Kitty – Your New Cat - Is Coming Home Today
Posted: Monday, January 16, 2012
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
People consider moving from one place to another is difficult and time consuming. In fact, moving can actually be deemed a life changing occurrence. Likewise, for a cat, rescuing it from a shelter, bringing a kitten home from a rural barn, finding a baby feral kitty or getting a cat from a friend or an ad in the paper – each of these is a life change for the cat, too. That very transition can be difficult and scary for the cat. It is up to you to make the cat comfortable from the start.
There are some things you can do to ease her into your home.
Ideally, you’ll have an area in your house, preferably a room, set up for Kitty upon her arrival.Cats prefer a quiet area so the chosen room should be out of the general traffic flow of the house, quiet, and in a location where Kitty can get used to her new surroundings.
Provide a new litter box, bed, food and water bowls and even some toys for Kitty from the start. She’ll have an immediate opportunity to explore and find everything she’ll need right from the beginning.
Prepare a few hiding places for Kitty. You might have a cardboard box, or even a crate covered with a blanket, tucked away in a corner.
Kitty may desire to completely hide from you. She may seek out the farthest corner under the bed, or scoot into the closet. Block any hiding places for the time being unless the hiding spots have been provided by you (like the cardboard box). You will want to be able to touch Kitty and pick her up at your will, not hers.
Expect Kitty to have behavior changes in your new home. At the day of her arrival she is a stranger and you bet that she knows that. She finds herself in strange surroundings and requires time to settle in.
It is likely that Kitty will hide from you from the beginning. In fact, expect it. After all, she does not know you. Do not force her before she is ready to come to you. Now is the time to offer love and patience in large measure. In time, and probably a short time at that, Kitty will come around all by herself.
Monitor Kitty’s eating and drinking behaviors carefully during the first several weeks. Lets hope she’s not one of those cats that stops eating for a longer period of time. Place food where Kitty can readily access it with her water right beside it. Make sure the water is crystal clear and fresh daily. The food that you offer should have a strong cat food odor to entice her. Obviously, if Kitty refuses to eat for longer than several days, you should probably contact your veterinarian.
It will take several weeks before Kitty becomes totally acclimated and accustomed to her new surroundings.To really get to know her, offer her toys and play with her. Have a toy with a little fresh catnip ready if she doesn’t offer to seek you out. Make sure she reailizes that it is associated with you by making a show of leaving it.
Get to know her, and day by day make more progress. Use a gentle voice and keep your movements slow and steady. Use her name often. If she comes to you, profusely pet her and coo to her, allowing her to relax with your company and touch. Offer treats and more petting and stroking.
It won’t take long before Kitty will feel as though she’s been with you all her life.
The Old Gray Mare writes for www.DressYourHorse.com and her Blog sites.
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