Watching a cat for a week.

Buttonmoons

Ok, so an old friend of mine has had to go into hospital for a week to get his lungs drained :eek:

He got himself a rescue cat a few months ago - Buffy. He had no-one else to take the cat and as she had spent so much of her time in kennels he didn't want to put her back there so I took her, although I didn't want too as I have 3 cats of my own....

Got her Tuesday night, clearly terrified, hissing and spitting (and confined to my bedroom, didn't let the other cats near her) Same yesterday....today she seems better, comes over for a chin tickle, and only growls occasionally when she realises I'm not her owner She actually held me hostage in my room yest morning as i couldnt get past her to the door and she was hissing growling and spitting - I only wanted my socks!!

So, Im feeling really mean keeping her cooped up in my bedroom, my daughter did leave the door open this morning by accident, and my cats were all staring at her wanting a sniff, she was growling, and strolled into the hall before returning to the bedroom.

Should I allow her to roam the house? She's used to free ranging around her home, so one small bedroom seems really cruel! Not sure what the best way to approach this is?

I also have to consider he may be in hospital more than a week as he has a list of ailments that would make your hair curl and generally when he says 7 days, he gets out in about 11 or so....

Just looking for any tips/hints on how to keep a harmonious (ish!) household for the next week or so

pinkteapot

We rehomed a two year old cat a month ago. We kept him in one room for about 48 hours, then started letting him explore a bit more, one room at a time.

Cats are stressed by new environments as they're territorial. By confining them to one room initially they can scent it and get used to it, and have it as 'their' space. When they start exploring the rest of the house, they'll return to that room as a safe place.

Ours seemed keen to leave his room on the second day but then he was scared by the rest of the house (I think he hoped his old house was outside the door!) and hid a lot. We'd let him out too early. When he then came out again, we closed lots of doors so he wasn't overwhelmed by the whole house at once.

Within a week he was running round the whole house and after two to three weeks he was relaxed enough to sleep (not just nap with half an eye open) on our laps.

Complicating factor for you is having other cats already as I think you have to handle the introductions carefully. Some cats get on with other cats better than others. Look online and there's lots of tips for how to integrate new cats into an existing kitty household.

If it is just one week though I'd be tempted to keep her in one room (with plenty of attention) if there are things she can climb and jump on, and a window to look out of.

When will you know if it's going to be longer than a week?

PasturesNew

If you've got access to his house, could you pop over and grab a couple of things from his linen basket, that aren't "high value" for the kitty to sleep with?

Better_Days

I agree with Pinkteapot, if you are only having the cat for a week, just keep him in one room. There is no point in stressing him and your cats trying to integrate for such a short period of time.

Last thing you want is for your cats to start spraying or not using their litter tray because of the interloper.

I don't think one bedroom for a week is cruel at all as long as he has access to water food litter tray and bed. Bedroom is surely bigger than the space the cat would have at a cattery.

Hope your friend is ok.

Buttonmoons

Well Buffy the cat was meant to be going home tomorrow and thats now been pushed back to Friday now....

However the cat has pretty much taken upon herself to implant herself within the household, my female cat really despises her (I expected no less, she doesn't like the other 2 cats either) and growls when she comes to close - but the 2 males are very curious, and have seen her chasing them around - not been any fighting, although she seems to like to eat their food, poop in their trays, and go mental if they go near hers :rotfl:

I take her into my room at night time so she isnt unsupervised - seems a bit better now she isn't trying to maul me as I walk past, though she took offence at me shoo'ing her out the kitchen earlier (I dont allow cats in there) and tried to take a chunk out my toe lol