When you first get a cat, you just want the best for your pet. When everything is new to you and your cat, how can you keep your home as pleasant as possible? What can you do to ensure that your cat is safe, healthy, and content?
Cat scratch cards, extra litter trays, and plenty of playtime should all be on every first-time cat owner’s checklist. Here are ten helpful hints that every new cat owner should be aware of.
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Assist Your Cat in Feeling Safe.
Because your cat will then be shy at first, keep your home as friendly as possible. If your cat is afraid and hides from you, that’s entirely natural. Cats dislike change in general, so it may take some time for her to adjust to all of the unfamiliar sounds and smells in your home.
You can assist your cat by providing her with a room where she can withdraw and feel secure.
Put a soft bed in there for her to curl up in. Some cats may prefer the enclosed bed, where they may hide when they are stressed. Add a few catnip items and a nice blanket to the mix.
Install comfort zone soothing diffusers throughout the house, preferably one in each room, wherever your cat spends the most time.
These diffusers emit an odorless mist that replicates the scents released by a cat to convey that a place is safe and protected. It’s like sending a message in your cat’s native tongue to help her enhance her mental health.
When your cat feels safe, she’ll be less inclined to scratch and spray as a stress response.
Try the Comfort Bubble Multi-Cat Diffuser from Amazon if you have more than one cat. A Comfort Zone Relaxing Collar with a Breakaway safety mechanism is also available at Amazon.
Pay a visit to the veterinarian.
Find a good veterinarian for your cat, make an appointment for an examination, and keep in mind his shots are up to date. Consider purchasing a microchip for him as well. If you’re new cat flees, save the microchip information and a picture of him on your phone. You’ll be happy you took the time to do so.
Start introducing the cat to other pets.
When you first bring a new cat home, expose her to your other creatures, such as your dog, one at a time. Separate your new cat from your other pets and feed them on opposite sides of a locked door.
Place each animal’s blanket in the other’s room & swap rooms occasionally so they become accustomed to each other’s scents.
Gradually move on to serving them on both sides of a locked gate, then attempt supervised visits. Keep an eye on their body language at all times so you can distance them if necessary.
Experiment with Different Types of Litter & Boxes.
One litter box for each cat, plus an additional box, is usually a good idea.
Cats can be possessive of their cat litter, so make sure that your new cat does have plenty of room.
You should also experiment with different types of litter & boxes. Long-haired cats may prefer crystalline litter that does not stick to their fur, while some cats like softer litter.
Closed boxes, exposed boxes, containers with low corners, and other variations may appeal to cats.
Keep the pet waste away from areas where there is a lot of foot activity or a lot of noise. Remember to clean the cat’s litter box daily and once a week for deeper cleaning.
One of the first things you’ll need to do is choose a fantastic vet for your cat, especially one close by.
Check vet reference sites like BringFido or ask your kitty friends for recommendations in your area. Ask your vet if there is anything about your cat’s health that you’ll be aware of at your cat’s initial check-up.
Rover can help you find a local, compassionate pet sitter to look after your cat while you’re gone. You can also hire a professional cat sitter to perform brief drop-in visits with the pet cat, mainly if you work long hours.
If your new cat isn’t burying her excrement, try these tricks to get her to do so.
Feed Your Cat High-Quality Nutrition and Keep It Away From Dangerous Things.
High-quality food is ideal for cats. The wet and dry feed for cats from AvoDerm (Buy at Amazon) is a fantastic place to start. There are numerous tastes to select from.
Keep only home plants suitable for your cat and reduce unnecessary foods that are hazardous to cats.
Cats are notorious for getting into it all, so keep anything that could damage your pet, such as cleaning supplies, locked up.
Experiment with Different Food & Water Bowls.
If you have puppies, you should be aware that they occasionally prefer to eat the cat’s food. Consider getting a window-mounted bowl of food for your cat. You may keep it somewhere high, out of reach of your dog.
Cats tend to consume less water than they require. Place water bowls in strategic locations throughout your home, and consider using filtered bowls.
You might also try a fountain bowl, as some cats love to drink from running water.
They like it more because it’s more oxygenated, and they can feel it running, which indicates that it’s fresher.
Create a Tempting Indoor Setting.
While cats are safer indoors, they might become bored. Make a welcoming indoor atmosphere for your new feline companion.
Make sure your cat has access to condos & cat trees so they can climb.
To offer your kitten some little “cat TV” to view outside, open the windows and place window perches. For added entertainment, hang a birdbath outside the window.
Get lots of toys for your cat to play with (some with catnip), especially catnip toys if you’re already not around.
The easiest way to assist your new cat in acclimating to your home is to have him settle into a designated area.
His litter tray, bed, feed, and toys should all be kept in this area or enclosed space.
Cats take time to adjust to new people and settings, so having a designated room for your new cat family member is essential, especially if you have other pets and children.
Set up Scratchers for Cats.
Scratching is necessary for cats to remove the remaining outermost layer of the claws, stretch their body, and aid in marking their territory.
Getting scratched can also be used to express joy or relieve stress. Your cat will scratch your carpet or furnishings if you don’t give them scratchers.
It’s preferable to get too many kitten scratch cards than too few. Scratchers (Buy at Amazon) should be placed in various rooms where the cat loves hanging out.
Because some kittens will only utilize one type of scratcher, try both vertical and lateral scratchers.
Have Some Fun in the Sun.
Even if you don’t feel at ease letting your cat outside, you may still have fun together in the great outdoors.
Set up a confined outdoor environment for your cat to play in, such as a catio or a staked-to-the-ground cat tent. You may also use a tight harness and a leash to take your cat for a brief walk in the backyard.
Indoors, your cat will need to get acclimated to the harness initially. Some people will “belly-crawl” on the floor for a while before becoming acclimated to the harness, and others may not move whatsoever for a few moments while getting used to it.
However, most people will grow to appreciate it with time, particularly after they realize that taking on the strap means going outside.
Have Fun with Your Cat.
Spend as much time as possible with your new kitten. This keeps her mind active and aids in the development of solid social skills.
Encourage her to pursue a feather wand all around the house, or put a reward in your palm and have her chase you down the hall.
Clicker teaching is another excellent approach to strengthening your relationship with your cat while also keeping her intellect stimulated.
Conclusion.
One of the greatest pleasures of keeping a pet is bringing a new kitten into your life. Simply follow these ten guidelines to create the ideal atmosphere for a healthy and happy feline household.
Many people believe cats are introverted, but that does not imply they do not require playing. Every day, spend time with your cat and expose him to new social environments and situations.
This is especially crucial if you take home a kitten because the optimal socialization time is between the ages of two and twelve weeks.
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