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It can be overwhelming for your new cat or kitten to get used to the unfamiliar environs of your house or apartment. Often, cats are comfortable to explore the rest of your house after a few days, but some cats may take more time. Carefully watch your pet to see when it is ready to explore. Try and ensure that all your cat’s essential items (sometimes called ‘resources’) are purchased and/or in place before they arrive. Your cat’s litter tray should be placed in one corner of the room, away from the door, their feeding area, water, beds and hiding places.
It took a couple of weeks more before we made the appointment, but that was only because I wanted to make sure I could get him into the carrier first. We found out he had some minor issues and a major one . Last November, I needed a relatively minor surgical procedure.
What should I do to make my cat comfortable in the new home?
On the seventh day, feed him 100% of your preferred diet. Changing your cat’s diet too rapidly can cause upset to his system (decreased appetite, vomiting and/or diarrhea). While many cats make a smooth adjustment to a new home, some may have a more challenging time adjusting to an unfamiliar environment. Cover the baby gate with a sheet so the cats can’t see each other.
Commuting with your pet can be exciting, but to keep the stress to a minimum, it’s best to read up on the pet rules for buses, taxis, trains, and ferries. The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian. And of course, most of all, enjoy your new cat. Cats are wonderful companions who can add lots of love and fun to your home.
Keep resident pets away from the new cat
If you have a stray cat coming to your door, you should think about it carefully before you decide to keep them as your own. Ellyce Rothrock spent half her life with Flea, a Maine Coon who lived to be 21 and is missed every single day. She’s currently seeking a feline friend to manage Fritz and Mina, her German Shepherd Dog rescues. She’s lucky enough to live her passion for pets as a 25-year member of the pet media industry. Keep her confined in the safe room until all furnishings and boxes are in place. Let her out to explore under supervision until she feels comfortable in her new surroundings, Always allow her access to the safe room.
Lock up your cabinets – Cats are clever and can sometimes open cabinet doors by swiping their paws underneath. Consider using childproof locks to help keep your cat from getting into cleaning supplies and other harmful chemicals. Sometimes a cat finds you rather than the other way around.
Introducing Cats: Bringing Home a Kitten to Meet Your Senior Cat
To reduce this stress, introduce boxes to the home before you start packing. This helps create a new normal landscape for your cat. It also reduces the number of new stressors on moving day.
Soon, both of you will feel comfortable in your new surroundings. Enter your postcode to find the nearest Cats Protection shop to your location. "It is better to match energy levels of the cats," rather than focusing on age, Guerrero says. Establish one room in the new house as a base for your cat. This room should ideally be a spare room or another room that isn’t too busy, without access to a cat flap.
Set up your cat's room with everything they need
Stories abound about cats that have escaped during the moving process, so establishing a secure, comfortable location – on both ends of the move – is critical. Let the new cat settle in before introducing it to other pets in the home and make the introduction slow. Put dogs on a leash when introducing the new cat as the cat may flee, which can in some cases, trigger the dog’s chase instinct. Some cats will settle in quite quickly after appearing fearful at first, while other cats may take longer but you should still expect to see small steps forward. If your new cat is stressed for a prolonged period of time, without showing any signs of improvement, contact your vet for advice.
If you decide to welcome the cat into your home, be sure to get a full medical check-up right away. Stray cats can have fleas, parasites, or diseases that need to be treated. You should also find out if the cat is spayed or neutered and speak to your vet about vaccinations. There are so many adorable cats and kittens in shelters across the country just waiting to find loving homes. If you’re thinking about bringing home a new cat, please consider adopting from this deserving bunch.
For all the many wonderful qualities that cats possess, they may not be so generous when it comes to sharing their space. If your resident feline is a senior cat, the process could be even more delicate—an older, established cat may be unnerved by a bouncy new roommate. If the cats seem to be tolerating these steps to introduction, then the time has come for the felines to meet visually. Galaxy recommends a limited first sight, allowing the cats to meet with a cracked door, pet gate, or screen door between them. This will be the test to reveal how the cats really feel about each other.
This is to make sure your cats feel comfortable. If one cat feels the litter box is the other cat's territory, they may be likely to go to the bathroom somewhere else. Avoid the mess and ease your cats' stress levels by giving them each a litter box.Keep a litter box on each floor of your house if you have more than one floor. Like the litter pan, cats do well when they have their own designated bowl to eat from. But, as humans usually have a bowl or plate they prefer to eat from, cats can be the same. Maybe having two separate food bowls is a good idea as cats are all about territory and mealtime.
While your felines may have fallen in love at first sight, cats still enjoy having their own space to recharge. Once everybody’s back in their respective spaces, try feeding feed both cats at the same time with the food bowls moved to either side of the door separating the cats. While the cats are dining on either side of the door, they will hear and smell each other. If the kitties can be comfy with each other while eating with the door between them, then you know you’re on your way to success. Cats bury their waste by nature, so training your cat to use its litter box will be easy. Spayed or neutered cats are generally more accepting of other cats.
Gradual introductions are the best way to help your pets to get along – especially if you already have a cat in the house. Contrary to belief, cats much prefer to be the only cat in the home. However, if there is no competition for food or sleeping places in the house, cats can learn to tolerate each other and can sometimes become good friends. It is perfectly normal, given that cats are a territorial species, for them to check out their surroundings first before they approach you! Not all cats respond to the same type of contact from people, so it is better if you allow your cat to approach you rather than vice versa. Patience is important during the early stages, as some cats will take a few weeks to feel safe in a new home.
Getting your cat settled into their new home
If they can't yet play together, make sure you give them equal time. Beyond preventing unwanted litters of kittens, spaying and neutering your cats creates a more harmonious environment for everyone sharing your home. The desire to fight for territory and mate is strong. It can be hard for toms to let their lovey side flow. Once males are fixed, they tend to be calmer and happier cats.
