Update post #8 & new question

[Devaskyla]

We're getting a home visit on Monday as final check to get a rescue kitten. Any ideas what they'll be looking for?

I'll also add the new question here:

She's been with us since Tuesday afternoon. Anyone have any idea how long we should give her to adjust to the noise & chaos around here? She spends most of her time hiding.

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

They will probly just look to see if you have other pets, how many, how well they are taken care of, how pet friendly your home is and how prepared you are for a new animal.

[Devaskyla]

Thanks! Do you think mess would be a problem (mostly clothes & toys)?

[Sol_y_Paz]

Originally Posted by Devaskyla

Thanks! Do you think mess would be a problem (mostly clothes & toys)?

Depends on the extent of the mess and how that might make it unsafe for a young animal. Kittens and puppies can eat things that can kill or seriously harm them.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by Devaskyla

Thanks! Do you think mess would be a problem (mostly clothes & toys)?

Yes... things should be put away. The home should be neat and clean. Anything out that could be eaten/chewed by the animal could be viewed as a hazard/danger.

[Devaskyla]

Well, I guess we won't be getting the cat then. We have too much stuff to ever be neat, and the kids make a lot of mess too. There is no 'away' for a lot of things. I'm working on the clutter, but it's going to be months, if not years. Guess I'll do what I can & hope for the best.

Between this and the nonsense application we filled out for a different rescue group (& got denied because we wouldn't play their stupid game), I now remember why I usually just go find a free kitten from someone.

[LeahBoo]

I highly doubt they'll care about clutter. As long as it's "clean" clutter, not an actual dirty house, I wouldn't think they'd care.

Maybe just make sure there's a place the cat can get to (cat tree, washing machine, shelf) that small kids can't. No open windows without screens, that sort of thing.

I have not actually had a home visit for a pet though, so I can't be certain.

[Devaskyla]

We got the kitten. All the woman did was walk past my kitchen & dining room, into my living room & then stood there talking to me. When I asked if she needed to see anything else, she said it was fine & gave me the contract to sign.

Unfortunately the kitten doesn't seem to be working out. I'm not sure how much time to give her to adjust. She's incredibly sweet, but also incredibly timid & she's been spending all the time the toddler is awake hiding. It's really upsetting because she's a wonderful cat, but it's not really fair to her or the kids if she won't settle down & stop being scared of the noise around here.

She's been with us since Tuesday afternoon. Anyone have any idea how long we should give her?

[stardogs]

I'd give her at least 2 weeks - did she just kinda get dropped into the house or have you tried a slow intro? If she just was dropped into the chaos, it might be helpful to give her her own space for a few days, then let her out during quieter periods, eventually working up to full noise/activity and house access.

I've had AMAZING success with Feliway (aka Comfort Zone for Cats) with stressed kitties. It was a life saver when we moved to this house with our cat - he spent the first 24 hours in his carrier without even going to the bathroom, but with the Feliway he started exploring within just an hour of application! You should be able to find it OTC at Petsmart/Petco and def online, just make sure to get the brand name and not any knockoffs.