Congratulations! You have just brought home a new cat, and you are ready to spend your years together with lots of love and companionship. Cats are very intelligent creatures and will soon realize they are in their new furever home. You can take steps to make the transition as comfortable as possible for you and your new pet. Before you take that step and adopt, you must know how to introduce a cat into your home correctly.
Please keep reading for tips and tricks on getting your kitty acquainted with their new household.
Allow Your Cat To Explore
Exploration provides your cat with important information about their new surroundings. When a cat is brought into a new environment, it is important to allow them to explore every little nook and cranny of your home gradually. Keep them in one room to start, and progressively allow them to see other parts of your house over time. By doing this, you can allow your cat to feel safe and secure in their new home.
Some kitties may be shy or fearful, depending on their backgrounds. You must be patient in this situation, as it will take your cat some time to warm up to you. Please do not force your cat to do anything they are not comfortable with, as you can only set them back further. Your cats’ environment will significantly contribute to their confidence level.
Setup Their Space With Everything They Need
Before bringing your cat home, ensure you have all the necessary supplies and resources they need to feel comfortable. This includes a litter box, food, and water bowls. Keep their litter box away from everything else, so they have one designated corner for potty time. A nice sturdy scratching post will give them the relief they need and help them maintain their claws. When cats scratch on their posts, their paws deposit scents from their glands, allowing them to create a familiar scent. This scent will help them settle in.
Your kitty will also need a nice comfy place to rest. You can get them a bed with comfortable blankets, or you may also find a cardboard box and line it with soft blankets. Some cats like to have their beds in a raised area. Cats feel safer when they are higher up as they can see everything going on. If you have shelves in your home, clear them off, so your cat doesn’t knock anything down.
Lastly, having toys to interact with is an integral part of their growth and development. Having safe toys to play with when you’re not around is ideal for avoiding accidents.
Cat-Proof Your House
Before bringing home a new fur baby, you must prepare ahead of time. Cats can be mischievous and curious, so you want to ensure that potential hazards are out of the way. This includes putting away any cleaning products or medications your cat could potentially get a hold of. Any decorations that may hang or have the ability to fall over if tampered with should either be put away or secured. Also, if you are an avid gardener and love plants, please be aware that many plants are toxic to cats. Educate yourself on which plants you need to keep out of your house to prevent accidents.
What If You Have Other Cats?
It is not uncommon for pet owners to introduce a second or third cat into their homes. Ideally, you want to separate your new cat from your current cat(or cats) for a few days. You can set up your new cat in a separate room with all of their things. This will allow your new cat to become comfortable with their new home.
Next, get them introduced to each other’s scents. You can take a towel or washcloth and rub it gently over your new cat. Allow your current cats to smell it and do the same for the new cat. If you notice any hissing or growling, that is perfectly normal.
Before letting your new cat roam the house alone, put your current cat in another room. After the new cat gets some exposure to the house, you may put him back in his room and let your current cat out to smell the scents his new sibling left behind.
After a few days, you can crack open the door of the room where you have kept your new cat to allow both cats to see other. Do not let them stick their heads out and have too much access to one another. Hopefully, the interaction goes smoothly, and there is no hissing or growling. If that does occur, close the door and repeat the process twice a day.
This process will take time to be patient with yourself and your kitties. It won’t take long to get everyone acquainted with each other as long as you stay consistent.
Are you thinking about adopting two kittens? Having a new cat in your home can be a joy and come with many blessings. There are some benefits to this!
Kittens are full of energy and tend to be very active at night. Instead of keeping you up all night with their running and tumbling, the kittens can entertain each other and eventually tire themselves out. Having a kitten companion will make it less likely that your cat will engage in destructive behaviors too.
Kittens need to have proper socialization. Having a littermate to keep them company will lead to happier and healthier cats. They learn a lot within their first few months of life.
We hope these tips and tricks will help you get your new cat integrated smoothly into your home. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian for more information.
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