Adopting a New Cat or Kitten

Whether you live alone or with somebody, it never hurts to have another heartbeat or two around the house. Adopting a cat or kitten from your local animal shelter will enhance the lives of you and everyone in your household, as well as your new pet. Cats are incredibly self-reliant and easy to care for, so don't fret if you have never before owned a pet. These simple tips will help you help your new cat or kitten adjust to his or her new home. Here is some useful information if you are considering adopting a new cat or kitten.

The animal shelter you adopt your cat or kitten from will provide you with a box or carton to keep her in until you get home. Make sure you don't let her out until you've safely arrived at your house. No matter how much she cries. Cats don't like to travel, and she'll be scared. She may slip out of someone's hands and cause an accident.

Once you arrive at your home, bring your new cat or kitten to a small room with no foot traffic. Close the door and let her out. Chances are she'll immediately run and hide. Make sure there are no open windows or the like. Let her hide and acquaint herself with her new surroundings on her own terms. This may take a few days. Once she seems ready, you can introduce her to the rest of the house.

Provide your new cat or kitten a clean litter box. She'll want some privacy, so keep it in a secluded spot. And keep it clean by scooping at least once a day. The new crystals are much nicer to look at and they trap odor just great. No more dealing with messy sand. Shelters usually put kittens up for adoption only after seven weeks, so your new pet will most likely already know how to use the litter box. Just point her in the right direction.

Cats can be trained to behave in certain ways through positive reenforcement. Reward your cat with treats or toys when she behaves well. Negative reenforcement such as yelling or spraying them with water never works, and should not be attempted. Provide her a scratching post to keep her from clawing at your couch. But never ever get her declawed. It's the equivalent of removing someone's fingernails.

Provide your new feline friend with a safe living area, and make sure there's room enough for her to play and have fun. Simple and inexpensive toys such as ping pong balls, boxes, and paper bags will provide her hours of enjoyment. And a little cat nip will drive her wild.

Be sure to take your new cat or kitten to the vet within a week of bringing her home. She may need some shots and she should receive a thorough exam. Once she reaches the right age she'll need to be spayed; if it's a male, he'll need to be neutered.

After that, give some thought to adopting another one, so that your new cat or kitten won't be lonely; she'll have a permanent new friend! Two cats are as easy to care for as one.