Dh is bringing home a cat. What do we need?

[floridafam]

Dh called and said that he found an abandoned cat (it found him) that wont leave him alone. He was at the office and someone in a nearby house said that the people who used to live in an empty house left the cat when they moved.

Should he bring it home? What will it need tonight? I know we will need to take it to the vet soon.

Any advice? I can't see him just leaving the cat there unless it won't get in his truck.

 

[TangaroaTiki]

Food & water bowls, a litter box & a bed

Good luck with the new addition

 

[ragdoll]

I am a cat lover and am so glad that you are willing to give this poor thing a home. I hate when people abandon their pets! Cats are very easy to care for. All you will need for the moment is food, water and a litter box. You might as well pick up a brush and a couple of toys while you are at it.

Since the cat won't leave your DH alone it will probably be very tame and friendly and make a good pet.

 

[Claire L]

Looks like the cat picked you as it's new family

As said before food, water and litter tray will do fine for the first few days.

Claire

 

[DznyLvr2005]

Definately, one of the first things you'll need is to get the cat to a vet to be checked out, make sure he's OK and he'll most definately need shots.

water, food, dry and wet. We feed out cats twice a day. In the AM they get wet and dry cat food 1/2 can each. At night, they get some more dry food.
A good litter pan, cat litter.
If the cat is any way going to go outside, you should at least for the summer months have the cat on frontline for fleas and ticks.
Good luck!

 

[Muushka]

Best wishes for your family and your new addition

PS My kitties said "Good job!"

 

[floridafam]

She's here. She was sitting in the passenger seat of DH's truck when they got here.

Right now, she's in the Florida room. It's a screened in room. We are thinking maybe she should stay out there for tonight.

We can't get her in the vet until Tuesday. Is that going to be alright?

I will try and post a pic. She's a cutie. DD loves cats and has been talking non-stop about getting one and we didn't think it was going to happen for a while.

She seems to enjoy when someone pets her. She was HUNGRY and as soon as I brought the bag of food in she immediately came over to me and was very eager to eat.

I bought wet and dry food. DH has had cats before so I'm trusting him to take care of it for the next few days.

The poor thing was outside on her own for at least 6 weeks.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Looks like you've found yourself a new family member. Good job! It should be fine to wait until Tuesday for the vet. If she's been on her own this long, it's unlikely that she's so bad off she needs immediate attention. When you go, try to bring a fresh stool sample with you. Make sure she's tested for worms and other parasites, as well as feline HIV and Leukemia. She shold get vaccinated for the basics. Also, it's probably best if you confine her to a couple of rooms for just the first days...there are likely to be flea issues.

Now all you need is to find her a name.

 

[wvdisluv2]

She's here. She was sitting in the passenger seat of DH's truck when they got here.

Right now, she's in the Florida room. It's a screened in room. We are thinking maybe she should stay out there for tonight.

We can't get her in the vet until Tuesday. Is that going to be alright?

I will try and post a pic. She's a cutie. DD loves cats and has been talking non-stop about getting one and we didn't think it was going to happen for a while.

She seems to enjoy when someone pets her. She was HUNGRY and as soon as I brought the bag of food in she immediately came over to me and was very eager to eat.

I bought wet and dry food. DH has had cats before so I'm trusting him to take care of it for the next few days.

The poor thing was outside on her own for at least 6 weeks.

Awwww that kitty is going to love you forever I'm a dog person, but I really love all animals If you don't have any other pets, I'd say she'll be fine until Tuesday when you can get her to the vet. Have you decided on a name? Can't wait to see pictures

 

[floridafam]

Here she is. I hope this works

 

[catsrule]

She is so cute. She will be needing belly rubs.

 

[Muushka]

Awwwwww, she is a beautiful kitty. Yes, belly rubs would be great!

 

[Chicago526]

How pretty!

People don't adopt cats, cats adopt people. Congrats on being adopted!

 

[dis-happy]

Oh, bless you for taking in that poor kitty! I was given an abandoned kitten, half starved and flea bitten. She became a cherished member of our family for nearly 20 years. Hope you all have a wonderful life together.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Food and water bowls. A litter box - get one with a lid, thank me later.

A trip to the vet for shots and crap.

What you don't need:

A regular collar. It will kill the cat. Get the breakaway one so that if she's cought on the railing or whatever, she'll live.

Tinsel on your Christmas tree. It will kill the cat. No popcorn either - dead cat, there, too.

Hartz brand flea-protection. Stay away from Hartz products - they *might* kill the cat. Get the "Revolution" flea stuff instead...until the cat is an indoor one that won't infest your house.

In fact, almost everything you might think would be good for the cat will actually kill it. Luckily, you can find out about all of this on the DIS.

Although I'm always a little perturbed when the DISers tell me, "Oh, no, you can't do that...it'll kill the cat," ...I'm always grateful.

You'll learn a ton here!!!!

 

[RNMOM]

What a beautiful cat. I have 3 and a dog and we have always had fur babies.

I would consider brushing/combing her. If you have a fine toothed comb you might get some dark granules that are actually flea *poo*. If she has them they tend to like the belly and arm pits and around the tail and such. Even if she doesn't have them she might scratch. When you see the vet ask about bathing her and what they recommend. If you bath her....do so very carefully. They don't like water and will fight with the claws and teeth if necessary. Ask the vet the best way to subdue her for this. We only give ours baths every year or two. They get brushed and combed and do a good job of cleaning themselves but since she was outdoors for so long she might benefit from one.

Do you plan to make her a house only cat? Our rescue cat was found outdoors and has adapted very well to house only living. If she gets out the door she comes right back in with a little coaxing. Indoor cats do need a little more stimulation and play time. Your family can have a lot of fun playing with her. Ours love those feathery things on the end of a short rod. They will flip all over trying to get it an 'kill' it. Don't be discouraged if she nips or bites you. It is her way of teaching you what kind of touching she will put up with and/or that she is tired and wants to be left alone. They will also mouth you firmly during play. You can teach her not to do it by removing yourself from the game. She will learn and so will all of you.

My favorite line of DH's about cats is.."If she were 20 times larger we'd be lunch". Sometimes it feels that way when they look at you just so. Hmm.

 

[RyeCrimsonMoon]

She seems to enjoy when someone pets her. She was HUNGRY and as soon as I brought the bag of food in she immediately came over to me and was very eager to eat.

Aww, she's going to be your best friend now! My cat loves to play favorites depending on who fed him that day.

Beyond the great tip of the litter box with a lid on it, I'd get the scoopable litter and a little scooper. It will last longer and you can easily get rid of the little "surprises" left behind.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I am a cat lover and am so glad that you are willing to give this poor thing a home. I hate when people abandon their pets! Cats are very easy to care for. All you will need for the moment is food, water and a litter box. You might as well pick up a brush and a couple of toys while you are at it.

Since the cat won't leave your DH alone it will probably be very tame and friendly and make a good pet.

Don't forget the catnip!

 

[Carys]

Awww, congrats on being adopted! She has a beautiful long tail and is very lucky to have found you guys I also love the colouring on her face, it sort of looks as though she has a phantom mask on (like in the musical) but in black.

Totally agree on getting the lidded litterbox by the way, although you may need to remove the flapdoor (if there is one) until she gets used to the new tray and where it is. If she can't work out how the flap door works (or that it is even a door) she might give up easily to start with and go somewhere else. Please keep us updated

 

[Claire L]

She looks like a wonderful cat and now has a caring home as well

Any thoughts on a name?

Claire