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The litter tray

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

Original poster

Bringing home rescue kitty on weds - what do we need to know?

37 replies

DynamiteFilledRadish · 17/12/2021 19:46

So nervous! Have had cats before but many years ago and this feels like a huge leap! We've had dogs for the last 10 years until we lost our last one 15 months ago.

He's a 4 year old boy. A former stray. The rescue say he's affectionate and very "chatty". What should we expect?

Possibly a stupid question also but our house is small, a 2up 2down terrace. Where would you put his litter tray?! Starting to get myself in a panic that we aren't going to be a good home for him!

Any advice gratefully received x

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 17/12/2021 21:01

My litter tray is in the kitchen. It's the only place with room for it.

Iamanicepersonreally · 17/12/2021 21:04

Prepare for him to hide away for a while when he first gets home. Mine hid for over a week and is now lying on my lap purring. You don't need a big house. Don't worry. I'f he's got somewhere quiet he can go if he wants to, he'll be fine. Sounds like he'll miaow a lot!! I had to put the litter tray in a corner of the kitchen. I know some people wouldn't like this but it doesn't bother me. Oh, and we'll need to see a picture of him 🙂

AliceWo · 17/12/2021 21:28

Following as will be in same position in January. Just started looking at carriers, baskets, scratching posts etc. So excited!

teachermummyme · 17/12/2021 21:36

How exciting! We used to live in a two bed terrace when we got our rescue kitty and our kitchen was so tiny there wasn't room for his litter tray there! We put it in a little alcove where the dining room went into the kitchen. It wasn't too bad as we got a covered one with a door so you can't see or smell anything.

I'm sure you know he'll need to be kept in for a few weeks. We kept our boy in for ages to be completely sure that he was settled before going out adventuring! Make sure you've considered how you'll come in and out of the house without letting him dash out, if he's keen to get out. We shut ours in the dining room / kitchen when we were out so we could come in the front door without worrying he'd get out.

teachermummyme · 17/12/2021 21:38

Also very likely, as a previous poster said, that he'll hide. As long as you've been careful with doors (and wonders if you have them open in the winter!) don't worry that he's escaped. Cats can find the tiniest places to hide. We were sure ours had escaped but he was in a tiny gap behind the tumble dryer!

He hid for a few days (not just in that place!) but we'd leave food out and in the morning it was eaten so we knew he was coming out at night. Within a week or so he was parading around like he owned the place!

SparklingLime · 17/12/2021 21:41

Ideally two litter trays.

Lots of good info on this site: icatcare.org/advice/preparing-for-your-new-cat-or-kitten/

He’s lucky to find you!

Leah2005 · 17/12/2021 21:56

Put some puppy pads down behind sofas etc. Ours pooed twice behind the TV when we first got him home. Also get a scratching post in place before you bring him home. Make sure the top of fridges/high cupboards are clear of stuff so that it's easy for him to get up there to hide if he wants to. We found ours in a cupboard above the built in fridge freezer not realising there was a gap at the top he could get in to. Smile

InTropicalTrumpsLand · 17/12/2021 21:59

Make his carrier nice and dark so it feels safe. If you're lucky, he might even choose it as a hideout and you'll have an easier time in the future when he needs transportation.

Elieza · 17/12/2021 21:59

Congrats on dcat!

I contained my cat in one room overnight with food, water and tray. I chose the kitchen as the floor is Lino and easy to clean. And it’s not a small room either as that would be cruel.

Provide a large cardboard box to hide in. Don’t let anyone near it as it’s his safe space. He doesn’t need anyone poking their fingers in or sticking their faces in!

Talk a lot so he knows it’s you and what you sound like, especially when you are about to enter the kitchen so he knows you’re there and can run and hide if he wants to.

Don’t be surprised if he only comes out at night. He will get braver. Make sure nobody opens doors or windows in the room he is in as they can squish through small gaps and do a runner. You don’t need someone opening a door at the same time as he’s sniffing around it as he’ll be out like a flash! So keep everyone in check to keep him indoors til he knows this is his new home.

After a couple of days you can open the door to the room you relax in (sitting room or living room) and he will come through to see you when he wants to. I’d still shut him in the kitchen overnight though for a while but plenty wouldn’t.

user1471548941 · 17/12/2021 22:54

I am so excited for you! We collected our 4 year old ex stray from the RSPCA in April. Also verrrry affectionate and very chatty!

I expected him to hide or climb or go crazy for a bit. What actually happened was that he jumped out of his box directly onto the worktop… had a good nose around, we left him to it as thought he might want space so went upstairs. 15 mins later he was curled up on the bed asleep with us and we just gazed adoringly at him for the next 2 hours 😂🙈.

Some cats are just confident, particularly strays who’ve clearly made a success of surviving. By the next night my husband ended up sat on the kitchen floor whilst I cooked dinner so the cat could sit on his lap…

We’ve been his slaves ever since and it’s the best thing we ever did.

user1471548941 · 17/12/2021 22:56

Oh and we live in a one bed house, his litter is in the kitchen- house cat due to some health issues. The love we feel for him and from him is unbelieveable!

Original poster
DynamiteFilledRadish · 18/12/2021 08:56

Oh wow so many responses thanks everyone! Going to make a brew and read them all! Woke up this morning feeling really nervous. I've had mad rescue greyhounds for last 10 years and i'm more nervous about a little puss!

