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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

New cat

46 replies

TinyRebelStayPuft · 08/01/2023 20:56

Hi everyone

Today we brought home a our new cat. We have adopted her from a family who couldn't care for her any longer ( through local cat care charity) She is 8 years old and beautiful - black with orange specks. Pic attached from her old home haven't got a new pic yet.

We saw her in her own home and she was quiet but allowed our daughter 7 to stroke her and our home visit by the charity went well.

We collected her not long after (about 4pm today)and have set her up a little base in our dining room - cat carrier, bed (from prev home), food and water and litter tray. We opened the door to the cat carrier and left it open and have pretty much left her alone (We ate tea in the room but kept noise down) and our daughter sat by the carrier and read her a story.

The poor little thing is curled up at the back of the carrier and hasn't ventured out. How long before we can expect to see her come out? Anything we can do to help her?

New cat
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JoanOgden · 08/01/2023 20:59

What a lovely cat! Sounds like you are doing everything right. I think it took my rescue 48 hours or so to emerge properly, but she did eat and use the litter tray when I was out of the room, so I wasn't too concerned.

Allergictoironing · 08/01/2023 21:06

Took mine days to come out from behind the sofa.

You're doing everything right so far. She's probably waiting until you all go off to bed before scouting out the new place. You'll probably find the food and water have been sampled overnight, but it can take a while before they feel secure enough to use the litter tray - they can hold it in for a couple of days.

Just let her come to you in her own time - she'll soon be ruling the household!

thunderstruckk · 08/01/2023 21:06

She's beautiful!!

Our rescues (much younger cats!) took 24-48 hours to start exploring. Is there an actual room you can put her in that no one is in? Being in a dining room with people eating (albeit quietly) is probably quite nerve wracking for her. We were advised to pop them in a room all on their own so they could explore at their own pace.

Ludo19 · 08/01/2023 22:32

You're doing everything right and its sweet your DD read her a story, she'll get used to her voice and scent that way. Keep in mind you're strangers to her, it'll take her a bit to adjust but once she has, you'll be rewarded tenfold. She's gorgeous 😍

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 08/01/2023 22:50

She’s a beauty! We adopted our girl (six years ago when she was three) from a family where she was stressed by their young children, and she spent her first night wedged under the sofa. By the end of the week she was curled up in our laps. I spoke to her constantly in a low, reassuring voice, and also offered Dreamies - she couldn’t resist those for too long!

CatChant · 08/01/2023 22:59

What a beautiful cat. Just give her time and space, OP.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 08/01/2023 23:02

It could be a few days. Most likely she will venture out when you are not around to begin with. Just leave food, water and her tray nearby, and be in the room with her quietly so she can get used to your presence; but don't try to force your attentions on her before she is ready.

SallyWD · 08/01/2023 23:08

Honestly it's best just to leave her to it. I wouldn't try and approach her or coax her out. It will cause more stress. We adopted a cat and he hid for an entire month before he ventured out! He's now extremely happy, confident and very affectionate.
Don't worry if it takes a few weeks. She'll settle in once she realises this is her new home.

Yarnosaura · 08/01/2023 23:13

You're doing great, don't worry.

I would keep the door to the room closed and pop in at regular times to chat to her and sit on the floor with a book (or faff about on your phone which is what I did and meant it was in my hand ready for photo taking!).

Her colouring is called tortoiseshell and you might want to read about 'naughty torties'!

TheShellBeach · 08/01/2023 23:13

Our rescues spent over a week behind the sofa.

She333 · 08/01/2023 23:16

Adorable that your DD read her a story ☺️
You could also try a feliway diffuser. Enjoy your new addition!

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 08/01/2023 23:18

We introduced a new cat not long before Christmas. He was really nervous at first but we gave him plenty of time and space to find his way around and get to know us.

This was him on day 3 😂

New cat
Original poster
TinyRebelStayPuft · 09/01/2023 05:51

Thank you all for your reassurance we are doing the right thing. Just been to check on her after the first night. She was out of the carrier but looked scared to have been caught out of it. She has eaten some of her food and been in her litter tray - litter moved around - no poo.

She really is a very sweet little thing and my daughter adores her and wants to be great friends with her.

