Rehoming 2 older cats - house training?

blizeH

Thanks spookylukey - do you just spray it all over the carpets (and sofas) where I don't want him scratching?

Kinda terrible timing since I've only just moved in to my place and barely know how to look after myself just yet (how do you work the washing machine again?!) but my girlfriend has had to go back to London indefinitely to try a replacement tenant for her room.

I often looked after my parents cat when they went away (which was very, very often) so obviously I'm fine with the most parts, but what's the deal with cat litter? if they have a poo scoop it up with a hundred pieces of kitchen roll and flush it down the toilet then wash the hell out of my hands? if they wee just put the cat litter out into the soil in the garden? or into a bin bag and into the outside bin or what? Sorry for such a silly question but I can see me getting this wrong

spookylukey

Yep, I just sprayed it on the area she was scratching. It was years ago now but I seem to recall it smelt slightly lemony.

I wouldn't flush kitchen roll down the toilet as it could get blocked quite easily. I buy nappy sacks to scoop any wees (I use a clumping litter) and then pop them in the normal bin. As my litter trays are right by the bathroom (and I use a litter suitable for flushing) I scoop the poos and pop them straight into the toilet then flush away.

paddypaws101

It sounds like the cat likes a flat scratching surface....so as well as regular scratch posts you could try putting an offcut of carpet..wrong side up...in the area he has taken to scratching, he will love the rough texture of the carpet back. Pets at home also do a cardboard 'Willow' scratching board, only costs about £3 I think and my cats lile to get their nails in to that.

blizeH

Thank you all so much guys - good to see some Pets at Home mentions too, I actually have one just a few minutes away so will take a look when I go home! Just assumed the prices would be extortionate - we saw a really nice looking basket (but actually not that soft/comfy!) at the vets/re-homing centre yesterday but it was pushing £40, kinda thought it'd be those sort of prices!

soupdragon10

Just a suggestion, but if you are intending to let them out long term it might be worth training them to come to a specific sound (our come either to a rattled box of dry catfood or a fork rattled round inside a food tin).

If they associate the noise with being fed then they are more likely to come back when you do the same when they are outside.

dizziblonde

blizeH wrote: »

Thank you all so much guys - good to see some Pets at Home mentions too, I actually have one just a few minutes away so will take a look when I go home! Just assumed the prices would be extortionate - we saw a really nice looking basket (but actually not that soft/comfy!) at the vets/re-homing centre yesterday but it was pushing £40, kinda thought it'd be those sort of prices!

Worth going through the paperwork you no doubt got given from the rescue centre - we got a 10% off PaH voucher when we got the dog and I think they've got the same deal going with a lot of rescue places... or they're doing 10% off next online order when you sign up to the newsletter.

As for scratch posts - I got our latest one in Tesco for £20 and it's a decent sized cat tree, but one of those offers they only have intermittently. Asda had a pet event going last time I was in there - not sure if it's still running or not.

Flibertigibit

Hope this isn't too late (or that you've kept the receipt) but in my experience with 3 cats not one of them used what was officially sold as "cat bed". I think they are designed to appeal to owners as lovely soft nests for our kitties, but unlike dogs, cats don't seem to be that bothered with their own designated "bed". My latest cat "adopted" the basket I used as an intray and occasionally uses a dining room chair (and not even one of the ones with a cushion on), and also likes lying on the cheap cardboard "Willow" scratching board which paddypaws101 mentioned (though mine doesn't use it for scratching) - you can even pay a couple of pounds more and buy one that actually looks like a chaise longue! I did nearly fall into the trap myself though - I needed a pet carrier, so I bought an attractive wicker one that could double up as a bed in the lounge (with the door off), and yep - you've guessed - despite putting catnip and treats in there he steadfastly refuses to sleep in it.

dizziblonde

Flibertigibit wrote: »

Hope this isn't too late (or that you've kept the receipt) but in my experience with 3 cats not one of them used what was officially sold as "cat bed".

My mum's pair balance ON the radiators to sleep... none of this fancy "radiator bed" malarky for them - cut out the middle man and get straight to the HEAAAAAAAATTTT!

paddypaws101

Oh Yes, I forgot to mention that one of my cats sleeps on the willow scratcher. Well of course it is made from cardboard and we all know how irresistible that is to a cat yeh? Forget cat beds....just pop a cardboard box down for a minute and see the cats scramble for it!
As regards transport baskets....I got both of mine from Freecycle!

lilham

Hope this is not too late etiher. For scratching posts, I found the short ones from pets at home useless. Mine only likes the tall ones from zooplus. I've got two (one upstairs one downstairs), both about 120-140cm high. My vet says it's because most cats prefer a stable and sturdy object to claw on. And that's why the carpets are so attractive.