Rehoming cat questions please!

[LazyDoll]

Hi,

To give a brief back story....

We currently have no pets bar tropical fish. My 3 children are animal crazy. I am looking for our first family pet although still have small wobbles as we have a busy life but my children would adore a cat and I think we would be a good fit for one.

A friends brother is looking to rehome his 3 year old British short hair cat. He is coming from a family much like ours with 3 children so is used to lots of fuss and cuddles but they have a new baby and he is away a lot so they are looking to rehome.

Questions - we don't have a cat flap. The cat is used to a cat flap presently but has also previously lived without one. We could put one in our front door (leads into drive/front flower bed/road) or would need to put 2 in the back (to back garden) due to the configuration of our house. Or go no cat flap and let in and out? Thoughts and advice on this please?

Pet insurance? Need it? How much approximately is it?

Food? Approximate costs a month?

Really appreciate any replies. Thank you 🙏🏼

I pay £52 for two. I love our Modkat.

We rehomed our cat under similar circumstances. Her previous family gave us her bed, some toys, bowls etc, plus her litter tray, which I think really helped her settle in, and we stuck with the food she had there. She’s a fussy madam, but has branched out into bits of chicken and ham.

We don’t have a catflap - we would need two as we have a utility room between the kitchen and back door. She’s fine to boss us into opening the doors, and we have a routine where she goes out in the morning, she’s in through the day while we’re at wotk, out at teatime, then goes in and out a bit before being in for bed. I have school holidays off, and this summer she was pretty much outside all day, loving the hot weather.

We sorted out insurance and chip change the first week we got her.

I keep in touch with her previous “mum”, and we’ve become good friends. Our girl is quite nervy about loud noises, and was getting stressed by a boisterous toddler, with a baby due.

Current status. The brown thing is a heated throw, under it is me. I want to get up for a wee and a glass of wine, tbh. (Still holiday here!)

Oh bless!!!!
Rookie mistake. Always wee before sitting down. Text someone to bring wine?!

wolfie she actually wandered off to her bed just after I posted that. DP is in bed, he’s back at work tomorrow, so I don’t think he would have been a willing waiter!

I came back to this thread to talk about hair. I think the air in our house is about 40% cat hair. My home standards have definitely dropped in the last few years!

We have a rubber/silicon glove thing with bristles, which she actually loves, but I can remove half a cat with a “mitting”, and she will still put hair on my black jeans 30 seconds later. We got a Dyson shortly after the cat, and have those sticky rollers for clothes in every room, plus one just by the front door. (I have one in my desk at work too.) We de-cat one another before going out. Currently between cat hair and Christmas tree needles, the Dyson has its work cut out. I think a white cat is possibly worse than other colours of cats in terms of hair visibility though.

You're all so helpful thank you.
Well developments are that I'm going to meet said cat next week - armed with this thread for my questions! I have had a 'theoretical' chat with my children about rehoming as opposed to kitten and pet related chores and that went well so I'll keep you posted!!
PS here he is - apologies for silly stickers but was covering identifying human features!

We recently adopted our cat of a similar age though from
a rescue .
Cost wise I budget £50 a month - this covers £10 vet plan with all flea and worm treatment, £5 pet insurance from John Lewis (you'd probably have a similar quote as similar aged cat)
I buy a big multipack of felix pouches - often on offer of £10 for 40 inwilkos (our cat has two pouches in a day) and have started buying Lily's kitchen dry which is a bit pricey at £20 but often on offer at pets at home and the 2kg bag should last a couple of months.
We have a litter tray though now the cat goes out she hardly ever uses it so I haven't had to buy litter for ages
All the toys were a total waste of money - I found a multi level cat house / scratch post thing in my neighbours skip (!) which is the only thing the cats been vaguely interested in but she's even bored of that now
The cat is totally Worth every penny the kids and I adore her though she's not that arsed about us!! The kids have had to learn when not to fuss her as at 3 cats are still quite playful and feisty at times so we had a bit of biting and scratching at first but only when the kids didn't pick up on her 'wild' times. They all get on great now

Beautiful cat, lazy!

