Hya.. sorry another question ..........

mandi

Thanks again for all the replies on this thread :http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=869873&highlight=mandi..


Now to pick your brians again if you dont mind please.. How long should I keep my cat in for, before she can go outside and whats this about buttering their paws...:eek: I sound like a complete novice... sorry



mandi

sammy_kaye18

Buttering a cars paws is sometimes seen as a way to help the cat settle in - they tend to groom themselves only when they are happy and comfortable so putting butter on a cats paws will make them want to groom.

Others think too that if this is done before they go out it leaves a sort of scent trail of where they've been

If this works i have no idea - ive had cats most of my life (bar now as bf wanted a mutt!) but have never buttered there paws, if she is settled now in the hosue how abotu letting her out to raom around the garden - she will probably be very weary still of her new surroundings so id stand in teh garden with her jsut to keep an eye on her but leave the back door open so she can go back in if she finds it too frightening. We usually did this after a few days when we thought she was settled.

spookylukey

Cats Protection advise that a new arrival is kept in for four weeks which gives them time to settle and be confident in their new surroundings, some cats may be ready sooner than this but I've always kept mine in for a minimum of two weeks.

In my case that's when I've moved house with my cats so the cats already know me and are confident around me, as your cat is completely new to you I'd definitely be keeping her inside for as long as possible so that she has time to get to know you and settle in.

When you do let her out for the first time make sure it's just before breakfast/teatime so that she's hungry and will be more inclined to return. If you can get her used to coming to you with a rattle of biscuits while she's indoors that will help with calling her in from outside. Make sure there's plenty of daylight hours left before she goes out the first time aswell as if she goes missing you'll be able to search for her. If she isn't microchipped already then please get her done, costs around £20 maximum.

pollyanna24

We got told to keep our cat in for 6 weeks when we got her. She was young and spirited and in the end we went for 3 weeks.

Then we stood in the garden with her, not allowing her out of the garden, but then brought her back in.

After a week or so of that, basically left her get on with it, for the first few times, we made sure she was hungry so she'd come back.