Adopting a snr cat - which food, insurance... etc

Usagi_2

We're rehoming an older cat (10yrs) who we will pick up next weekend. Very excited!! She will have outdoor access when she's settled in.
I've had a cat growing up, but I'm a little lost on what to get in to be prepared.

Food - at the shelter apparently she is eating whatever is donated and isn't particular.
I was thinking we should feed a mix of both dry and wet food. I want to get something reasonable quality. I see there is snr specific food - should we go for this?
For wet, I've seen there is a Felix Senior As Good As it Looks - would this be a good one to try? It seems to have a higher meat content than some alternatives?
For dry, I understand it's best to get something grain free.... ideas?

I don't want to get a huge quantity of anything for now until we're sure she'll eat it with us, but would be happy to buy volume in time.

Litter - I saw Cat's Best Öko Plus on Zooplus... any good?

Insurance - any suggestions on where to start, she is an older cat.

Anything else we need to think about??
(have bed, scratching post, litter try sorted).

Thanks in advance for any thoughts - so many different options. Quality is the preference but good value always helpful!

Robin9

She will sleep where she wants to. Go for a good quality litter - once she gets used to going outside you may not need it. Neither of mine do.

We're off this week to adopt - our eldest PTS a few weeks ago.

Ps photos please.

Silvertabby

Litter - I saw Cat's Best Öko Plus on Zooplus... any good?

Cat's Best gets the paws up from my elderly madam. She does have limited outside access during the day - our garden only - but runs back indoors when she needs to use her tray (she's shy). Her tray is in the utility room, next to the downstairs loo, so the 'lumps' are sifted out and flushed away. You can't do that with some other cat litters.

Insurance - any suggestions on where to start, she is an older cat.

Wherever you go it will be expensive - and any pre-existing conditions won't be covered. By all means get quotes from the usual suspects - but another option would be to set up a savings account for her future needs. Note that insurance doesn't cover things like annual boosters, check ups, etc.

Trial and error with food - madam has a little of each, but some cats will only eat wet food and some will only eat dry. Make sure she has plenty of fresh water - NOT milk, as adult cats can't digest lactose.

What about toys? Madam likes batting ping pong balls around, and is partial to her little toy mice.

You haven't mentioned a cat carrier?

Usagi_2

Thanks!!

Yes, got a pet carrier (donated from a family member, along with a bed).

Picked up a few toys - thanks for the reminder - food & some litter to get us started.

Just need the cat now...! Counting down until Saturday.

FreeBear

Silvertabby wrote: »

Usagi wrote: »

Insurance - any suggestions on where to start, she is an older cat.

Wherever you go it will be expensive - and any pre-existing conditions won't be covered. By all means get quotes from the usual suspects - but another option would be to set up a savings account for her future needs. Note that insurance doesn't cover things like annual boosters, check ups, etc.

Trial and error with food - madam has a little of each, but some cats will only eat wet food and some will only eat dry. Make sure she has plenty of fresh water - NOT milk, as adult cats can't digest lactose.

When I rehomed an older cat, I looked in to insurance - Found most wouldn't cover any cat over 10. As she never goes outside, the risk of picking up an infection or injury is minimal. A few quid saved each week, along with a decent credit card limit should cover any future vet bills.

The furball has been turning her nose up at Felix snr for the last few days so I had to get some expensive gourmet pouches. After a couple of days on those, she is back to the Felix.

As for toys - Catnip filled mice - The ones I get are batted around the room and eventually the tails are pulled off. Then I have to go out and restock.

Mandy53

Well done on opening your heart and re homing an older cat. You must be so excited! For food ,Felix is a good choice but there are other more natural cat foods, such as Applaws ,Encore ,Almo Nature,etc which is what i feed my 2 fur "kids" and i also feed them Hills dry food :there is a vast range of Hills for different ages ,etc so perhaps it may be worth asking a vet,s advice re what would be the best option if you decide to go for Hills. Meanwhile Purina One is also a good dry food.You could try a smaller sized bag to begin with to see if it is suitable. Of course ,treats such as Thrive are also always welcomed.
Cats Best Oko is a good litter too although i found it tracked a lot leaving bits everywhere ; I use Cats Best Gold which doesn,t track and my 2 boys prefer it to other litters. It is especially good for long hair as doesn,t stick to their fur.I tend to buy the litter from Zooplus.
As for insurance, i,m with and would recommend Petplan and my 2 boys were also older cats when i re homed them from a shelter and i have found Petplan to be great.They had no issues with insuring my older cats although the premiums do/did go up when they reached 11 years old. I took out insurance practically straight away which is just as well as have had to use it as one of my boys got ill a few months later and is now receiving long term treatment after having to have specialist vet treatment ,scans,biopsies, etc the costs of which have ran into thousands of pounds.They can also pay the vet direct.in the event of a claim. I took out a whole of life cover plan which covers both boys for ongoing conditions and it,s just as well i did. My other cat is also allergic to cereals in foods hence is fed natural wet food and Hills :when i got him from the shelter he was constantly being sick. Vet did lots of tests ,etc and found nothing sinister thankfully. So i tried feeding him cereal free food and he stopped being sick. Both boys do bring up fur balls sometimes but i also give them Hills anti fur ball dry food which is great at controlling the fur balls.
I would also suggest a trip to the vet for inoculations and a check over as well as worming treatment and recommend having your cat microchipped (it is a very simple procedure).
Interactive toys are especially good for bonding with your new fur kid and for keeping her stimulated : there is a good online company called purrsinourhearts who sell lots of cat toys and my 2 love their Purrsuit flying rod toys (used to be called Flying Frenzy).Cat nip toys are also very good and my boys go crazy for cat nip. Some cats like it, some don,t.
She will be a bit stressed at first when she arrives in her new home but will soon settle :it,s all very new for her. My boys slept under the bed for about 2 weeks when i first brought them home,only coming out for food and to use the litter tray but they soon understood that i wasn,t a threat to them so if she decides to hide under your bed or in another area where she feels safe then just let her find her way.

Robin9

Silvertabby wrote: »

What about toys? Madam likes batting ping pong balls around, and is partial to her little toy mice.

You haven't mentioned a cat carrier?

I keep finding ping pong balls trapped under the settee !

My pet carrier is an open plastic covered wire type which enables the cat to see what is happening. Still going strong since I got it in 1976.

Lilyjade

Ask if the Rescue gives any free insurance as part of the adoption. At the Rescue I volunteer at, the insurer we use gives 4 weeks free (and another month free if they then purchase the policy). They also cover for accidents & illness from the adoption day. Pre existing illness are excluded, but as it's through a Rescue there is no upper age limit for starting the policy.

Good quality dry food is important, Hills, Royal canin and James Wellbeloved are all good brands. High meat content and low cereal content is what you want.

Remember fresh water shouldn't be too close to the food bowl or they won't drink enough.

Congrats on your new family member.

Usagi_2

She"s here!
Super affectionate and desperate for our attention. I am sure that will start to settle down. Gobbled up her tea and using the litter tray right away.
The rescue gave us a voucher for 4 weeks pet plan so will get that sorted right away.
Thanks for all your thoughts and advice.

Usagi_2

Sorry the pic didn't post. .. http://tinypic.com/r/4tr02c/9

Silvertabby

Aww - she's gorgeous !