Making a Cozy Home for Your New Cat: Advice
Our team wants to make it easier for you to welcome a new cat into your house in honor of Adopt a Shelter Cat Month—which, in our opinion, ought to be observed each month. Being sensitive animals, cats may find it stressful to enter a new setting, particularly if other animals have already staked out the area.
If you’re bringing home a new cat—or two or three—follow these tips from our team to help them feel welcome.
#1: Create a safe space for your new cat
If you already have other pets in your home, it may take your new cat a few days to feel at ease around you and much longer for them to adjust. Don’t forget to give your cat their own set of resources so they can feel safe and confident in their new surroundings. To prevent your feline buddy from having to compete for necessities, keep them segregated in a big room with their own litter box, food, water, scratching post, and blanket. Give your new cat lots of time to become used to you by playing, petting, and socializing with them, but also give them room to roam free and uninhibited.
#2: Give your new cat time to settle in
A cat may need a week or two to settle into their new home, so save the meet-and-greets with family and friends until your pet is comfortable with you and their surroundings. However, you should schedule a meet-and-greet with your regular veterinarian to ensure your new cat is healthy and up to date on preventive care. Another trip so soon after the ride to your home can be stressful for your cat, so let them relax for another week before any other introductions.
#3: Stick to the same diet
Stick to the same food your cat was eating to reduce stress. Moving to a new environment might cause a cat’s sensitive digestive tract to become unbalanced. Give them a few days to adjust to their existing diet if you wish to convert them to a new one, then gradually introduce new foods over the course of a week.
Congratulations on your family’s feline addition! Our team can’t wait to meet your newest pet, so give us a call to schedule their wellness visit.