Making the decision to adopt your first cat is a major step for you and your new kitty.
Whether you are thinking about getting a cat or have just gotten your first one, this tutorial will help you form a strong attachment with this specific cat so that it has a “forever home.”
- Create a list of the things you need to buy for your new cat.
It’s akin like adopting a child to adopt a new cat. Perhaps you’ve already made up your mind about which of the other cats you must bring home.
Before bringing your new cat or kitten home, there are a number of things you should gather or buy so that your cat will feel more like a member of the family than a visitor. Do this a few days ahead of “homecoming day” to ease the anxiety for you and your cat. Since you were so eager to bring your cat home, you don’t want to discover at 8 o’clock that you forgot to buy cat food.
- Create a safe space for cats
An unused closet, a safe area of your bedroom, or an infrequently used bathroom might all serve as “Safe Rooms” instead of being distinct rooms. The most important thing is that your new cat has a place it can call “home” where it can retreat and unwind. It might voluntarily choose to mix with you and your family, but for now, let it make that decision. It can take a few days to a week or more, depending on its background, but being patient now will result in a better relationship with your cat down the road.
- Cat-proof your home.
You’ve already decided where you want to adopt your new cat, but unlike purchasing a changing table for a baby, cats require a litter box. The items on the list have been stocked up, and Kitty’s “safe chamber” is ready. Before Homecoming Day, there is just one more thing to do: cat-proof your home to protect your family and the new member.
Although it won’t be tough, cat-proofing your house will take some time. All it takes to recognize risky temptations is a willingness to get down on a cat’s level and the ability to think like a cat.
- Bring your new cat home
Oh, happy day! After months of planning, the big day has finally come for you to bring your new kitten home. It would be wise to avoid making this a huge family event, despite everyone’s delight. Your new baby will likely be agitated enough without a swarm of strangers competing for its attention, especially if you have young children at home.
- Visit a veterinarian for the first time with your cat.
It’s important to take your new pet to the vet right away. You should assure your cat’s health by getting it inoculated and tested for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), if the adopting organization hasn’t already done so (FIV). In addition, if your new cat hasn’t already been spayed or neutered, you must make a date for the procedure.
Prepare yourself in prepared for the inquiry, “Do you want a declaw with that neuter?” Of course, the appropriate response is “No, thank you.” I need the claws of my cat.
- Recognize Your Cat’s Diet.
A cat’s health and happiness throughout its life will be influenced by its early diet. You can ensure that your new family member enjoys a long and healthy life by knowing what goes into cat food.
Despite their ancestry in the desert, cats still need fresh water, especially if they exclusively eat dry food.
Read the cat food labels to understand what you are feeding your newest family member. You should review for the upcoming weeks and months until you are certain that you have everything under control. As you gain experience, reading cat food labels will come naturally to you.
Access to a clean, fresh water source is essential for your cat’s health. Cats need enough water despite their ancestors who were desert creatures.
- Make sure your sleeping arrangements are in order and buy a litter box.
The third most important thing for your new cat’s comfort and health, after food and water, is a litter box. If you keep your cat’s litter box clean, you won’t ever have to worry about odor or “out-of-box accidents.”
But the cat goes outside, you object. You should think twice about your decision in one of the next steps.
A vital question to ask before buying your first cat is “Where will it sleep?”. Will you get it a comfortable bed of its own, let it sleep in your bed, or both? Keep in mind that you are creating habits that most likely will last a lifetime.
- Attend to Your Cat’s Scratching Needs
Second on the list of causes for shelter surrenders, immediately behind litter box avoidance, is unwanted scratching behavior. Cats actually require scratching on a par with their needs for food and air. Cats’ claws are their most critical instruments for a multitude of reasons.
After this lesson, you’ll be equipped with everything you need to give your cat the exercise he or she needs to stretch and scratch without compromising your expensive carpet and furniture.
- Play with your cat.
Your relationship gets stronger when you play with your cat. Cats are excellent game designers and like playing. Before you spend money on expensive cat toys, try out objects you can find around the house. Both paper bags and cardboard boxes are a lot of fun.
- Decide whether your cat prefers to spend time inside or outside.
If you think cats need to be outside and in the sun, there are safe indoor solutions. If your deck is enclosed, you can choose to do that. You won’t have to worry if your cat comes into contact with other animals outside if you try leash-training it.
- Integrate your cat into the household for life.
Over time, you and your family will become closer to your new cat and begin to think of it more as a beloved relative than a pet.
Congratulations on providing such excellent care for your pet. This is your graduation day, so you may now formally refer to yourself as an ailurophile or even a crazy cat lover. By adoring your feline kids, you are joining the most admirable and kind people on the globe.
If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your family pet, know the pet’s health history, and may make the best recommendations for your pet.
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