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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.

Unplanned cat

62 replies

Forhecksake · 21/03/2024 13:20

A few weeks ago we noticed a fluffy cat loitering by the door at work. Very friendly, asking for a fuss, following people to their cars. Still there the next day and the next. We got worried that she didn't seem to be leaving at all, so we put a paper collar on her with our phone number, and posted photos on the neighbourhood Facebook pages and lost cat groups. We found someone with a scanner and found she had no chip. By last Monday we hadn't heard anything, everyone was stressing about the cat sleeping outdoors in the rain at night and it kept darting into the building whenever a door opened.

So, I bit the bullet, asked my landlord's permission and brought her home. She sat under the table briefly but within 3 minutes she was on my daughter's lap. She pretty much stayed attached to her for the next 10 hours, purring and making biscuits.

Although she (I think) is fluffy, underneath the fur there's nothing to her. I can feel her ribs, her spine and the bones in her tail. Her frame is small, so maybe not very old. But her belly is round...

So now I'm waiting for a vet appointment on Monday to estimate her age so I can get insurance and sort tagging and vaccines and find out whether she has any passengers on board...

In the meantime it's very difficult to get anything done with her sitting there looking like this.

Unplanned cat
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TroysMammy · 05/04/2024 06:41

Poor Binx, she thought she was getting a slave. You'll have to buck up your ideas on cat ownership and I don't mean you are the owner by a long shot.

ViveLaOeuf · 05/04/2024 15:27

My cat totally couldn't stand a covered litter box, he used to smear poo inside the ceiling of it until we gave up and took the cover off!

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 07/04/2024 00:21

If you want to avoid litter scatter but the cat objects to a lidded box, get a plastic storage box and cut a U-shaped entryway in one of the sides.

Forhecksake · 07/04/2024 13:21

I got this one, but took off the top and the door so she could adjust. She does use it, but it clearly can't compare with flinging litter in all directions with wild abandon 😁.

Having watched her for a couple days, it may be that she's not cross with me but just generally going through some changes.

Previously she has always hung out on the pouffe in the front room apart from eating, playing, etc. That way she can easily beg food and jump on laps when someone sits down.

Now she's almost permanently under the dining chair, and spends all her time sleeping and grooming herself. She's definitely rounder and her hair is much thicker. Maybe she's nesting...

Unplanned cat
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Overtheatlantic · 07/04/2024 13:25

If the storm is over you she might be self soothing. Also the change of seasons. My girl has terrible allergies right now and is sneezing every day.

Ellmau · 07/04/2024 14:27

Have you taken her to vet to check for pregnancy?

Pudmyboy · 07/04/2024 14:33

Any news? Is she rounder because she is finally getting fed, regularly and on demand? Or buns in the oven?? She is lovely though and so great to see her in her forever home!

Oldraver · 07/04/2024 14:46

You can get mats that trap litter, and you just tip it away or back in the tray

I've yet to find a room sized one though

Forhecksake · 07/04/2024 15:28

Ellmau · 07/04/2024 14:27

Have you taken her to vet to check for pregnancy?

I took her to the vet to find out, and she said that she could feel the uterine horns but not any individual fetuses. She said that it could be too early in pregnancy to feel or that she might have had kittens not long ago.

So she may be pregnant. The vet recommended booking the spay appointment anyway, because her age and size make it the safest option.

I can't tell whether she's rounding out because she's being fed consistently. Her fur is amazing, now though. It was long but very thin when she came and now it's thick and fluffy with curls on her tummy. 😍

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Forhecksake · 07/04/2024 15:37

Photo of said curly belly fur

Unplanned cat
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Shiveringinthecountry · 08/04/2024 13:24

She looks so relaxed and content! When I got my Catty as a rescue many years ago he'd been living rough and his coat was very thin. The rescue named him Tatty. His coat blossomed into the most luxurious cat coat I've ever seen pretty quickly, with good food and shelter and love and security. Sounds like same thing is happening to your own little monster 😁

Shiveringinthecountry · 08/04/2024 13:25

She looks so relaxed and content! When I got my Catty as a rescue many years ago he'd been living rough and his coat was very thin. The rescue n named him Tatty. His coat blossomed into the most luxurious cat coat I've ever seen pretty quickly, with good food and shelter and love and security. Sounds like same thing is happening to your own little monster 😁

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