OP posts:
Original poster
DynamiteFilledRadish · 18/12/2021 09:28

I think we are going to have to put his litter tray under the stairs. It isn't an understairs cupboard as the door has been taken off so it's sort of an alcove off the dining room so it could go around the corner so it's partly hidden for him. Would that work do you think? Photo attached but don't judge all the shite that we stuff behind there - I am clearing it this morning!

I'm looking around the house at all the christmas bits and thinking is he going to have that over within 5 minutes Grin

Bringing home rescue kitty on weds - what do we need to know?
OP posts:
DontKeepTheFaith · 18/12/2021 09:44

Oh how lovely. We got our 4 year old rescue in October. She’s firmly part of the family now.

We tried the one room thing but she didn’t fancy that and within a minute was off exploring the whole house.

She did take a while to settle though, easily startled by new noises and she didn’t seem to like the TV at first, now she watches with us🤣

We kept our cat in for 4 weeks, she now goes out but not beyond the garden. That’s her choice.

The only issue we are having is she wakes very early wanting company so cries outside our room, sometimes about 5am. Don’t give in to it because our cat has learned if she goes on long enough I will get up and sit downstairs while she buggers off outside or sleeps on a chair🤷‍♀️🙄

I absolutely adore our cat and it’s been such a joy to have her, sleep or no sleep.

The rescue described our cat as very confident and vocal. Also said she came from a multi cat house and was bullying the cat she came in with. She is terrified of cats in the garden and skittish generally so I question some of what we were told. She really isn’t confident either, she is a ragdoll though so is placid around people. Just go with your instincts regarding what is right for your cat is what I think I am trying to say. And enjoy, it’s lovely welcoming a cat in to your home🥰🤗

DontKeepTheFaith · 18/12/2021 09:46

And our litter tray is in the downstairs loo. We had it in the dining area of our kitchen/ diner but DH works there and it stank when she did a poo🤣

Our cat does have the odd mad 5 minutes with the Christmas tree but it’s still standing.

drainitallout · 18/12/2021 10:03

We got ours when he was 4, he's 8 now and he's brilliant.
We keep our tray in the bathroom but tbh it's barely used.
Looking forward to the photos when he arrives @DynamiteFilledRadish !

AlfonsoTheUnrepentant · 18/12/2021 12:37

@DynamiteFilledRadish, the cupboard under the stairs should be good. If you can put another one in the bathroom that would be helpful, too.

Molly's Mice seem to be popular with MN cats, so you might want to look into that for toys.

And have fun! An affectionate chatty rescue will make a wonderful addition to your household.

Nomoreusernames1244 · 18/12/2021 12:40

Unusual for a rescue to rehome a cat this close to christmas. Normally they stop rehoming in december.

Are you having a quiet one? As you’ll need to keep noise and movement to a minimum.

I’d park up on the sofa and let him come to you. Ours had a dog cage for the first few months which she moved into once she came out from behind the toilet. At first she stayed there and only came out at night when everything was still and quiet.

Amrapaali · 18/12/2021 12:41

When he gets home, open the carrier so that the first thing he sees is his litter tray. He will form a sort of mental map. His toilet being one of the more important bits of his territory. I was advised to do this with mine and haven't had even the tiniest toilet accident so far.

Original poster
DynamiteFilledRadish · 18/12/2021 13:46

Thanks everyone, really helpful advice!

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 18/12/2021 13:55

Congratulations.

I rescued a small cat, possibly 10 months old. He’d been abused horribly and was apparently nervous. CPL came and delivered him to us. They decided where the litter went. We put him in the dining room as his safe room. Took all the breakables away. Prepared for him to hide. But he wanted to join us. So we let him.

He’s very good and a total time waster. He hasn’t ever troubled the Christmas tree.

Get toys like dangling things on wands. It’s a good way to bond with DCat.

SparklingLime · 18/12/2021 15:05

That’s lovely, @DobbyTheHouseElk!

CoastalWave · 18/12/2021 15:09

ooh how exciting and how lovely for him and you!

I would give him his own space initially - a room if you like he can call his own. And you go in there and spend time with him. He will let you know when it's time to explore!

Agree with those saying when you open his carrier he needs to see his litter tray. Find out what litter he is used to and make sure you use that.

CoastalWave · 18/12/2021 15:10

I'm surprised you were given a ragdoll as a rescue and not told they're indoor cats?

Please don't let her out. They have zero road sense or sense of danger. We sadly lost our ragdoll cross this time last year. Our two new rag dolls are safely indoors with a catio!

DontKeepTheFaith · 18/12/2021 19:47

@CoastalWave

I'm surprised you were given a ragdoll as a rescue and not told they're indoor cats?

Please don't let her out. They have zero road sense or sense of danger. We sadly lost our ragdoll cross this time last year. Our two new rag dolls are safely indoors with a catio!

I’m very sorry you lost your cat, that’s very sad😢💐

We were advised by the rescue our ragdoll was used to having outdoor access and they wanted us to get a cat flap which we had planned anyway.

We discussed it at length (DH and I) and have made the decision we want our cat to enjoy her life as much as possible and for her, that includes garden access. She loves spending time in the garden watching the birds. She thinks she is a master hunter but she couldn’t catch a fly! We are choosing not to take that away from her. Of course there is a risk but she really doesn’t go far. I hope she will stay that way but we will just take it day by day.

I do understand that others would make different decisions or consider me irresponsible and I respect that.