Hi,

I am new to the boards. I am Amy, 23 and work in London but we (OH and I) are moving to a large ground floor two bedroom flat in Bedford. The RSPCA in Coventry think they have a cat which would be purrfect for us (hopefully going to meet each other this weekend) (we wanted an adult but young ish cat who would be suitable for indoors but Mark wanted to avoid 3 legged, 1 eyed cats - personally I don't have an issue but have to respect his requests).

I have never owned a cat before but have been researching cat ownership/indoor cats for the last couple of months and here is my current shopping list. Please can you tell me if you think there is anything there I don't need/any recommendations of products or anything I have missed out. Also any hints and tips on how to make the transition as relaxed and enjoyable for both cat and us would be great. At the moment I'm not sure if it is a male or female (Yoki) but I think its about 3-4 yrs old.

Litter tray (open or closed )
Scratching post
Climbing station
Toys
Bed (found a gorgeous looking sphere one in petsathome, although wasn't sure what to look for in a cat bed)
Harness (they don't think Yoki likes going out but we have a lawned area front and back which 'it' could go. But would need to be on a harness due to car park/main road etc)
Food and water bowl (again wasn't sure what to look for, better two separate bowls or are two-in-one designs ok?)
Cat carrier (is a solid or soft design better?)
Brush

Should we have a 'yoki' room to begin with? And slowly introduce him/her to the flat or just allow him/her to have a nosey and let them show us how to approach it.

Understand we need to ensure bathroom is kept off limits and cosmetics/hair grips etc all put away securely.

Can anyone explain what catnip is used for and how?

Was thinking M&S insurance was the best route to go down from other posts on here unless anyone else has any suggestions?

Also how do you best teach your cat which areas aren't allowed? ie kitchen worktops

x

Hi Amy

I am by no means an expert, but had thoughts on the following;

Litter tray - depends on the preference of the cat. It might be worth waiting until you know which type the cat prefers to use.

Bed - this also depends on the cat. My cat will sleep anywhere other than the bed that I loving picked out for him, although I know that there are cats that adore their beds and can't be moved. For example, a shy cat may prefer something more enclosed.

Food & water bowls - depend on what type of food you'll be feeding, but I personally kept clear of the two in one jobbies as you'd be stuck if you were leaving biscuits down in it all day and wanted to change the water. I've read that plastic can harbour bacteria, but there are many designs made from alternative materials.

The only other thing that I bought when I adopted my cat was a double sided brush for grooming.

You'll want to have a look around your home for any possible dangers (cables etc) as they can be quite inquisitive. Someone described it as having to "flying toddler-proof" your home, and I thought that was a great description

I'm sure you'll get some great advice on this thread, and best of luck with your new addition

Hi, cats like the smell of catnip - if you want kitty to stay somewhere in particular put some catnip in the area - like if you want your kitty to sleep in his bed at night put some catnip in it - its supposedly like a "drug" for cats - makes them happy - they might get playful but then I notice they settle down for a sleep soon after!

Hope this helps.

Scratching post and climbing station:

This can be combined. Google 'cat furniture' or 'cat trees' and see what comes up. MY two use my cat furniture both as a scratching post and as a 'bed'.

Both my cats like my sloppy beanbag to sleep on as well - it moulds to their shape and reflects back their body heat. I cover it with a blanket I can wash.

Get some cardboard boxes in for hiding in and playing. You can cut holes in the sides and top so that he can hide, or leap in /out and see what is going on without revealing himself.

Hi, it's great that you are giving a home to a cat that needs it - good for you. My advice (for what it's worth) is not to spend a lot of money BEFORE you get the cat - wait and see once he/she has settled in what you think he/she will like. So, go for a cheap litter tray, but find out what the shelter use IN the tray, as that is more important than the shape of the tray itself, and also ask what they feed, as he/she will be more likely to eat food he/she is used to. You can make a change gradually after he/she has settled down if you want to feed something different. I would suggest cardboard boxes for him/her to hide/sleep/play in - they are cheap and plentiful! Give him/her lots of space to do his/her own thing and settle in, getting to know the sounds and smells of his/her new home in his/her own time. Talk to him/her a lot so that he/she gets to know your voices, and be calm and soothing at all times, and I am sure he/she will be fine. Hope that helps - there is loads of great advice on these forums - so don't hesitate to yell for help!

There are some nice hooded trays, some which are corner ones, if they have a flap on remove that a lot of cats don't like them.
Separate bowl, and either pot or stainless steel,
A nice tall scratch post he can climb and sit on, and a warm comfy bed.

Audrey Magical -Magical cats.
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Yes I agree a cardboard box is usually loved, but I find they prefer a hooded tray for privacy.

Audrey Magical -Magical cats.
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Thank you so much for all your help!!

x

i have 6 gorgeous kittens in watford that will be ready in 6 weeks should you want a playmate

Be careful with Beabbags, I had to throw mine out, kittens were drawn to using them as litter trays, little horrors.

Audrey Magical -Magical cats.
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