Bringing a new cat home - advice appreciated

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We're off to meet a 3 year male cat tomorrow, with the view to bringing him home if all goes well. The we are me, my partner and DD 21. I'm hoping that we've purchased everything we need to prove ourselves worthy of slave status 😁

The boy in question is black, fluffy, big and incredibly handsome!! Whilst my partner grew up around cats and has had them as an adult (but quite a few years ago), I've only ever had dogs. I have fussed friends cats and cat sat, but that's the extent of my knowledge.

Cat was bullied in his original hame, by other cats. Current owner took him in, neutered him and has got him back in top condition and given him a loving home. Unfortunately their other cat does not like him, so the decision has been made to rehome him, so that he can be a solo cat and live a happy, unbullied life.

So, to the advice - please can anyone share any hints or tips for settling him in? From my reading up on here, I think it's best to put his carrier in a quiet corner and let him come out at his own pace. I'm assuming we just leave him be and let him come to us as and when he's ready? I think there are plenty of corners he can hide away in and we have his favourite treats ready.

As we'll be his third home, I know he's likely to be very unsettled and want to make it as stressfree as possible for him. Thanks in advance for any help and I will of course post photos when he's home.

You could try getting some feliway and plug in before he arrives. Also, look for places you don't want him to hide and block off. It's amazing where they can get in!!

If you can, set up a room with everything he needs to settle in first so he has a safe territory, then once he seems settled open up to the rest of the house. Also, take lots of photos!
I took in two rescue cats a few months ago and one of them was utterly petrified. It's taken a lot of time, bribery and patience and longer than I expected! I was worried when she gets as still scared after a week but really, she needed more like 8 weeks to settle. So, don't be worried if it takes time.

Thank you @Hemskis, I'll look at the Feliways. We don't have a separate room we can set up, unfortunately, but I'll look at setting up his food and litter tray near the dining table end of the room, so that he can hopefully feel safe under there.
I will give him time and space to settle, but it's useful to know it can take some time

I had a timid rescue cat. She spent days hiding from us.
It’s best to just ignore them and let them settle, when they are ready they will come to you, don’t try to stroke or pick him up until he has shown you he’s happy to be near you.

Re feliway -my cat actively avoided wherever it was.

Just don’t forget to keep doors and Windows shut for the whole time he needs to stay in. All that fluff can make them look fatter than they are, he may be able to squeeze through a smaller gap than you think!

Lucy would hide behind the fridge or get into a partly open drawer and then go behind!
Lickelix seems to be cat crack and also rotisserie chicken, works great for hand feeding and gaining trust.

Agree with setting up a safe room for him. If possible with a place he can hide or climb up high, so that he can feel safe and go at his own pace.

Keep in mind that you need to keep food and water well separated from the litter tray.

If you can, find out what kind of litter and food he has been having up until now, so you can keep those things consistent for him at least.

@GrrRightBackAtYou

I had a timid rescue cat. She spent days hiding from us. It’s best to just ignore them and let them settle, when they are ready they will come to you, don’t try to stroke or pick him up until he has shown you he’s happy to be near you.

Re feliway -my cat actively avoided wherever it was.

Just don’t forget to keep doors and Windows shut for the whole time he needs to stay in. All that fluff can make them look fatter than they are, he may be able to squeeze through a smaller gap than you think!

Thanks @GrrRightBackAtYou. Yes, we will give him plenty of time and space and wait for him to come to us. I won't be rushing to pick him up, I've never actually picked a cat up

That's interesting about the Feliways.

Window locks are arriving today, so that we can safely let air into the house. I'm also planning a sign on the patio door, to remind us to shut the door behind us. How long should we keep him in, please, before we try him outside? He's currently kept as a house cat, so we're not sure on what he'll make of the outside, but we'd be hoping to try him at some point.

@violetbunny

Agree with setting up a safe room for him. If possible with a place he can hide or climb up high, so that he can feel safe and go at his own pace.

Keep in mind that you need to keep food and water well separated from the litter tray.

If you can, find out what kind of litter and food he has been having up until now, so you can keep those things consistent for him at least.

We'll be able to keep his litter tray and food and water separate in the dining room. I think that's our best option, as we don't have a spare room we can use. I have a cat tree arriving tomorrow, so hoping that'll give him an option for getting up high and for hiding away.

Current owner has advised in food and litter, so there'll be no change for him there

Now to kerp the nervous excitement at bay for another 30 hours

We got a new rescue cat a couple of months ago from cats protection and they suggested keeping the cat in just one room until you're happy they are eating, drinking, weeing and pooing before letting them into more rooms, so not to overwhelm them.
They said it doesn't have to be a room no one goes into but best to leave them in the room on their own for a while when you first bring them home.
So you don't need a spare room it can be one you use. Just make sure cat has everything in that room they need. You'll know when they are ready to explore more of the house.
Good luck and don't forget we'll all want to see a photo.

