Bringing Your New Cat Home

Don’t Introduce Everybody At Once

We understand you’re going to have to fight every bone in your body to not do this, after all, there is nothing more adorable than a new kitten or cat. But don’t introduce your cat to everybody at once. They’re only small, and being around so many people in a new environment can be incredibly frightening and your kitten may feel overwhelmed. Allow your new furry friend to become familiar with their surroundings.

Give Your Cat Time To Adjust

Give your new cat time to adjust and allow her to become comfortable in her own time. At first, you may find that she will try to hide away under sofas or behind doors. You needn’t be worried as this is a perfectly natural reaction. You do however need to remember that all introductions need to be on your cat’s terms. Let her come and introduce herself to you and your family, rather than you making the first step. You can try to encourage her to come and say hello, but if she doesn’t want to, then try again later. Eventually, she will pluck up the courage and ask you to play. She might even let you tickle her chin.

Consistency is Key

Make things familiar for your cat to help her settle into your home. At first, she might not want to eat much, if at all. If you offer her the same food that she was fed on before you collected her then she is more likely to have an appetite. Your new cat will also really appreciate it if you regularly change her water.

Some breeders might also ask if you would like to take home a blanket with the scent of your cat’s family on it. This can help make your home familiar with your new arrival.

Give Them Their Own Room

OK, don’t kick your children out so that your cat has their own bedroom, but do have a room prepared before bringing your new pet home, that can be made into your cat’s “safe room”. If possible, it should be small, quiet and tucked away so your cat can feel safe. A lot of new cat owners choose to use their bathroom because it’s usually the easiest room to clean and is often away from the hustle and bustle of a busy home.

Pop a cat litter tray in there as well as plenty of food and water, a scratching post and a few toys for them to play with. When you bring your kitten home, put their crate down by the open door and allow them to make their own way out in their own time. Cats are known for their curiosity, so it won’t be long before they’re having a nose around their new environment.

Introducing the New Family Members to the Little Family Members

Introduce family members one at a time and ensure any young children know how to handle a cat or kitten in a gentle and calm manner. Have them sit on the floor quietly and speak gently to the cat. Only touch the cat if she approaches you because she is likely to still be quite scared of her new surroundings.

As your cat grows in confidence you can let her out of the safe room to explore, but make sure you keep an eye on her. Kittens will not remember their way back to the safe room so if you see them sniffing around sheepishly make sure you get them back to the safe room to use their litter tray.

Put your cat to bed in her safe room and continue to build up the amount of time they spend being handled and out exploring their new surroundings.

Freedom

As your new cat gains confidence you can put some trust in her. As long as she is happy that the safe room is her area of refuge you can allow her more freedom in your house, but watch out for naughty behaviour like climbing on the kitchen table or sharpening her claws on the furniture.

If you find your new adventurous kitten swinging from a lampshade you might have put a little too much trust in her. If you feel like your four-legged friend is ready to leave the confines of your home and explore the great outdoors, a Pawfit device may be just what you need to keep track of them at all times.

We would love to hear about the mischief your kitty cats have got up to or any top tips you may have about bringing a cat home – leave your messages in the comments!