Cat Rescue re-homing to upstairs flat, and fees? updated with pics!

pac-man

Hi a mate of mine managed to re-home a pre (not so) loved cat which was a house cat before. This was re-homed as such from a shelter as she wouldn't have had a clue in the outside world. She is very much a 'couch cat'. As long as the cat doesn't know any different and you're prepared to play and give them plenty of stimulation there's no problem with it.

Mind you, their other cat is particularly athletic and you do have to watch out for her pouncing on you from the top of doors, wardrobes etc. She makes her own fun. I call her 'killer cat'.

gettingready

My (4 now) kittens are going to stay indoors - they have each other for company and my dog Zara as a foster mum ....

Got all 4 from Gumtree, could not rehome from charities/shelters (flat, work...)

Good luck with getting your kittens, whenever you are ready to adopt them

rita-rabbit

I got my two from Loot online as I work & live in a flat. 1st one was free as he was a teen-cat really (adolescent - vet said he needed `doing' immediately), 2nd one I paid £20 (it was 8 years ago). I would have rehomed a cat but then the rescue org decided it would not let me have the cats I had chosen but would dictate which ones I could have instead & I decided to source my own!

Cat 1 was used to having a garden & still goes & hunts - I have a catflap in my front door & this leads to an open walkway - Tomcat jumps through metal railings & then asks to get back in through security door when he is good & ready.
Kitten 2 - is adult now & prefers to stay either in the flat or within the block itself. She is athletic & does like to jump onto wardrobes - I have a large scratching post & she likes to sit at the top of that & look down. Note; indoor cat is more clingy & also greedy - free feeding is not an option. We are all happy however )

clur84

Hi all, thank for all the great advice!

we finally got two kittens from a lady whos cat had just had a litter when we were looking. We picked them up last night and brought them home. We think they are a boy and a girl but i am convinced that Charlie is a girl too!

We have them booked into vets on Monday for full health check and injections.

A few bits of advise needed regarding litter trays. They are settling in really well. we have set up the spare room with all their kit and left them in there last night and sat with them for a little while. They loved playing with there new toys are were extremly friendly and approaching us a lot to be stroked.

They are eating really well the lady who we got them off said they had only been eating adult cat biscuts :eek: but i have stared them off on kitten biscuits and a little sardine to welcome them. They also had kitten milk (tiny ammount) and water left out. They are eating like they have never been fed!

A small problem we have is regarding toileting which we expected but would just like advice. one of the kittens doesnt seem to have done anything yet and the other has done a few wees but non in the tray.

They have two trays with the worlds best clumping litter, away from thier food, im not sure what litter the last owner was using as i forgot to ask but judging from the food question i assumed just basic cheap stuff. Should i get some cheap stuff and out one tray with that one with the worlds best stuff?

i need to wash the carpet where the cat weed with BIO washing powder which i will do tonight. He did seem to eb going to the same spot so i placed the tray there but he just chose another spot (the fun begins)

when we have caught him wee we just picked him up and placed him in the tray and praise when he came out but he didnt like staying there can you hold them a little or is this wrong?

sorry lots of questions about wee but im a very new cat mummy!

any advice greatly appriciated, will reward with cute pics as soon as i can

many thanks

kerri_gt

Regarding cat litter - would it be possible to call the person you got the kittens from and find out what she used - cats can be very finnicky and don't like change. I haven't had any experience personally in litter training as I've always had older cats. Can the kitten get in/out of the tray ok? (might seem a silly question but it's a big ole leap for a little kitty). You're doing the right thing by washing the carpet in bio as that will remove his scent. You could also try adding another tray (i know i know, seems like a lot but some cats won't wee and poo in the same place)

The food is a bit more worrying, a kitten shouldn't be given adult food of any kind and certainly not biscuits - for one thing it could damage their teeth and for another it won't have the right nutrition for them. Have you tried giving the kittens wet food? (kitten wet obviously) even if you have to mix it with kitten biscuits to start with. I have a hunch that the lack of wet might be causing the lack of poo - hope the little one isn't constipated. I would deff try wet - but as a gradual change - again, cats don't like a straight change of food.

The vet should be able to offer you loads of good advise and here's a link to a forum for cats - there are loads of freindly folks on there with lots of experience who could help you too

http://love4cats.darkbb.com/forum.htm

clur84

thanks for your advice, it seems that the cats prefer the cardboard box with the cheapest litter going instead of the new shiny box and worlds best cat litter provided for them! Shall i just add a little of this gradually and less of the the horrible grit stuff they like at the moment? There is newspaper also in the box and they seem to like this so it makes me think that the only thing the y had at the previous home.

The proper cat food is certainly making a difference. Poor Oreo was very quiet and shy when he first arrived we thought he was scared but after some wet food and a solid poo he is running jumping and getting his brother back for pestering him, I'ts like he is a totally different kitten.

They are just in the spare room for now and have been for 2 days now, how do we introduce the rest of the flat to them and make sure they go back to the litter tray? we have left the door open a little and they have ventured out but not too far adn seem to like to go back to it.

thanks for the help here is a picture:

elfen

I'd just leave the door open and let them explore at their own pace. You'll find them in weird places for a bit, but that's pretty normal. Mine's 2 and she did that when she came, she liked the bath and now sleeps on the bed/behind the bed meerkatting at us (on back feet, front paws under her head, looking around like the world's weirdest meerkat)

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

And unless you are expert at this, get a vet/competent cat owner friend/old lady two doors down to identify the sex of both kittens.

Boys have a round exit under the anus.

Girls have something more slit like underneath.

http://www.petforums.co.uk/cat-breeding/8181-kittens-sexing-weight-chart-more.html

paddypaws101

kerri_gt wrote: »

The food is a bit more worrying, a kitten shouldn't be given adult food of any kind and certainly not biscuits - for one thing it could damage their teeth and for another it won't have the right nutrition for them.

]

Kitten food is little more than a marketing ploy and a good quality regular cat food is absolutely fine for kittens. Adult biscuits may be a little large for them but will not damage their teeth at all.
For lots of accurate information about good quality wet and dry foods look here...
http://www.petforums.co.uk/cat-health-nutrition/

clur84

http://1.2.3.12/bmi/sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs573.ash2/149543_535889483856_283500826_1689483_5064981_n.jpg
Oreo & Charlie

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs597.ash2/154988_535889453916_283500826_1689480_5226281_n.jpg

Oreo

hope these pics work this time.

Thanks for the advice, were going to try with the bedroom door open whilst we sit in the lounge tonight to see if they fancy joining us, shall i leave the litter tray where it is and add an extra to the living room?

Charlie still doing runny poo today and not making it to tray on time.
Both off to vets tomorrow so will finally see is its a girl or boy I have £5 on Charlie being a girl.