Cats are easily stressed by changes. Adult cats likely encountered many changes before coming home with you and kittens likely just left their brothers and sisters.
Cats that are introduced into a new home without the proper introduction may feel overwhelmed. In response, kitty might bite, scratch, refuse to eat, refuse to use the litter box and decline to give any attention at all to anyone in the new home. A new cat hiding in the house is also very common and you can trust the fact that cats can hide in places you’d never think to look!
Introducing a new cat into his new home and environment and his new family should be done over a period of time. The cat needs time to relax after moving from one situation to the next and certainly will reciprocate the love and affection everyone has to give in due time. That time will come much sooner with a calm, relaxing introduction.
Bringing Kitty Home
Getting into the car and heading from one place to the next isn’t a big deal to you, but for kitty it can be quite traumatizing. To make the trip easier for the cat, take these tips into consideration:
– Use a cat carrier to transport the cat
– Talk to the cat and pet her, if she doesn’t resist, to ease her fears
– Keep the music off or the volume low
Arriving at Home
Do not let the cat out of the carrier free to roam as soon as you arrive. For some cats, a transition period of up to two to three weeks is necessary. If there are other animals in the home, it is likely to take this amount of time for your new addition to feel comfortable.
Arrange a room for the cat to stay in as he acquaints himself with his new home. It should be isolated from animals and other people. Bathrooms are great for cats since there are few hiding spots. Put a litter box in the room and if available, any toys familiar to the cat.
Allow the cat to roam freely in the isolation room and leave the room after a few minutes. Return to check on the cat, and if he or she will allow, a quick rub or snack. Be sure to leave food in the room for the cat on your first return check.
Kitty, meet Fido
Introduce a cat to a dog slowly by incorporating these tips into the situation.
Following the isolation period, introduce the cat to the scent of the dog by bringing his bed or blanket into the room. Do the same for the dog.
When the dog and cat finally meet, keep the dog on a leash and make sure that you able to separate them quickly if necessary. You should expect some hesitation, at least on the part of the cat. Do not tolerate any aggressive behavior from the dog and never let him corner or chase the cat. Reward both with treats for positive behavior.
Introducing a New Kitten to an Existing Cat
Some cats take well to other cats; others are much more hesitant. It seems as if cats that have been spayed or neutered are friendlier with other cats. Don’t rush the introduction. Just as the dog needs time to learn the new addition, so do cats. You can allow other cats in the home to sniff the carrier or belongings of the new cat to accustom themselves to the scent. Separating cats with a gate so they can view each other, but still have some separation can be beneficial. Also, playing with the cats together can help ease the tension and make the play time a reward for getting along.
As with all changes, time can help ease any issues and patience will aid the process.