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.

I’ve got https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BP4LC8X?starsLeft=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_wa_apin_dp_GEQ7QWQ6SJ99EG0S4AHB&ascsubtag=mnforum-21.&tag=mumsnet
and the high sides go on or off depending on a cat’s preference / how much mess they make.

It's been an interesting first night. He came out a few times in the evening in short bursts. He ate all his dinner and was very affectionate to all of us at times. He's climbed all the furniture, had lots of looks out the front window behind the blinds and even made a dash for the chimney! Luckily it was boarded up inside so he wouldn't have got far, but our other chimney is open so I've hastily duct taped strong cardboard over the opening until I buy something more permanent. I'm thinking a chimney sheep might be the answer. We left him to himself downstairs overnight , I think he may have slept on the sofa as I left it covered in blankets and he was happily grooming himself there before I went up to bed. He's clearly used his litter tray overnight . It's a very large hooded one but I taped the flap door open for him just in case he didn't realise that's what it was! He's still hiding in his favourite spot at the moment and hasn't come out for his breakfast yet . I'm getting slightly concerned now as the rescue said he usually has breakfast at 8:30. Perhaps I should have slept downstairs with him? But I thought he'd appreciate complete alone time.

I really appreciate all the thoughts and tips shared , thank you!

Breakfast 8.30 at the Rescue - where he was familiar with everything . I bet the farm he wasn’t in that routine on the first couple of days there.

Do you know any of his background . Was he a family cat before .

He is sussing you all out , getting to know his new family .
You are getting to know your New Boss 😄

He was with a family with young children before but they don't really know the reason for wanting him re homed. Just a "sudden change of circumstances" . He was brought in with another cat but they decided they would be better separated and re homed separately. They had been well cared for, up to date vaccines, neutered and chipped already.

As he ate all his dinner, don't worry re breakfast.

I wouldn't worry about him being out of his normal routine, he actually sounds really comfortable for a first night in a new place/ with new people. A lot of cats, when brought home from a rescue, will stay completely hidden for the first few days/weeks. He's probably been up half the night exploring and now having a little snooze. He'll gradually get into a routine.

Ah thevcats might’ve been a bit narky with each other. Or possibly with the children. Or there might have been financial restraints , or allergies. You won’t know the full details .

Ours will happily rough up the carpets (even the new bedroom one that they know they shouldn’t)
When we got a new sofa ( nothing to do with the cats , it was ancient and past it) we bought an exact same as it fitted the space and there was space for them under it.He walks past 2 scratchposts to scratch the sofa A quick “No” before he gets his claws out will stop him - and cue the big innocent eyes

We have had to adapt a few things ( no glass ornaments, no candles, no Christmas tree) and accept some things (hall and stair carpet looks a bit cotton woolly and there’s a bit of wallpaper missing in some places)
Part of house sharing with mini panthers but nothing that would make me rehome . Though ours are a bit Mittens of Doom as DD calls it ( wake you up with claws). My DC are adults. I would not have taken these cats if I had young DC .

Be amazed at how many places they will find to hide! We kept losing our adult cat in the first few weeks, often for hours at a time only for her to emerge from under/behind/out of a cupboard or something.
We initially set ours up in the study as it was a room we could isolate and has a hard floor so didn't matter if there were any accidents. What we hadn't realised is that a persistent cat can open the door quite easily. She stayed in there for about two hours and then gave herself free run of the house although we rarely saw her. It turned out that most of our doors can be opened by a persistent cat.
We left her tray in the study for the first days, then put one in the downstairs cloakroom too and then, when she'd got used to that one and we realised that, whilst the plan had been not to let her upstairs, she preferred being upstairs, moved the one from the study to the upstairs bathroom.
Four years later, she spends the morning on a double bed in an east facing bedroom, the afternoon looking mournful as the west facing bedroom only has a single bed which she seems to think is not worthy, the evening on the sofa and the night curled up on my daughter's bed. She intersperses these with periods sat on a windowsill, in the garden or on the roof!

@sangriaandsunshineplease poor deprived cat on a single bed.

@Symposium

as you’re a novice cat owner do you know about the Cat Tax…….

No I don't know about a cat tax... I only know he's cost us a small fortune already! And I've messed up today, popped to the shop for more food and I've managed to pick up a box of 7+ instead of 1+. Why do they make them look identical! Do you think it's still ok to give him or will it upset his tummy? And the litter scoop has already broken, going to need a metal one I think.

It might have less protein so he’ll be hungrier in between meals.

Cat tax is a picture of him.

Oh of course let me check if I can post a pic, I've not managed to get many yet.

I've had to zoom in but this one's not bad.

Had two rescue cats they were about 5 each one got on a lap the first evening one was shyer and hid a bit but still came out for laps right from the beginning

The main difference in the indicated age on cat food is the balance of protein - senior (7+) cat food is very high in protein, kitten food very high in fat, compared to "normal" adult food.

So no it won't harm him.

But of course we can't really judge until we've seen the pics!!! 😆

Live the picture! Thank you for rescuing him

puppy pads and a high level litter tray can help

just be aware he might be out and about a bit now but might suddenly decide to hide for days. Leave him be if he does, it's all a bit scary a for him now. He'll soon settle in

I'll try to get some better pics tomorrow. He's been out quite a bit today. He ate his breakfast around midday, then decided to climb the tallest piece of furniture in the living room and sat/napped up there for the afternoon. He's been down since for dinner, lots of cuddles and play. He's definitely warming to us but still very skittish. He's bolting to a hiding place when he hears any noise. But he will also started to pop out when I call his name.

Ah he’s a handsome devil 😁

they are sensitive souls- ours hid in our bed for a week when we moved house

he’ll be right as rain in no time

He is a handsome boy and those ear tufts are adorable.

Awww yes gorgeous boy . Love his tufty ears
Our boy has ear tufts at the top edge , nowhere near as impressive as your cats !

He looks like he's concentrating really hard on his next move .

Is he Ginger ? 'cos you do know that all Ginger Cats share one brain cell* and they go on a rota for their turn?

*allegedly

Ginger boys are supposed to be the most cuddly and friendly of cats ( I wouldn;t know if this is true , we co-habit with two little demons )

I got a slightly better picture last night. He was very sleepy so eyes closed but you can see how gorgeous he is. He has hidden behind the tv for much of today but been out for food, using his tray etc. He's very affectionate towards us when he does venture out.

He is GORGEOUS!

And those soft floofy feet, and floofy ear tufts.... 😻😍😻

Absolutely gorgeous cat!