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Rescuing a cat

(175 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Tue 21-Jan-25 20:59:01

It will soon be a year since we lost our beloved Cairn, and we have really struggled without another being in the house.

We don’t feel up to getting an older rescue dog - which invariably comes with issues which at almost 80 we would really prefer not to have to deal with.

Gradually since Christmas, we have wondered about offering a home to an older rescue cat. I have got as far as talking to cats protection today. I actually have lived with cats all my life apart from the last 14 years so am very happy with a cat in the house.

Has anyone any thoughts on the subject and advice to offer please?

LilyoftheValley Tue 21-Jan-25 21:03:31

Smashing idea. I am considering this, also!

Whitewavemark2 Tue 21-Jan-25 21:21:17

We thought perhaps a cat over 10, but the cats protection lady said that there is no reason why we shouldn’t go for a younger cat. It depends on the fit. One little lady “misty” we thought would be brilliant aged 11 , but when we talked to the rescue people it was clear that it wouldn’t work as we live next door to Tofu who spends a lot of time in our garden and the cats protection lady said that we need a much more confident cat. Misty had been bullied by her next door cat and needed to go to a low cat population area.

So we are off to see Roo on Thursday. Another younger lady of 8 who has previously lived with 18😮😮 cats, and is not phased by other cats. Just spent the afternoon planning beds, carriers equipment etc😊

You apparently must think of 333. So 3 days to get over the moving trauma. 3 weeks to get used to the new routine snd 3 months to feel entirely at home.

Aveline Tue 21-Jan-25 21:30:15

We re-homed two adult males and they settled in very happily far sooner than we expected. Could you take two pals?

silverlining48 Tue 21-Jan-25 21:34:01

Lovely idea, wish you and Roo…. Meow 🐈‍⬛

Whitewavemark2 Tue 21-Jan-25 21:34:59

Aveline

We re-homed two adult males and they settled in very happily far sooner than we expected. Could you take two pals?

I see no reason why not, Thursday is cat day😊. There are pairs of cats to be renamed. The most number of cats we have had were 3 Persians.

I spent my entire existence grooming them!!

Whitewavemark2 Tue 21-Jan-25 21:35:48

Nor renamed - re-homed

HowVeryDareYou2 Tue 21-Jan-25 21:35:49

Hope it all goes well for you and the cat.

We'd had cats for 40 - odd years, then our lovely Mr Cooper died 2 years ago. I adored him and didn't want to get another one, but last September, a little stray I'd been feeding for a couple of months walked into the house and stayed. It's lovely to have a furry, purring friend again.

I'd suggest not bothering to buy a bed (not one of our many cats ever used one), but have fleecy blankets instead. Obviously, toys, litter tray and a scratching post.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 21-Jan-25 21:38:06

When you wait for the phone to answer the cats protection, instead of music you get purring and the odd meow😊😊

HowVeryDareYou2 Tue 21-Jan-25 21:38:39

That's nice smile

Allira Tue 21-Jan-25 22:11:55

Just typed a response then lost it - Aw Snap Something went wrong when displaying this web page.

Yes, do, although cats are quite different from dogs of course!
Independent, a bonus, but like to roam which is always a bit of a worry unless they're house cats.

Do you know anyone who could take over if you felt unable to cope with a pet for any reason?

Sorry, don't mean to sound unduly pessimistic.

Grandmafrench Tue 21-Jan-25 22:18:17

Oh what lovely news. Little Duncan would be so proud to know your plan. A cat - better, a couple of cat chums - occupying the sunny spots again whilst you garden is a wonderful idea and is bound to give you some wonderfully happy times this year.

You’re cat people, so you probably know the drill. I’d just say that a pair might settle more easily, have more fun, and be such company for each other. My experience is that they’re less likely to wander. And, better to have cats 6 - 10 (with some life experience and common sense). Kittens are just beautiful, but usually crazy, risk-taking, bonkers little souls, who can test one’s nerves on a daily basis while they charge about high on life. Too much worry and stress - I’ve certainly had plenty of that in the past!

