Rehoming 2 older cats - house training?

blizeH

Hi,

We've just taken on 2 cats (or rather collecting them later!) that have spent the past 6 months in a horrible cat shelter cage

We're assuming we have to keep them in the house for maybe a couple of weeks before they're allowed out (have the cat flap ready!) so that they don't run away, but can anyone please give me any pointers regarding training them?

We're going to get two cat litters and hide them away in the utility/downstairs toilet but what's the general procedure if they go somewhere else in the house? I'm thinking pick them up, show them where they went to the toilet and then place them into the cat litter or something?

Should two weeks be long enough before we fit the cat flap too?

Cheers

925dancer

I might leave it a bit longer before letting them out, go with your gut really. I would do supervised visits outside at first too, always when they are hungry, if they are food motivated even better!

As to training, they should be good from the off, cats are naturally clean and inappropriate toileting can more often than not be attributed to behavioural issues more than anything else. If they do have the odd accident then just clean it really well with biological detergent. If it's a poop, pop it in the litter tray and pop puss in there so they can associate the tray with toileting. Also perhaps offer a couple of litters to see what they prefer, some cats can be very fussy about the type of cat litter under foot.

Good luck, exercise bundles of patience and it's great you're offering these rescue pusses a home

BitterAndTwisted

If they've been in a cage they will be well-used to to using a tray having shared it with their food and bed or blankie.

I think the key will be to have the litter-trays in quiet spots where people won't be walking past often so they won't get disturbed when they're doing their little !!!!!cat businesses. In the first couple of weeks it might be easier for the cats if you restrict their access to only certain parts of the house so they can remember where the trays are.

In your position I would keep the cats indoors for three or four weeks as an absolute minimum.

SnowyOwl_2

Your kitties will more than likely know what the cat litter tray is for and use it accordingly. As already mentioned make sure that it's in a quiet place and that they have access to it 100% of the time.

If either of them do have an "accident" in the wrong place make sure that you clean it up using some biological washing powder dissolved in hand hot water - it has to be biological so that it takes away the urea smell which will attract the cats to that spot in the future. If toileting is an issue make sure you reward proper use of the litter tray with a "good kitty" and a treat immediately the kitty gets out of the tray, then they will associate using the tray with praise and happiness.

As for not keeping them in...better to be safe than sorry and just keep them in for four or so weeks. The chances of them wanting to go back to the rescue centre will be miniscule though, they will know what side their bread is buttered when they move in with you! When you do eventually let them outside open the door when they are hungry and therefore have a good reason to come back indoors. They may have lost confidence about going outdoors since they have been in prison for so long, but I am sure they will settle in with you in no time at all.

Can we have some pictures once they are moved in, please?

gettingready

Oh pictures please as soon as you have them in

We're going to get two cat litters and hide them away in the utility/downstairs toilet

Perhaps not the best idea - I would personally put one upstairs and one downstairs so there is a tray within a "reasonable distance" for them to use at least for a start.

If they were not in the same cage together, they may not want to share the same litter tray and may prefer to have them apart rather than together, some cats are funny like that.

Also check what litter was used in the shelter and perhaps start with the same one, changing slowly by mixing with one you want to use.

Check what they were being fed to avoid runny poos if you feed them something different and change the food slowly.

I assume they are neutered by the rescue? Pls make sure the microchip details are updated with you as the new [STRIKE]cat slave[/STRIKE] owner.

All the best

blizeH

Thank you all so much for the replies! Only just had a chance to catch up on them

We went with the downstairs toilet in the end, girlfriend went with the cheap cat litter but lots of expensive and nice/tasty food option which we may reconsider and get them some nice cat litter in the mean time too, this stuff is far too gravelly! We let them explore (took a while, the one was very reserved at first!) and they quickly found their food (one bowl of IAMs and one bowl of turkey in jelly) and water and their cat litter wasn't far away in the downstairs toilet, which they've both used

The cats are so lovely. Even the more reserved one now follows us around, both slept on our bed for a little bit last night, and they were doing that pawing thing onto the bed (or rather onto my girlfriend!) that cats supposedly only do when they're really content - amazed they've settled in so nicely! Especially after a horrible 6 months in a cage.

One thing though, the one cat is *constantly* pawing at the carpets. When I say pawing I don't mean in a nice gentle soft way, more a "I'm going to rip your nice brand new £2k upstairs carpets to pieces" which could be a problem. I've just told him "no" in a calm manner and he does stop, but then starts again 10 minutes later. You'll be downstairs and suddenly you hear him tearing the carpets up!

Thinking of getting a scratching post and a nice big bed for them - any recommendations on something really nice but not too pricey?!

gettingready

Oh.. thanks for the update - glad they are settling in nicely

I have 2 scratching osts/trees for my 4 monsters, got them off zooplus - have a look on their website:

https://www.zooplus.co.uk

With the cat litter - cheap one smellllllsssssss. There is few threads about cat litter here, have a look.

And photos pls

blizeH

Thanks! Will take a look at that site in my lunch break

Will also invest in some decent litter then I think; better for them, and better for us also!

Here's a pic from when they were in the shelter:

SnowyOwl_2

They are absolutely gorgeous! It sounds like they have settled in very well with you. It must be such a relief for them to be out of that cage and to be allowed to walk around and investigate.

The tearing at the carpet thing is him giving his claws a nice massage and clean. It feels really good for cats and they really do have to do this, though not necessarily on your good carpet. Definitely go ahead and get a good strudy scratching post - it will be an investment to save your carpet. You could make your own too if you improvise with a long piece of wood and offcuts of carpet.

These are two lucky kitties having found you and your girlfriend and now living in the lap of luxury.

blizeH

Thanks Snowy! ^_^

I'm actually off to the pet store right after work to buy them a nice big bed (or two... but they're always together so was thinking one big one would be nice!) and a decent scratching post for them. Like you said it'd be good for them, and good for my carpet! My parents cat (that I've lived with for the past 10 years or so) did it too, every day, but only quite softly... the big fella in the pictures really has a go at the carpets you know?

I think we're both lucky - the cats are perfect for us really, and hopefully we're a perfect match for them too! We so almost walked out with this gorgeous one year old cat, incredibly friendly and playful with a really sweet 'meow' that was hard to resist. But he'd only been in the shelter a day, compared with our two cats who'd been in there for 6 months we just knew they were for us

spookylukey

Congrats on your two lovely new cats

With the carpet scractching issue, a scratchpost may work but it may have become a bit of a habit for him in his last home perhaps.

When my old cat took a likling to scratching the carpet by the front door (despite having numerous towers/scratchpoles!) I used 'pet behave spray'. It worked a treat and she stopped scratching that area almost straight away.

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/pet-behave-training-spray-by-canac-35801