Rescue cat coming tomorrow

[Cleanmean]

After many many tries we have finally secured a lovely rescue. We've never had a cat so don't know what to expect and I'll be honest (I'm embarrassed to say) I'm scared of cats. Dh and dd are obsessed with cats and so we've got a rescue. He seeks a lovely gentle chap. Can anyone advise in what we need other than the basics:

Litter tray
Felix pouches
Dry food
Cat carrier
Cat toys
Cat bed

He's neutered but I'm booking him inn for vaccinations with the vet tomorrow.

My questions are, do we need to feed him the same food he ate at the rescue? Do we leave dry food and water out all day? What do we do if he scratches or hisses? How go we gain his trust? How do we know if he's happy or anxious? Are cats ok with anyone stroking them?

Finally, the thing I'm most worried about is the litter, the poos the smell. We've been told to keep him in 4 weeks, then he should be allowed out and should toilet outside. At that point do we get rid of the litter tray?

Any advice at all for us would be appreciated. Want to make his welcome as calm and happy as possible without passing my anxieties on to him. Also need to think of a name.

Congratulations. I would feed him the same as in the rescue to start off with. Then slowly change if you want to.

Get a good clumping litter. I use Intersand it Tigrino. And it absorbs the bell really well. I wouldn't get rid if they tray, unless he really doesn't use it at all. As you might be best to keep him in at night for his safety.

Some cats do use their beds. So worth having them.

When he arrives. Leave him alone and be guided by him. If he hides, leave him too it. He'll come out in his own time.

Mine have dry food and water down all day. As they are grazers.

Yes to the same food as the rescue, at least to start with. Mine are very greedy for dried food so if I left it down it would get eaten immediately, whereas the wet food they like to come and go through the day.
Litter trays I would recommend getting a covered one and use either clumping litter or the wood pellets. If you remove poos immediately then it really doesn't smell too much. I would advise keeping the litter tray even when you let him out, in case he needs it overnight (I keep my cats in overnight for safety reasons) or if they feel unwel or its raining etc.
Be guided by the cat, some cats hide for days until they feel comfortable in their new home, don't try and force him out of his hiding place just go about your business and let him go at his own pace. Some cats are very confident from the get go. It really depends on personality and past experiences.
My girl cat owned the place from day 1, my boy cat hid under the TV unit for a few days!
Good luck and be sure to come back and post some pics!

Never get rid of the litter tray, some cats may never use a tray again but as a cat owner you really should have one. If it’s ever caught short or unwell then I’m sure you would rather it used the tray than your rug!
If you have a planter outside with bare compost you can encourage your cat to toilet in that so it doesn’t go in neighbours gardens and annoy them.

You should feed them the same food and, if you want to change it, reduce portions of their old food and give a little of the new food and increase the ratio of new food until the cat is finally just eating whatever you prefer to feed him.

He is probably best left alone to his own devices whilst he settles in, he will soon let you know when he is happy to be stroked. If he hisses and scratches then leave him alone! Yes water needs leaving out all day, mine has tinned food twice a day and a small amount of biscuits to nibble on in between. There is generally a feeding guide based on your cats weight on the food packet.

You need scratching posts or scratch pads. Especially as he can’t go outside for now, you don’t want him sharpening his claws on your furniture or door frames.

If he is a kitten you need kitten litter as adult litter can kill them if ingested.
I use wood based litter as it’s biodegradable but that’s preference. A lidded litter tray means there is hardly any odour.

Congratulations on your new pet. Do come back and post a photo when he’s settled.

It can make the transition and settling easier if you stick with the same food and litter. The rescue should provide all these details before he comes to you so you are prepared.

You will need scratching post and a flat scratcher, he will probably have a preference but you won't know until he's with you. You'll need cat toys and also treats (Dreamies are popular, they give mine an upset tummy so she has dried chicken liver treats). Cardboard boxes are good for hiding and playing. If you find he likes being up high you might want a cat tree.

Having a cat does mean you might have to have a litter tray forever, but a decent tray and decent litter can reduce smells. My latest is the first cat I've had whose poo does not smell, it is most peculiar!

