Hi Beanmistress, just clicked on to your post and been reading with interest everyone's responses, and being owned by 3 lovely kitties myself - one of which was found abandoned in a very poor condition in a cardboard box on a friend's doorstep - couldn't agree more with, or add to what everyone is saying.
Hope things work out well for puss and you, and if you should find some time to spare I recommend you read a wonderful book called 'The Silent Miaow' by Paul Gallico.
Good luck!!!