Read Our Blog Before You Adopt a Cat
It’s National Adopt a Cat Month! Unless you’ve never been on Facebook or YouTube, you already know that cats hold a special place in the collective heart of America. Though they have a reputation for being aloof, they can be quite loving when they want to be and (as any YouTube aficionado can tell you) quite hilarious! But if you’ve never had a cat of your own before, you may have questions about how to make your first cat feel at home.
So, for National Adopt a Cat Month, we’re sharing our top five tips for new cat ownership!
Start Small
Can you think back to a time when you had to do something new for the first time? It was probably intimidating. But the way to do it and be gentle with yourself is to start small.
It’s the same with your new feline friend!
When you bring your new cat home, start it in one room. Let your furry friend explore the new environment a little at a time so it doesn’t get overwhelmed. Also, be sure the room has everything your cat needs.
A good start is water, food, toys, a soft place to sleep, somewhere to hide, and a litterbox. Pro tip: Put the litter box, water, and food in different room corners. No one wants their toilet in the dining room!
Integrate with Other Pets Slowly
Do you have other pets? Introducing them to someone new can only be done once, so you must do it right the first time. Like introducing your cat to the home, you must start small.
After your cat has been there for a night, take the blanket it laid upon and let your other pets smell it. Do the same with an object of your other pets. This allows all your animals know there’s another pet in the home.
After that, consider letting them meet through a doorway. When they finally get a face-to-face, keep it short and controlled! Once they’ve gotten used to each other, they can spend progressively more time together until they are seamlessly integrated.
Cat Proof! Cat Proof! Cat Proof!
Just as you baby-proof a home to protect a new baby and the house itself, you should do the same for cats. New cat ownership is partly damage control!
Like babies, check for anything that may endanger your kitty. Fix or remove any loose or frayed wire, cover up or fill holes, and don’t leave anything heavy placed precariously.
Likewise, you’ll want to hide any small breakable objects or at least put them out of the kitty’s reach. Protect your furniture. Young cats especially like to scratch and knead. While you may be unable to predict everything they may damage, start by putting cat tape (or double-sided tape) on your favorite furniture and redirecting your cat to a scratching post whenever it messes with it.
Set a Vet Appointment
As you get a new cat, you should establish it with your favorite friendly Roanoke Veterinarian. The younger your cat is when it first goes to the vet, the more comfortable it will be there. Bonus points if you can bring your cat to visit the vet on a day it doesn’t yet have a procedure.
Being a new cat owner means taking responsibility for your cat’s health. If you adopted your cat from a shelter, it’s probably already up-to-date on shots and spayed or neutered, but if not, it’s something you’ll want to schedule right away.
At your first vet appointment, your veterinarian will establish a baseline understanding of your cat’s health, including weight and vital signs. Your vet will also schedule your cat for all his or her regularly scheduled treatments.
Bonus Adopt a Cat Month Tip: Enjoy It!
Finally, as a new cat owner, don’t forget the most important thing – love your new family member! Spend time with your cat, play with it, and enjoy its antics. That’s why you adopted it, right?