You and Your Cat

Here you will find lots of practical information about living with cats.

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We hope you enjoy this very informative material!

Bringing Home a New Cat

Here is a checklist of what you can do to prepare your home and family for the new addition:

• Select a veterinarian so you have a partner ready to help you care for your cat. If you already have a veterinary hospital engaged in the care of your other pets, let them know about the new pet arrival so they can book a health care checkup to make sure the new cat is not bringing in fleas or other problems into the home. A clean bill of health, and planning for upcoming medical or surgical plans (boosters, worming, spaying etc.) will help you get the new kitty on the road to proper health care.

• Read up as much as possible on how to care for cats, even if you have had cats in the past, so you are up to date on current care recommendations. The book store and local library may have a decent selection of cat care references. Also check pet supply stores in your area. There is a plethora of cat care information on the Internet, but since you can't always trust online content, you may want to read cat care advice from several sources, and take each one with a grain of salt. Of course, peruse this site; it will help you get a feel for the joys and labors involved with responsible cat care. Your veterinarian and/or local animal shelters and rescue groups may be able to recommend books and online sources; some veterinary clinics and most shelters and rescue groups have their own web sites, with original articles and/or links to cat care information.
  If there are children in the home, make sure you read along with them about caring for and getting along with their new companion.

• Obtain the essential equipment you will need at home such as a scratching post, litter box and litter, feed dishes, sleeping bed, grooming tools, a climber, and a few toys. A travel carrier is also a wise investment so that when transporting her home or to the veterinary hospital, kitty does not escape and become lost.

• Wherever you have obtained the cat, ask them to give you a written note about the feeding schedule they are using, and ideally, have them give you at least a few days to a week’s supply of the food. This is so that a sudden feed change does not occur at the same time as the move. Once kitty is settled in, if your veterinarian has recommended a feed change, gradually mix in increasing proportions of the new food. This will help the dietary transition occur without a tummy upset. This gradual transitioning may help prevent the infamous “turning up the nose” at an unfamiliar food as well!

• If this is a household with children, have a family discussion about who is feeding, cleaning the box daily, and grooming. Before kitty comes home, everybody then knows their role in the care of their new furry friend! This can help prevent double feeding, forgetting to feed or clean the box, and other oversights or sibling conflicts.

• Children should also understand the need for kitty to have some quiet time, and know how to properly handle and carry the cat. If the children are new to handling cats, teasing and tail pulling should be explained as inappropriate, and remind them that kitty should never be dropped to test if she will land upright as injury may occur. Let children know that if kitty lashes the tail, drops the ears down and back, develops hair standing up over the back and tail, arches the back or hisses or spits, these signs may indicate impending bite or scratch behavior. If any of these warning behaviors develop, the children should back off and let the cat settle down for at least two hours before handling her again, and avoid whatever stimulated the cat to react that way.

• “Childproofing” or kittyproofing the home should be done. If there are already children at the home, this may not be necessary but be aware that curious cats will find all kinds of things to get into! Take care to put human medications away in a secure place. Sewing baskets with bright colored thread, needles and ribbons (fun to swallow) should be placed in a closet or cupboard. Lock up household cleaners. Remove toxic plants. High perches that are not secured to the wall should be stabilized, or access to that room cut off.

Now you are ready to have some fun with your newfound friend!

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at Cathealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.

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