Tips for new cat owners
Posted Sep 22, 2019 02:41 PM
If you're like me, and you're a cat person, you've probably had your fair share of issues over the years whenever you adopt a new cat into the family. That's why I decided to write this blog. I want to share a couple of tips and tricks with you on how to handle new cats, especially for those people who already have a cat running around and want to make the newcomer as comfortable as possible.First things first, if you're planning on getting a cat, be sure you're prepared. This means that you should have the following things in your house already:
- Cat litter
- Litter box
- Cat toys
- Scratching post
- Feeding and water tray
If you don't have those, please make sure to get those BEFORE you take a new cat into your home. Those things are crucial for a cat. Toys especially can make the cat feel comfortable quickly. Food is also an important aspect of this process. If your new cat is used to eating a certain brand of cat food, make sure you have at least a two week supply of said food. If you want to use a different brand of cat food, the best way to handle this would be to slowly mix the old and new brands together over the course of a week until the cat is only eating the food from the new brand. This can help alleviate digestion issues that the cat may or may not go through.
As soon as the new cat is into your home, make sure that it has a safe space where it can hide and retreat to if things get to scary for him or her. If you have another cat in the house that's already living comfortably, do not let them see each other for the first week. This is crucial if you want your cats to live in harmony. A lot of cat owners make the mistake of simply allowing both the old and new cat to see each other on day one. Don't do that, it usually ends badly.
People will usually tell you to visit a veterinarian as soon as you get your new cat, but I recommend waiting at least a week before doing so because the cat is already in distress because of the new environment that it is in.
Now, don't fret if you cat doesn't really leave his or her safe space for the first couple of days (this depends on the personality of the cat, mostly). Cats are creatures of habit and a new environment can really freak them out. Give it time, but make sure that the cat has access to food and water and a litter box. Don't try and pick him or her up, it might react negatively to you.
As soon as your cat is comfortable leaving his or her safe space, which can take up to a week or two, make sure that you take the time to play with your cat on a daily basis. Cats love to play, and they do need some exercise and variation in order to stay healthy. It's also a great way to bond with the cat.
You might notice how the new cat doesn't let you pick him or her up yet and that's because of trust issues. He or she doesn't know you yet. Cats are predators and it is especially awkward for them to be picked up by a creature that's about 10 times bigger then them. They might even run away if you try to pick them up or pet them. But that's OK, don't chase after it. Let it come to you. Studies have shown that if you let a cat come to you, you'll generally be able to pet him/her longer and have a more positive outcome altogether. After a couple of weeks a month or two, the cat will probably trust you enough to let you pick him or her up.
When it comes to introducing your new cat to your trusty older feline friend, the best way to do it would be to start gradually. Let them smell each other first. Smells are important to cats, so if you have a blanket that the older cat is used to lying on, try picking it up and leaving it with the new cat for a while so she can get used to the smell. This goes the other way around as well, make sure your older cat is able to smell the new cat (but don't let them see each other just yet).
After a week or two, you can gradually introduce them by placing their feeding trays very close to each other, but make sure the cats are separated by a door (so they still can't see each other). They will probably be aware that another cat is at the other side of the door. After a couple of days, you can open the door a little bit so they can see each other whenever they eat but make sure that they cannot touch each other! That's a very important step if you don't want them to fight. They might be very cautious at first, perhaps even avoiding their feeding trays altogether so they don't have to see the other cat. Don't worry, after a couple of days they will get used to that as well. You can gradually open the door a little more so that now they are able to completely see each other. But make sure that any and all contact that they have is supervised and non-aggressive.
If they do start hissing or fighting, DO NOT intervene. You might get hurt. Instead, try making loud noises or throwing a towel on the ground to break up the fights.
Your feline friends will soon be friends and hopefully even cuddle together!
There we go. I hope this helps some of you out. I know it can be hard to deal with new cats and cat introductions, but don't give up. The first few weeks/months can be a bit difficult but in the end it will be worth it!
