I'm going to join the world of cat owners!!!!

monty-doggy

martin2345uk wrote: »

Aww thank you - I'm actually in sunny (?) Manchester, though originally from Chelmsford, Essex (woohoo).

When one gets a cat, assuming it's an adult cat, is it best to, say, get it on a friday, so you can spend the weekend at home with it... or is that not enough? Should you book some time off work (mon-fri job) so that you can "bond" with it...?

I live near manchester. The local rspca round here have loads of kittens for adoption, as does clayton animal shelter, mill stream animal shelter. Look up rspca Salford branch on Facebook and you will see lots of gorgeous kitties on your newsfeed each day!

Tiglath

Whenever we bring in a new cat, we shut it in the bedroom with us for the first few days, because there are so many other cats in the house and the smells are frightening for the newbie. In my experience, the first few days it will hide behind/under furniture and only venture out for food and litter tray. So I tend to spend a lot of time in the bedroom just sitting quietly, reading, and talking in a normal voice. I remember when we got my best tortie girl - she plonked herself on the set-up ironing board and snarled if you even looked at her, so I didn't try to touch her for 48 hours, but then she settled, and within another couple of days she was sleeping on my pillow. The semi-ferals took longer - it was a couple of weeks before I enticed them out from under the bed to play, but a toy on elastic really helped - they were playing with it before they realised I was actually stroking their backs, and then they turned into beasts who would have a 3am poo and then go absolutely crazy. At that point I went and slept on the livingroom floor because I was shattered! One day we just left the bedroom ajar, and a couple of days later they ventured downstairs. By the time they realised there was a catflap available to them, they were settled with us. One still spends most of her time in the garden, but she knows where she lives and that we're not catkillers.

meritaten

martin2345uk wrote: »

Aww thank you - I'm actually in sunny (?) Manchester, though originally from Chelmsford, Essex (woohoo).

When one gets a cat, assuming it's an adult cat, is it best to, say, get it on a friday, so you can spend the weekend at home with it... or is that not enough? Should you book some time off work (mon-fri job) so that you can "bond" with it...?

you mean 'Caternity' leave? not sure how an employer would like that.
I think start as you mean to go on - ground rules need to be established. (usually by the cat but you could TRY).

martin2345uk

Caternity leave! That's brilliant. Yes I guess it makes sense to start out as you mean to go on.

gunsandbanjos

Yay, excited for your soon to be cat-slavery!

I have 2 furry little beasts and wouldn't be without them for anything.

I originally had one and got him a friend from the rescue centre to keep him company. I definitely recommend getting two.

gettingready

Someone mentioned German Shepherds and cats?





They are nearly 4 yo now, boys with me and girls with my daughter "up north"

I also got 2 more boys so 4 cats (Teddy, George, Fred and Macius) as well az Zara my GS

George as a baby with Zara



Grown up George with Zara



Grown up Fred with Zara



Macius as a baby with Zara



Teddy with Zara





Teddy and Fred checking if Zara is ok - she was shattered after a long walk with about 20 other German Shepherds



Zara, Macius, Fred - waiting for me to put a telly on....

The other 2 cats were on the sofa (got 2 sofas, 2 armchairs, foot thingy, cat tree in the living room - enough space for all of us

gardengull

Good luck "choosing" a cat, they definitely choose you.
We ended up with the grumpiest looking middle-aged black cat from the RSPCA rehoming centre. We thought, why not go for the one who looks like he was having the worst time in the cattery, he'll be so grateful. He's still quite grumpy but obviously loves his new life.
You sound like you're going to be a great cat-servant, I'm sure you'll find the purrfect one !

martin2345uk

Well the local RSPCA branch have confirmed that our house is far enough from busy roads to be able to proceed; so - on Saturday morning we are going to be going to the cattery where they keep the cats to have a little look..!!

EXCITED.

:beer:

monty-doggy

Yay! Excited for you!

meritaten

Zara is absolutely gorgeous! gettingready, and the kitties are all beautiful too. they seem to get on so well!
when I had first cat we already had a staffy. Timmy was only about 8 weeks old when we got him - but within a week he had that staffy scared stiff of him! it was really funny, she used to avoid coming within a metre of him - and one look from Timmy and she hid! he used to terrorise her - he used to wait behind walls and as she passed would suddenly jump out at her! which sent her running for help or under the table.
your Zara looks as if she enjoys the cats company and that is lovely!