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| Source: author |
Whether it is your first cat or your next of many, preparation is key to give your cat the best chance of settling in smoothly.
PREPARATION
Starting your cat or kitten off in a single room will help them to adjust from the confines of their foster pen or room into having more space. All your cat's resources should be placed in this room ready for their arrival to minimise disruption when they are settling in:
Starting your cat or kitten off in a single room will help them to adjust from the confines of their foster pen or room into having more space. All your cat's resources should be placed in this room ready for their arrival to minimise disruption when they are settling in:
- Food area
- Water placed away from food
- Litter tray(s) placed away from food and water
- The general rule is one per cat plus one extra!
- Toys
- Scratching facilities
- Your kitten will require a larger post as an adult so be prepared to upgrade
- Resting places
- A piece of bedding from their foster home will provide a reassuring familiar scent
- Hiding places
- igloo beds or even a cardboard box with comfy bedding
- High areas to escape and hide
A pheromone spray or plugin used in this room could help your cat to feel more at ease, for example Feliway Classic or Zenifel. These products mimic the facial pheromone and aim to relieve stress and promote a safe happy environment. Don't forget, Feliway Friends can help to reduce conflict between cats living together, so once your new addition needs to meet any existing cats Feliway Friends would be a good idea!
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| Taz with his Feliway plug in Source: author |
- Avoid a room with full-length curtains that might be very inviting for kittens to run up!
- Assess the room and remove any potential hazards such as fireplaces, poisonous plants/substances or small hidey areas where kittens may become stuck.
- Remove all breakable objects and secure cupboard doors
- Ensure windows are securely fastened
- Ensure kittens are not left unattended with toys on lengths of string
TRAVELLING HOME
My previous blog post Top Tips For Taking Your Cat To The Vets mentions the ideal type of carrier that allows for easier loading of your cat and suitable access to the cat when needed at the vets. Again a pheromone spray in the carrier and in the car can help to make the cat feel more at ease - always allow 15 minutes before the cat enters the area after spraying. It is best to cover the cat carrier with a light towel or blanket to help the cat feel safe as they like small secure hiding places.
STARTING OUT
It is advised to allow your new cat time to adjust to their new surroundings on their own for a short while before expecting confident interactions from them.
When approaching the cat, they will feel less threatened if you lower yourself to their level. International Cat Care have produced a great series of videos for cat owners on how best to interact with cats:
If your cat is not ready to approach you, do not force an interaction but sit and talk to them gently - make yourself inviting and wait for them to come to you. Try not to put a time limit on this, having patience is so important to allow your cat to remain in control.
If you find your cat is continually hiding, it is still best to just give them more time, as long as they are coming out to eat and toilet. Make sure their food source is placed close to their hiding spot so they feel secure. Treats and toys may encourage them from their hiding place - play helps to relieve stress and can be the first step of the bonding process without the need for physical contact.
Cats Protection advise that kittens may need more intervention when settling in than adult cats as they may feel unsettled on leaving their mother and siblings. Make sure their cosy secure bed is at ground level, a low-volume radio may help to keep them company and you may need to indicate the location of their resources.
If you find your cat is continually hiding, it is still best to just give them more time, as long as they are coming out to eat and toilet. Make sure their food source is placed close to their hiding spot so they feel secure. Treats and toys may encourage them from their hiding place - play helps to relieve stress and can be the first step of the bonding process without the need for physical contact.
Cats Protection advise that kittens may need more intervention when settling in than adult cats as they may feel unsettled on leaving their mother and siblings. Make sure their cosy secure bed is at ground level, a low-volume radio may help to keep them company and you may need to indicate the location of their resources.
Introducing family members one by one will help to not overwhelm the cat - it is understandable for children to be particularly excited but they do need to be kept calm. It is important to show children the most appropriate way to stroke and interact so the cat is always in control - any cat may defend themselves if they feel threatened or pushed too far. During the first 8 weeks of their life, if your kitten has not encountered children, people of different genders, wearing different clothing, with different tones of voice, they may well be initially wary of anyone different to who they are used to.
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| Source: author |
Most cats will not feel confident to be picked up in the early stages and may never enjoy it - make sure you handle your cat in a way it is comfortable with. Being picked up takes away the cat's control over the situation, which can lead to stress, causing them to try to escape.
GOING OUTSIDE
Before your cat explores the rest of the house, a top tip is to use a soft cloth to gently wipe your cat's cheeks to pick up their facial pheromones. This cloth can then be rubbed on points in the house at cat height to make the house
smell more familiar.
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| Source: author |
Allow your cat to come out of their room of their
own accord and keep the door open so they can hurry back to their safe area should they feel the need. Make sure all external doors
and windows are shut so they can’t escape outside just yet.
Don’t let your cat outside until they have fully adjusted to
their new home and know where their food will be coming
from – this usually takes between three and four weeks. If your
cat has not been neutered, don’t let them out unsupervised
until the operation has been carried out by your vet. Kittens
should always be supervised when outdoors. When you start to let
your cat out, do it when they’re hungry so that you can tempt
them back inside with food, until they are used to coming back
to the house freely. If you can train them to recall before going outdoors, even better!
RESOURCES:
Welcome Home - Cats Protection guidance on introducing a new addition to an existing cat or dog
International Cat Care: helping your cat/kitten settle
International Cat Care YouTube channel - playlists covering cat handling for owners and training cats to improve well-being
Keeping cats safe in the garden - article by Alex Taylor "The Cat Nurse" and her cat Monkey
Check out my other blog posts on "Living in harmony" and "Top tips for taking your cat to the vets"
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