Advice wanted on adopting a mature local cat

[still standing]

I've agreed to adopt a local cat, after an old lady died recently, her daughter lives abroad and the house is being sold. I would like some advice about how to settle the cat in, as she has lived only a few doors down from me, so this area is very familiar to her. It's not the first time I have adopted a cat, so I'll be careful to do all the usual things, like keeping her in for 3 or 4 weeks at least, blocking up my chimney (!) and locking the cat flap, etc.

The main worry is how close her old home is. Will she ever settle into my house? She is 8 years old now and has lived in her current house all that time, and it would be upsetting if she was stressed and always trying to go back to her old home. Luckily, there is no cat door there, so she won't be able to get inside and there will be new people living in it. But I would appreciate any thoughts as to how best i can help her to accept her new home with me.

 

[Highmileagecob]

The old house garden will form part of her territory, but as soon as she works out who is feeding her, she will move in with you. It may take a week or so, but cats are not stupid. I adopted two when a neighbour died, and when new people moved into the old house the cats stopped visiting there. Maybe warn the new neighbours of the situation - you might even find they are happy to take her on.

 

[TheresaW]

We adopted our previous neighbours cat some years ago now. They were moving back to Australia, we were in the middle of the foot and mouth outbreak. When we first let him out after a few weeks, it was a couple of days before he came back in (we saw him around so knew he was ok). Once he came back, got fed etc, he knew where his new home was.

 

[AmyMay]

I’ve adopted two neighbours cats. One moved in of its own accord, the other was given to me. The one I was given was kept in doors for four weeks and then I let it out. It wasn’t an issue.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I think the important thing is not to crowd them and just let them explore your house. They may want to just find a dark corner and hide for a bit. That's okay.

Don't forget to update the microchip details and get them registered with a vet.

Move any houseplants somewhere safe. Mine hide in the bathroom to avoid being nibbled by the cats.

 

[ycbm]

If the house is still empty and has a cat flap and the cat is friendly, then I would be tempted to leave her loose, get a key, and go and fetch her back from her old home and give her scrumptious food twice a day. I don't think it will take her long to work out the old house is cold and empty and the food is in your lovely warm one.
.

 

[still standing]

Thank you, it is very reassuring to hear that other cats from nearby houses have happily settled into their new homes. Food does seem to be the common theme!

I've been messaged by the old lady's daughter, who told me the cat was neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and in good health so that all sounded positive. But later in the same message, she said that 'the only time since then that the cat had been to the vets for an infected paw from a thorn, they had real difficulty getting her into the cat carrier'. So.... it sounds very much like nothing is up to date if they have never been back to the vet! Including worming I'll bet, but I will deal with all that gradually including getting the microchip address changed (bet they have mislaid the certificate).

I am picking her up tomorrow from her current home, as the old lady's niece has been living there for the last month to keep an eye on the place and feed the cat. But the niece is moving back to her own place again so it's time for Puss in Boots to move in with me! Wish me Good Luck getting her into the carrier.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Good luck. Our now resident cat moved across to us from her old home which is about 200 yards away, but it was the cat who decided to move here after being bullied by another cat. After amicable discussions with her former owners (who we found via the details on her microchip) she has been fully transferred to our ownership. She regards here as her home now.

Re the carrier, I fed the cat dreamies in her carrier for a few days before taking her the vets. Her jabs had lapsed, too.

Hope it all goes well.

 

[scats]

Hope all goes well. We adopted an elderly cat about 12 years ago, her owner had gone into a home and couldn’t take her. We managed to integrate her with our dog and cats at the time and she settled really well.
Unfortunately we only got 12 months with her as we found out she was riddled with internal tumours. I so wish we had more time with her, she was fabulous. Her name was Nuisance

 

[still standing]

Quick Update: No problem getting Puss into the cat carrier & she's been here for a day now. Is being very affectionate and I think enjoying the attention. She doesn't seem too bothered about being kept indoors, after initially being a bit hyperactive running from window to window, and has slept most of today.

Just one further piece of advice please, if anyone has found themselves in this situation. She only drinks milk & only eats wet food, I was told! Plus maybe rainwater out of doors, the niece thinks, but of course puss won't have access to that for ages yet.
So today, I have put 2 bowls of bottled Still Water around the house (our tap water tastes disgustingly of chemicals) but also occasionally I've given her a little milk as I don't want to make drastic changes to her diet or for her to get dehydrated. She hasn't touched the water. So has anyone given their cat only milk to drink, always? Without having digestive problems? I'm quite anxious about this, as my last cat sadly developed a serious allergy (vomiting) to milk later in life and despite 2 years of treatment, eventually got too ill for quality of life & I had to make that hard decision. The milk I use for myself is low fat, if it makes any difference for the new cat?

