Adopting a cat for the first time is a big decision for both you and your new pet. Whether you’ve recently adopted your first cat or are considering getting one, this guide is meant to help you create a long-lasting bond with your special pet so that it can finally call its “forever home.”
Make a List of Things to Buy for Your New Cat
Adopting a human child and bringing home a new cat are similar. But instead of shopping for a changing table, you’ll be shopping for a litter box if you have a cat.
To ensure that your new cat or kitten feels more like a member of the family than a guest, there are a few items you should gather or purchase before bringing them home. Take care of this a few days ahead of time to help you and your cat have a less stressful “homecoming day.” A recurring cat subscription box is another option. You don’t want to be so excited about bringing your cat home at 8 p.m. that you forget to buy cat food.
Make Your Cat’s Safe Room Ready
A “Safe Room” doesn’t have to be a distinct space; it could be an unoccupied closet, a bedroom corner with a screen for protection, or a rarely used bathroom. It’s crucial that your new cat has a spot it can call “home,” where it can hide out and recuperate. Let it make the decision to hide or interact for the time being; it might freely decide to interact with you and other family members. Depending on its past, it might take a few days, a week, or longer, but if you are patient now, your relationship with your cat will improve significantly in the coming days.
Make Your House Cat-Proof
You’ve chosen where you’re going to adopt your new cat, and you may even have already reduced the number of cats you want to adopt to just one that you have to bring home. Stocked up on necessities from the shopping list, you’ve set up Kitty’s “safe room.” Homecoming Day is just one step away: cat-proofing your house to prevent stress on both the newcomer and the rest of the family.
It’s not hard to cat-proof your house, even though it will take some time. To spot dangerous temptations, all you need is the ability to think like a cat and the willingness to sink to a cat’s level.
Take Your New Cat Inside
Oh, what a joyous day! Now that you’ve finished all of your planning, the moment has come to finally bring your new cat home. Even though everyone is thrilled, it’s probably best to keep this from being a major family gathering. If you have small children at home, your new baby will likely be stressed enough without having a lot of people vying for its attention.
Bring Your Cat to Its First Vet Appointment
The first visit to the vet with your new cat is crucial. If the adopting agency hasn’t already done so, you should confirm the animal’s health and have it vaccinated against the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). You also need to schedule a time for your new cat to be spayed or neutered, unless this has already been done.
You never know when someone might ask, “Do you want a declaw with that neuter?” Be ready for that. Of course, “No, thank you,” is the right response. I need my cat’s claws.”
Understand Your Cat’s Diet
A cat’s early nutrition will determine its overall health and well-being throughout its life. Understanding the components of cat food will help you give your new family member the longevity and quality of life you desire.
Cats require fresh water even though they are descended from desert creatures, particularly if they are fed a dry food diet.
To ensure you are feeding your new family member the right food, make sure you read the labels on cat food. You should continue to review for weeks or months at a time until you are confident in your understanding. Reading cat food labels will become second nature to you once you’ve mastered the skill.
A fresh, clean water source is also essential for your cat’s health. Cats still require adequate hydration even though they are descended from animals found in the desert.
Purchase a Litter Box and Make Sleeping Plans
For the comfort and health of your new cat, a litter box is almost as important as food and water. Your cat’s litter box can be kept in perfect condition, so you won’t ever have to worry about odors or “out-of-box accidents.”
You say, “But the cat goes outside.” It’s advisable to reconsider that choice in a subsequent phase.
When getting your first cat, “where will it sleep?” is a crucial factor to consider. Will you give it a comfortable bed of its own, share your own bed with it, or do both? Remember that you are creating lifelong habits here.
Attend to Your Cat’s Needs for Scratching
The most common reason for shelter surrenders, after avoiding litter boxes, is the presence of unwanted scratching behavior. In actuality, cats need to scratch just as much as they need to breathe and eat. For a variety of reasons, cats’ most useful tools are their claws.
After finishing this lesson, you’ll have all the resources necessary to provide your cat with the stretching and scratching exercise it requires without having to give up your priceless furniture and carpet.
Engage in Play With Your Feline
Playing with your cat can help you bond even more. Cats are skilled at creating their own games and enjoy playing a lot. Try out items from around the house before spending money on pricey cat toys. Both cardboard boxes and paper bags are a lot of fun. A convenient way to clean them in between baths is to wear cat brush gloves when you pet or play with them.
Find Out If Your Cat Is an Indoor or Outdoor Person
If you truly believe that cats require sunshine and fresh air, there are secure indoor and outdoor options. You could do that if your deck is enclosed. To avoid having to worry about your cat running into other animals outside, you can also try leash-training them.
Make Your Cat a Lifelong Member of the Family
With time, you and your family will grow closer to your new cat than ever before, and you’ll stop thinking of it as a pet and start considering it a valued member of the family.
Well done for showing your cat enough love. You can now formally identify as an ailurophile, or even a crazy cat lover, as today is graduation day. You’re going to be a part of an amazing, compassionate community of people who love their kitties.
