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Bringing Up Furry Baby: Best Ways to Welcome a New Cat
| Posted on 15 November, 2015 at 15:24 |
Bringing up Furry Baby: Best Ways
to Welcome a New Cat
 by
Nancee Marin Guest Writer Surprisingly, cats
are popular choices for pets, even more so than dogs, probably because of
their independent, low-maintenance nature. However, for the uninitiated, cat
care isn't exactly easy-peasy as cats have special needs, thanks to their quirky
personality. Whether you're a first-time pet owner or a longtime pet parent
bringing a kitty home for the first time, here are tips to make the transition
much smoother for you and your feline friend. Location,
location, location!Cats are particularly territorial creatures that crave
stability and familiarity. Unknown surroundings are unsettling to them, so it's
important to give them space and time to adjust to their new environment. This
is where you get to play kitty real estate/home improvement expert! Place essentials such as litter
box, scratching post, adequate fresh water and quality
food, eating and drinking bowls, and toys in a private, quiet room
specifically assigned to your cat. Rooms with doors and tunnels are good places
for cats to feel safe. You can use cat beds or cat carriers as their cozy
cubbyholes.  Cats love to get high (other than
their love of catnip!), so get a cat tree for their perching, observation, and
resting station. It's also a great escape route should they need to get away
for safety. For maximum feline enjoyment, catification is the
way to go. Who says that interior designing is only for humans? Avoid
CATastrophesEnsure that your home is cat-proofed.
Cats are too curious for their own good. They get into places and situations
that can either hurt or kill them. Keep electrical cords, blind cords, harmful
chemicals or substances, poisonous plants, and fragile items out of their
reach. Keep small, tight, or cramped spaces shut. Be sure your cat doesn't get
trapped there. For the safety and well-being of
your cat, keep
him or her indoors to prevent exposure to diseases, attacks by other
animals and humans, and motor vehicle accidents. Schedule a vet check-up the same
week you pick up your cat to make sure that he or she is in the clear. Don't
stand so close to me!Cats are protective of their
personal space. Don't make direct physical contact with them at first. Let them
sniff your finger or paw at the feather wand or whatever cat toy you have on
hand. Look away when you come close to them. When they see you, slowly blink at
them. Blinking
is the universal feline gesture. When the cat slowly blinks back at you,
it's a sign that you've won him or her over. Leave cats alone when they eat
and when they do their business. Chill
out, cool cat!Other than catnip, try Feliway
spray or diffuser or Rescue Remedy by adding it to their food or
water or rubbing it on their paws or ears to calm them down. Slow
and steady wins the raceCats are private, reserved, and
picky by nature. Too many sudden new changes and new stimuli overwhelm or even
threaten them. Introduce them to other people and other pets gradually. It
takes a while for them to warm up. Meet them on their terms. Wait until they're
fully comfortable and confident. Don't force a cat to come out of hiding until
he or she is ready. Let the cat investigate and approach first. The more you
ignore cats, the faster they come to you as they feel more relaxed around you.
Don't leave young children and other pets, especially dogs, unattended while
being introduced to cats.  Get your cat accustomed to your
smell and sight by staying in the same room with him or her for a period of
time. Engage in low-key
activities. Watch TV, read, write, talk to your cat, or groom your cat,
then leave after you're done. Come back again after a while. Continue this
pattern or routine until your cat appears to settle into his or her new living
arrangement. When it comes to feeding, let
your cat eat little by little if he or she doesn't eat much. This is normal
behavior, although it's advised to call your vet if your cat ends up not eating
for days. With time, patience, and extra
TLC, your
cat may just stick around with you for the long haul. Here's to a wonderful
start of a relationship that will hopefully last a lifetime—if not for nine
lives! Do you need a helping hand for
taking care of those extra sets of paws? Kelly's Pet Sitting loves and
understands cats. Please get in touch with us at 541-601-7461 or [email protected].
Your little Fluffy will thank you for it! About
the Author A self-avowed mad Renaissance
woman, Nancee Marin stages collisions of the wild, wild worlds of the arts and
letters, holistic health, and the pet industry as a musician, writer, editor,
blogger, Reiki practitioner, and Mary Poppins to furry charges on her little cybercorner. |
Categories: cat sitting, pet sitter, pet sitter Medford, OR, pet sitting
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