Bringing Your New Cat Home

10 Tips on Preparing Your Home and Yourself For Bringing Your New Cat Home

First off, think like a cat -  Always a good place to start, especially if you have never owned a cat before.  Go down to a cat's level and look round the room from their perspective (probably best to ensure the blinds are closed before you do this!)   What is there in the room that might grab the cat's attention?  Make sure to look in all the smaller areas like under the sofa.  Make a list of all potential hazards you find.

Then remove the temptation - Now that you have sourced things that are either hazardous or that you simply do not want your cat to have access to, then you need to move things.   Any small breakables, or valuable items are easy to put out of reach, but remember that out of reach is not so easy when applied to a cat, especially an adult cat, as they can jump and climb almost anywhere.   If possible store all your valuables in a closed container.  Remember that furniture can be scratched, so if any piece is particularly important to you, you may want to think about putting it into a room that the cat will not have access to.

Look for hidden dangers  -  Go round the areas that your new pet cat will have access to, and keep an eye open for anything that could potentially be a danger, for example poisonous plant.   The movement of plants, and the earth around the plant can often attact the act, and they will investigate by biting as well as pawing. So make sure than any poisonous plants are moved where the cat is not going to be able to go, or else hang them right up out of reach.

Other often forgotten item sthat attracts cats with the movement of cords are;  blind cords, phone cords and electrical cords.   If the cords are not able to be moved out of reach or fastened securely they can be sprayed with a special spray which discourages cats, something like Bitter Apple which is harmless but has an unpleasant taste.  Finally, remove any small hazardous items such as paper clips, thumb tacks, or pest poisons from the area.

Where to site the necessary Litter Box - This should be placed somewhere that is easy for the cat to access.  It should be  away from busy areas, and also put out of the reach of any inquisitive dogs or small children.   The litter box is best put on a hard surface, as a cat can often mistake a soft carpet for the litter box. Keep the litter box clean, otherwise your cat will just not use it.

Keep parts of the house off limits - As we have mentioned previously it is always wise to keep certain areas of the house cat free - partly so you have somewhere safe to put anything which your cat could either harm, or be harmed by.  You need to carefully work out which room or rooms this is going to be, and check that it will be suitable.  For instance if it is a high traffic room, or does not have any doors then this would not be the best place to use as cat free.  Perhaps you have an unused bedroom where you can place items that are off-limit for your cat, or you could secure these items in closed storage areas throughout the whole house. Another area that should always be considered off limits is the garage - there could be too many chemicals and hazardous materials in a garage, plus of course if the cat was in there, and you did not realise, you could easily close the door and your cat could be left in there for many hours or even a day or so, until the door was opened again.

In the first few tips, it was recommended to move hazardous or valuable materials to another part of the house. Before you can do this, however, you need to decide what parts of the house can and should be considered off-limits. If a room is a high-traffic area or does not have doors, you should not plan on making it off-limits to your cat. Typically an unused bedroom is a good place to put off-limits items or, alternately, be certain to secure them in closed storage areas throughout the house. The garage is one area that should always be considered off-limits, as there are too many chemicals and hazardous materials in there.  There is always the potential danger of your cat being accidently shut in garage for hours or even over a day, so do try and enforce the rule that the cat does not go into the garage.

Shopping for your new cat -  As well as the obvious essentials such as a litter box and food, there are many other items which will make things more comfortable for you and your cat.  Bitter Apple Spray is worth having for when moving dangerous items is not an option. 

To help protect your furniture a scratching post is a good investment. There are a great range of these in stores.

Although you may decide to have your cat sleep with you, it is still a good idea to buy your new cat a bed.  Your cat will be able to use this throughout the day for period of rest, or at night.  The size you buy will of course depend on how large your cat is.

Food for your new cat - If you are obtaining the cat from a previous owner, as them what food your new cat prefers.  If you are buying the cat other than from a previous owner then pay attention to the needs of your new cat based on age and physical condition.  Remember that kittens need more nutrients than adult cats do, and you can buy proprietary brands of food aimed at kittens.  If your cat is overweight it may need to be put on a special diet.

You will also need to buy food and water bowls, which should ideally be ceramic or metallic - plastic is not really recommended as some cats can develop a chin rash. 

What toys does your new cat need?  There is no getting away from the fact that cats are born to hunt or  in the case of pet cats to play.  Playing with your new cat offers you a good opportunity of bonding, and if you have a kitten it also helps the kitten develop.   There are a wide variety of toys available in any pet store, and online ranging from the very small toy to elaborate houses and climbing posts. Purchase toys based on your budget, your living situation, and what your new cat’s preferences might be. If it is an older cat, you may want to stick with smaller toys.

Carrier for your Cat - Even if you are planning to keep your new cat indoors, you will still need a cat carrier, as you will need a means of transporting your new pet home.  You will also have many trips to the vet, and may be to a cattery when you go on trips.  A good shorterm solution is a cardboard carrier, but you will eventually need to buy a stronger plastic one.  This will give your cat comfort and security when a journey is necessary.

Grooming your Cat -  Once a cat is used to grooming you will find that they enjoy it almost as much as playing.  Grooming is also important to your cat's heath as it helps to prevent hairballs  Overgrown nails can also be a problem, so we would suggest that you buy a fine toothed comb and a rubber backed pin brush for brushing and a nail clipper that is specifically designed for cats for sorting out his nails.

Now that your home is prepared you can spend some quality time with your new pet.