Advice for New Cat Owners
Gradually introduce your newly adopted feline to its new environment in
a proactive manner to help prevent problems from developing. Here is
some practical advice to help you enjoy your new kitty cat for the long term.
Attend a Kitty Clicker Workshop
SICSA
offers Kitty Clicker Workshops to help you explore the power of this training method with your cat. Yes, cats CAN be trained! The workshop is for people only but will utilize a cat currently available for adoption. Attendees will have the chance to work with the demo cat if they wish.
Furniture Scratching
Cats need to sharpen their claws as a part of normal grooming. Teaching
your cat where to perform this grooming is not difficult to do.
To avoid
damage to furniture and upholstery, provide your cat with a scratching post
with the type of surface that they prefer. Some cats like to scratch
vertically on objects such as couches and chairs while others prefer to scratch
on horizontal surfaces such as carpeting.
In addition, cats have preferences
for surface types such as wood (tree bark), plush carpeting (many pet stores
have these types of cat trees available) or sisal rope (a more uncommon type
of surface but can be found in cat specialty stores or online).
Place
the cat tree or scratching post in an area that is frequented by your cat.
To entice your cat to use the tree or post, identify things that motivate
your cat such as:
- catnip
- eating a dish of yummy wet food
- chasing a laser
light on the tree etc.
The more interesting your cat finds the area
you want him to utilize for scratching, the more he will be motivated to
use it appropriately, saving your furniture and saving him from the costly
and painful surgery of having his claws removed.
Vertically Inclined
Cats love to climb! In addition, when cats are afraid or stressed,
they go up.
A cat tree that allows the cat to climb, preferably
with a view out a window can prevent it from climbing curtains or knocking
the cherished ashes of a cremated beloved off the mantle.
Keep in mind
the surface preference of your cat. Enriching the indoor life of your
cat will go a long way to preventing problems later.
Litter Box, Litter Box Where
Shall You Be?
Privacy & Safety Important
Cats prefer to have their bathrooms located in a private place. It
is also important to select a location where the cat will not be spooked while
going to the restroom.
Litter box liners are very convenient for a human, however some cats don’t
like liners. Liners may make a sound when a cat steps in the box, or
a cat may get a claw caught in the liner when trying to ‘flush’ or
they may have a smell that is offensive to the cat.
If your cat is spooked
by the sudden noises or changes of sound, don’t put the litter box next
to the washing machine in the laundry room.
If a cat believes the litter box is not a safe
place, he will not use it. Once a cat begins going outside of the box,
because it senses that something or someone is not safe, it requires diligence,
patience and good detective work to get them on the road back to the litter
box.
Being proactive and observant of what your cat prefers is the
best way to set your feline household up for success!
cat litter — adjusting to different type
If you wish to use a different type of litter than the one
that was used in the shelter or previous home of your new cat, transition
them slowly by offering two litter boxes, one with the old litter and one
with the new litter.
If
this is your only cat, you will clearly be able to tell if the cat is adjusting
and likes the new litter before discontinuing the old litter. If you
have multiple cats, you may need to be observant to see which one the new
cat is using before completely changing over to the new litter.
For
multiple cat homes
The general rule is to have one litter box for each cat
plus one additional box. For example a 3 cat household, should have
a minimum of 4 boxes.
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Feline by McConnell.)
Introducing your new cat to your
existing cat
It is probably not a good idea to bring the cat home and just turn it loose
in your house! Some cats might be just fine however, if your new cat
is one that is NOT fine, you might have big problems that take weeks to undo.
For
best results:
- Bring your new kitty in its carrier into a room without
other pets
- Allow the cat to exit the carrier on its own and
explore the new room
- Avoid quick introductions and instead observe
how comfortable the cat is in the new environment
- If the kitty seems
calm and relaxed, allow the cat to mingle with existing household cats
one at a time for short periods of time
- Verbally praise appropriate
interactions and reward with a kitty cookie or two!
Questions
If you have cats that are not
co-existing well or need additional help, contact:
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