[Fire_fly]

I just got a phone call from a lady who has lost her house in the Bundy floods. I had put my name on a register to take on any pets that were needing a place to stay and she has asked me to take her cat while they get back on their feet. Obviously I said yes and so now am the proud short term foster (maybe 6mths) of a male cat.

I am hoping you guys can give me some tips on how to help the cat adapt to a new household without causing any more stress ( the poor thing had to be left behind and managed to survive the floods)

What sort of behaviour should I watch out for that may indicate he is stressed and what can I do to help lower his stress levels.

Also what comfort things should I get for him and a food recommendation. Is one brand better than others like with dog food?

Finally I have a very sooky large dog how should I approach this?

Thanks all for your help!

This post has been edited by Fire_fly: 05/02/2013, 04:58 PM

[OscarAndTilly]

What a great thing you are doing.

With food if possible I'd feed the same as he is used to.

I'd set him up in a quiet area, if possible a separate room and let him come out when he is ready.

[MissNess]

It might be out of the question due to cost but you can get a diffuser that releases a calming pheromone - we just got it for our anxious cat post move.

You can probably pick it up from a vet, or check it out online http://www.ozpetshop.com.au/product_info.p...roducts_id/2829

[My-3-Pinks]

I would highly recommend getting some Feliway (eBay is cheaper than vets) to help him settle in. We used it after rescuing Tommy to help with settling and unwanted behaviour (for some reason he started peeing on our bed even though he was also using the littertray). It also helped with Oscar and Lucy accepting him I feel.

Are you able to ask his owner what food he was used to? If you can I would stick with what he normally eats so it is one less change for him.

Good on you for offering to help those in need with their pets. It must have been very upsetting for his owner to have to leave him behind but am so glad to hear he managed to survive.

[Fire_fly]

Thanks guys I will go and get some fellway today. Unfortunately there is no time to order online as I am taking him today. So a trip to the vet this morning for me.
If anyone else has some tips I am all ears!

[Mollyksy]

Good on you for taking him in. Maybe confine him to a room for the first little bit (with his litter tray and food at opposite ends) and a comfy bed maybe even a scratching post to let him get comfortable before you let him explore the rest of the house??

Check on him but let him come to you when he is ready. He may just hide under a bed for a while.

I'd get the feliway spray rather than the diffuser as the spray can be sprayed in many different rooms and the diffuser seems to empty really quickly.

I agree to get him the same food and the same litter as well (if at all possible) to ease his transition.

All the best! You are doing a lovely thing.

[la di dah]

I would consider a room he is allowed to be in (it doesn't have to be a room that is high value to your dog like if he sleeps in your room don't oust him, don't make it the kitchen...) that the dog isn't, so he can have a room to escape to because even a lovely dog might be more than he is ready to deal with.

My cats don't really have consistent comfort items beyond things that are soft and warm, pillows/blankets/laundry. Since he's new, clean old towels might be a better idea so if he's agitated and they get, ahem, used, you won't cry.

I'd ask what litter and what food he's used to, because I wouldn't want to change him up for at least a few weeks unless you absolutely have to. (If you can find out what he had).

He may or may not like your dog - it took some of my cats a looong time to warm to dogs, at least two never did, and other cats were like "how could I not love my noble steed, my kibble-dropper....?" I wouldn't force it since its possible that by the time he gets used to the dog, its time to go home.

Bless you for doing a really nice thing.

[Fire_fly]

Awesome guys. I totally forgot about using the same cat litter. I have cleared out the spare room and will set him up in there. I can gate off that area so my dog Mia can't get close.I will let him get use to us before we even think about introducing Mia.
Thanks for all the help. I want to try and make his transition as calm as possible.

[*Ker*]

I can't add more, but you're fantastic for doing this! If I were closer, I would.

[Fire_fly]

So I will attempt to add a photo hopefully it works

This is Sam his owners weren't very talkative but from what I got they had to evacuate without him and he was lost for 4 days in flood waters before they could get back to their house. They lost everything so I think it was hard for them to part with Sam again.

He is coping quite well for a cat that has been through such trauma. I am not sure if he is a certain breed or a mixed breed but he is very cute.

He got a clean bill of health from the vets so hopefully he will adapt well.

This post has been edited by Fire_fly: 05/02/2013, 04:56 PM