How to Introduce a New Cat into Your Household
Hints and Tips on Bringing an Unfamiliar Feline into the Home
Jan 15, 2009
A new cat is a member of the family and therefore a responsibility. Responsible pet owners want to do what is best for their cats, so knowing how to accustom the cat to its new home is very important. Here is some advice.
Preparations Before Bringing the Cat Home
Whether the owner is buying a kitten or taking on an older cat, certain things are crucial. Basically, the cat will need food bowls and cat food, a litter tray and cat litter, and somewhere to sleep. Even those who intend to let their cats go outside will need to keep it indoors for a couple of weeks or so; thus a litter tray is essential. And although most cats decide where they want to sleep, it may be helpful for the new cat to have its own bed in order for it to feel secure. The owner needs to make sure that the cat can live in peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of family life, until it feels secure.
Introducing the Cat to its New Home
Some people advise limiting the cat to one room for a short period. However, the author, who has owned cats for many years, has always found that they cope well with being introduced to the whole house, so long as they are shown the locations of food, litter tray, and bed....unless the cat is particularly nervous.
Kittens are very adaptable, and usually love exploring the house. This is fine, but they should be kept away from any dangerous places such as washing machines or ovens. And if the owner’s house has a chimney, she should check it before lighting a fire, as this is a favourite hideaway for young kittens!
Older cats are usually more cautious, but individuals vary. How an individual cat reacts will depend on its history and where it has lived in the past. For those who are re-homing a rescue cat, the rescue organization should be able to give some advice. Taking on a feral cat or one which is quite wild is perhaps best left to the experienced cat owner.
Introducing the Cat to Other Pets
The usual rule for multi-cat households is to have plenty of resources. So the owner needs to make sure there are enough feeding stations in different locations, and plenty of litter trays, usually one for each cat plus one spare one. That way, even if a current cat is bossy and the new cat is nervous, the dominant individual will not be able to guard all the resources! The owner needs to keep on eye on things, but usually the cats themselves will sort things out.
Introducing the cat to dogs or other animals such as rabbits should be done carefully, and they should not be left alone until the owner is sure that all is well. However, again there is usually nothing to worry about.
Should the Cat Stay in or Go Out?
All new cats should be kept indoors for at least a couple of weeks. After that, the decision as to whether to allow them access to the outdoors is a complex one, and depends on how safe the area is. Many cats love going out, but others can be happy with an indoor life. Each situation is different, and there is no one answer to this dilemma.
If the above advice is followed the new cat should settle in well, and hopefully have a long and happy life, bringing a lot of pleasure to the owner and his or her family.
