Mary Allen
The time has finally come: a cat is moving in. You have probably been looking forward to this moment for a long time and furnished the apartment for your cat. Here’s what you can do to help your new cat settle in.
A Cat Moves in
Before your cat can explore its new home, it must survive transport from its old owner or from the animal shelter. That alone is pure stress for the kitty. So keep in mind that she will be very scared and will not want to be touched by you right away. The best thing to do is to prepare a quiet room for the cat, in which there are filled bowls and a clean litter box as well as a place to sleep. Here you put the transport box down and carefully open the box’s doors. You should then move away from the cat a little so that it doesn’t feel threatened. It is best to leave the fur nose alone now because then it will leave the transport basket by itself.
The First Day
Cats have their own and different personalities. This also shows how quickly your cat can get used to it. Some house tigers immediately climb out of their transport cage and curiously explore their surroundings. First, stay in the cat room so the new family member gets used to your smell and voice. But keep the door locked so as not to overwhelm your kitty with too many impressions. If your new cat is brave, it may even come to you to sniff you. Nevertheless, you mustn’t press her now or even piss her off. Once your velvet paw has explored the room, you can soon open the doors so that it can go on tour in its new environment. Scared cats, on the other hand, sometimes stay in their transport box for hours. Here it is advisable to leave the room for a while so that the shy cat can venture out undisturbed. In the case of a fearful cat, the “quarantine time” in the chat room should also be correspondingly longer.
Acclimatize the Cat in the New Home
In the first few days, your cat will take plenty of time to explore its territory. Now you can also put the bowls and the litter box in their intended places. Your kitten will take a close look at everything, climb every table and shelf and crawl into the smallest corners. The best thing to do is to let the curious cat have it. But you can also point out boundaries directly and by blowing, which is similar to the cat’s hissing, show that certain areas such as the dining table are taboo. Of course, the new kitten not only has to get used to the surroundings, but also to you. Therefore, you should take the first days off after arrival and spend a lot of time with the fur nose. Even if you do everything right from the start, it will take some time for your cat to get used to it. So don’t lose heart if your cat doesn’t want to cuddle even after two weeks.
Problems Settling in 3 Quick Tips
Cat is hiding
Hiding is a natural behavior for cats. If your cat is hiding after moving, this is normal for now. Set up food, water, and the litter box so that the cat can access it from its hiding place. She probably dares to come out at night when you sleep. Just go about your day-to-day life, but try to avoid loud noises. When you are around the cat, there are a few words you can say about it. She can tell by your voice whether you are friendly to her. Aids such as Feliway or special treats can also help the fur nose to relax.
A cat cannot be touched
The first physical contact should definitely come from your cat. If she comes to you and rubs against your legs or even jumps on your lap, you can stroke her too. If your cat doesn’t let you touch him even after the first few weeks, it could be that she has had bad experiences with people. Only one thing helps patience. Spend time with the little cat without being obtrusive. For example, sit in the room your kitten is in and read a book. It is also helpful if you sleep with the cat in the same room. You should also avoid hand creams and perfumed soap, as the fur noses are often very sensitive to smells. If your cat exhibits other abnormal behavior, such as refusing food, it may be in pain. Then you should definitely see a veterinarian.
Cat does not eat
On the first day, the cat may be too scared to eat. If she’s healthy and drinks, it doesn’t really matter. Maybe she dares to go out to eat at night when you sleep. To encourage the new cat to eat, you can take a few steps to make the food palatable. Ideally, you have found out at the animal shelter or from the previous owners which cat food your velvet paw likes to eat the most. If you don’t know this, offer your cat both wet and dry food. If your cat initially crawls into hiding, place the bowls near where it is hiding. Above all, make sure that the bowl is in a sheltered place and at some distance from the litter box. In addition, you can try to lure the kitty to the food bowl with treats. If she doesn’t touch any food for a long time, you need to see a veterinarian.
Tip: Changing food and the excitement of moving can lead to diarrhea and vomiting in animals. This is especially the case if you adopt an animal from abroad, as different types of food are available in many countries. To protect your kitty’s stomach, you can add some healing earth to the food.
The First Clearance
If you plan to keep your cat outdoors, you should wait at least two weeks to allow your cat to settle in before letting him outside for the first time. The time period depends entirely on your cat. Has she settled in well, accepted you as a family member, and is already waiting impatiently at the front door? Then she is ready for her first free walk. If your furry friend can put up with it, you can first go outside the door with her harness and leash. So she can look around and you avoid running away as soon as she gets frightened. If you have a rather anxious cat, you should wait even longer before going out for the first time.
Accustom Your Cat to Other Pets
If you have other pets in your roommate, it is important to give the new kitten some alone time first. Moving into a new home is very exciting for the cat, as it does not have to be confronted with conspecifics or dogs. So first separate your other pets from the family member until the cat has gotten used to it. When you let the new furry friend out of her room for the first time, make sure that the other four-legged friends are not directly in front of the door and block your cat’s way. When socializing two or more cats, you let them settle disputes about territory and hierarchy among themselves. If you want to get your dog and cat used to each other, you should put your dog on a leash the first time you meet and intervene if it becomes difficult. Small animals and birds are prey for cats, so they should not be in the same room with them.