Settling your cat or kitten into their new home:
Before you collect your cat or kitten, make sure that you have all the
necessary equipment. Do not leave this until the last minute, or you may
find the shops closed: washing up bowls and roasting trays prove expensive
alternatives to a litter tray, although they serve in an emergency.
The basic items needed to start with are:
- Litter Tray / Box
- Cat litter and litter scoop
- Food and water bowls
- Food
- Sleeping bed and bedding, heated ones for the ones who live in
colder weather
- Cat carrier select a sturdy one
- Scratching post and toys
- Collar and tag
The best time to introduce a cat into your home is when you have plenty
of time to spare, and there are few other people around. Most kittens
settle in quickly but it may take awhile to introduce an adult cat to new
surroundings. If you are at work during the day, try to take a few days
off, so you and your new kitty have some time to spend together. If you
have children, let the new kitty get accustomed to your new home while
they are in school.
Before the new cat arrives, decide the most suitable place for the litter
tray/box and feeding bowls. Let the cat see these as soon as it arrives -
it may need the litter tray immediately; accidents will happen and the
stress of traveling from one home to another can play havoc on the bowels.
Also, think about the cat's sleeping arrangements. Cats like to sleep in
the warmest part of the house, and they like company too, so given the
choice your new cat will opt to sleep in bed with you.
Whether you have opted for an adult cat or a kitten, introduce it into
your home room by room over a period of several days
Do be very careful to keep your cat or kitten indoors / remember they
depend on us to keep them safe. Kittens love to play and this
provides much more than simple pleasures to a young developing cat. Play
provides the use of all muscles in the body, and aides strong,
healthy growth and development. Two kittens will happily play together and
this encourages social development too; they will also enjoy the added
stimulus of toys to play with. A sole kitten actually needs toys if it is
to develop both socially and physically, into a healthy, well adjusted
adult.
A play pole, covered in rope or similar fabric, will encourage the kitten
to scratch. This saves both your carpets and furnishings, and provides a
most necessary function; the kitten will both clean and sharpen its claws
while scratching. This action exercises not only the claws and paws, but
also extends to the muscles in the legs and the back, and so it is of
great importance to the cat's general well - being.
More - over, this is why any owner should think twice about
de-clawing. |