Oh help me, I looked at the "cats needing homes" page!

[SureJanOK]

Hello all

My 18 yr old cat died peacefully 3 weeks ago following kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. I have been surprised how "ok" I've been. I think I did all my grieving these last 7 months since she was diagnosed.

I've been away twice already since, just for a couple of days. And I'm booked to go on a city break 26-28 July. I had had in my mind also to go to the USA end of Sep which is my next annual leave. The only major thing still on my bucket list tbh (I'm 41). And then to look into adopting another cat when I came back. I've not had any holidays for years, they've never been that high on my list of priorities, esp when the cat was older.

But I STUPIDLY looked at the "Cats Needing Homes" page on my local rescue. And there's a 12 year old there who's been at the rescue for nearly 2 months already. She looks ideal for me. (Wants to be a single cat in a quiet adult home with garden).

What to do?!!!!!!!

Assuming I went, met her and fell in love...I wouldn't want to immediately go away for the weekend.

And SHOULD I get the US trip out my system? Or save up for a few years more (it would clear out my savings).

I'd feel SO AWFUL if I came back from the US and she was still there and I ended up adopting her then. She would have had to wait MONTHS for me.

I live alone and have never used catteries or pet sitters. I have SOME family but not sure I'd trust anyone enough with my baby!

Should I phone the rescue and see what they say?!

Also am I crazy to adopt a 12 year old and set myself up for another load of heartache and expense in just another few years?

Thanks

Do you have any more pictures? 💕

That's how I felt. My cat died at almost nineteen and within the month we had two rescues. It wasn't the plan, we just went to look to see some cats in an expected way. I didn't want to cry in the street if saw one. Somehow we came home having registered to take them. We've had them for 11 years and lost one last month😢. In between we went to adopt a nine year old cat but they said no as we have a dog and had two other cats and came home having registered to take a kitten. She's now five.

You might want to have a look at some of the "diet" dry foods you can get for cats, both the low calorie type ones and the ones that make them feel fuller. DSis & I have tried slightly different ones on our cats (both have one rather cuddly cat & one slim one), and we're seeing the weight come off the larger cats but no issues with the slimmer ones.

Thanks all for the continued support.

Here are some pics I took of her in her pen at the rescue :-(

I'll try and take some nice ones of her at home over the weekend.

She does seem happy enough.

She's more vocal than my last cat and definitely more fussy re food.

She's happy to sit on me/beside me.
She must weigh about 10lbs tho!

She's beautiful looks like she's going to settle in well

She's lovely. I hope you have a very happy life together.

I have enjoyed reading this thread. I am currently in the process of adopting a cat having just lost mine. I was rejected by Battersea for having no cat flap which was never an issue for my previous cat who came and went out the windows(safely). I was approved by 2 other rescues, but feel they are trying to push me into making a quick decision which I really don’t want to do. I want to take my time and meet lots of cats. Of course if it’s live at first sight that would be great too, but hasn’t happened yet.

I am also so shocked by all the people dumping or giving up their cats now due to cost of living.

Saying Battersea, sounds like you are in the South East. If so, would Rolvenden (depths of Kent) be any good to you? Got my first pair there, and another when I sadly lost one of them to CKD, plus DSis ended up there for her two new ones.

Pragmatic about your home situation so the cat flap think would be OK, will only show you cats that suit your requirements and they always have loads there to look at. They often get a load of cats together from a hoarder situation. I think there were about 12 or more that fit my (very specific) requirements when I got Tobias there.

Rolvenden Cat Rescue - don't judge them by the few they show on the web site, they always have LOADS,

Can you reserve her for after your return from USA and tell them that you don't want to unsettle her by taking planned trips just as she moves home.

Or, take the weekends but postpone USA until she is settled and would be happy with a sitter.

Definitely get the cat but I think you should travel too? I wonder would they hold her for you? (Sounds silly but 🤞🤞🤞)

It wasn't a silly thing to ask but it was the wrong time to post it - she brought the cat home 3 days ago!

Anniegetyourgun
oh yay!!!!

Hi everyone!

I don't have a catflap, I don't let my cat go outside when I'm not around as there are other cats in the area so in case they get in a fight. I just leave the door ajar or open/close it for them.

Izzy seems to like binbags of all things so I've bought her some scrunchy toys to play with.

I'm also trying her on a few different sorts of food.

She is a big fan of "rotting" in bed with me!

One thing I particularly like about Izzy is that she hasn't woken me up ONCE as yet! I could NOT have said that about her departed sister who on occasions, even when young, woke me several times a night!

Izzy is currently "making biscuits" on the blanket and purring. She seems happy as larry.

I'd really prefer if I could get her to eat wet food and/or lik-e-lix. Lik-e-lix in particular was a god-send when it came to getting medicine down Kenzo!

It's strange that Izzy is so chunky yet doesn't seem overly bothered about food.

I'm enjoying having this thread to essentially "blog" our early days together! Please do follow along and give me your advice!

We adopted from Cats Protection (no cat flap here, he just has slaves to open the back door) and they have a huge waiting list for cats going into care - one out, one in. The lady said they are also delivering care packages to people who just can’t afford to feed their cats due to COL but don’t want to rehome them. It’s heartbreaking. Our previous cat didn’t really use the litter tray and preferred to toilet outside - although we did always have two trays for her - but this boy will come in to use it, and the cost of litter is horrifying! We’re very lucky that we are financially okay but I can totally see how people have to make difficult choices.

Some more photos for Izzy's fans

She's absolutely lovely. She looks very content to have a human of her own again.

Our cats are fed on dry food and occasionally wet food. We haven't found it problematic getting medication into them.

I've used fish oil for some of them to disguise the taste of medicine, but mostly it's a case of grab cat and insert pill before they realise what's happening!

@Allergictoironing

Rolvenden are lovely. My parents know the lady well. We had a look when I was thinking about getting another one and may go there again.

She looks so pretty (as was your last lovely girl) and so at home already. One can’t help smiling to see photos of such a very contented cat.

I did the same. Lost my cat and adopted another 3 days later who is the bigger quieter version of my old cat
They didn't even home check me as they knew me from before and basically said give her whatever cat she wants
He's snoring away next to me

These cats have all won the cat lottery!

Chasing a sunbeam today

I wish you'd tell my cats this
Mine were rescued from a garden, taken to CPL to be reared and socialised then put up for homing .

They had never used a catdoor so had to learn how to get used to this (microchip activated) they were litter trained but obviously didn't have free range as there were other cats
We're a house of 4 adults ( DH/DS/DD and me) . DH often WFH.
No dogs , no children ., good sized garden, and we appreciate they are cats which do their own thing .They have the run of the house except DD room and the utility

They had to go as a pair . Male Cat is very shy . Shy black cats are the hardest to home . Add a bolshy Female . Bolshy black cats are a close 2nd .

They always look at me with a I have CPL on speed-dial y;know . One call and they'd whoosh round with a carrier. The only thing stopping me is I'm thinking about all those decent cats out there who I'm saving from you

So our house is this'll do for now, we'll put up with you

Good Job we all love these little Varmints even though I cannot have a Christmas tree (they wreck it) or candles

She's taking to lying at my desk while I'm working. Essentially directly on the floor (it's a very thin mat under my chair).

Clearly what will happen now is I will spend ££ on a nice bed for her there and she will ignore it.

She doesn't like the John Lewis sheepskins so far! In my experience, cats prefer those cheap fleecy blankets rather than proper wool.