Advice on cat equipment

None of my succession of cats has ever slept in a cat bed. The current one much prefers a favourite cushion on the sofa.
When I worked at the vets we recommended keeping them in for 3-4 wks at first. I've always had rescue cats and have never had trouble with them going missing.
I usually leave them alone for the first day or so. Bertie who we have now spent the first 12 hrs or so behind the sofa only emerging to eat when we had gone to bed. He then would come out more and more but I ignored him and left him to come to me. He will now happily sit on anyones lap.
Cats prefer to have distance between their water and food. Bert prefers his from the watering cans or bird bath ?

I've had cats all my life, and now home foster for a Cat charity (not RSPCA), with some indoors and outdoors in a run. No need to spend a lot, cats change their minds quite often on where they will sleep etc.

The first thing they need when they arrive is a "safe room". A quiet room just for them, if there is a bed they can hide under, great. Windows shut of course, but if possible, a window sill where they can sit and look out, or somewhere else high. If not, create some hidey holes, behind curtains, furniture etc, so they can hide up and gradual venture forth when they feel safe.

A cardboard box with a fleece or old cosy jumper to sleep, tucked away so they feel safe at first. Have a cosy cover on the bed or a chair.

We now use an quite large under the bed clear storage box for the litter tray. It has higher sides, and is roomy, so they don't spread litter everywhere. Ask for whatever litter they used before, and add it to what you want to use, so they get used to it.

We supply a cardboard scratcher, £1.29 in home bargains. We put their food on a tray then on spare piece of vinyl lino, so we can easily pick the whole thing up and wash it. I'd feed what he is used to at first, to avoid tummy upsets. (probably Felix sachets or similar)

I wouldn't let him outdoors for at least 3 weeks, and maybe more, depends on the cat. I would sit in the room with him, just reading, having a coffee, talking to him a bit, so he get used to you. After a day, start leaving his room door open so he can explore the house, but run back to his safe place.

Don't worry if he hides up for the first few days. Don't try and grab him for a fuss. Let him come to you in his own time. Just talk softly and maybe offer some Dreamies or a game - feather or stick under newspaper works well.

Good luck, he is a lucky cat.

I've had cats for 28 years, and have bought every type of cat bed - not one of my cats ever used one. A soft blanket/cushion would suffice. Not necessarily brand-new, but one you've got hanging about.

Scratching post - any. My cats all had them AND used them, but stairs/landing/settee have all been scratched as well!

Either type of litter tray. I found that the wood pellet type of litter is best, as it doesn't clump like the gravel-type.

A tea tray would be OK

Bowls - I've always used a wide bowl or plate (big enough for their face to go in) for food, and a large pasta bowl for water. Never milk of course.

Toys that contain catnip are good. I've always let my cats have the run of the house, so all internal doors are open.

A calm environment, a gentle voice, and a cosy blanket will ensure that the cat goes to you...in its own time. Not all cats like to sit on a lap, though. My Mr Cooper has never sat on me but will sit on my husband's lap.

When letting the cat outside for the first time (after a few days, I'd say), stand outside too, and always keep the door ajar, so that the cat can dart back inside, should it feel scared. Feed the cat at the same kind of time every day, so that it will get to know when it's time to go indoors. Mine were (Mr C still is) fed at 8am, then 1ish, 6ish, and 10pmish.

Good luck and best wishes x

Oh and if you are a gardener, use wood pellet litter as this can go straight onto the compost heap.

Oh how exciting for you! I suggest you google Cats Protection League. They have just the leaflet you need online. www.cats.org.uk/cat-care-leaflets/essential-guides

When I have had new cats I kept them in for 4 weeks and when they did go out it was ALWAYS on an empty tummy the first time. Find out what he is being fed on and use the same food for the first few days and then either keep to the same or gradually change over. Only give water (not milk) and when first home give space and peace and quiet for a settling in period.

No need to keep in one room providing you can open front and back doors safely without an escape. In my own experience (and bearing in mind all cats are different) I have always find they have come to my knee in their own time. Kind words and a quiet voice are probably all that you need for the first few days to help this process along.

Good luck and enjoy each other.

I have had a lot of cats over the years from various rescues and whatever they have told me the cat loves does not appear to be true once they are installed. They will eat anything, nope, we will eat whiskers for weeks then suddenlh rather starve that eat that shite, they sleep anywhere than designated space, one of mine still pisses on any clothing left on floor despite clean litter box, and so on. Dogs have owners, cats have staff, but I wouldn’t be without them, ever. Good luck.

Everything with cats is trial & error, Chickenlegs and even that changes from one day to the next.

All cats seem to like cardboard boxes with an old blanket or jumper in it for sleeping. Some cats like a closed-in box to hide away in (though my cats don't).

Scratching posts may or may not be used, I'd only buy a cheap one for now. My cats don't use one but they do very much like to scratch their claws on an old-school coir front door mat.

We have a closed-in litter tray, because the cats are enthusiastic diggers in litter and it saves some of the mess. We use silica litter, which is a hundred times better than any other litter because you get no smell. www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter/silicate_litter

Any type of bowl can be used for feeding although some cats prefer a flatter plate so their whiskers don't touch the sides.

I would start off with having him in one room then gradually let him explore the house. Our cats are indoor cats so we don't have that issue.

I would try and get the same bowls etc as he is using in the RSPCA place, he will be used to them. Same with a bed etc, although if he is like my cat was he will sleep anywhere and everywhere. She only used her open bed when it was put in front of the fire in the winter lol.
She was a rescue cat, although not as old as yours, and we kept her in for about a month - we live by a busy road which luckily she rarely went near, prefered back garden. She had free range of the house.
Hope he settles well.

Very exciting, Chickenlegs.

We "accidentally" fostered a stray cat recently for about 6 weeks before it went off to a good home. My daughter is a cat person too.

So ... I've learnt that cats have personalities. The little male that came to us for 6 weeks had the sweetest nature. He liked to be high up (we kept him indoors) - as long as he could see out, he was happy.

Definitely get a mat for the litter tray otherwise you have grit all over the house.

Don't bother to buy litter tray liners, most cats don't like them.

We had an open litter tray with a "lip", my daughter has a closed one.

There are some lovely cat treat food you can buy, all cats go moggy for "Dreamies". Our little foster cat loved Gourmet Chicken Soup.

My daughter's cat loves his enclosed warm pod and will spend hours in there, it's like a giant padded birdhouse.

He also loves the sheepskin "hammock" that hangs on the radiator.

Enjoy your new cat, I'm sure he will be spoiled.