Preparing for the Arrival of a new Cat or Kitten

Ready to welcome a new feline to the family? Whether your new arrival is a cat or kitten there are some top tips you should follow to ensure this is an easy process.

Ensuring their safety and security

The most important thing is keeping your new family member safe and secure. Cats are often known to eat small items so keep any choking hazards like elastic bands and jewelleryout of reach. They’ll also be tempted to chew hanging wires, so get your hands on some cable protectors.

Next, keep any cleaning chemicals and medications stowed away, and ensure that all of the plants in your home are non-toxic to cats by checking this list from us.

Finally, everyone in your household should get into the habit of keeping cupboard/appliance doors closed, windows locked, and the toilet lid down.

Giving your new friend space

Oooops wrong kind of space… but nevermind let’s continue with the tips. 😉

No matter how much we want them to be cuddly and with us all the time straight after arrival this sadly isn’t going to be the case with many cats. Cats are very independent creatures and need to be given space and time to adjust to the new locations.

Of course, the background of your new family member will also have a huge impact on this! Is it a kitten or was it an older cat? Where did it come from originally?

Especially cats that have had a potential hard life and came to you through a charity may need some extra time to adjust. It’s important to make all interactions positive and reward them with treats where possible!

Additionally, it can ease the settling in process if you give your cat an additional calming supplement. Zylkene Calming Supplement is one that we’ve successfully used for the introduction of a shelter cat in a friends place.

Zylkene contains a natural ingredient derived from casein, a protein in milk. It is a molecule well known to promote the relaxation of new-borns after breastfeeding. Launched in April 2008, Zylkene has become a familiar product for veterinary surgeons, behaviourists, nurses and pet owners for use in helping pets cope when facing unusual and unpredictable situations or before occasions such as a change in their normal environment.

Preparing the necessary Items to Keep your Cats Happy!

Now after all of the above tips lets not forget the most important bits! Your cat will need everything that us humans need as well.

This starts with the most important aspect… their toilet. It’s generally advisable to have one litter box more than you have cats in the households!

You should have plenty of toys from teasers to catnip toys make sure you’ve got the right item to play with your new friend.

Now, this might sound obvious but ensure you have plenty of food for them. In the initial time after joining you, it is advisable NOT to change their food so do check with your shelter or breeder what brand and type of food your new friend was eating before they arrive. 🙂

We hope you found these tips useful.

Thanks,

Marc