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Your Adopted Cat
If you’ve been lucky enough to have been owned by a cat in your life, then you probably know what to do when you bring your new “rescue” home. It’s sensible stuff, really. Best not to overwhelm your new pet, so start her off in a small room (a bathroom is fine) where you can place her food and water dishes and a litter box, as well as a comfy bed for her. (Put as much space as possible between her food and water dishes and her litter box. Also, many cats prefer not to have their food and water dishes too close to each other.) A small toy or two, such as a catnip mouse or ball can be left with her. She may want to hide at first, so if you have a cat carrier you can leave open, with bedding inside, or even a box with a hole cut into it, she’ll appreciate that. A dim night light would probably also be welcome, though not necessary if there’s a window for natural light.
Leave your new pet alone for a bit, so she can explore her new space, then visit her to bring food at what will become her regular mealtime. If she wants to be petted, now’s the time to begin bonding; stroking her or using a soft brush will be enjoyable. And she needs to begin to know your voice, so talk to her. Use her name — either the foster name she was given or, if you want to change that, her new name. Allow other family members to also visit her and begin to bond, with children, of course, being supervised closely until they learn how to be gentle with their new pet.
Take your time if your new pet seems nervous or
standoffish. Cats, as a rule, are more easily stressed and slower
to bond with their owners than dogs. But they do bond with their
people, and many are extremely affectionate. Virtually all cats
will be
companionable and will wish to be near you, though some will never be
“lap cats” or
demanding of attention.
When you’ve given your new pet a few days to adjust to being in a new
space, pick a day when the house is quiet and allow her out of the small
room to explore her new home. Make sure you’ve cat-proofed your
home so that no hazards (poisonous plants, small objects that can be
swallowed, cleaners and other chemicals, etc.) threaten her health or
safety. Also be sure that doors and windows are secured; a cat
unfamiliar with her surroundings, if she gets outside, can disappear in
a flash, never to be seen again, so keep her safely inside. If, in
her safe home, she seems curious rather than nervous, and shows no signs
of discomfort, you may never need to confine her to the smaller room
after this first day. But if she does seem overwhelmed or anxious,
return her to her room and try again the next day. Eventually,
your new pet will be comfortable in the entire house.
Do be sure you don’t move her litter box; cats are neat creatures and
wish to be clean, so as long as you provide her a clean litter box kept
in the same location, you’re unlikely to have accidents in other parts
of the house. (Do be aware that a cat who suddenly begins to soil
her home outside the litter box may have a medical problem such as a
urinary tract infection, and should see her vet as soon as possible.)
Also keep her food and water dishes in the same general area rather than
moving them about the house. If you have several cats, or merely
want your single cat to enjoy the freshest water possible, you might
want to invest in one of several available models of water “fountains”
designed for pets; these have filters to keep the circulating water
clean, plus reservoirs to hold extra water.
Introducing Other
Pets
If you already enjoy the companionship of a cat or
three, and are adding to your feline household, you probably know how to
introduce your new cat. Follow the advice above, confining the new
cat to one room, which allows the resident cats to sniff under the door
and begin to get accustomed to this new cat. After a few days,
allow the new cat to explore her home while the resident cats are
confined to the same small room she’s occupied until then, so that they
can become even better acquainted with her scents. You may want to
start slowly, allowing the new cat an hour or so to explore, then
returning her to her room while the resident cats are removed from that
room. You may also want to do this several times over several
days.
When you are ready for your new cat to join the others,
having in hand a spray bottle filled with water may come in handy if
there are any serious hostilities. In most cases there will be
some hissing or spitting, even some “swatting” at each other, but cats
in groups quickly establish a “pecking order” and usually can live
together in harmony. Do observe the interaction of the cats
closely, especially in the first hours and days, and be prepared to
remove the new cat back to her room if it seems to you that there is
serious conflict. In most cases, even such conflict can be
resolved with time and patience. (But if you have any questions or
concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your CPC Adoption
Coordinator.)
As a general rule, it’s best to have one litter box per
cat, plus an extra, and it’s also best to locate these boxes in several
different areas. If cats become territorial, one of the things
they will “guard” is their litter box, so make sure none of your cats is
blocked from using her box by another of your cats.
If you are introducing your new cat to a household
which includes cat-friendly dogs, take special care to make the
introductions slow and patient. If your dog is obedience-trained
and can be counted on to remain quiet and still while the new cat
explores this new home, that alone may reassure the new cat that the dog
means her no harm. If necessary, don’t hesitate to crate your dog
while the new cat explores, just to keep things calm and reassure her.
Most cats easily become tolerant of the dogs in the family and many form
close friendships with dogs. These early days of introduction are
critical: patience now will pay off in a quiet home with pets who are
entirely comfortable with each other.
A word about kittens.
Kittens are highly active, highly social creatures who learn much of
Proper Cat Behavior from littermates and other cats.
So, if at all possible, please consider adopting two kittens
rather than just one.
They’ll not only be company for one another when you’re not home or not
available to play with them, they’ll also expend much of their energy
playing with each other and will be calmer, better-behaved cats.
And while one kitten is entertaining as she explores her world,
learning to leap and pounce and stalk, two are more than double the fun!
It’s a special treat to adopt littermates, kittens who are able
to happily spend their lives together
— and with you.
There is really not a great deal of difference in the
cost of caring for two cats and caring for one, and the benefits far
outweigh the costs. Inviting
two of these endearing creatures into your home and your life may be one
of the best ideas you’ll ever have!
