2017 22:03

Gourmet cat food doesn't smell and my cat really loves it.

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