We have recently taken on a unwanted cat for a neighbour of our Daughters boy friend. He has been somewhat neglected in terms of affection and general care. We have now taken him to our hearts already, I admit it was somewhat hasty but the poor thing was sleeping in a broken down car and being fed by kind neighbours. We wanted to take him on as he was in dire straits.
Now I seek advice on how best to help him settle and stay with us, I have read that a time period of 3-6 weeks is advisable to keep him indoors. We are using a litter tray and we have been feeding and watering him. What I would like is someone with a similar story to give us any helpful advice.
I would be truly grateful.
How to settle a re-homed cat?
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Crewella
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Re: How to settle a re-homed cat?
Hello, welcome, and good on you for taking this poor lad on. 
Firstly, is he neutered? If not, then he needs to be done pronto and before you let him out, for his own health and wellbeing as well as for the local cat population - entire tom cats are much more prone to roaming ..... and fighting ......... and spraying in the house .......
Assuming he has been done, I would keep him in for at least 3/4 weeks and maybe a little longer if he's a nervous cat. He needs to feel that this is his home and place of safety, and it takes time for that sense to build up. When you do first let him out, do it just before feeding time, go out with him and call him back in for his food after about five minutes - that way you'll make sure he knows the way back in.
The rest will kind of depend on his character - I have an ex-stray who's a complete wuss and mummy's boy, but others might keep some of their independent streak. How's he settling in with you?
Firstly, is he neutered? If not, then he needs to be done pronto and before you let him out, for his own health and wellbeing as well as for the local cat population - entire tom cats are much more prone to roaming ..... and fighting ......... and spraying in the house .......
Assuming he has been done, I would keep him in for at least 3/4 weeks and maybe a little longer if he's a nervous cat. He needs to feel that this is his home and place of safety, and it takes time for that sense to build up. When you do first let him out, do it just before feeding time, go out with him and call him back in for his food after about five minutes - that way you'll make sure he knows the way back in.
The rest will kind of depend on his character - I have an ex-stray who's a complete wuss and mummy's boy, but others might keep some of their independent streak. How's he settling in with you?
Re: How to settle a re-homed cat?
Hello and thanks for the response,
We have been told but it isn't confirmed that he has been neutered and inoculated. This will only be confirmed when we take him to the vets.
He has only been with us 24hrs, so far he is settling in quite well. He is quite needy and wants to be the centre of attention, we assume that this is due to lack of care.
We have been told but it isn't confirmed that he has been neutered and inoculated. This will only be confirmed when we take him to the vets.
He has only been with us 24hrs, so far he is settling in quite well. He is quite needy and wants to be the centre of attention, we assume that this is due to lack of care.