We got 2 rescue kittens last week, and like you, they were more for the kids and dh. Here is what I have learnt in a week.

1- they came with fleas, so check!
2- the litter is pretty gross but I'm amazed they come litter trained! We change it twice a day but they are small and 2 of them
3 - tried to keep to their food but we are self isolating and the supermarket didn't have it, so we have switched and they are still alive. Don't leave wet food out too long, it smells and is a health hazard. We have settled into 3 meals a day, plus dry food out all the time.
4 - they haven't swiped or snarled once. They are very sweet and desperate to explore
5 - they are remarkably easy. We shut them in a room at night and they sleep until we come down for breakfast and wake them up.
6 - they do like to scratch furniture

Firstly the first rule of the litter tray is that you do not get a new cat without sharing pictures 😂

Food - start with the same food as the rescue as it can upset their stomach if you change straight away. If you do change food do it gradually.

Litter tray - invest in a covered tray with a filter to reduce smells. Ideally you need two in different places. I would keep it as you will be best keeping him in overnight. Our older cat will cross her legs until the morning and race out first thing as she hates using a tray. Little cat will not venture outside at all.

Leave him be for the first few days and let him come to you, don't let DD chase him for affection, he needs to get used to his surroundings and accept this is his home now :)

If he doesn't show interest in his bed then catnip spray is a good incentive for him to like it!!

Also get a scratching post and spray it with catnip spray if you value your furniture!

We kept them in one room for almost a week. Thank goodness, as we didn't realise they had fleas at first! Day one they hid a lot, but soon got bolder. After a week they were desperate to explore.

My questions are, do we need to feed him the same food he ate at the rescue? Depends if he's fussy or not. You don't have to. We switched our rescue to a better food when we got her.

Do we leave dry food and water out all day? Water yes. With food you need to figure out how much he needs per day, based on his weight, and then choose how to feed him from that allocation (wet, dry, snacks, etc). If you overfeed him he'll gain weight. Some cats eat all their food as soon as you put it out, others leave some for later.

What do we do if he scratches or hisses? Some cats are arseholes and will scratch, bite and hiss, but most do it when they are frightened, feel threatened, defensive, etc and are just trying to get away from you. If this happens, just back off and give him some space. Initially, he will need to get used to you, so let him come to you. You will all need to get to know one another and he needs to learn to trust you.

How go we gain his trust? Just be calm, kind and reliable. Feed him at the same times each day, make sure his litter is kept clean, make sure he always has access to clean water, don't shout at him, run at him, flap your arms at him. Cats generally like calm people who give them space, but when they come and ask for strokes to make a bit of a fuss of them. All cats are different, of course, some are more gregarious than others. He may well hide under the sofa for the first few days - don't be alarmed if he does - it's quite normal.

How do we know if he's happy or anxious? If he's happy he will be relaxed, if he's unhappy or anxious he'll hide, run away, over-groom, possibly spray. Some owners find Feliway plug ins are helpful in the early days of getting a new cat.

Are cats ok with anyone stroking them? Um, not really! Cats decide who they like and don't, but just give him time/space and hopefully he will come to you and be happy for anyone in your family to stroke him. Try not to expect too much immediately though. Coming into your home for the first time will be stressful for him, so give him time to settle in.

Finally, the thing I'm most worried about is the litter, the poos the smell. We've been told to keep him in 4 weeks, then he should be allowed out and should toilet outside. At that point do we get rid of the litter tray? Remove poos as soon as he does them and either flush down the loo or put in dog poo bags and into the bin. The cat litter should help to control odour. As for getting rid of the litter tray - I wouldn't - as its a safe, clean place for him to toilet if he needs to or feels unwell when he's inside. If you plan to keep him in overnight its important to give him access to a toilet, just in case he needs it.

Wow thank you so much. I'll definitely report back with photos and an update. Off out now to sort out all the essentials.

Yes to the using the same food. When you need to buy some, buy the same or as close to it as possible.

I found out the hard way, as DCat likes the food 'with gravy' not 'in jelly'.

When you bring your cat home, he'll be terrified and will probably hide.

Give him 2 weeks and he'll have got used to you.

