Cat People - Advice Please

[~Sarah~]

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My son and his wife are giving a home to a 4 year old female cat (spayed). It's owner has sadly died. They will be collecting it on Sunday morning. :wub:

I haven't had a cat for many years, so wondered what people would advise when taking on an adult cat.

eg. How long should they keep it in the house before letting it outside?

Apparently it is litter tray trained, but they will put a cat flap in their utility room so it can go out when it wants to. Are the magnetic type cat flaps any good?

I'm pleased they are having an adult, and not a kitten, as they are both at work.

 

[Jesswhippet]

Hi

I have three cats, two were adult cats when I had them. The were all rescues. I think they recommend 6 weeks inside the new house then let them without being fed. Go into the garden with them so they can hear your voice and have a box of cat biscuits to rattle or a dish & spoon so the cat thinks its going to be fed if necessary. Short trips into garden at first then longer. I kept a litter tray inside until I was sure they knew where they lived. All done in under 8 weeks. They will know when they feel safe to let the cat use a cat flap. I use the magnetic type because it stops other cats soming in and making a mess in your house. Let them know that I found a cat litter called City Cat it costs about £3.50ish last time I had some. I only use it if my cats have to stay in because of illness. It lasts for a good 3 weeks and does not smell. You just pick out the large cat deposits (polite aren't I) and leave the other to be absorbed. I have managed to get it at Sainsburys. Tesco don't seem to do that one. The cheap ones smell and you use more of it.

I hope all goes well and they enjoy being cats owners. My whippet loves my cats but all others are classed as small furry prey!!!

 

[jinnyfizz]

Yes, I agree with keeping the cat in for at least 6 weeks so that she gets accustomed to her new surroundings. There is evidence to suggest that cats find their way about using the sun, and it's angle, to pinpoint their home, so once they have got used to where they live, they automatically return (bit like sat nav )

Female cats are less likely to stray far and generally keep within a radius of approximately 20 yards from their home :thumbsup:

I have 5 cats and I keep a litter tray available all the time for them - I use fuller's earth cat litter from Pettex. No smell whatsoever if you clean the clumps out morning and evening - I have found all the other types smell to some degree :x

You should be able to get the Pettex variety from your local pet shop.

I don't believe it is safe to let a cat out at night. There are too many hazards, of which the most obvious danger is the road. However, a fox is perfectly capable of taking an adult cat and there are also some horrible, cruel people around who will also take them :blink: , so please don't let it be yours

Frontline spot-on for fleas and ticks, Profender spot-on for worming and a brush for grooming, nail clippers for snipping sharp claw tips off (saves your furniture) ...... oh, and not to forget the cosy igloo bed for snuggling up in :huggles:

Cats live in family groups in the wild so sometimes it is better to have two as company for each other, but this depends on the individual cat. It may be better with two in this case as your son and his wife are both at work and it sounds as though this little cat may have had human company for much of the day if she was with an elderly owner before

I hope it all works out well :luck: It's lovely to hear about an older cat being rehomed as so many of them get overlooked - well done :thumbsup:

 

[Lal]

:luck: :luck: All the above is spot on advice, my two cats, both adult rescues and now sadly deceased (many cats in the family beforehand) I kept in for a month then did the old fashioned thing of putting butter on their paws before letting them out :blink: Not sure how it works, according to the oldies in my family it is to do with them licking the butter off their paws and the scent? Not sure if it really works but it made me feel better!!!

Magnetic catflaps need collars, personally I would never put a collar on a cat (recent news story of cat hung up on fence by its collar which then strangled it - local thugs at work!!) Have the cats microchipped then at least you know they can be traced. Good luck to them :luck: :luck:

 

[Janimal]

All my cats came as kittens except for Sooty who was my sisters cat.She was about a year old when I got her.

I kept her inside for about 4-6 weeks then gradually start to let her outside. Strangely enough too she has really adapted to the dogs as though she had always been here.. :huggles: :huggles:

When we moved house 7 years ago Meeko was in a cattery for 3 weeks then stayed inside the new house for another 3 weeks before he went outside.

I use Drontal wormers twice yearly and Frontline Combis on all three of them.

I dont have a litter tray but have used them in the past, Id recomend the types with a hood ...they are brilliant and usually no odours if they are cleaned out on a regular basis. I have a normal lockable catflap which all three use too, and none of mine wear collars. I would recommend a scratching post too...cats love them.

Id agree with Lal here too, my mam is a big believer in the butter on the paws trick...I always do it...dont know if it works...but Ive never lost one yet... :thumbsup:

Good luck with the new cat, hope all goes well... :luck: :luck:

 

[~Sarah~]

Thanks all for the great advice. K9 is always so informative. :thumbsup: I will copy posts to my son. They plan to collect the cat tomorrow, so I shall look forward to seeing it soon. I think it is tortoiseshell and white.

About 30 years ago we had a tortie and white cat which we called Samson. I didn't know then that the tortoiseshell colouration only occurs in females. :- "

 

[Janimal]

Meant to add mine is a Staywell cat flap

heres a link to them Sarah. :thumbsup: it may be of some help when choosing..

http://www.catflaps.com/en-gb/dept_41.html

 

[~Sarah~]

Meant to add mine is a Staywell cat flap heres a link to them Sarah. :thumbsup: it may be of some help when choosing..

http://www.catflaps.com/en-gb/dept_41.html

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Thanks Jan. :thumbsup: