We've adopted a cat! :D

BambiOnIce

So this is a bit of a carry-on from the "Cattery for short trip?" thread I started the other day. At the time it was speculative as my fiance and I were just looking at getting one, but we went to the Blue Cross yesterday and fell in love with a beautiful six-year old tortoiseshell/white moggy called Chaos! We were going to change her name but the more we hear it, the more we like it. She is probably a bit too old to change it anyway, so Chaos it is... We bring her home on Thursday, so are now on a mission to buy lots of cat paraphernalia and get the flat ready. Got some piccies but it doesn't look like I can add attachments as I've not posted enough?

In getting everything ready, I just have a couple of quick questions that I'm hoping all you experienced cat-owners can help with...
The Blue Cross today said to start off with keeping her restricted to just one room, as she will be very overwhelmed going from a pen to a whole flat. Makes sense. The thing we're not sure on is which room; we were intending to have her litter tray in the spare room, and food etc in the kitchen (eventually). That would work as to start with we can have the food also in the spare room but at the other side. However, someone suggested we put her litter tray in the bathroom (easier to clean the mess made from flying litter etc). Not sure that would work in the future though, as moving her litter tray from the spare room to the bathroom once she's got 'free roam' is going to be harder than simply moving her food bowl(s), isn't it? Which room would you suggest for the litter tray?
Also, we would like her to have the whole flat to wander about in as she pleases once she's got used to it all, but at night in summer we need our bedroom window open otherwise it gets far too hot for us. If we let her into our room in the summer, I'm worried she'll jump out the window (we're on the first floor, so quite some way to land!), though in the winter this wouldn't be a problem. Would it best to not let her in our bedroom at all, so that she doesn't know what she's missing out on? Fairer than letting her in in winter but locking her out in summer?

I'm sure there are loads of other things we've not thought of, though the Blue Cross have been fantastic and have said they're more than happy to help answer any questions at any point... I'm just so excited to have her home! Thursday can't come quick enough :j:D

scaredy_cat

Cats can be very ingenious at finds ways got climb down from 1st floor windows. When i lived with an ex bf, our cats would jump from the bedroom window onto next door's flat roof extension (we were in a set of 3 terrace cottages) from the flat roof to a window sill on the extn and then onto our kitchen window ledge. you can get netting to put across open windows to stop cats getting out.

Another cat i had worked out how to climb down a thick branched ivy to get outside.

i would say keep her to the kitchen and living room at first. give her somewhere she can hide - like a box with a cushion.

paddypaws101

http://www.flat-cats.co.uk/
Highly recommended.
Ask Dominic the owner to put velcro ALL the way round the perameter of the panel (small extra cost) so that it is ultra secure.

geri1965_2

Is there anything she can jump onto from the window? I have mine open in the summer and they've never jumped out of the front, although they used to jump out of the back and onto the garden wall (before we had a cat flap).

BambiOnIce

No there isn't anything unfortunately. Maybe a drainpipe or two but otherwise it's straight down! She's always been an indoor cat anyway, and apparently shows no interest in the outside world (as we were only able to take an indoor cat, that's why the Blue Cross thought her a perfect match). I think the flat cats idea is great, thanks paddpaws101. Will look into that a little further... assume they are strong/sturdy enough to stop a cat 'pawing' their way out? Hence the recommendation for the fixings to go all the way round I guess!

I'm just online looking at all the different food/litter options. Too many to choose from! She is currently on Hills Science Plan complete dry but as all the ingredients are a complete minefield I'm having a hard time comparing brands! Does anyone have a good alternative that you might be able to buy in the supermarket (don't suppose Go Cat/Purina One etc are any good!)? Or can explain the difference between various litters (again, currently on a 'wood-based' one, but not sure what that means!)?

Thanks everyone, all your little hints and tips are much appreciated

geri1965_2

You'll get a million different answers when it comes to food and litter! I use Value litter from Tesco, only one of my two uses a litter tray (one is mostly indoor, the other goes out a lot).

My 17 year old cat will only eat pouches in gravy now but for years she ate Tesco cat crunchies. My other cat has dry food, he will eat almost anything. I just get him whatever I see in the supermarket. At the moment he is on Harringtons Complete.

Slinky

If you value a good nights sleep, I'd keep her out of the bedroom. Cats are pretty nocturnal. We don't let ours upstairs at night, he's used to it and doesn't disturb us.

meritaten

but then again - cats may be nocturnal but my Barnes will be quiet all night as long as he can cuddle up with someone (anyone - he isn't fussy) and he has access to his food and litter tray.
I wouldn't worry about moving his food and litter tray to preferred areas when he is out from solitary confinement. in fact, if he shows an interest in exploring I wouldn't keep him shut in one room. Cats are individuals and while one cat wont come out from a hiding place (like martins cat Derek) others would relish having a whole flat to explore - let the cat decide.
if he does take a while to settle then he needs his litter and food in same room. but cats are intelligent and when he is given the run of the flat simply showing him where his food and litter tray is enough. this is what I have found when having various cats staying with me. Take them to the feeding station and feed them then and there. then take them to the litter tray.

martin2345uk

Congratulations OP! We adopted a cat 3 weeks ago, and it's been a wonderful wonderful experience so far, if at times worrying and even frustrating :-)

Currently our cat's litter tray is in the kitchen, and so is his food - but far enough apart not to bother him.

Do you know chaos' history before you got her? Lovely name by the way!

Edit: we moved the litter tray from lounge to kitchen after he'd settled in a bit and he found and used it no problem

tealady

You do realise that we want pics!

BambiOnIce

geri1965 wrote: »

At the moment he is on Harringtons Complete.

Ooh, just had a quick look and that looks to have quite a high meat content? They have it in our Tesco (I think) so will have a gander on Wednesday when we do the big 'preparatory shop'! Thank you.

I was hoping to be clever and quote multiple posts in my reply, but there seems to be some weird coding after people's names... anyway, we don't know Chaos's history yet Martin - meant to ask when we went back to see her yesterday and forgot, but every single person has asked us since so am going to call up today! The name is nice isn't it? As I said, we weren't sure at all to start with, but again, everyone has said how much they like it and although she doesn't seem (yet!) particularly Chaotic, it does suit her so the name stays

I've got a few photos, but it won't let me post them at the moment - does anyone know how many posts I need to make before I can do that? Dying to show her off lol!

Ooh, I did think of one more question overnight, the Blue Cross said her food shouldn't be next to her water, but our kitchen is pretty tiny - we could have food in a separate room to water, but that seems a bit odd. As does the idea of having her food and water in a room the opposite end of the flat to the kitchen (for some reason it just doesn't sound right!), if there are literally a couple of feet between water and food do you think she'd get upset?

Thanks as always - pics will follow as soon as I'm allowed!