Getting a new cat - what shall I buy?

Fridaycat

Some great advice already, but I disagree about the bed - we have 4 dotted around the house (along with those on the cat tree, and various cat mats/cushions) and they are all slept in regularly by our 5 cats! Here's proof!

You might consider a heat pad like the one shown in the pic, keeps its warmth for 10 hours after being heated in the microwave and keeps kitties warm on these cold winter nights

spike7451

This is how I have Daisy's litter tray,it keeps all the gunk inside & gives her something to clean her claws on as well.

McKneff

cazs wrote: »

Thanks everyone very much for their carefully thought through suggestions.

Seems best not to bother with the cat bed...

The cat's 4, I'm taking it on from a lady who is giving it up as the other cats are 'bullying' it...

If I do get dry food - I've heard some say it's necessary as they say put out wet food morning and night, and leave dry for them to graze on when peckish during the day - is that right? - would it matter if I can't get the same brand? I've scoured the internet but cannot find this KiteKat dry food she's talking about so will it be okay to use a different dry food or is that a tummy risk...

Anyone else any thoughts?

My thoughts.

Vet tells us to do wet food,during the day and dry food for her last feed, so that the wet food doesnt stick on teeth overnight.

She may not like grazing, ours would just eat the whole lot thinking it was a meal. You really would be better giving her set meals at set times. You are letting her know you are the boss.

Dont ever feed a cat milk, it is bad for their kidneys.

Start as you mean to go on. She wont understand if you change things in a cuple of months time.

Enjoy your new pet.

miduck

cazs wrote: »

I've scoured the internet but cannot find this KiteKat dry food she's talking about so will it be okay to use a different dry food or is that a tummy risk...

Anyone else any thoughts?

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/shop_store/Kitekat_Dry_2Kg_p3924.html and several other sites have it - just Google "Kitekat Dry".

It's certainly not the best food out there, but if kitty is happy with it I'd buy some and then gradually introduce something better - Royal Canin for example.

(Ignore that - it won't let you order! Will get another link.)

cazs

spike7451 wrote: »

This is how I have Daisy's litter tray,it keeps all the gunk inside & gives her something to clean her claws on as well.

I like the idea of a hooded one myself, because everything is hidden from view and think it would keep any odours in too.

moggymutt

Thank you for giving an adult cat a new home. Sounds like its going to be a very lucky, well looked after cat.

NB Insurance brings so much peace of mind.

iammarmite

Don't bother with cat beds- they are a waste of money. Thats what your furniture is for. Your only ever keeping a chair warm for a cat if you have one.

Wet and dry food- the only brand mine will eat now is Whiskers. Tried tesco own, ALDI own, ASDA own and there just isn't enough in the pouches for him. He hates tinned cat food- I have some that is about 5/6 years old in our utility room...he just wouldn't eat it and still won't ( we have tried different brands/new food not just the old stuff!)

Dont bother with a fancy fork- just sacrifice one of your own. Waste of money. Likewise a tin opener- surely you have one for household use?

Cat litter- woodchip ones are best I think- I hate the stony stuff. Tesco do a wood based one, can't remember how much obviously as it has been a long time since we have used a litter tray.

Litter tray- tried and get a covered one, cats will kick there litter everywhere given half the chance.

Scratching posts- we have never had one as my uncles cat used to rub against it and its fur would fall out. We have a scratching board which he uses all the time from Pets World.

Toys- I have found adult cats aren't bothered by them.


Pet insurance is a must too- our ran off a few weeks ago and we found him with a split gum and his front teeth knocked out- suspected hit by a car. Vet stitched him up and charged us £120 for the privilege.

shelly

My thoughts in bold,

Litter tray (one called Aristo from Pets @ Home looks good as has hood and filter) We have a very basic litter tray that I picked up from Tescos. I also put newspaper down and put the tray on top so that the litter doesn't go everywhere if it gets kicked out.

Litter - clumping? which brand? Ours use Tesco value.

Litter scoop Yes, get one.

Litter tray liners Waste of money IMO. I check the tray several times a day. Poop gets scooped straightaway and pee gets raked in. Whole tray is emptied and washed in hot soapy water mixed with disinfectant (use one that doesn't go cloudy in water, I use tesco value) every 2 days.

Using the basic stuff works for us as in our house a litter tray is only used when the cats are forced to stay in through injury or illness. At the moment it's being used as we re-homed a stray last week and she's not allowed out yet. Once she's allowed out she can come and go as she pleases via the cat flap so the litter tray will go away.

3 bowls - one for wet food, one for dry and one for water You will need more than 3 unless you plan on washing up the wet food bowl at every meal time.

Mat to go under bowls Newspaper works well and can be thrown away when it needs to be.

Cat food fork/spoon I use a normal old fork that is used for cat food only.

