Girlfriends new cat

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Substance

Substance

Soldato
Joined
10 Jun 2006
Posts
3,879
Location
Wigan
Hi guys, my girlfriend just bought her first cat, anyone got any tips? today is it's first day but it doesnt seem to even notice it's food/water bowl and hasn't even looked at it's litter tray, it has been 10 hours now and it still hasn't been to the "bathroom" is this usual for cats?

Also she would like to know when she will be able to let the cat outside without it running away (or at least the lowest chance of it running away)

Thanks guys

*edit* it is purchased from a rescue home
 
wait a good few weeks before letting it out

chances are that the first time you let it out it will be scared to go far anyway , probly just walk around the garden a bit , crap in your neighbors rockery , that sort of thing
 
I might be making this up but I am sure I remember when I was younger that my Mum put butter on the cats paws when they first went out to help them get back. I presume it's something to do with the scent.
 
A cat has to get used to its new surroundings, they 'experts' say that you should keep them inside for 3-4 Weeks, and also double check the cat was litter trained.. otherwise you may find a surprise or two ;)

As for the food, keep them some where easy to find, and eventually they'll go to it!
 
Just keep dumping it in the litter tray, it'll soon understand and the chances are it's noticed the food/water but isn't interested - there will be a huge amount of exploring to do before meal time :p
 
leigho said:
I might be making this up but I am sure I remember when I was younger that my Mum put butter on the cats paws when they first went out to help them get back. I presume it's something to do with the scent.
Click to expand...
<raven> Any cat people here? I've got a problem with Nicky...
<Leth> I've been known to be handy with a wok
<Lore> Why, I'm a cat person.
<raven> I took Morgan to the vet yesterday - he was gone for a total of 45 minutes, got two vaccs and a blood draw.
<raven> Brought him home and Nicky went BALLISTIC.
<raven> Spent the rest of the night yowling and hissing and attacking MOrgan.
<CrazyClimber> nicky smells the hospital smells on morgan
<Lore> Yeah, I've seen that happen.
<raven> Is there anything I can do to get the hospital stink off him, then? Pack his carrier in coffe grounds or something?
<tieboy> how about a bath
<CrazyClimber> just give it a day or so
<Lore> We tried catnip and butter, and neither worked.
<agent_orange> butter?
<agent_orange> you buttered your cat?
<Lore> Yes.
<raven> it's the best way to butter the house.
<raven> Cats are effective butter delivery units.
<Lore> We read somewhere to put butter on a cat's forehead.
<agent_orange> did the emolient facilitate insertion?
<Lore> And the other cat licks it off, and likes the first cat, because it tastes like butter.
<Lore> As I said, it didn't work.
<agent_orange> you read sopmewhere to put butter on the cats foreWHAT THE **** WERE YOU THINKING
<tieboy> rub the two cats together vigorously until they smell like each other
<agent_orange> **** on them both at the same time
<tieboy> KITTY TASTES LIKE BUTTER
<raven> It's more fun to put tape on their feet.
<agent_orange> why not do both
<agent_orange> and then get out the handycam
<Lore> I believe what I was thinking was "Maybe it will work. And even if it doesn't, I get to butter the cat's forehead."
<agent_orange> AFHV would *love* some footage of sticky-pawed, freshly buttered cats trying in vain to avoid a stream of steaming miller lite
<Samwise> You know what helps with feuding cats, Lore? Sending me lots of cash.
<agent_orange> now, see, I read somewhere --
<agent_orange> I think it was leviticus
<agent_orange> -- that what you should do is frost them
<agent_orange> betty crocker, right out of the can
<raven> Chocolate or buttercream?
<Leth> rave: go chocolate, buttercreme isn't pareve
<CrazyClimber> you're frosting meat?
<agent_orange> and then there'a always Cat Wellington
<agent_orange> "What are you doing in the kitchen, dear?" "Just buttering the cat, pumpkin!"
<agent_orange> "Why don't you baste the chicken while you're at it, too, dear?" "Baste the ... *light bulb* ...Sure! Sure, I'll 'baste the chicken'!"
<CrazyClimber> a google images search for "buttered cat" returns a picture of isaac hayes
<agent_orange> chocolate salty cat balls

*n
 
Leave the cat in a reasonably sized room with food, water and the litter box. Try not to disturb it too much. Cats take ages to get used to their surroundings.

Also, don't let it outside for a month or so - as has been said - and certainly not until it's been neutered/spayed as necessary.
 
We've had a couple of rescue cats recently. It tends to take them a few days to get used to new surroundings. It basically stresses out the cat so it won't eat/drink/crap as per normal behaviour for a few days. Best bet is to make sure everything it needs is available like food/water/litter and a nice warm bed and keep your distance. Gradually start to play with it and make friends over the first week or so. Keep it in for at least 3 weeks then start letting it out for short periods and leave the door open so it can bolt back in if required.

When we got the current cat he didn't do the toilet thing for a couple of days then accidentally wet his bed overnight. After we cleaned it up he's been fine since and started using the litter tray. He's a cocky little sod and rules the house now!

If it's a young cat it's a good idea to play with it while they're trapped indoors - stops them going nuts and shredding the furniture. Doesn't have to be expensive cat toys - ours always prefer a bit of string to chase around. He still likes to play - when I get home from work most nights the cat comes to find me, then sits there staring at me until I play with him for at least 10 minutes!
 
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