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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.

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Original poster

Bringing rescue cat home

24 replies

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/01/2023 17:29

Not had a cat for over 10 years so bit rusty, any advice would be very welcome.

Cat is a 3 year old female moggy. Apparently very friendly, was abandoned at vet.

We have 2 large cat litter trays + litter (one enclosed, one open)
Wet cat food.
Cat fountain.
Whisker friendly food / drink bowls.
Cat tree.
A few cat toys.
Feliway.
Have been in contact with local vet.
Researched insurance (going to use ManyPets lifetime)

Will see if we can get blanket and used cat litter so house smells like cat.

What else do I need?

OP posts:

TerfOnATrain · 14/01/2023 17:36

Assumed it’s neutered and now vaccinated and been given a clean bill of health by the vet?

Original poster

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/01/2023 17:39

Not sure if will be neutered (I think there's a backlog) - if she's not we'll get it done ASAP and she'll be kept in for a few weeks any way. Clean bill of health from vet. Negative for FIV and FELV (?). Has been wormed. Vaccineted 2 x Versifel CVR (not sure what that's for?)

OP posts:

AnnaMagnani · 14/01/2023 17:40

Stick in one room and leave cat to it. When cat is confident (shouldn't be more than a few days) open door and let cat explore the house.

Am not sure it will appreciate the smell of other cats in the cat litter. It will likely be very happy knowing it is the only cat.

Original poster

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/01/2023 17:49

Sorry, I meant bring some of her cat litter home to put in our litter trays so that they smell of her (not random cat!)

OP posts:

Allergictoironing · 14/01/2023 18:03

Check with the rescue which food and litter she has been using there, and start out on that if possible. You can change it later, but it's another thing she'll be familiar with so should help her settle.

Any particular reason you're feeding her on just wet rather than a mix?

Original poster

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/01/2023 18:07

My understanding was that wet only was better for cats?

OP posts:

Original poster

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/01/2023 18:08

But yes will switch her across slowly from what she is currently on

OP posts:

TheOGCCL · 14/01/2023 18:12

How exciting! You sound pretty prepared. Would just echo what PP said re changing diet very slowly and giving them plenty of space at first. If very nervous you can go in after a few days and read or sit in with the radio or something.

Also make sure there are no escape routes from the house, eg upstairs windows and everyone in the house is briefed on not leaving the front door open/being on guard when coming or going. Always amazed by the number of rescues re-appealing for their cats that have gone missing.

MissBattleaxe · 14/01/2023 18:20

All sounds good but probably not need for her used cat litter, but try and use the same type as she's used to. I prefer the wood stuff myself, odour wise. When our cats were new to us, we benignly ignored them for a few days until they came and sniffed us of their own accord.

Original poster

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/01/2023 18:21

Apparently she's very confident and friendly, though will of course give her plenty of space when she comes home. Are going to do our very best to keep her in, although we only have a single front door and not a porch.

I am insanely excited

OP posts:

JoanOgden · 14/01/2023 18:40

The most important preparation you can do is to be ready to entirely reorganise your life based on what she tells you she wants. Cats are VERY good dictators communicators.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 14/01/2023 20:57

We didn't do any of that, we brought Harry home, opened the door of basket and let him find his own way around the house. We have no spare room so he didn't have the option of his own space. Luckily he wasn't as timid as we were led to believe so he had a wander around and went to sleep!

Please can we see a picture when she's home OP?

purser25 · 14/01/2023 21:52

When we have had rescues both got on a lap the first evening.

Mumof1andacat · 14/01/2023 22:01

Unable to give advice without a photo... 😀

Original poster

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 16/01/2023 17:18

Cat tax paid...

She seems very friendly and not at all wary with us, but not really venturing out of the room yet. We are all very much in love with her

OP posts:

VivietteConstantine · 16/01/2023 17:20

She's so beautiful - what a friendly face 🐱

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 16/01/2023 17:21

She's Harry's distant relative!

She's gorgeous!

LadyOfTheCanyon · 16/01/2023 17:49

Waaah she's GORGEOUS! 🖤🖤

Allergictoironing · 16/01/2023 17:59

What a pretty little girl! She'll soon be running riot over the house as you dash around catering to her every whim.

catandcoffee · 16/01/2023 20:14

Gorgeous face and looks like she's got a little naughty glint in those eyes

Toddlerteaplease · 16/01/2023 20:49

She's gorgeous!

Mia184 · 16/01/2023 20:53

Wow, she is gorgeous!

Original poster

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 16/01/2023 21:32

Thank you all

She's currently still mostly lurking in her "safe room", but has spent some time lying on the bed with us, and has briefly made a circuit of most of the rest of the house.

She ate all her dinner too, after trying to bury it a couple of times...

OP posts:

Mumof1andacat · 16/01/2023 21:47

She's beautiful. Congratulations xxx

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