Re toys, ours loves playing with ribbons, and she goes through phases with mice. My hairdresser knitted her two stuffed with catnip (and I assume other stuff) just before Christmas, which reignited her interest in the others she has, but she hadn’t touched them in weeks beforehand. Now she’s constantly battering them up and down the hall during her mad half hours. She also has a plastic thing with balls in it that she plays with a lot. It is noisy and ugly, tbh, and testament to how much I love her that it’s not been banished to a cupboard.

Beyond anything, she loves packaging. An ASOS order is her favourite thing, and she will go out of her way to sit on any paper. (Not helpful when I bring marking home.)

Thank you. Notes made from this thread ready to meet cat and his owner tomorrow morning! Excited 😸

So today I met our new cat!! He is just beautiful with the softest, densest, cuddly fur and a purr that's like a machine! Currently working out the cat flap logistics and perusing Amazon for cat bits and bobs. Can't wait to tell my sons in the morning and show them his photos and arrange a meet up!! And of course make plans to bring him home!

Oh bless. Lurking for pics!!!

Wolfiefan Meet Grady

Oh he's lovely! Congratulations!

Thank you. Very very exciting and I have a feeling this talk board may be my new home! Thanks to all for your help

Oh my! That face. Wishing you many happy and healthy years together.

I think we need more pics of him settled in your home lazy

Oh ok fenneltea I'm easily persuaded. When he's here and settled I'll be back with pics!

Lurking with intent.

Would you guys mind if I just check I'm on top of my Grady To Do List!?

Cat flaps ordered x 2 due to kitchen leading onto cold old conservatory then garden.

Litter tray and litter ordered for initial settling in period.

Large box located for dark hidey hole to go in conservatory with one of Grady's blankets from his home at the moment.

Clearing out under the stairs in the kitchen for one of Grady's blankets to go (ideally this is his 'bed' area but I'm aware he may have other ideas!)

Bowls coming from his owners to be put in conservatory on opposite side to litter tray/cat flap.

Food and flea/worm stuff all coming from owners.

They're looking into swopping insurance and vet and micro chip and will be in touch with me re this.

Initial plan to settle him in these 2 rooms with limited interaction with 3 very over excited children to ease him in gently.

Plan also to keep him inside for as long as possible although current owner said when they moved house with him they only managed this for 2 Days 😳. I was hoping 2-4 weeks as terrified of him trying to find his way back across 4 villages to his 'old' family.

How am I doing?

You’re doing great!
Do find out what litter and food he’s on.
Check re flea and worm stuff. Some is rubbish. Avoid frontline and bob Martin for instance. Check when he’s due flea/worm.
Get vaccination cert.
We kept kittens in for ages! Aim always to have at least one door shut between them and outside.
Toys?
What’s he used to with grooming?
Mine sleep on our beds so good luck with deciding on a spot for him!!!!!

He's on Whiska's and Felix wet pouches and a dry food and treats. Spoilt kitty! They are proving us with tons of the stuff so I can replenish stocks when that runs out.

They're also giving us flea and worm stuff. I saw the packets but couldn't tell you the names of either although I don't think it was the brands you mentioned.

The only toy he plays with is a hair band on a string! Used to use a scratching post when younger but doesn't now.

We have a lot of child related junk so it's giving me a good excuse to get the children to help declutter this weekend so he has sleeping options! Husband is adamant cat won't be allowed to go in bedrooms.... we'll see

Also he doesn't use a litter tray at all at home so I've got one for his indoor settling in period and they recommended litter he's used in the past as a kitten.

Grooming - I will ask tonight when the boys meet him! Super excited!!

Sounds like you've covered all eventualities; I'd just suggest a scratching post to save your furniture as he might scratch in a new environment, and some treats such as dreamies or thrive to win him over. Ours all love da bird toys and an undercover kitty. He sounds like he's ended up a lucky cat!

Someone's settling in well!