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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

Tips for 1st time cat slave - bringing home adoptive cat tomorrow

19 replies

MissSkate · 13/05/2023 21:18

Any hints and tips appreciated. We've got her a bed, food and a litter tray sorted. She's coming to a busy house with 2 children but she's used to children at the rescue.

Photo for cat tax - been reading a while and know how this works! 😂

Tips for 1st time cat slave - bringing home adoptive cat tomorrow

OP posts:

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 13/05/2023 21:27

Oh she’s a beauty but she knows her own mind that one. You don’t need to know much, the cat knows what to do and you’ll learn.

We all learn.

hexsnidgett · 13/05/2023 21:31

Bless her, she has pale ears is my first thought, so get some pet safe sun protection.

medicmumma · 13/05/2023 21:32

awww she's gorgeous!

I have two rescues - when you bring her home just give her her own space (i.e. give her a room and put her food/water/toys/blankets in there. It's so difficult when they first come home but try to leave her alone - the most i would do in the first few days is popping into the room here and there and sitting quietly there to get her used to you. When she's ready she'll come out and explore xxx

Waitingforsummer75 · 13/05/2023 21:37

She's beautiful. I have a rescue, when we brought her home we allowed her free run of the house but made sure she had somewhere safe to 'hide' if needed.
You've already accepted you are now a slave, that's the main thing 😁
Please update with how she settles

TheSpottedZebra · 13/05/2023 21:38

83% of cats ignore their beds. SHUN them even.
Instead, she'd like a range of cardboard boxes, a primark bag or a delicate jumper.

Ach, you'll be fine. She'll be the cat that she is. She might be brave at first, 9r she might take fright and hide, so you just have to let her lead and learn her cues.

Ears back means cats are annoyed, or scared.
Don't rub her tummy until you know her very well.
Blinking is like smiling at a cat. Do a slow blink at her, and hope she does it back.

How old is she?

SleepingisanArt · 13/05/2023 21:40

First mistake - you bought a cat bed! You know the first rule of being a cat is NEVER sleep in a bed specifically bought for you! Welcome to the ranks of cat butler and enjoy your new furry friend.

Original poster

MissSkate · 13/05/2023 21:45

@medicmumma sadly we don't have a spare room for her but I have already primed the kids that she needs to be left alone when she gets home and that she might hide.

@TheSpottedZebra shes around a year old. Was thought to be pregnant when arrived in rescue but they watched and waited and no kittens arrived despite obvious signs of pregnancy. So they took her to the vets who scanned and said she probably was pregnant but her body had reabsorbed the kittens, a bit like a miscarriage. Poor little darling 😢

OP posts:

Original poster

MissSkate · 13/05/2023 21:46

Thanks for advice so far. Absolutely laughing at the cat bed not getting used 😂

OP posts:

AlisonDonut · 13/05/2023 21:47

We have a feral that decided to adopt us and bought him a bed. Now we put it in the room we don't want him sleeping in as he avoids it like the plague. He mainly sleeps on my bed now.

FiveShelties · 13/05/2023 21:48

She is lovely - I think cats usually make it clear what they want and you will be forever her slave.

Enjoy.

Danikm151 · 13/05/2023 21:52

Let her get her bearings.
establish a set place for her litter, away from her food.
fresh water every day.

let her come to you at first then before you know it you’ll be cat nap trapped 🤣

Danikm151 · 13/05/2023 21:52

Also toys… she will hate things you get for her but get great joy in a ball of paper or one of the kid’s toys.

paper bags for days

Pixiedust1234 · 13/05/2023 22:05

Don't use hands or feet as playthings as you are setting her up to be aggressive to humans. Use balls (especially tin foil), catnip mice or those on sticks/string to mimic real animals. Mine loved it when we threw mice or balls up the stairs. We stayed at the bottom and she exhausted herself 😂

Ensure she has a safe space that everyone leaves her alone, including you. It will be her safe space for years so see where she hides in the next few weeks then designate her favourite. Ours had the top of cat tree and under the duvets as her safe spaces. If you want her attention whilst in safe space use treats to draw her away.

Final tip. Post more pictures

mildlydispeptic · 13/05/2023 22:08

Cardboard boxes. Tin foil and paper rolled into balls. Webbox Lick-e-lix yoghurt treats (liver flavour). Thrive treats (chicken flavour). Higher budget: Da Bird teaser toy.

Florissante · 13/05/2023 22:12

She's a cutie. I'm so glad to hear that she has a forever home.

Pudmyboy · 14/05/2023 11:43

Sorry all but I thought tinfoil balls were not good for cats: online vet sites say bits can be swallowed and lacerate the stomach; the 'pro' articles all seem to be cat owners saying cats enjoy them, but no vet saying they are good.....

mildlydispeptic · 14/05/2023 12:43

I think it depends on how much of a chewer your cat is. When I do tinfoil balls I pack them very tight so they're smoothed down.

Toddlerteaplease · 14/05/2023 12:45

Get some mollies mice. Mine don't play at all, but they love thrm!

Pixiedust1234 · 14/05/2023 12:47

Pudmyboy · 14/05/2023 11:43

I suppose it depends if the cat bites them or not. Mine never did. She would batter them or stick claws in to throw them about but never used her teeth which she did use on the catnip mice and other toys.

Worth knowing about if your cat likes biting them though!

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