First family cat from rescue

[Symposium]

I'm are going to collect a cat on Thursday and am both excited and nervous! Any tips for a novice cat owner? I've been told to get a large carrier, large open litter tray and a scratching post. We will be given a week's worth of food and a week's insurance. I'm hoping I can put his litter tray in the bathroom as there's not much space for it anywhere else.

First of all, thanks for giving a rescue cat a new start in life.

All our rescues (bar one) we quite nervous of their new surroundings and hid behind the sofa most of the time. We just put a bowl of food behind the sofa and gradually move it into the open to draw them out.

After a month or two, all our rescues thought they owned the place.

Enjoy your new cat.

Be prepared for it to take time to settle in. If possible, keep the cat in one room for a few days and allow it time to get to know the rest of the house gradually. The cat will probably find a safe space to hide. My girls have been with me a year now and my most skittish one will still retreat behind the TV when she's nervous (visitors etc.)

Yes, I was reading that he would need his tray and food etc nearby while he settles? So if I put all his things in the dining room for instance, and then I might be able to move the tray to the bathroom after he's settled? I just don't fancy keeping a litter tray in the same place we eat permanently.

Are you planning to let the cat outside once he's settled in? If so, you might find that you don't need a tray at all. We have one for our two, but they're outside most of the day and prefer to do their toileting there so the tray rarely gets used.

Yes, he will be let out eventually. Ideally, I need to get the cat flap fitted first. But he needs to stay in for a few weeks anyway. He's a medium hair and I know nothing about grooming.

Yes, once the cat is settled, you can move the litter tray. Just take the cat and show it the new location.

Don't put the food right next to the litter tray, and if possible put the water away from the food too.

My cat was feral until he was about 6 months old and won't use an indoor litter tray or drink from an indoor water bowl unless it is absolutely necessary, like if it has snowed heavily - he hates going out in the snow!

Great, thanks for all the tips! I've bought 3 bowls as he has both wet and dry food, so I figured it would be best to have a separate bowl for each and 1 for water. Although , my memory of my mum's cat is he drank water from everyone else's glass rather than his own!

True they can be funny with water, our old cat never seemed to drink - I think he just preferred to drink rain water etc outside. Our current cat will only drink from the dog's water bowl. Keep water away from food is the best tip.

When we got our cat they recommended a feliway plug in - it's meant to help them feel less anxious, don't know if it worked but worth getting anyway.

Also when you get home just open the carrier and let the cat come out in its own time and let it come to you for attention rather than trying to pick it up and give cuddles. You might find that it just hides for a while at first until it gets used to things

I've just had a call from the rescue centre to say he's had a toileting accident , urine leaked outside the tray, and they have changed his tray to a covered one to see if that solves the issue. They did tell me he had missed his tray once before but a larger one solved the problem but now it's happened again. I'd this something I should be very concerned about??!

Be prepared for their character to only emerge after a few weeks and it may be different to behaviour exhibited at the rescue.

Thanks, I'm wondering if he might just be a bit stressed as he's only been with the rescue a few days, so it's a lot of change for him. I know they have given him a once over from the vet and nothing troubling was found. He had access to the outdoors at his last home so perhaps he's missing that?

Awww, poor boy, how lovely for him that once he's gotten through the next few weeks of upheaval he'll be in a lovely new permanent home with a caring owner. I've had cats over the years with toiletting mishaps, so it's unlikely that you need to worry, they seem to be a bit like human males in that respect- some just have poor aim! It's only an issue if they're toiletting in the house away from the tray as a rule. But yes, usually stress causing it. We always use hooded trays and it does seem to help, although they'll still get litter everywhere on exit! Very best of luck with your new family member 😻

Thank you! I really hope this works out. The lady at the rescue has just got me worried now like maybe there's something wrong with him? They are going to ring me tomorrow to let me know how he's doing.

Patience.
Quiet.
Let him dictate pace of socialisation.
Lots of bowls as some in the wash and some in use.
A good complete dry food for teeth health plus some wet food.
Keep water separate - some cats prefer a pint pot or similar. Water fountains can be helpful.
Toys when he is ready
Don't be precious about your furniture.
Cardboard scratchers are good, especially one they can stretch up at - try Amazon.
3 Fat Cats furniture or similar is also good.
Brushing is good for bonding if they like it.
Regular flea and worm treatment from the vet.
Get a microchip flap if they won't wear a collar.

Most of all: cats are equally weird, funny, crazy and adorable. They are not a pet, more a master. Enjoy.

Thank you. Finger crossed that everything will work out . I'm so nervous 😬

It's really good of the rescue to let you know about the toileting. It just sounds like he missed the tray though. It can happen, especially with male cats who stand up more.

They can miss the tray by accident. It’s easily done. My girl has the pets at home chonky girl size tray.

They do miss the litter trays every so often. Best to put something under it. I use newspaper as it makes for an easy clear up.
When you let them outside make sure you have a few suitable cat toilet areas in the garden and then they won’t use the neighbours garden or the litter tray. Mine like one of the raised beds

Most cats love cardboard boxes - either sleeping in them or jumping in & out of them.

Thanks everyone, we collected him today. He came out his carrier straight away and has hidden under a piece of furniture in the living room. So we are just quietly letting him be. We have left his food a water near by.

One of my fosters hid in my bedroom for 2 days, but before she left me she’d become very snuggly. She’s in her forever home now & a total lap cat.

Aww give him settling in time he’ll be very confused .
our cats came into the room - we were advised to keep them contained in one room. Male cat threw himself under a coffee table and hid.
I made my adult DS sleep on the sofa that night . He said male did sneak out for food.
When he ventured out while we were there we all held our breath . Female was more outgoing from the get go.

All animals like routine , it makes them secure.
Time , kindness, routine

Mine have a microchip cat door and use a tray. Fine by me it means they aren’t shitting in NDN gardens.
She has a deep sided with a lower front , he has a massive under bed tray with the wheels removed . They chose which ones each liked.

We have our litter tray in a big plastic box as DCat is very enthusiastic about burying his wees and poos and the litter used to go everywhere but is now contained. Could work for the wee misses? Cats like privacy when they go to the loo but they also need a good view as in the wild this is a time when they feel vulnerable so a deep box without a lid can make them feel safer and obviously contains all the mess.

It took me a while not to think “what the Jeff” as two adult cats walked across the floor then had to remind myself they were “our two cats”

now it seems like they’ve always been here