Setting up room for rescue cat

[Esgaroth]

We're going to pick up our rescue cat on Sunday and I've been making him a base camp in our spare bedroom, which is on the basement level so quieter than the main floor and upstairs.

I've put for him:

A litter tray
A cardboard box with an old pillow and a blanket
Bowls for water and dry food
A toy mouse (I imagine he won't be feeling very playful yet but just in case)
A cat tree with a cave thing, scratch posts and platforms that will allow him to climb up to the window sill (which is quite high up because it's the basement) or the top of the book shelf.

There's also a bed in there and an armchair so he should have plenty of places to sit/sleep and also places to hide.

I've put the litter tray, food bowl and water bowl all apart from each other, as I've read this is how cats prefer it.

Is there anything else I should be getting ready for him? He's about 4/5, not a kitten, and was left behind when his owner moved house so he was living outside for a while, then in a cage at the rescue, then in a foster home this past week so he's definitely going to be very unsettled and will need to spend at least a few days just in this room.

Should I leave him completely alone in there apart from coming in to feed, water and clean litter box or should I bring my laptop in to work there during the day? Should I sleep in the bed or would he probably prefer to have the night alone?

Stay with cat, being quiet and calm, but companion able.

Definitely this - I slept in the room with our new kitten, also sat quietly in there reading. After a couple of nights she got into bed with me. Still quite cautious, but letting her get used to me in her own time worked well

A radio tuned to a talk show might get him more accustomed to household noises.

Not all rescue cats are the same btw. My current one came out of the cat box, walked around the sitting room, went into the hall, spotted the litter tray, had a wee, went into the kitchen, had a bit of lunch, tried the cat flap ( locked!), mooched upstairs, took one look at his expensive cat bed on the landing and came down to find a sofa. One of my dds rescues found a hole in the floorboard under the stairs and dived in for three days. Another of mine shot straight up the chimney, luckily she came back down again a minute later, covered in soot, including her spaying scar.

Mr Confident btw had been in the cats rescue for over six months having surgery on his leg, nearly had to be amputated because of a collar injury, luckily saved it, huge scar in his armpit, he was clearly very happy to be in a home again. Though now he treats it like a blumming hotel, if the catflap is not locked with him inside by about 8 at night he is out til the small hours.

He's apparently been timid and unsettled in the foster home so I don't think he'll be straight out the carrier like he owns the place after yet another change of environment. I'm expecting him to need a fair bit of patience.

Mine have really liked having a good view out of the window so provide a clear windowsill or put furniture/cat tree there.

More toys of different sorts dotted about.

Every time you visit provide dreamies and use the cat's name. This will make it easier when you let him outside.

I wouldn't sleep in there.

You sound as though you will be very tuned into his needs. He is a lucky boy to have chosen you!

My latest was a semi-feral stray and she didn't come out of her room for about 3 weeks I think. It was then her "safe space" for many months and she'd retreat if anyone visited or was scared. Nearly 4 years on and it's still "her" room and we get ordered to go and play with her in there!

Put something in their bed that smells of you. Is the pillow feather filled? Just as it may pull them and swallow them. I think best not to sleep in there. Just spend some time in the room but not right next to them and allow them to come to you.

It sounds lovely OP.

I'd spend time with him in the room but not fuss him, so doing work on your laptop sounds perfect.

Just to let you know you may want to get another litter tray as some cats don't like to poo and wee in the same place. We've had cats for years and I've never come across this until we got our current two.

We'll need pictures when the cat arrives! 😁

I think it is a synthetic pillow, will check. Perhaps a couple of blankets would be better!

Do you think he'll be able to hop up to the window sill using the cat tree here? I think it's an easy jump for a young healthy cat. The bookshelf is securely attached to the wall so no danger from him climbing on it if he chooses.

The window is ground level so he won't have a brilliant view unfortunately but he'll be able to see into the garden a bit.

It sounds perfect, and you sound very thoughtful. Is there somewhere for him to hide? They feel safe if they can hide behind or under something.

Yes, he can hide under the bed or behind the armchair.

I'd move the cat tree to under the window to make it easier for him. Some are more agile than others!

I'd make sure he gets used to your voice by sitting outside the room and talking. I used to read stories to my cat! After a few days you could sit quietly in the room for a while.
Once you do let him out of the room make sure there are no tiny spaces he can get into. Our rescue cat was so terrified he managed to squeeze behind the kitchen cupboards and stayed there for a month! He only came out at night to eat and use the litter tray. I used to him crying in the day. It broke my heart!
Now he rules the roost of course and has us all treating him like royalty.

You sound lovely OP, he’s a lucky cat. Don’t forget that pictures when he’s settled!

Is a separate room a thing now? When we got Harry I opened the door of his carrier and let him crack on with whatever he wanted to do. When we applied to adopt last year one rescue couldn’t understand that I don’t actually have an unused room and told me there must be one!

I don't know, that's anyway what the rescue said we should do and we are lucky enough to have a spare bedroom. I suppose if we didn't, we'd have put in him our bedroom or the computer room.

I will post a picture of him once he's here. In the meantime, DS has made this lovely portrait of him and taped it to the wall in the spare room to make him feel at home.

I'm not sure he'll appreciate it

We got a plug in night light (Amazon) so our adoptee wouldn't be anxious about the dark (read this)

A something for you to sit on/ blanket so he can get used to having you around quietly

Lovely pic!

I set up our boy in the living room rather than the spare room - it was just me at home because DP was away with work. We had litter/food/water, toys (plus he came with toys) and a couple of cat beds. He came with a blanket which I put on the couch. The first night he rampaged about a bit and slept on the shelves above our bed, then he was quite withdrawn for a couple of days and slightly hissy, perched on top of the bookcase in the living room.

By the end of the first week I moved food and litter tray to the kitchen (although he does have a tray in an alcove in the hall, and one in the utility too). He still has water in the living room as well as in the kitchen.

I think the one room to start is helpful for a few reasons: it gives them a secure space to decompress even if it's just for the first night for more confident cats; more nervous cats might be intimidated by too much space; it can be useful if your house is busy for the new cat to get used to your normal household noises from their safe place; it reduces the risk of a new cat being accidentally let out or escaping (even if you don't do the cat room thing it's sensible to be able to airlock exit points). I've always done it, with new cats and when I've moved house.

When 2 of our youngest furbabies arrived, one had a small (or should that be large) accident on the bed.

I'd consider a mattress and duvet protector just to be on the safe side.

If he's really unsettled when he first arrives there might be an accident or two.

Perhaps also puppy training pads, near the litter tray.

Currently using for our eldest DCat, who is a little frail now.

Plenty of treats and toys. Especially toys on the end of string that you can dangle. I used to make mine from scrunched up paper and string.

Also here for the photo when he arrives.

My older boy went in the (then) spare room and lived under the chest of drawers for three weeks. I then brought him down into the garage where our female terrorised him so we had to keep them apart. He was 6 months old but never been outside, so when we did let him out he was terrified! I used to sit on the back step with him at dusk so he couldn't see how scary the big sky was. He settled into it all in a month or two though.

When we got our girl we had no spare room, and she shot under the kitchen units and wouldn't come out. After two days we removed the plinth and managed to physically get her out, and she was fine after that. They do like to hide for a bit to get their bearings.

You sound like a great and caring cat person - enjoy 😻!

This is so sweet!😻

Go in the room anytime you are on the phone so he gets used to your voices.
Make the room his safe space, so even when he has the run of the house he knows he can go back there for safety. Mine hides from the bin lorry or anyone coming in the front door.
Looks like he's also ginger (the best kind ) 🐈