Seven ways to make sure your home is cat friendly.
Making the decision to adopt a cat is a big life change – after all, you are essentially welcoming a new member of the family into your home. Cats have very specific requirements when adapting to a new home, so how can you make sure they’ll settle in comfortably with you? Here are some tips from our experts to ensure you and your family offer your new cat the purrfect transition.
Safety first
Just as you would for any children visiting, make sure you remove potential hazards like cleaning products or any breakable items that the cat might accidentally knock over. Tie up/put away any loose cables that the cat could become entangled with. Be aware that some common house plants, like lilies for example, are highly toxic to cats.
Do a cat shop
Before your new companion comes home, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got everything you need to keep them happy. You’ll need a food bowl, water bowl (which you’ll need to keep in a different place to the food), a litter tray, litter, a cosy bed, a scratching board, treats and toys. Always check what food the cat has already been eating and what litter it prefers to ease the transition for your cat.
Lay out the loo
With any new cat, you’ll need to keep them indoors for a minimum of two weeks at first, so they have an opportunity to make themselves at home and bond with you before you let them out. This means they will need a litter box, at least in the interim. Make sure this is easy for them to access, as private as possible, and kept away from their food – much like us, cats don’t like to eat and go to the toilet in the same place!
Keep it private
When your cat initially arrives, you’ll need a room/space that is private for them initially, just until they feel comfortable enough to explore the rest of your home. Keep other pets and guests out to make sure they can feel safe there. Make sure it is an area where the cat has the opportunity to be higher up, like on a windowsill or bookshelf, as vertical space is very important to cats, especially in unfamiliar environments.
Hide and seek
Cats in an unfamiliar environment tend to want to hide at first, until they feel comfortable. You could provide a hiding space for your cat by placing a cardboard box on top of a tall piece of furniture, for example, but make sure it’s safe and won’t topple off. Using their carrier as a comfortable hiding space in the home is also a good option, as it will make it less stressful for the cat when you need to use the carrier for transport.
Cultivate calm
Try to make the cat’s first few days in your home a calm period of adjustment. They don’t need you to be present all the time – in fact, cats enjoy having some time on their own to explore – so don’t fuss them too much if they seem unsure. Staying in the room with them but sitting somewhere else and reading them a story is a good way to get them used to your presence and the sound of your voice, without pressuring them for physical contact.
Chip and go
Every year, over a quarter of a million animals are lost. Before taking your cat home, make sure they’re microchipped so that if they do get lost after moving in with you, you’ve got the best possible chance of being reunited quickly. Bristol A.R.C. offers free cat microchipping for cat owners in Bristol and is open to any cat in the area from four months of age.
