Any adoptive cat parents out there?

[lustergirl]

So this past saturday we adopted a female cat from a local spca. She is beautifu; but weighs 16 pounds. Her name is MouseTrap. My hubby wasn't too pleased because we have a cat already, Sheba. So anyways on sunday she stayed in the same spot for like 7 hours and I started to panick thinking
something was wrong with her. I called the spca monday morning and they told me that because of her size she isn't going to do much and that I need to try and get her moving. Well she is coughing a little bit like she wants to cough up a hairball but it sounds worse. She is eating okay and getting around more now as time goes on. We had a certificate from the spca for a free vet visit so I scheduled an appt to day at 6:30pm well we couldn't make it because she ran under my bed and wouldnt come out- poor thing.

So long story short- does anyone have any suggestions to get her used to our house beside going on a diet

 

[dogodisney]

How old is she? I'm guessing an adult because of her weight. It may take her a little time since you have another cat. How did your cat react to having competition? They can be pretty territorial.
If her cough gets worse or nose starts to run you will need to take her to the vet. They can pick up so many things from being confined with other cats. I would suggest that you keep the cats apart until you know for sure that Mousetrap isn't sick.

Thank you for adopting. I have two.

 

[chager]

AWWWW Poor kitty! How lucky she is you adopted her. I pretty much just let them be until everyone adjusts. I try to listen/watch for hissing and growling but other then that I let them take the time they need to adjust. The vet may recommend some kitty prozac to help out if she gets to bad. We had a cat that hid behind out curtains for 2 months after we moved to a new home because he was so stressed out. We had him since he was a baby but he just couldn't handle the change. Everyday he slowly came out more and more. I would just talk to her often and if she lets you sit next to her and pet her. Above all be patient. It is hard to tell what happened in her world before you got her.

 

[3boymthr]

We adopted an older cat, not from the SPCA, but from DH's co-worker who had to let him go. Supposedly he was a very nice cat, mild mannered, friendly and not a scratcher. DH went to the co-worker's house to get the cat and he was everything she said.

Well, in the first week we learned several things about cats:

One thing we learned, cats can go a week without eating.

Another thing we learned - cats can be extremely creative in their hiding places. We got home, we entered via the basement, opened the door to the cat box as soon as we entered the house, he ran and he vanished. It took us 3 days to find him and he never left the cellar.

Cats who go to new homes can suffer from split personality disorder: After a week he emerged, but one moment he was friendly the next he was hissing and snapping then running and hiding for a couple more days.

A year later he is still very skittish but at least he is eating and will come and visit, but only with DH.

BTW - this was not our first cat. I have had cats continuously since I was a child, sometimes 5 at once since I grew up on a farm.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Back in January I adopted two cats from the Siamese Rescue Society.

Toby is about nine and weighs 14 pounds while Ashley is about eight and only weighs eight pounds.

 

[dakcp2001]

He prob needs some time! I would talk to him a lot, just so he gets used to having you around


Maybe get some feather toys or something, see if he likes to play? He is prob a little stressed,and maybe he isn't feeling well with a cold. Make sure he has water close to him, in case he is too nervous to go by you guys.


When I first got my cats, they stayed under the bed for a week. In the middle of the night I would hear them run over to the bowl and pig out, and well there was stuff in the litter box, so at least they were sneaking out to "go" but they did eventually get used to me, and now they are friendly little buggers.



Just make sure you keep talking to him in a nice soothing voice, and don't give up on him !!! He will learn to love ya!

 

[pppiglet]

If you think she may be sick, keep her away from your other cat until she goes to the vet.

Also, cats should never go more than a day or two without food. At 16lbs her liver will start to shut down on her without food. Smaller cats can go longer without food.

If you want her to lose weight, only feed her wet food and only morning and night.

Get a laser light to see if she'll chase it for exercise.

I have 10 adopted cats of my own ranging from 6mos to 5years, and I foster cats and kittens off and on for a local store. I have learned so much and haven't had to take any of them to the vet in ages.

 

[lustergirl]

She does alot of your post have said. She sneaks out in the middle of the night for food and she is using the litter box- all good signs. I can tell she wants to be lovable. I also believe she needs some time.I shouldn't of scheduled a vet visit so soon and let her get used to the house first. I am watching for signs of a cold and so far all she has is the coughing- no runny nose or watery eyes. I am thinking she has hair ball issues. The SPCA that I adopted her from sent me a postcard in the mail yesterday to call them to see how is doing so I am going to ask them some hints about hairball removal. The two cats do stay separated until the new cat gets used to her new surroundings. The other cat seems to be all right with the new one. I will keep you guys posted.