We kept ours in for 3 weeks.
She'd never been outside before either and still doesn't spend a lot of time outside.
At first she mostly just went out when we did.
But then a week ago she decided to stay out all night. I couldn't find her at all so spent a sleepless night on the sofa hoping she'd appear. She walked back in at 5am and sat down and had a wash!
Its just as bad as worrying about a child.

Keep all the windows closed and be really careful with opening doors to the outside as well.

If you have breakable ornaments, put them away for the time being.

Block up the chimney if you have an open fireplace.

Put something across the gap to block it if there's a chance he could squeeze behind the washing machine or fridge etc.

Invest in a reasonably-sized empty cardboard box

It is also worth starting off on the same type of food and brand of cat litter.

Check whether they have been wormed, de-flea'd and their vaccinations are up to date. If not, then take the cat to the vet and get it sorted straight away.

Check whether they are microchipped or not and if they are, then the details need to be changed. If not, then a trip to the vet asap.

What type of cat carrier do you have? Our rescue is a regular houdini so we bought one like a sports bag with a zip top. Game changer!

We have many rescue cats. Each time we put the cat in the bathroom for a few days, till they were ready to explore. It made them feel safe to be in a small enclosed space. We would go in every couple of hours and sit with the cat and they got used to our presence.

Congratulations! Cat companionship is wonderful 💐

He may come out straightaway. I would put a cardboard box somewhere for him to wit in, put a blanket in it and also a blanket or fleece somewhere like the sofa if he is a cuddly cat. Is your garden secure, I'd he is not used to going out then you can go outside with him, sit on a camping blanket, when the sun is out. Our cat went out within hours and came straight back in but loved the outdoors. We will need to see pictures of him.

Keep him indoors for at least 2 weeks, and on the day you decide to let him out for the first time, the best time is when you know he will be hungry. That way, hopefully he will want to come in again for food, and you can always shake the dreamies packet to gain his attention!

Don't forget to block up any holes in fences outside, and if you have any lilies, they are poisonous to cats so get rid of them before he goes outside.

My rescue cat spent two days in the under stairs cupboard in an igloo bed. I put his food and litter tray there. Every time I went into the cupboard I could hear him growling.

The door was partly open and on the night of the second day, I noticed him sat just inside the door. I ignored him but dropped my hand down the side of the settee and he came out, sniffed my hand and then rubbed his face on it and started purring.

That was 7 years ago and he hasn't left me alone since.

I would be keeping him in for at least a month. I would also book him to be microchipped (if he isn’t.) That’ll also give the vet a chance to health check and weigh and let you have monthly flea treatment. Don’t bother with OTC for fleas and worms.
Also lurking for pics!!

I'm assuming we just leave him be and let him come to us as and when he's ready?

Exactly this. As pps say, he will be better off shut in one room to begin with. He'll let you know when he's ready to explore.

Don't be alarmed if he doesn't use his tray for a few days - he won't start toileting until he feels comfortable, and cats can safely hold in their wee and poo much longer than we can (in the wild, it's a marker for predators).

If there are any rooms you don't intend him to access in the long term, start as you mean to go on and keep those doors closed.

Personally I'd give it at least six weeks before letting him go outside.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to share your experiences and ideas, it is so helpful. I want so much to fmdo the best I can for him.

Now I understand it more, we can definitely keep him contained to one room initially. I know he's not vacinatted, so will check regarding fleaing and worming and if these aren't up to date, we can get them all sorted. He's also micricholipped, so will speak to the owner about getting that changed.

We have bought a dog carrier, on the advise of his current owner, as she thought a cat carrier might be too small. If we need to replace it though, I'll definitely look into a holdall style one.

The is the fridge freezer is freestanding. The washing machine is tightly wedged in place.

He can have his pick of boxes, I have plenty from the shopping I've done This afternoon I will be rearranging the kitchen cupboards, so that we have a cat one. I also need to get all his new blankets dried ready.

I promise there will be photos

Looking forward to pics! If he’s fluffy he will need regular grooming too (once settled.)

He might enjoy a rub down with a zoom groom

He is fluffy, so yes, I'm seeing a future of grooming, along with a bribe of treats 😁

Ooh, I'll have a look at a Zoom groom, thank you!

His blanket lined Amazon box awaits him and I'm just off to buy him his (I think rather expensive) dried food and then I think I'm all set. Only 1 more sleep

Dont forget the dreamies

His blanket lined Amazon box awaits him

Don't be disappointed if he ignores your lovingly prepared bed in favour of a random box six sizes too small for him!

When we brought home a very timid rescue cat my DD used to sit next to the magazine rack he hid under and feed him wet food on a spoon. He used to come out and explore at night and eventually felt safe enough to come out when we were around.

All cats are different, my other boy just jumped out of his carrier and made himself at home.

If the old owner gives a blanket or towel with a familiar smell then that can help him feel more at home.