Can opener As above unless the can is one of those that have a 'peel top' lid

Wet food - which is best? That's a matter of opinion but I feed mine what they will eat. At the moment they are on pouches as we stocked up when we only had Lily but now we have 2 they will go onto tins (most likely Butchers Classic) once the pouches are gone.

Dry food - ditto As above. Ours have set meal times for wet food so I leave dry down 24/7. They graze on it during the day.
Scratching post Lily uses the tree trunk in the garden.

Cat bed Lily loves her bed and uses it all the time. At the moment Pixie sleeps on a towel that came with her though she will get a bed next time I'm in town.

Toys The only one that they love is the laser pen.

Carrier Cheapo from Argos.

Grooming brush Never bothered grooming mine, they take care of themselves.

Nail clippers?? On the rare occasion I need to, I use a normal pair of my own nail clippers though you need to be very carefull not to cut too high.


Personally I have never bothered with insurance as we self insure.

I'd also say start as you mean to go on. If you don't want them in certain rooms or on certain furniture, don't allow it.
Pixie is learning that I don't allow them to jump up onto the kitchen worktops (yuck!). Neither do I allow them on the sofas unless they have a throw laid on them first. Our bedroom is out of bounds too.
At night time they are restricted to the large utility. The back door leads out of there into the garden and the flap is in that door. Any mess made or left overs from creatures is easily cleaned up as the floor is tiled.

These rules/restrictions have started from day one so they don't know any different.

Fire_Fox

cazs wrote: »

If I do get dry food - I've heard some say it's necessary as they say put out wet food morning and night, and leave dry for them to graze on when peckish during the day - is that right? - would it matter if I can't get the same brand? I've scoured the internet but cannot find this KiteKat dry food she's talking about so will it be okay to use a different dry food or is that a tummy risk...

Anyone else any thoughts?

Dry food definitely is not necessary, all species of wild cats eat meat not dry biscuits! I am not saying don't feed it just that it is not essential - in fact the low quality kinds can contribute to heath problems from certain bladder/ kidney complaints to tooth decay. Any vet should tell you it's perfectly acceptable to feed an adult decent wet food twice a day and nothing else.

You would want to initially use a dry food with a similar meat content to prevent upset tummies, if it's Go Cat dry it could be as low as 4% meat - basically meat flavoured cornflakes. Kitekat is wet tins only AFAIK but that is green packaging, are you/ they getting confused? Butchers Classic is also wet, that is in orange packaging and is decent. IMO buy the Go Cat dry and the Classic wet to start with, then switch off the Go Cat as soon as you can.

cazs wrote: »

I like the idea of a hooded one myself, because everything is hidden from view and think it would keep any odours in too.

Odours are as more about what food and what litter you use as the tray itself. If you trap too much smell in the cat may refuse to use it, remember their nose is much more sensitive than ours. Only use a hooded tray to begin with if the cat is used to a hooded tray, if not begin with the lid off then put it on without the flap when the cat is settled. You should have one tray per cat plus one spare.

If the cat is dehydrated with too much dry food and not enough water pees will smell stronger. High cereal/ grain foods or sudden changes of diet can lead to splatty stinky poops. _pale_

spike7451

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Dry food definitely is not necessary, all species of wild cats eat meat not dry biscuits! I am not saying don't feed it just that it is not essential - in fact the low quality kinds can contribute to heath problems from certain bladder/ kidney complaints to tooth decay. Any vet should tell you it's perfectly acceptable to feed an adult decent wet food twice a day and nothing else.

You would want to initially use a dry food with a similar meat content to prevent upset tummies, if it's Go Cat dry it could be as low as 4% meat - basically meat flavoured cornflakes. Kitekat is wet tins only AFAIK but that is green packaging, are you/ they getting confused? Butchers Classic is also wet, that is in orange packaging and is decent. IMO buy the Go Cat dry and the Classic wet to start with, then switch off the Go Cat as soon as you can.



Odours are as more about what food and what litter you use as the tray itself. If you trap too much smell in the cat may refuse to use it, remember their nose is much more sensitive than ours. Only use a hooded tray to begin with if the cat is used to a hooded tray, if not begin with the lid off then put it on without the flap when the cat is settled. You should have one tray per cat plus one spare.

If the cat is dehydrated with too much dry food and not enough water pees will smell stronger. High cereal/ grain foods or sudden changes of diet can lead to splatty stinky poops. _pale_

A dog who was fed on purely dry supermarket food died in the place I volunteer at,a necropsy found the cause was the crap dried food the dog was fed.
Foods like Go Cat are packed with colors & addatives so your cat will be like a child after a McDonalds.
Best feed puss a wet diet BUT leave her some dry to snack on,this will help keep tartar off her teeth,but use a good quality dry like RC or Purina