Please don’t forget a photo or 2 when you find what you’re looking for.

Barleyfields Tue 21-Jan-25 22:37:14

I am excited for you. I know the pleasure and consolation of a warm, fluffy, purring little body when you have lost a much loved pet.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 21-Jan-25 23:00:48

😪. Honestly the grief never leaves you does it, but I’m hoping that this little furry person will compensate somewhat.

I’m trying to modify my list of stuff. As it was running up towards £200😮 I got carried away. So I’ve zapped the climbing frame 😄 and the really posh carrier, also wondering about the cat bed after reading some posts. I’ll speak to the cat lady on Thursday.

I’m beginning to feel better than I have for a long time. I have really struggled this year, and have been constantly on the verge of tears so often . I have a photo of Duncan looking back at me over his shoulder and grinning as if to say “come on” and it floors me.

Enough! I need to get a grip.

Thanks for your forbearance every one

Allira Tue 21-Jan-25 23:02:32

also wondering about the cat bed after reading some posts.
One of DIL's cats seems to like lying across the indoor recycling bins 😀

Allira Tue 21-Jan-25 23:03:21

Honestly the grief never leaves you does it
No 😥

Allira Tue 21-Jan-25 23:07:12

I saw this on another thread and thought at first it was this thread!

He will own the entire world soon!

Yes, steady on.

A scratching post?

MayBee70 Tue 21-Jan-25 23:42:18

I’m a great believer in Adaptil ( or, in the case of cats, Feliway (sp) ) plug ins when an animal moves to new surroundings. It’s reminded me of when we moved home when I was a child and our cat kept going back to the old house until mum put butter on her paws!

MayBee70 Tue 21-Jan-25 23:43:35

My cats always loved cardboard boxes. Can’t have too many cardboard boxes imo…

MaizieD Wed 22-Jan-25 00:33:15

Definitely a scratching post. I’ve had cats all my life and never had any who used the furniture as a scratching post. But, my current senior cat does and it drives me mad. When we got junior cat I bought an elaborate thing with scratching posts and a ledge and a ‘cave’ for the pair of them. Junior cat uses the scratching posts but I think senior is too stuck in his ways to change. He ignores the posts and still goes for the corner of our battered sofa😒

As for beds, they have one in the utility room where they sleep at night, but during the day their choice is the sofas or the human beds… or the chair I’m about to sit on 😆

Looking forward to hearing about your new cat (or cats).

Cold Wed 22-Jan-25 00:33:17

We have had a lot of rescue cats. Some have come from animal shelters and others we have literally found dying in our garden - I think some people abandon them in the forest near our house but by winter there is no food ...

It is always good to offer a home to a hard to adopt cat - older cats, bonded pairs, cats with medical issues.

We currently have 3.

Two came from a shelter as a hard to adopt bonded pair that had been removed for neglect/cruelty when they were tiny kittens. One is very nervous (but will take a Dreamie from my hand) the other is sociable and friendly but lost an eye from neglect.

The other was a kitten that we found surviving by eating our birdseed and fatballs in the garden and living under a barn. My DD spent 3 weeks trying to get her in as the weather was extreme (minus 20-25C). 9 years later she thinks she is a princess and spends most of the winter on a pink fluffy pillow above a radiator.

ALbetros Wed 22-Jan-25 17:14:48

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Indigo8 Wed 22-Jan-25 17:30:55

I believe that Cats Protection run a fostering service where you can foster a cat or cats until they can be found a permanent home. This might suit people who are anxious about wearing out before the cat does.

Alternatively, Cats Protection offers support to elderly people who take on cat and need to make provision for after they have gone, as does Blue Cross.

Ladyleftfieldlover Wed 22-Jan-25 17:39:39

We’ve always had two!

Indigo8 Wed 22-Jan-25 17:45:22

Ladyleftfielder Two obviously very contented cats.smile