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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Bringing a new cat home - advice appreciated

94 replies

JengaNonConfirming · 30/07/2021 06:53

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.

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Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 30/07/2021 20:07

@DogsSausages, we have 2cbags in ready, I hope it'll be enough 😁

@ShadowInVain 😂😂😂 Im fully expecting a scrap of paper to hold more appeal 🤣

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Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 30/07/2021 20:11

@Gingerkittykat bless your daughter!! I would love him to jump out and make himself at home, but I'm prepared for the dark corner under the coffee table to be his first choice 😁 Thank you for the blanket tip.

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helpfulperson · 30/07/2021 20:19

I think the fact that you are happy to go with the flow means you will be perfect for him. He may or may not come out or even come out and suck up for a couple of days before hiding. But if you provide food, water and deal with any 'messes' whether sick or poo etc calmly he will know you are to trusted. Getting him used to your voice is important as well so chatting amongst yourselves when he is there or even reading out loud is good.

Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 30/07/2021 20:33

Thank you @helpfulperson, I'm hoping he'll be happy here. We're all ready to do what we can to help him settle in. My partner will deal with poo, me sick, DD (21) neither of these 😁 The chatting is a helpful tip, thanks, although to be honest, I rarely shut up BlushGrin

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Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 31/07/2021 17:22

He's home. He came out of his carrier quite quickly and is now hidden away behind the TV stand. We'll leave him to it.

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helpfulperson · 31/07/2021 21:02

Once you can we look forward to photos. My sofa hider is Jet black so every photo I have from the first couple of weeks is just these big eyes

helpfulperson · 31/07/2021 21:08

Sorry I've just realised I didn't post the bit about my rescue cat who hid under the sofa for fortnight. Eventually I turned round from my computer one day and he was curled up on the sofa. It took every ounce of self control to just be calm and act as though this was perfectly normal instead of shrieking to the rest of the family ' come quick the cat is out'

Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 31/07/2021 21:24

@helpfulperson

Sorry I've just realised I didn't post the bit about my rescue cat who hid under the sofa for fortnight. Eventually I turned round from my computer one day and he was curled up on the sofa. It took every ounce of self control to just be calm and act as though this was perfectly normal instead of shrieking to the rest of the family ' come quick the cat is out'
Oh bless, I can imagine how chuffed you were!! In the last half an hour we have twice seen a pair of eyes looking at us over the Sky box and we were incredibly excited 😁
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coastergirl · 31/07/2021 21:39

I'm so excited for you! My rescue is currently curled up on my lap. What's his name?

Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 31/07/2021 21:45

@coastergirl

I'm so excited for you! My rescue is currently curled up on my lap. What's his name?
His name is Loki. He is very beautiful! He's black and has a fluffy tail and toe floofs. We are already besotted and we've barely seen him 😁
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JoanOgden · 31/07/2021 21:55

My rescue is black, and my only sightings of her for the first couple of days were of a black patch of shadow with two massive golden eyes Grin

coastergirl · 31/07/2021 23:18

He sounds beautiful.

Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 01/08/2021 03:36

@JoanOgden, their eyes are very helpful 😁 I think that might be all we see for a couple of days!

@coastergirl, I might be a little bit biased, but I think he is 🥰

I've just woken up as could hear noises downstairs, so I think he's having a little explore of the lounge. I woke my partner to tell him, but I'm not sure he shared my excitement, as he went straight back to sleep 😂

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coastergirl · 01/08/2021 06:08

It sounds like you're in love with him already. Such a good cat slave!

TeenMinusTests · 01/08/2021 07:04

This all sounds adorable. We are collecting our first ever cat from a rescue on Tuesday, so this is a timely thread for us. She is to be DD's cat primarily and we are hoping that once settled she will help with DD's anxiety. Will post a picture when arrived and settled (and I learn how to).

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 01/08/2021 07:12

When we rescued one of ours, we kept him in the bathroom. It had wooden floors and, with all the water pipes underneath, it made a very nice heated floor.
Obviously we had to use the bathroom a few times a day so he got used to use coming in and out but we ignored him and left him to recover (he was very poorly).
Six years later, we now have a cat who scrambles to get on your knee if he hears the toilet seat. That includes visitors! Most people tend not to mind him following them to the bathroom but we often hear a shriek when he’s obviously jumped onto their naked lap!
He thinks the bathroom is his own, personal massage parlour so think carefully about where you want his safe space to be!
Haha

Mumdiva99 · 01/08/2021 07:22

Sounds very exciting. Lol at your OH!!

I hope he ventures further today and you get to share a gorgeous picture. But if not today then soon.

Happy slaving.

Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 01/08/2021 08:03

I checked on him in the early hours, after hearing his meows and he was on the window sill. He'd eaten his food and Dreamies and pooped in his litter tray. I was very pleased!

@coastergirl yes, I think I am already destined to be a slave and I shan't fight it 😁

@TeenMinusTests good luck with your new fur baby. I'm glad this thread has helped you as well 👍 We'll both have to learn how to post photos.

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken that's brilliant, how generous of your cat to warm people's laps for them like that 😀

@Mumdiva99 I'm hoping to get a proper sighting of him today 🤞 I just announced to my partner that it was quarter to 8 and he said OK and carried on snoozing. I was actually hoping he'd check on Loki and mske me a cuppa 😂😂😂

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Mumdiva99 · 01/08/2021 08:08

You have to get up immediately and give him breakfast - Loki obviously not your husband!! You need to start the servitude in an acceptable manner.

Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 01/08/2021 08:37

@Mumdiva99

You have to get up immediately and give him breakfast - Loki obviously not your husband!! You need to start the servitude in an acceptable manner.
🤣😂🤣😂 I've managed to wake partner, who has now returned with tea. I asked if Loki had eaten the pouch I'd put down for him when I was up - he didn't know as he hadn't checked!?!? His slave training hasn't started as well as mine 😁 Ah, he's just gone to check and cook me some crumpets 👍
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Mumdiva99 · 01/08/2021 11:23

How were the crumpets and Loki?

Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 01/08/2021 14:06

@Mumdiva99 the crumpets were lovely (Biscoff spread!!) and Loki is comfy behind one of the sofas ☺️

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TeenMinusTests · 01/08/2021 14:11

Our cat-to-be has aged 3 years overnight (rescue checked vets records and realised they had been told incorrectly). DD is a bit thrown (means 3 years 'less' with the DCat), but I'm OK as 10 was within 'acceptable' age range when we were looking and she has a clean bill of health (cat not DD).

Mumdiva99 · 01/08/2021 14:58

Love biscoff.

@TeenminusTests our cats have really helped my daughter. They help her relax, help her sleep better at night and have given her confidence. (She particularly likes the fact that they all like her best).

Original poster
JengaNonConfirming · 01/08/2021 15:01

@TeenMinusTests I'm glad cat has a clean bill of health, even if they are somewhat more mature! As for aging 3 years overnight, I think you'll know that feeling when you first get them home 😂😂😂😂

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