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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 rescue today- a couple of q’s

43 replies

mollyblack · 23/02/2018 06:26

I’ve woken up early and can’t get back to sleep cause I’m so excited we’re going to pick up a 5 month rescue cat today! This is my first pet ever!

I’ve been doing lots of reading and have had advice from the shelter too but a couple of things are worrying me.

I know we should keep him in one room initially until he gets used to us. How long for do you think? Also hate the thought of leaving him overnight on his own but I guess he’ll be used to that from the shelter anyway.

Also I can work from home most of the time if needs be- do you think its better to spend more time at home over the next few weeks until he settles in and/or starts going outside or am i overthinking this?

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LidlAngel · 23/02/2018 06:42

No you're not over thinking at all!! Leave him to suss his new home out at his own pace and if you can take some time off then all the better. Unless he's had issues in the past he'll be strutting round like he owns the place in no time. My latest cat took all of half an hour to make the house her own but then she is a very assertive girl!

Mufferdoodle · 23/02/2018 07:41

I wouldn’t bother keeping him in one room - just keep him in the house for the first few weeks. If he’s nervous, he will find a spot in the house where he feels safe and could stay there for a few days. If he’s confident, he could settle straight in. When I got my first rescue, I bought her home and she had explored and was on my knee within half an hour. When I got my second, she lived on the fridge for a week. Just give him a bit of space and all will be fine. Have fun x

Aprilshowerswontbelong · 23/02/2018 07:43

How will he be overnight in his own when he will be on your bed???

CrabappleBiscuit · 23/02/2018 07:45

One room till you’ve worked out how shy he is, he might hide under the couch for a week or be straight in the kitchen checking out his food bowl...

Give him somewhere secure and quiet to retreat too.

Be around for a bit more than usual for the first week.

MinnieMousse · 23/02/2018 07:46

I let mine explore the house but left her in the kitchen/diner overnight, mainly because I didn't want her wandering into the DC's bedrooms and waking them up. Within about 6 weeks she was sleeping on my bed at night 😻

blueskypink · 23/02/2018 07:53

Also suggest one room initially. One of our rescue cats did a few random wees until he settled in.

Allergictoironing · 23/02/2018 08:00

Let the cat choose when it comes to you, rather than constantly trying to touch it, or hunt for it behind the sofa/under the table, behind the TV or wherever it decides to hide. Spend plenty of time in the room doing normal, quietish things like reading or watching TV, and chat to it in a conversational manner.

The idea is to let it settle in and get used to you being there & not threatening in any way. As others said, it could take a week before you even see it (like mine) or be on your lap within the hour!

exWifebeginsat40 · 23/02/2018 08:09

one room is recommended to start with - fewer hidey-holes to check.

our rescue boy has been with us 6 months now, and just turned a year old. we have 3 other cats aged 12, 6 and 2 and did separate rooms each time someone new arrived.

you never know really with a rescue how they will be. my boy is getting his confidence now and it’s so awesome to see. he does still freak out and hide from men though, and is very sparing generally with his affection. except with me, who he clings to. which he still does, a LOT.

just...enjoy your cat. it might do all sorts of weird and wonderful things (jacky sits and kneads the blanket like he’s playing a giant wurlitzer organ on a pier and has forgotten his sheet music).

Original poster

mollyblack · 23/02/2018 08:40

Reading all this is only making me more excited!

Yeah I like the idea of playing it by ear. When we met him he wasn't timid and he left his last home cause he was too boisterous (!) so I'm thinking he might not be too shy but new home etc will be a bit overwhelming. We don't have any indoor space that we don't use so his room will be our livingroom so he won't get a whole lot of peace but I'll make sure he's given space to be alone. I know that feeling well myself!!

Thank you all. I honestly can't wait until this afternoon. I never thought I'd be so excited about a cat.

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viccat · 23/02/2018 12:11

Yes, introducing him to one room/one part of the house is best or it can be a bit overwhelming. Sometimes the ones who are confident at the shelter turn out to be shy at home, and vice versa.

And please be careful he can't escape out of the house for at least 4, ideally 6 weeks, to properly bond with the house and you all.

EachandEveryone · 23/02/2018 12:16

And dont forget photos! If theyve said boisterous have you got plenty to occupy him? Laser lights, a big scratch post etc? As once he finds his feet i imagine he'll be very energetic. Where you putting the litter tray? Did you get the same litter the rescue have used? Come back to us later

Rollypoly100 · 23/02/2018 14:32

We made a top room/study a cat penthouse for our rescue girl. She loved the peace and quiet. We kept her in for almost three months (a bit over the top) but we wanted her to be really settled. Have fun with your new baby!

Getting our rescue today- a couple of q’s

MycatsaPirate · 23/02/2018 14:45

If it's anything like our latest rescue, the cat will have taken over the house by teatime.

She is the most brazen, confident, cheeky cat I have ever owned! Two of ours were very shy and hid for ages but are now absolutely loving cats who love fuss.

One was really anxious and aggressive and kept swiping at us from under the unit if we walked past.

But they all settled, are all happy and content, all have very different personalities and wouldn't be without any of them.

Photos are compulsory though. If you don't post a photo of your new furry you will be evicted from the Litter Tray forever!

gussyfinknottle · 23/02/2018 14:52

Google Jackson Galaxy or search on YouTube for some great ideas and tips .
Congratulations!

Want2beme · 23/02/2018 15:20

Poor old thing, he was too boisterous for his old home. Cats have different personalities, so offering him somewhere quiet to retreat to is a good idea, but if he lives up to his reputation, you might be the one looking for a room to retreat to. Does he have a name? Wishing you many happys years as a cat slave.

Original poster

mollyblack · 23/02/2018 18:46

So we have him and he’s brilliant. He was absolutely not wearing staying in one room and has been all over the house, been playing with all his new toys and the kids, had a good feed and a nap. We all love him, I think we’re going to have our hands full

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Want2beme · 23/02/2018 18:50

Aww, he is lovely and looks like fun. So glad he's happy in his new home😸

gussyfinknottle · 23/02/2018 18:56

He's lovely. Thanks for the photo.
He will make a great overlord.

Rollypoly100 · 23/02/2018 19:11

Lovely boy

MinnieMousse · 23/02/2018 19:35

He's so cute

Aprilshowerswontbelong · 23/02/2018 20:23

Here is a 🎩 which I will eat tomorrow if he doesn't sleep in your bed tonight - maybe even in it op!!
He is a handsome chap!
Has he a name??

BexleyRae · 23/02/2018 20:28

Oh he's gorgeous. We are moving house in a month and DP has promised we can get a cat once we have settled in

ForgiveMeFatherForIHaveGinned · 23/02/2018 20:47

Such a beautiful cat! Hope he’s settling in nicely.

DownAtFraggleRock · 23/02/2018 20:53

He's lovely! We kept our kitten in the spare room alone the first night just to make sure the older cat wasn't going kill him, after that he had the run of the place

BUT - we shut our bedroom door at night for the first week so he knows sleeping outside of our room is normal. He has a bed on the landing.

We sometimes let him in as a treat but he's quite annoying so gets chucked out regularly

Original poster

mollyblack · 23/02/2018 21:01

He’s sleeping pretty much on Dh’s face just now i’m sure he’ll sleep on one of our beds tonight. He’s very fond of dh but eldest son is hoping it will be his bed. Thank you for all the lovely comments- he is a wee gem. His name is Jinx.

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