First time, unexpected cat owner. Advice please.

[Loulou0]

A friend of mine recently became pregnant and decided she couldn't keep her cat any more. 🙄

Anyway, I am NOT a cat person at all, but have spent a bit of time at this friend's house and me and my son have got to know this cat. She is a lovely little thing and my son adores her (the feeling is mutual!)

I visited my friend yesterday and she said she was dropping the cat at an animal sanctuary this weekend and my son was devasated so I ended up bringing the cat home with me.

She seems to have settled in really well, she is sleeping and eating and using the litter trays I have put out. She gets on our laps and purrs etc so she seems happy so far.

So, can any experienced cat owners help me with a few questions ?

How long should I keep her in? She normally goes out but I'm concerned she'll go back to her old house as we are only half a mile apart.

Last night she slept on my son's bed with him. Is this OK? Is there any reason why I shouldn't allow this?

I'm thinking of getting a cat flap put in but I heard that other cats can come in and bully the cat, steal her food etc?

Any other tips on how to make her feel at home? She must be confused about the move.

Thank you!

[EachandEveryone]

Your friend sounds orrible!

Very sweet cat thank goodness for you.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Op, her loss will be your gain. Give it a few months and you'll be wondering how you managed without a cat. Though I'm predicting a further thread about hw to introduce a second cat, in a few months!

[Maryann1975]

Posted too soon..
Anyway, I hope you enjoy being a cat owner, they are lovely pets, low maintenance (well mine is) but really affectionate.

[Maryann1975]

We’ve moved house a few times and kept the cats in for a couple of weeks each time, but they’ve always been fine. Our present cat goes to stay with my brother when we go on holiday and she always comes back. She tends to go for a weekend in June/early July and then 2 weeks in August-stays in for the weekend and first couple of days of main holiday then allowed out for the rest of the time. I know she would hate a cattery and being penned in, so we risked it and it was fine, so I wouldn’t think you need to keep her in for a month if she is keen to get out.
I have no problem with letting the cat sleep on beds at night, but the kids don’t like it and nor does dh as she tends to wake us up really early to go out. So she gets locked downstairs most of the time so she can’t wake us up. It is lovely to wake up and find she is there though.
We don’t have a cat flap, but I work from home so let her in no out as she wants anyway. The ones that work with the chip or collar are really good though, so she has somewhere to go that any neighbours cats can’t get too (ie, your house). Also, you don’t want to encourage other cats into your house in case they wee on your carpet (voice of bitter experience )

[Allergictoironing]

I can sort of see you friend's point if she's expecting. It's very strongly recommended that pregnant women don't have anything to do with cat poo as there's a possibility of toxoplasmosis. Then you get the stories of cats sleeping on babies faces & suffocating them, the possibility that the cat will scratch the baby etc, and of course people who are cleanliness freaks when they have babies.

[GiveMyHeadPeaceffs]

@Loulou0 I've nothing more to add to all the really sound advice you've been given but just wanted to say that I'm so glad you took the cat and it didn't go to a shelter. Sounds like she's already at home

[Ollivander84]

You'll be fine
I had a wobble the week before I picked my first cat up. Despite the fact I've managed to keep all my horses alive since I was 11
You sort of learn as you go. Good quality food if you can, zooplus has a great choice and delivers cat litter so you don't have to lug it about

[Loulou0]

Thank you for the messages!

I didn't know that about lilies! Thanks for the heads up, I have bought them in the past!

She is currently in bed with my son. She follows him around and settles down in whichever room he goes into. It's very sweet. Can't understand why my friend didn't want to keep her herself!

[TwinkleMerrick]

Use dog poo bags to pick up poo out of litter tray and put straight in outside bin. Cat poo is the worst! Get some carpet cleaner for when accidents happen, and they will! Get a timed feeder for if you are away for a night or 2, then u don't have to ask people to feed the cat while your away. Get a scratch post and put it near your sofa, it will deter from the cat scratching. Put a throw on ur bed in the day so you don't get cat fur all over your bedding xx

[Canshopwillshop]

Gorgeous cat, congratulations. Ive never managed to keep mine off the work tops - I just use lots of antibac spray!

[viccat]

Congratulations on becoming a cat-slave!

Lots of good advice above, just adding that do look up a list of foods and plants that are toxic for cats. For example, any part of the lily plant is fatally toxic so never bring lilies into the house and remove any you may have growing in the garden.

She might not try to return to her previous home if she's not used to roaming a lot, depends how big her territory was there.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Welcome to a lifetime of cat slavery. Good luck with keeping her off the counters

[OnTopOfSpaghetti]

Oh gorgeous cat
Mine jumped up on the counters a lot when I first got them (4yr old rescues) I just took them down every single time and they eventually got the message!

[bellinisurge]

What a gorgeous cat!

[NipInTheAir]

Lovely cat.

[Moominfan]

I've never managed to keep mine off counters just give them a spray before every use. If you find a way please share lol

[Moominfan]

What a cutey! I can see why you kept her

[ScreamingValenta]

What a gorgeous little puss!

[stillnotTheDoctor]

Old wives idea is put butter on their paws. They lick it and get the scent of home.

I got a microchip catflap as we have a lot of toms wandering around and I didn't want my house left stinking. It's really easy to programme.

[Loulou0]

Trying again with pic. ( I'm working on getting her to stay off the counters..)

[Loulou0]

Thank you for all of your tips!

I do like having her around actually. She's really affectionate and clumsy. I always thought cats were aloof and disinterested in people but Mabel isn't like that.

I did not realise the ettiquite. I'm new to this don't forget! Pic attached

[NipInTheAir]

I wish spraying a cay with water had that effect on some of our local visitors bullies. Microchip flap works better.

You need:
Cat basket
Bowls
Flea and worm drops
Scratching posts
Very good vet
Love
Feliway to settle and calm if required
money to leave heating on when it's very cold.

[bellinisurge]

Google Jackson Galaxy- US cat behaviourist.

[Moominfan]

Also op it's normally etiquette to share a picture of your new found furry addition :)

[Moominfan]

I'd keep her in for a month. When we moved my cat got abit stir crazy cause she couldn't get out. Hang about on the stairs waiting to surprise attack. Back to her nice normal self once we let her out. We've never had a cat flap, she just lets us know when she wants out and bangs on windows to be let back in. Congrats on your new arrival!