Welcoming a New Cat into Your Home
Our team wants to make it easier for you to welcome a new cat into your house in honor of Adopt a Shelter Cat Month—which, in our opinion, ought to be observed each month. Being sensitive animals, cats may find it upsetting to enter a new setting, particularly if other animals have already staked out the area.
Follow these advice from our staff if you’re bringing home a new cat—or two, or three—to make them feel at home.
#1: Create a safe space for your new cat
It can take several days for your new cat to feel comfortable around you, and much longer for them to integrate into your household if you have other pets. Help your cat feel safe and secure in their new environment by providing them with their own set of resources. Confine your feline friend to a large room with their own litter box, food and water, scratching post, and bedding so they don’t have to compete for the essentials. Spend plenty of time playing with, petting, and interacting with your new cat to help them become accustomed to your presence, but give them space to explore on their own uninterrupted.
#2: Give your new cat time to settle in
Save the meet-and-greets with family and friends until your pet is at ease with you and their surroundings since a cat could take a week or two to adjust to their new home. To make sure your new cat is healthy and current on preventative care, however, you should arrange a meet-and-greet appointment with your normal vet. Let your cat unwind for another week before making any more introductions since making another journey so soon after the one to your house might be stressful for them.
#3: Stick to the same diet
Stick to the same food your cat was eating to reduce stress. Moving to a new environment might cause a cat’s sensitive digestive tract to become unbalanced. Give them a few days to adjust to their diet if you wish to convert them to a new one, then gradually introduce new foods over a week.
Congratulations on adding a cat to your household! Give us a call to set up your new pet’s wellness check; we can’t wait to meet them.