You have had some excellent advice. The only thing I would add is giving him a quiet dark place to call his own! As you have a cat carrier then leave it open with a towel or blanket inside but turn the opening away from general view and put another towel or blanket over the top. Try not to peek at him when he is inside, I know, it’s tempting!

Keep doors and windows closed for the first few weeks. Don't think he can't escape through a small high window.

Let the cat take the lead for the first couple of weeks. He will start training you properly in his own good time.

Leave drinking water somewhere away from the food and the litter tray.

Don't buy a fancy cat bed or scratching post. Fold your favourite jumper and he'll sleep on top of it. Your best handbag will be preferrable to a scratching post.

Very helpful advice, hope your new cat soon settles, OP. I have a new cat cat coming in 2 weeks hopefully, reading with interest!

Keep doors and windows closed for the first few weeks. Don't think he can't escape through a small high window.

All the advice on here is good - but this is, without doubt, the most important of all.

It's a lovely thing you're doing!
Our rescue tomcat came home with us, looked around then went to sleep on the settee. Some cats just make themselves at home.

Don't forget to register with a vet-they will have plans to offer for worm and defleaing which is important to stay on top of. Our vet offers both treatments 4 times a year and an annual check up for £10 per month. This suits us well as it can get overlooked. My parents did forget to get defleaing and theit cat ended up in a bit of a state with quite a bill for the care.

If your cat arrives microchipped, go online to register the chip as yours. Should they wander off, the cat can be traced back to you. Cats on a plan at their vets also need to be scanned periodically to make sure the car you're bringing is the one they have on the plan.

Enjoy your new feline friend!

Of and buy a good cat wee spray for little accidents, early treatment is key to getting rid of stinks.

Didn't even think of the open windows. Will have to be vigilant.

Does anyone think the healthy pet club plan is needed? It's £15 a month and covers flea treatments and deworming.

So much to think about and prepare. Feeling a bit anxious. Just hoping he'll settle in and like us all!

Also sorry for another question, can anyone recommend a good pet insurance plan? Trying not to pay too much but want a good plan. Did not really factor in the full costs of adopting a cat, feels like bringing a newborn home!

We have a slightly cheaper health plan than that but think it’s worth it - less than the cost of yearly flea/worming (and over the counter stuff is rubbish - prescription is way better) and you get an annual health check too.

We have Pet Plan insurance but heard good things about Bought by Many too. Ours has already paid for itself for about 5 years from one vet stay!

Ha ha. Yes. You have adopted a baby. I still go and check if he is still breathing. DCat doesn't have pet insurance. I do the veterinarian stuff myself. He was neutered before I got him.

With the window, you can get mesh that allegedly stops them escaping.

This image is from the Mirror, but it shows what I mean.

I think my vet plan is around £14 a month. It works out cheaper to have the plan and get vaccs & decent flea/wormer than doing it all separately.

We have animal friends pet insurance, I chose the one that covers conditions for life rather than just pays on a diagnosed condition for a year. I imagine there are better policies out there but it came out well on a comparison site.

He's here! Looked around the room, lots of back arching, a few small growls, allowed the kids and dh to stroke him. Lying down and rolling on his side. Now he's sat on the windowsill just long around and lying down.

Everytime he moves huge ball of fur flies into the air! Does he need a trim?

He keeps squinting his eyes at us. I'm embarrassed to admit I'm scared of him! I hope he doesn't pick up on this. My question is how do I move him from the windowsill to show him where the litter and food bowls are? He seems reluctant to move off the windowsill and I don't want to bring the litter tray into the living area.

Photos coming soon!

You don't need to show him, he will find them, probably when you're not looking.

Mine have always moulted like mad when they first arrive, but it settles.

He’ll find the food bowl and the litter himself if you leave the doors open between rooms. Try not to stress too much. Cats are pretty easy. Just make sure you keep him on for a few weeks and then start letting him out gradually. My cats
all stopped using litter trays once they went outside.

If you do need to move him use treats. Put one next to him and if he scoffs it and likes it he will move for another if you throw it on the floor.

I put favourite treats in a little tub I could shake as it's good for early training and is loud enough to attract attention.