Introducing
a New Cat to your Home
Provided by
DamnYnke CATTERY
First and
foremost, be prepared. Purchase the foods your kitten is used to eating,
and the cat litter they are used to using, as well as any grooming stuff and a
cat tree *before* you pick the kitten up. Your kitten will be stressed by
a change in environment - the kindest way to introduce them into a new place is
to have everything set up to receive them, and have things that are familiar to
them. Don't stop at the pet store on
the way home - it isn't fair to the kitten. Think ahead!
Here's
what you should have on hand before bringing home one of our kitties:
Medium
to large sized cat carrier. (put a towel in the bottom of it for comfort
and in case of any accidents) I get quite a chuckle when
people show up with very small carriers. These guys don't stay small for
long - better to invest in something that will last.
Metal
comb- Greyhound brand (with rounded teeth) preferred. We use both
a 4 inch and an 8 inch comb to groom our cats.
Nail
clippers – human ones work ok, but they tend to split the nails more
than one made for cats will. There
are scissor like types and guillotine types.
Food
and water bowls (plastic not recommended)
Dry
food, Canned food
Scratching
post – minimum 2 ½ feet tall with a heavy base.
Carpet, sisal rope or bark.
Kitty
litter pan – extra jumbo size recommended to accommodate long bodied
cats. Covered is recommended
because it reduces scattering of cat litter.
Litter
scoop-several types are available, depending on what kind of litter will
be used.
Kitty
litter- Fresh step clay or scoopable, Exquisitecat (PetSmart brand)
scoopable
Well
kitten visit with the vet - Scheduled within 72 hours.
Although
we say it elsewhere, We'll say it again here:
Don’t
abruptly switch diet or kitty litter.
In order to reduce the stress involved to
both your existing pets and your new cat or kitten, as well as promote a
positive relationship between them, it is important that the new cat or kitten
is properly introduced into your home.
Dogs do not seem to have
the same degree of difficulty adjusting to the addition of the kitten to their
households. Follow these instructions anyway, for the kitten's sake.
Cats on the other hand,
are a different story. Some cats will be jealous of a new cat or kitten, some
highly offended. They may display their displeasure by improper elimination
(using the bathroom outside the litterpan), sulking, refusing to eat, etc. Follow the procedure below:
Immediately upon arrival
home with the new cat/kitten, take the carrier into a room with a door that
closes. This will become the new cat/kitten's home for the next several days to
two weeks and will also be "base" if the new cat/kitten becomes
spooked elsewhere in the house, so choose the room carefully. Our kittens sleep
with us, if you will allow this, the room you choose should be your bedroom
UNLESS THIS IS WHERE YOUR OTHER CATS SLEEP. If your other pets sleep with
you please do not dethrone them. They will be highly offended. Instead,
use a spare bedroom or an office for the newcomer.
You should have already
set up food, water, and a
litterpan. Leave the kitten in this room and go pay LOTS of attention to your
other pets. Let them smell the new cat/kitten on your hands.
It is important that the
new cat/kitten receives a great deal of attention from you during the first
several weeks they are with you. This is so that they will bond with you and be
reassured in their new environment. IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT that your existing
cat(s) receive a great deal of attention from you so that they
"forgive" you, and know that you still love them. Animal behaviorists
swear that it helps the bonding process between existing and new cats if you
refer to the new cat as the existing cat's cat or kitten.
Being curious by nature,
your existing cat(s) will want to know what is on the other side of the door
where the new cat/kitten is. Let them smell, and play footsies with the new
cat/kitten. Your existing cat(s) may initially hiss at the door, they may not.
Watch your existing cat(s) behavior and you will see when it is time to open the
door and let them meet nose to nose.
When the behavior has gone
from hissing and acting offended (if it even starts there) and they are playing
under the door it is time. In general, this takes between 2 days and 2 weeks.
There are cases when it takes 2 hours. It just depends on the existing cat(s).
Be sure that someone is there to monitor the introduction. Initially, the cats
(new one included) may hiss and spit at each other, it is rare that they would
fight. Keep an eye on the cats until you feel that they are getting along well.
Put the new cat/kitten up in their room when no one is there to watch them.
Continue to lavish attention on the existing cat(s).
This is a tried and true
method. The *only* time we have ever had a cat returned to us for failure to
adapt to her new home, it was because the new owners disregarded these
instructions. Even if you do not have other
pets, please keep the new cat/kitten up in room as described for at least a day
so that they can get used to their new surroundings. It is totally overwhelming
to them to be given run of a whole house that they are unfamiliar with.
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