The 'wet food only' issue I am not so concerned about, though I think the hard little biscuits are good for their teeth, But she did take a couple of Dreamies yesterday (thanks, Tiddlypom), so there is hope there maybe!
Sorry, this was a Not So Quick Update but I'd like to make this puss as happy and healthy as I can, so I appreciate any advice.

 

[AmyMay]

Great update so far. Dilute the milk with water. And gradually reduce the amount of milk in the water. Cats are lactose intolerant and it should be given very sparingly.

 

[Arzada]

I've never given milk to my cats. All three were from Cats Protection or RSPCA. All were 8+ yo. All were bereaved. Who knows if they had milk with their first owners but none of them ever refused water. The last one, Anniebelle Fluffy, much preferred rain water, from the bird bath, any collection points in the garden, wherever. I agree with Amymay's advice to dilute the milk and eventually end up with just water (if possible).

ETA so pleased you've been able to give a new home to your Puss.

 

[still standing]

Anymay, that is a great suggestion about gradually reducing the milk:water ratio, many thanks, I'll do that.

I should have added that I myself have never given a cat milk, including to my old cat! He developed his serious allergy after neighbours gave him cream as a treat, frequently, during lockdown when we were all at home & he was visiting everyone (sociable cat). I didn't find out until he started vomiting and vets said he'd developed the lactose intolerance & then I had to put a Note through everyone's letterbox requesting No Feeding Please!
I just don't want to do anything too sudden with this puss's diet, so the gradual change sounds purrfect.

 

[m1stify]

You can get cat milk if you need something to help transition to water. Mine like the water from the filter jug! I mainly feed mine dry and wet as a treat. Means I can leave food out and then they eat when they like and food doesn’t go off. They get used to this quickly and don’t overeat.

 

[Griffin]

It may be worth trying a cat fountain with bottled water, it may entice her to drink water. I am so glad she has you.

 

[paddy555]

I've never given milk and mine hated cat milk. You could however get a carton of goats milk from your supermarket. When we had goats the cats drank that. It was difficult to get them out of the bowl when you were milking.

May be a bit better for her until you get her settled.

 

[smolmaus]

You are doing the right things already but just wanted to add a note that cats are "supposed" to get the majority of their water from prey, so if puss is eating all wet food a lot of her moisture will be coming from that and she shouldn't actually need a lot of extra water. So don't panic if she doesn't drink a lot!

When we switched ours from 100% wet to 50/50 wet and dry there was a very noticeable uptick in actually drinking water. They also prefer the water bowl that is furthest away from their food (one upstairs and one downstairs, picked up that tip from a cat forum) and don't like to drink if their whiskers have to touch the edges of the bowl so wide water bowls kept topped up work best. Like I said, you're doing the right things already but every little bit helps!

 

[HollyWoozle]

Our senior rescue cat likes to drink rain water and will wait it out for that if he can. Could you put a dish out to collect some to encourage him to drink during this transitionary phase? Ours will also go for water from a filter jug too if he is out of options.

 

[Honey08]

Our female cat will only drink rain water or running water from the running tap. I keep meaning to get a water fountain.

Our first cat only ever drank cows milk and lived to 17. Back in the days when we thought it was ok to do so.

Also if she’s only having wet food she’s probably getting a fair bit of liquid from that.

 

[still standing]

Just another little update to say I think we are heading in the right direction!
My kitchen floor still looks like a research lab, with a row of cat bowls! But they are reducing in number, now down to only 5 which is good.

Rain water - no thanks.
Bottled still water - no thanks.
Dry cat biscuits - YES! Thanks for the Dreamies suggestion, Tiddlypom, and we are weaning gradually onto Whiskas ones. I leave a teeny bowl of them out overnight and half are eaten by morning.
Wet cat food - yes, gravy only thanks. But at least I'm not wasting time and money on jelly type, I think she would rather starve.
Milk - only a little is sipped per day, so I was relieved to read above (thanks Smolmaus) that she is probably getting most of her water intake from the wet food. I will wait a while before starting to dilute it, as I do feel she is still settling down and has had a lot of changes.

Thanks again everyone for your advice and your own experiences.