So the big moment is finally here! You've just adopted a new cat or kitten from your local shelter or rescue, rampaged through the pet store to stock up on supplies, toys and goodies, and visited the vet for a health-check, shots, and neutering. Now its time to introduce kitty to her new home and the rest of the family. With just a little planning and patience, you can ensure that your cats adjustment period will be as rapid and stress-free as possible.
Home Is Where the Catnip Is: Cats are, by nature, highly territorial, which means that having a place to call their own is extremely important to their emotional well-being. Your new cat is already in a state of stress from having been in a shelter or being given up for adoption, and being brought to a strange new home only increases that stress. Your goal is to help make your new cat feel comfortable as quickly as possible. When you bring your new cat home, confine it to a single room for at least the first few days (with food and litter, of course!). Although this may seem cruel by human standards, it is actually a great kindness to allow your cat to claim ownership of a small new territory at its own pace and without competition.
Some shy cats may hide under the bed for as long as a week; others will be ready to come out into the house and go exploring after just a day. The important thing is to let the cat emerge whenever it feels ready. You should spend as much time as possible in the room with the cat, but you should never try to force it out of hiding. The cat will let you know when its ready to begin exploring more of the house. Be sure to leave fresh food and water out at all times, and check that it is being consumed. Even stressed cats like to eat, so no food for 24 hours or more is possibly a sign of illness and warrants a trip to the vet.
Meeting the Family: Naturally, everyone in the family, especially the kids, will be excited about the new arrival. Children should be invited to visit the new kitty in her room, one at a time. Try to keep your children quiet and seated on these visits, so they do not frighten the cat if he's not used to kids. If the cat is friendly and approaches, have them offer an outstretched hand to sniff.
If the cat accepts this, they can gently pet the cat. As the cat becomes familiar with the child, they may play with a cat toy on a string or stick. NEVER let your children encourage a kitten to pounce on their fingers (or yours, for that matter). It may seem cute at first, but a full grown cat jumping on and biting a hand in play can be very painful or cause bleeding. Teach your children how to properly hold a cat: with one hand under the rump and one hand on the back, held up against their bodies. And don't leave small children unsupervised with your cat.
Reassuring Jealous Cats: Cats are like children in many ways, so its not surprising that your older pet may be jealous of a new arrival. He may be fearful of losing territory or worried that he is about to be replaced. Extra love, attention and patience during this transition will help to reassure your pet that it is still the center of your universe! Be prepared for it to take from a week to a month before the new cat is accepted by the resident cat. Before bringing home your new cat, make sure that both old and new cats are healthy and current on their vaccinations, including Feline Leukemia. Let your cat continue to have run of the house while the new cat is confined, so that he understands he is not being pushed out of his territory. Allow him to sniff or paw under the door with your new cat, and exchange items to familiarize each animal with the others smell.
When the time comes for the two cats to meet face to face, try to give them short periods of contact, slowly increasing the time as they adapt to one another. Be sure to supervise their visits until you're sure they are okay alone, and be prepared for some hissing and growling, which is quite normal for cats that are getting to know one another. Do not yell at or discipline either cat for hissing or growling, and in the unlikely event of a fight breaking out, break it up with a spray from a water bottle or a thrown towel, not your hands. Prevent the new cat from sleeping in any of your old cats favorite places (for example your bed) and provide each with separate food and water bowls and litter pans. They'll probably use each others, but will appreciate having their own. Try to keep your older cats routine intact, and take every opportunity you can to pet and praise your older cat. Above all, be patient, and one day you will find your new cats grooming each other when they think you're not looking!
Friendly Like Cats and Dogs: Most of the same advice applies to introducing cats and dogs. Again, let the dog have run of the house, and sniff at the cat under the door and exchange scented items during the first few days. You may wish to put up a baby gate in the doorway of the cats room or bring the cat into the house in a carrier so the animals can see each other before they actually meet.
Make sure the first visits in the house are supervised, with the dog on a leash if you are unsure about how friendly he will be. Encourage you dog with gentle praise if he is friendly. If the cat runs from your dog, do not allow the dog to chase it, and don't force a cat that seems uncomfortable to be in the same room with the dog. Keep the first visits brief, then extend them as the animals become familiar with each other. Be patient, give them time, and they'll soon learn to get along.
