(no subject)

[lexin]

I am actively considering getting a cat. A work friend volunteers for the RSPCA and they currently have four indoor cats that might suit me. I live in a first floor flat so no way is an outdoor cat going to work.

Cat owners - what should I bear in mind? What should I look out for? What questions should I ask?

The four cats the RSPCA have are indoor cats with no current known health problems. There are two white cats, a brother and a sister aged 1 (which they would prefer to home together), a male black cat aged 6 and a female tabby aged 6.

Comments

[watervole]

I'm not much of a cat person, but I believe short hair cats avoid one or two problems that long hair cats have, and that squashed faces are generally a bad thing.

[lexin]

I'd heard that about squashed faces. I doubt if moggies come with those!

[resonant]

- if you think you might want multiple cats, I'm told litter mates are the way to go.

- when we've kept litter boxes clean (at least every other day), we've never had problems with cats peeing/pooping anywhere else.

- scoopable litter is wonderful, but it isn't really flushable, no matter what the jug says.

- my experience is limited, but our neutered male cats have been more affectionate than our females.

- a "cat tree" will keep the clawing of furniture/rugs down a bit. We've had mixed experience with claw caps; there's a lot of maintenance, and they can get caught in a loop of carpet.

[lexin]

All good to know, thank you. I didn't know that litter came in a 'flushable' version - I don't know that I'd trust it to be as described.

I'm looking at cat trees to see what might suit my living room and the space I have available that isn't taken up by other furniture. I think I have a good place where the cat can look out of the window and also into the room from the top level.

[lyorn]

Some thoughts:

If you do not want the pair, ask which one is happiest alone. If you want two, take the siblings.

Can you keep them from jumping out of the windows if something interested is going on outside? (I have cat-proof fly screen.)

What food are they used to?
I guess they are all neutered and vaccinated, and probably chipped?
Some shelters demand that you have to let them in your flat anytime they feel like checking on the cats, and inform the shelter if the cat died, and what of. I see their POV, but I was not happy with it.

Do you have stuff that cats can destroy? Plants which might be poisonous to them? Trash cans a cat could raid?

[lexin]

I'll ask which one is a loner, thanks for that.

My windows don't have flyscreens - they don't in the UK, and there's no way they could jump out once the window's shut. And they can be opened a little way and locked into place, so the cat can't push it more open. So that's OK.

I'll check what food they've been feeding it and feed it the same for a while at least.

It will be neutered, vaccinated and chipped - the rescue place is the RSPCA - very respectable charity - who do that automatically.

I do think the RSPCA keep in contact with you once you've taken the cat and do a follow up visit once the cat's been homed a couple of months. I think they can do follow up visits at any time after that, too, but I don't mind, it's not a problem.

I'm going to get rid of my cat-poisonous plants, which I have some. And buy a new cat-proof bin, as I hadn't thought of that until someone mentioned on Facebook that her kittens invaded their bin constantly.

[stranger]

One thing to be careful of the windows: cats can squirm through amazingly small spaces. 4 inches is a door to them. 2 inches might be a safe opening, depending on the cat.

On choosing, can you interact with the different cats to see which seems happiest with you, and vice versa, when you're playing or petting?

Good luck!

[lexin]

My windows when locked shut are only about an inch. It should be narrow enough to discourage any kitty rangers.

I think you're allowed to interact with them and see if they take to you. I'll be disappointed if not!

[lyorn]

My previous cats were clever and well-coordinated and would never have jumped off a balcony or out of a window. So I was caught completely by surprise when the new kittens turned out to be absent-minded and clumsy, and had some trouble with airing the place. So, cat fly screen...

I also found that cats like to drink from everything but their water bowl. I put water bowls in serveral place, and make sure that the the lid on the loo is closed.

I use scoop litter and have a small bin with a lid that closes tightly to scoop the litter into. Cuts down on the smell. Also, not all cats like (=accept) litter boxes with a lid. Which can be a problem because some cats tend to, hm, miss the bottom of the box and hit the back wall instead, especially when they get older. Maybe it would be possible to check what they are used to?

[lexin]

I'll ask about that, thank you for the suggestion.

[krait]

Welp, as someone who works in a no-kill shelter, the things I'd ask you if you came in to adopt are:

* Do you have experience living with/owning cats (i.e. do you have a basic grasp of their veterinary needs like yearly shots and monthly flea treatments, etc.; daily litterbox cleaning; cat behaviour and training such that you won't return it or "declaw" it the first time it scratches the wrong thing)

* What energy level are you looking for (kitten are high-maintenance, and all cats need some interaction! Some people want a cat to play with, some people just want a cat to sit with, and some people want a cat that will be happy with fifteen minutes of attention and then do its own thing the rest of the time.)

* Do you have the financial ability and the free time to provide for a cat?

As far as things I would ask the RSPCA:

* Has the cat been seen by a vet? Is it fully vaccinated? Spayed/neutered? Microchipped?
* Do they have any known behaviour problems (either negative for you, like spraying urine or chewing certain fabrics, or negative for them, like a fear of men/bad weather/etc.)? They may not know, but it never hurts to ask!
*Do they get along with other pets? (If you think you might someday want to have another pet this is very important; if not, it still doesn't hurt to ask - consider giving a home to a cat who would rather be alone, because they can be harder to place!)

Other, general stuff:

+ Short hair is much easier to maintain than long hair, which will require almost-daily combing.
+ Having two can be a good thing, especially if you're not at home a lot; two cats can entertain each other (if they're friendly to each other), which keeps them from being bored or distressed while you're away.
+ Cat-proofing your house beforehand is a good idea; watch out for things like dangling window blind strings or drapery ties (cats can get tangled in them), poisonous plants or chemicals, tight spaces that the cat could get stuck in, and possibly a room or rooms that you don't want the cats to ever go in (in case of visitors who are Not Cat People, clothes or bedding you don't want hair on, very nice furniture pieces, etc.)

[lexin]

All brilliant suggestions, thank you!

[krait]

Hee, you're welcome! Even if it's not *my* shelter, I love it when shelter kitties find a home! :D