Tips to Help You Prepare for Your New Kitty's Arrival

In order to assure a smooth transition for your new cat and your family, plan ahead for Kitty's arrival. Avoid the last-minute scurry to gather supplies and make decisions about caring for your new pet. You will need a cat carrier to transport your new pet home, and the home must also be prepared before the cat's arrival.

A cat adopted from a shelter has been living in stressful conditions. Confinement, close proximity to strange people and animals, and noise can easily stress a cat. To help your new pet adapt to your household, try to keep its first days in the home stress-free.

Allow the cat to explore its new home. Show the cat its litter box. Introduce pets and people gradually. Supervise the cat's activities, and confine it when your attention is needed elsewhere.
Do not expect the cat to instantly adapt to your household routine. Expect the cat to hide under the bed or behind the couch for a few days. This gives the cat the opportunity to observe your actions and build trust in you. When the cat is secure and comfortable, it will participate in the activities of the household.

Shelter adoptees can be devoted companions for many years. But they may need special consideration during the first few weeks. If you have any questions or problems, contact your local animal shelter for advice.

Incorporating a new pet into a family that already has pets is usually easy, but occasionally a newcomer presents a challenge. This meshing of old with new requires patience and planning. Before acquiring a new cat or kitten, evaluate the feline, canine, avian and any other pets in your home.

Make notes on each pet, assessing the temperament of each. Is Fluffy or Scruffy likely to openly accept the new cat, act indifferent or be outwardly aggressive to the newcomer? Identify potential problems. Spend extra time interacting with existing pets before the new cat comes to live with you. Grooming a resident cat, or practicing obedience exercises with a dog, will help to reinforce your dominance, while it boosts the confidence of the pet at hand. Added attention will help create a feeling of security for your pets, so that the arrival of the new family member will be less threatening to your established pets.

Whether your household includes members of several generations or just you, all members of your family must come to agreement about the niceties and annoyances of a feline addition.