Concerned new owner of 2 cats

[Aikko]

I have adopted two 10 year old cats from my dad who passed away very recently, as he wished. I live alone and moved the cats in to my house a little over a week ago. The male cat in particular I think is showing signs of being bored/agitated. He paces around the house in the early hours - yowling, although food bowl is full, fresh water available, and litter trays clean.

I'm exhausted with everything and starting to doubt whether I am up to the task of looking after two cats, and if it's even fair on them. I'm out the house between 07.15 until 18:30 for work during the week and really concerned the cats are just incredibly bored, on top of feeling anxious due to being thrown from a very comfortable house with large garden to a strange new environment with very little human interaction except me. I give the cats some attention in the evening but I don't know if it's enough for them.

I am hopeful that once they have access to the outdoors they will have a bit more enrichment during the daytime and settle down a bit, but how much longer should I leave it before letting them out?

I'm very sorry for your loss and this is a big thing you've done which I'm sure your dad would be very grateful for.

Give them time. They're 10 so once they're settled will probably spend a lot of their day sleeping. He's howling as he's in a new environment probably wondering where your dad is. Have you bought any new toys for them. Can't like new things , even just a cardboard box to investigate. I rotate my cats toys regularly to keep them entertained. Leave it another few weeks as you don't want them trying to get back to their old home if you let them out.

Generally it seems to be recommended you keep newly adopted cats in for 3-4 weeks. They will settle down once they get used to their new environment and once they can go outside it'll make a massive difference.

A week isn't long: the cats will be confused, disorientated, wondering where their human is. Give them a bit of time to settle, maybe also get some Feliway plug-ins as they can help calm them. As long as you spend time with them in the evening and make a fuss of them when you're around (if they are cats who like fuss) and eventually when settled they have outside access, I'm sure they'll be fine. When we brought our rescue home we were advised to keep him indoors for 6 weeks but he was desperate to get out so it was more like 4-5 weeks. The first time you let them out, make sure it's before dinner time so they are hungry enough to come back home to eat.

Well done on taking them on - it must have been reassuring for your dad to know they would be well looked after. And condolences for his loss. Make sure you look after yourself well too.

Honestly, my first thought is that the cats are probably grieving. Losing their owner as well as having a new house / garden / being kept in (which is the right thing to do for a while ofc), it's a lot of upset for a cat. A lot of people think cats don't care about anything but it just isn't true, they're sensitive and it can take them a lot of time to come round to new situations. It's only been 10 days, just keep doing what you're doing, they will settle in.

A week is a very short time in rehoming cats. Were they previously allowed out at night? If so cat is probably cross and wanting to go back to his old territory.

If he doesn't settle I'd take to the vets to have his thyroid checked as pacing about and yelling is a classic sign.

They are both used to spending pretty much all day in the garden when they were at my dad’s, although he did used to lock them indoors at night no later than around 10pm. He had a lovely huge garden, with lots of mature trees, bushes, squirrels, birds and insects for them to chase.

I brought over some of their blankets, toys and litters trays for some familiar smells, I have a couple of Feliway plug-ins and bought two new large cat towers with scratching posts, put some catnip on them and they love them. Often I see the female snoozing in the new hammock.

It’s just an incredibly stressful moment, and lack of sleep because the cat wakes me up howling isn’t helping my mental state too much.

It sounds like I’ll have to push through and make do over the next 2-3 weeks. Hopefully the cats wont know themselves once they can explore again.

I'm so sorry about your dad, you're doing a lovely thing

But do remember that a week is absolutely nothing in terms of re-homing animals - it can take three months (if not longer) for them to settle into a new environment.

I'd also add that at 10, they are considered senior and will probably take a bit more reassurance compared to a younger cat.

I'm sorry for the loss of your dad, well done for taking them on. We have 12 year old sister cats who came to us at a year old, it was a huge adjustment for all of us and took several weeks, we kept them in for a good month to get past Bonfire Night. They didn't like it but settled in the end. Is your home local to your father's house? They may try and find their way back if it is, so that is one thing to look out for, my friend moved with her cat a mile down the road and he went back several times. Make sure they can't get into his house if it is unoccupied.

I’m very sorry to hear about your dad. It sounds as though the cats are unhappy at not being allowed out. You do need to wait a few more weeks so they can suss out the new surroundings before the can be let out.

Could you get some ear plugs as a short term solution for being woken up?

Hi Aikko, it sounds like you are doing all of the right things and thank you so much for looking after these cats when both you and they are grieving. Your dad would have been so touched to know that you are doing this. I adopted two cats (brothers) after their previous owner died and they were very scared of everything to start with but settled in to become loving contented cats with huge personalities. Feliway definitely helped them when they arrived. Scent is very important to cats so, if it would not be too distressing for you, it might help them to put out an old worn jumper or similar of your dad's somewhere comfy like on a sofa or chair that they can snuggle on. It might really work or really not help at all but worth a try.

They also really like having somewhere to hide when they feel vulnerable so a cardboard box or igloo bed might help,

Definitely keep inside for at least 4 weeks, ideally longer. The howling may be an expression of grief so unfortunately you may need some ear plugs for a few weeks. Do not feel guilty about keeping them downstairs/in a different part of the home overnight if that helps you sleep.
Here is some info from cat charities on grief in cats - it is real, I have seen it when one of my two lost his brother. For a cat to loss their primary carer is a huge loss:
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/how-to-help-a-grieving-cat
https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/grief/advice/grief-guidance-resources/grief-in-surviving-pets

Mine did that too. I locked in another large room overnight so I wouldn't be wakened! I need my sleep.

Don't cave and let them out yet. You're doing the right thing. They will attempt to go 'home' and get lost if you let them out before they realise they are 'at home' already.

Sorry for the loss of your dad. He would be happy to know you are caring for his beloved cats.