OP posts:
Original poster
TinyRebelStayPuft · 09/01/2023 05:56

@thunderstruckk unfortunately we don't have a room that can just be hers. We only use the room once a day for our main meal and it has a good view of the whole house when the door is open ( we live in a bungalow) so I thought during the day when it's just me working from home I would leave the door open and she could venture out in her time.

OP posts:
Original poster
TinyRebelStayPuft · 09/01/2023 07:58

All still OK, but she has got her down the side of a chest of drawers and right by the sockets. Her weight on the cable was pulling the modem and alexa off the top. Unfortunately had to get in there to untaffle and get wires out the way. Moved the chest of drawers to give more room and she has gone back in to the corner. She is bit shaken I think by the contact but we had to make her safe.

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Pudmyboy · 09/01/2023 20:38

What a start to the day? So early too! But if course the right thing to do for everyone. Any updates? Looking forward to the pics when your kitty is ruling the roost!

catandcoffee · 10/01/2023 00:55

You don't have a black cat with orange bits

OP you have a naughty tortie.....oh what fun you'll have once she settles in.
Can't wait for updates

Toddlerteaplease · 10/01/2023 01:00

She's a beauty!

RedRedWhiney · 10/01/2023 01:02

I was thinking naughty tortie too!
OP I have one, she's now 11 and still into everything 🤣 the most gorgeous and affectionate cats 🐈

DomesticShortHair · 10/01/2023 01:55

Don’t worry, you’re doing all the right stuff, but all she really needs is love, respect, patience and time. You can imagine how very scary and overwhelming it must be for her, but cats really are great at adapting. She just needs to learn that she’s in a safe place and she isn’t in any danger. And she will.

Well done for taking her on and making her part of your family. Kittens are great, but I always think it takes a really special family to welcome an older cat into their lives. X

BurningSkies · 10/01/2023 08:43

Thank you so much for your lovely comments.

Tatty has started to come out of her shell a bit. I spent 5 mins or so every hour yesterday just sitting in her room and chatting to her softly and she came out and had some ear rubs.

She has claimed under my daughters bed as another safe spot and has had a quick nosy in some of our other rooms.

She is eating well and used the litter tray (poo and wee) so it's good to know she's comfortable with that.

This morning she was really affectionate with me - lots of rubbing against me and behind ear tickles.

My daughter (7) adores her but needs to relax a bit and let her come to her - it's a learning curve for both of them.

Slightly worried about the naughty tortie now. Her colouring is absolutely beautiful.

Pic below - this socket has now been moved to keep her safe.

New cat
Yarnosaura · 10/01/2023 10:09

That all sounds great. She's beautiful 😍

TheShellBeach · 10/01/2023 10:15

NC fail?

Rosio · 10/01/2023 10:29

We just got our cat middle Of November. Same situation with her being from a rescue from a family who couldn't keep her. She spent the first 2 days in my sons room
Hiding under his cot, that was her chosen safe space so I had her litter tray, food bowls up in that room for her. On the 3rd day she actually came downstairs for the first time. Almost 2 months in and she never goes In that room now as chooses to spend all her time downstairs 😊 she will come round very soon just give her a few days

Original poster
TinyRebelStayPuft · 12/01/2023 09:26

So all had been going well. Tatty has been spending most of her time under the bed in my daughters room. Whenever I went in during the day to say hello she quite happily came out and rubbed her head all over me and the furniture and let me stroke her and she had even got to the point of climbing on my lap.

She has been letting my dghtr do similar but still wary of my husband. She has been looking around the other rooms in the house but quickly runs back under the bed when she hears a noise or had enough.

Last night I called her from under the bed and back to her base in the dining room. We don't want her staying the night in my daughters room at the moment. She went into her carrier in the corner. Closed daughters door.

I left the dining room door open last night thinking she might explore the hall in the dark and get comfortable in her own time. This morning she had eaten all her food. Had a poo and disappeared. We cannot find her anywhere. I know she cannot of got out the house. Windows closed. All of our doors to the outside have a door before them (so in hallway there is door with a little porch and then outside door - both closed)

I've refreshed her food and water and nowthe house is empty (dghtr at school and dh at work) I've called and called her and searched high and low and nothing. I feel very worried.

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