Mistake #1: Failing to provide your cat with her basic vaccinations. This can happen if you adopt your cat from a friend, pick up a stray, select a kitten from a litter, pick up one from a cattery or purchase one from a pet shop.
The 5 basic vaccines a cat needs are:
? Rhinotracheitis. This is one of the upper respiratory infections (URI) which cats can catch from other infected cats. It's characterized by sneezing, drooling, and runny eyes and nose.
? Feline Calicivirus (FCV). This is another URI, which has many of the same symptoms of Rhinotracheitis. Mouth ulcers may make it difficult for your cat to eat and drink.
? Feline Chlamydiosis, also known as feline pneumonitis, affects birds but can also can be found in cats. Your cat will experience loss of appetite, fever, coughing and difficulty in breathing. This can lead to pneumonia.
? Panleukopenia, otherwise known as ?distemper?. If your cat contracts this, her white blood cell count will fall below normal and her immune system won't be able to fend off other diseases. Since the lining in her stomach can become damaged, she may begin to vomit and have severe diarrhea.
? Rabies. This is the feared ?disease of all diseases?, which can be transmitted to humans through animal bites. Your cat's brain will swell and she will initially experience severe thirst and ultimately go mad. You must have her vaccinated for Rabies.
These vaccinations are automatically taken care of when you adopt a cat from the Animal Shelter or the Humane Society, but many people who acquire cats in other ways are either not aware that their animals must be vaccinated, or think that ?their cat will be the exception? and escape infection.
Keep firmly in mind that your cat probably will contract one of these (or all of them) if she is not vaccinated, and will expose you and your feline household to serious danger, particularly in the case of Rabies.
Mistake #2: Failure to get a complete medical checkup.
Strays that show up on your doorstep, or cats acquired in other ways, may have latent viral diseases that can be transmitted to the other cats in your household. If your new addition is already infected, vaccinating her will be a futile effort. If your existing cats are not infected but also not vaccinated, your new cat can infect them.
These infections are:
? Feline Leukemia (FeLV). Your new cat will have a poor appetite and a dull coat. She may have a fever, which manifests itself as a warm, dry nose. Her mouth and gums may be inflamed.
? Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This is an immune disease similar to FeLV but with symptoms that may not be readily apparent. It is similar to HIV in humans.
? Feline Infections Peritonitis (FIP). Look for difficulty in breathing, weight loss, anemia, and fever.
Giardia is a parasite that can appear in cats kept in pet stores or catteries. It can kill aged cats and kittens.
Worms. There are three main varieties of worms, and all can be transmitted to your uninfected cats. Be sure to have your veterinarian check her for worms when you take her for her medical exam.
Mistake #3: Not collaring your cat and providing her with a nametag.
This should be done before you bring her home. Your cat might panic when you try to introduce her to the household (particularly when she meets the family dog), and if a door is open or there is some other way to get outdoors, she may bolt through it and escape.
She will not know where she is, and attempt to return to her former residence (wherever that was). In short, you may hear one terrified ?meow? and never see her again.
Unless, that is, she is wearing a collar and a nametag (preferably metal) with
? her name
? your name
? your telephone number
firmly stamped on it. Getting a microchip embedded between her shoulder blades is also a good idea: it can give Animal Control complete information to return your kitty if she becomes lost.
Immediately taking these precautions as soon as you adopt your cat can save a lot of grief in that initial introduction, and ensure that your new kitty enjoys a long and happy life in her new home.
Both Tristan Andrews & John Young are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tristan Andrews has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Education and Collection Agencies. Tristan Andrews writes useful articles about and kittens. Discover and explore the feline world. Find out how to better care for, train and live with your. Tristan Andrews's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.
John Young has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cats, Kitchen Home Improvement and Cover Letter. At the age of 62, John Young is a writer who has owned one cat or another since he was four. He is the author of ?Your New Cat's First 24 Hours". He has written it for cat owners who want to safely introduce a new cat to the household and subsequently p. John Young's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.