 

[lustergirl]

If you think she may be sick, keep her away from your other cat until she goes to the vet.

Also, cats should never go more than a day or two without food. At 16lbs her liver will start to shut down on her without food. Smaller cats can go longer without food.

If you want her to lose weight, only feed her wet food and only morning and night.

Get a laser light to see if she'll chase it for exercise.

I have 10 adopted cats of my own ranging from 6mos to 5years, and I foster cats and kittens off and on for a local store. I have learned so much and haven't had to take any of them to the vet in ages.

A laser is a good idea- thanks!!

 

[jam217]

The kitty just needs some time to re-adjust. Several years ago, we got our cat right after Christmas. It took until about March until he finally felt comfortable coming out and socializing with us. He spent a lot of time hanging out in our back bedroom under the bed. Now he's perfectly fine and hangs out with us all the time. Sometimes they just need some time.

 

[lustergirl]

The first cat we got as a kitten- she was a stray at my brother's house. I think kittens adapt quicker than older cats because they are set in their ways already. Thanks everyone!!

 

[alliecats]

Everything pppoglet said about the food and weight loss...ditto. Cannot be stressed enough. If she is not eating I would even call vet and ask about an appetite stim--we use cyproheptadine. Since pilling her would be hard, you can do what we do which is smash up the dose with a knife, sprinkle it on food and cover it. Works like a charm.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

We adopted a 2 year old rescue cat from the SPCA a few months back. They told us that we had to lock him in a small bathroom for about 7 days with all his food and liter box once we got him home. I thought hey were nuts - I've had plenty of cats, and never done anything like that before. Well we let him out of his cardboard box, and he vanished!!!! We finally found him that night, got him out of his hiding spot, and he vanished again. This went on for about 1 1/2 days untill we finally did what they said, and locked him in the bathroom. I couldn't believe it, but thats what he really needed. We would go in there a few times a day so he could get used to us, then gradually took him into our bedroom to visit for a short time with the kids. After about 5 days, he let him out on his own, and hes been the best cat ever since.
I know it seems totally crule and inhuman, but give it a try - it may be what he needs.

 

[lustergirl]

She definitely is very skeptic of us. One minute she lets you pet and will come when called and the next minute she is running away. Give it time and she will be fine. I feel like I am obsessed though like she is one of my children- ha!!

 

[Tina]

Patience is the key. I have 2 adoptees myself. You may want to consider giving her her own "room," if you have the space. I used my guest bedroom for this. Its sparsely furnished with only a bed and night table. I placed a litter box in the closet, leaving the door slightly ajar. I also placed their food and water in the room, so they could eat when no one was around. I would spend time in the room, laying on the bed reading. I'd leave the door open just a crack while I was not in the room. Over the course of a few days, she will warm up to whomever is visiting her and eventually wander out on her own.

 

[pppiglet]

We also seclude the cats to one small room when we first get them until they get use to us and then gradually introduce them to the other cats.

As for hairballs, if she had lots of hair the best thing (although more money) to use is the furminator and brush once a week. You can see how it works on YouTube. It's the best! As for one she already may have, 1/2 teaspoon of Vaseline petroleum jelly on the tip of her nose or paw where she will have to lick it off is what we've done in the past and our vet recommended. Don't be surprised if you hear a weird sound when it comes up! One of my cats has the weirdest howl before she gets rid of one. The vaseline will help dissolve it and slide out the other end!

 

[lustergirl]

Update!! So I sitting in the room she is in watching tv. She actually came and jumped on my lap with her paws up on my chest. I thought "OMG she loves me."

 

[Tina]

Yeah! That's great!!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Update!! So I sitting in the room she is in watching tv. She actually came and jumped on my lap with her paws up on my chest. I thought "OMG she loves me."

Awwww! Congrats on your new addition and thank you for adopting an adult cat....so many are in need of permanent homes.

 

[pppiglet]

Update!! So I sitting in the room she is in watching tv. She actually came and jumped on my lap with her paws up on my chest. I thought "OMG she loves me."

Aw! She's gonna be a winner.

We just got back visiting a foster that we dropped of at the pet store last week. We miss her, but with 10 cats of our own already, we just couldn't keep her. We fostered her for 3 months and really got attached to her. She would love to sit on my lap while I was on the computer!