How to Help a New Adult Cat Adjust to Your Home

We are seniors and our lifestyle is busy. Knowing we are gone too much to have a dog, we talked about a cat. My husband would soon be having a birthday. He'd never had a pet. So, I began a diligent scan of our local Craig's List. One evening I spied Marley. The owner said that Marley loved to cuddle, liked kids and was a great cat. The picture showed her as a long haired gray/black striped tabby cat with huge blue/green eyes.

Unknown to my husband, I put a big apple box in the back of my Subaru. Then I made a stop at the store and got a litter box and some food and drove to Marley's house. I found a teeny upstairs apartment with three pets and a young couple. She'd been caring for Marley because a friend [Marley's owner] moved to California. However, their landlord told them they could only have two pets. Marley was OK with riding home in the apple box. She rubbed my finger when I stuck it in the hole.

I was so excited when I placed the apple box on my husband's lap and said "Happy Birthday." He looked at me sort of funny, "a box of apples?" I told him to open it and there was Marley quietly looking up at him. He was completely overwhelmed. "Where did you get her?" We both held Marley and she seemed just fine.

We showed Marley the litter box and her food and water that we'd placed in our small laundry room. She seemed OK with that. Then she took off. Our house is much larger than that teeny apartment. We couldn't find her so went to bed. We could hardly sleep.

The next morning the litter box had been used and the food was gone. We heard Marley mewing behind the washer and dryer. Of course we tried to get her out. No way! Sometime during the day she came out and then unknown to us she hid in the very, very back of our walk in closet. Again we couldn't find her.

The grandkids who live in the next town couldn't wait to see Marley. I told their mom they could come, but they'd have to find her. They found her upstairs behind a hutch in a very tight corner. She loved being petted and cooed over.

Now we pretty much knew Marley's hiding places. But about this same time she became more comfortable with her new family and her new home. The next morning she ran through the house and went up and down the stairs, around the couch and up and down again. We knew she was settling in when she jumped on our bed and snuggled down between us.

Every morning her routine is the same now. She actually wakes up when we do, and runs throughout the house. Then she plants herself under the kitchen table. She waits for our three squirrels to come up on the deck for their morning breakfast. You know she has the hunting know-how, because she crouches and jumps on the window sill to follow them.

Marley has become a great friend to both of us. Little did we know how much time we'd spend with our new pet. The vet said our cat is very healthy and a very nice cat. [Of course she probably says that to most everyone who comes in the door.] Marley was quiet, though probably scared, during her checkup. She didn't mind her shots or getting her nails clipped.

I hear my husband talking to her in the night. At first I thought he was talking to me. "Sweetie, are you OK? Oh Sweetie, you're so soft and cuddly." Wouldn't you know, it was that dang cat! I simply smiled and went back to sleep. I guess I have some competition.

I'm sure we'll have many more Marley the cat stories. I've asked lots of questions and researched about bringing an adult cat into your home. We did some things right - and some maybe not so good. But she's a cat and she just dealt with us on her own condition.

Following are helpers to bring an adult cat into your home.

1. Find out as much as possible from the previous owner about your cat [to be]. Ask if they have anything you could take that would bring her "smell" with her. [such as a small towel] Understand all those new smells are scarey to your cat.

2. It would have been best to have a cat carrier. I was lucky because Marley the cat was quiet and didn't escape.

3. Introduce your adult cat to her litter box, food and water. Then keep her in a tightly closed room [they can open an unlatched door] for a day or so.

4. Begin introducing her to additional parts of your home.

5. Take time to pet her and play with her as often as possible. Talk softly. Adult pets need conditioning.

6. Watch her closely to be sure she's feeling OK, eating, using her litter box and cleaning herself. Check her for any sores or skin problems. [Note anything unusual with your adult cat during the first couple of days.]

7. Give her some toys as cats need exercise. Marley loves her catnip mouse and we bought a lazer light. A rolled up pair of socks works fine too. Your cat will choose what she likes best.

8. Buy a cat bed if you choose. Marley mostly sleeps on top of the couch. We tossed a fluffy blanket up there for her.

9. Introduce kids slowly. Your adult cat may love them, but she possibly won't understand their quick movements and shrill voices. Probably after awhile she will love playing with them. It also depends to what your adult pet has been accustomed.

10. Our vet suggested Purina 1 food for Marley. She said meat is listed as a first ingredient and she won't use the litter box as much. Buy a big bag and put it inside a container or large plastic bag. Keep a small amount for daily use in a small container and refill as needed. Marley weighed 9 pounds. She said to feed her 1/2 cup. [She said many other foods are great, but Purina 1 is a great bang for your buck.] After all, she is a cat.

11. Keep the litter box clean. Buy a strainer scoop and litter that clumps makes that job quite easy.

12. If she's an inside cat, watch so that she doesn't escape out the door and get lost.

13. Enjoy!

It's best if you can get health records for your new adult pet. We had to go by word of mouth. Take her to the vet for a base check up. Then if you note changes, your vet will be better able to help you.