Cat Adoption Guide

Some people have the misconception that cats are easier to care for than dogs. Although cats do not require walks, they do need just as much attention and care as dogs, and kittens require more attention than cats. In addition to the following tip, you’ll want to visit your vet to discuss vaccinations and spaying/neutering.

Think of a kitten as a baby. If your kitten is unattended, they will surely get into trouble. Kittens are incredibly curious creatures. They want to see what is in that partially closed box, and knocking over picture frames, books, and breakable items off of a shelf can be a game for a kitten. They don’t know they are causing mischief.

Deciding to add a pet to your household.

• Discuss with all members of your household the time and financial considerations that adding a new pet will bring. Do you have enough space for a new pet to have their own area or secure room to decompress in?

• Consider all current pets: do they have behavioral concerns or health conditions that could be exacerbated by the stress of adding another pet?

Cat- Proofing your home:

• Secure cabinets, drawers and other storage area with such things as food and cleaning supplies. 

• Wrap curtain/blinds cords up around the top of any blinds so they are out of reach of kittens.

• Keep electrical cords unplugged, so if a kitten chews on it they won't get an electrical shock.

• Cats are great climbers and jumpers, so even items on high shelves can be reached. Hide your valuables until the kitten has learned what is off limits.

• Secure areas in house that kittens could become stuck in such as laundry chutes, closets, under furniture, unfinished areas and chimneys. 

• Cats can explore areas and become trapped in and under appliances such as ovens, washers, dryers, and fridges.

• Cats may try to escape so make sure the windows are secure and use caution when coming in and out of doors.

• Make sure to remove toxic plants. For a list of toxic plants and other household items, please visit the Toxins page under the Cat tab. 

Items to have:

• Litter boxes: the rule of thumb according to the American Association of Feline Practitioners

  • #of cats +1 = # of litterboxes

• Food and Water bowls

• Cat toys, scratchers, beds and other cat enrichment

• Cat brush, toothbrush and toothpaste

• A cat carrier – You should have a carrier for every cat in house in case of emergency.

If you have a resident cat, the items used for the new cat should be new or unused because the scent of the resident cat can trigger more stress.

• The new cat should have a separate secure area or safe room that for them to sleep and decompress in for the first few weeks of living in the home. This can be a room, closet or large kennel, big enough for a litter box and food and water bowls. Make sure to remove any items that may be a hazard for a curious kitten. 

• Even the most outgoing cat in shelter can get nervous when brought into a new home. 

• Some cats may not eat, drink or use the litter box for 24-48 hours or may experience stress-induced diarrhea.

• Cats may hide for the first few days, so make sure there are lots of safe spots for them to do so.  Do not pull them out of hiding – try to coax them out with wet food, treats or toys. Sometimes just sitting on the floor near their hiding spot can give them the confidence to engage with you.

• Allow your cat to get used to you by spending short amounts of time with them the first few days. You can interact by playing or petting but a shy cat might take a bit more time. You can just sit in the room quietly ignoring them to help get them used to your presence in a low pressure way. Let a shy cat approach you for attention, this allows the interactions to be on their own terms.

• You can slowly and introduce your cat to the rest of the house by leaving the door open after a few days so they can explore on their own. You can leave some doors closed so that they don’t have to take it all in at once.

• For kittens and young cats, keep a close eye on them because they are prone to eating things they shouldn’t, climbing on things that they shouldn’t or are too high and other general mischievous behaviors.

• Feliway can be helpful for nervous cats. It comes in a spray or diffuser form that imitates natural cat pheromones and helps a new cat feel more comfortable.

Transitioning beyond the safe room. 

Once you and your new cat have a trusting relationship, the cat is ready to explore the rest of the house. Begin this process by gradually opening more rooms, while you are home to supervise. Opening too many new places at one can be stressful for your cat. If you have adopted a shy cat, do not let them into the basement for many weeks as there are many places to hide in the basement that are inaccessible to humans. 

Remember, the integration of your new cat into the household depends on the personality of both your new and existing pets. Integration can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Shy cats may need even longer.