Caring for a cat for the primary time would possibly really feel a bit daunting. There’s loads to consider, together with what you’re going to feed them, which veterinarian you’re going to decide on, and what gear you want to purchase.
On this information, we’ll give you some helpful recommendation about a very powerful issues to contemplate when caring to your new member of the family as a first-time cat guardian. Listed here are our high 10 key guidelines to observe:
1. Assist Your Cat Settle In
Your cat may be a bit of scared and timid whenever you first carry them residence. The automotive journey, a brand new atmosphere, new individuals, and presumably new animals is lots of adjustment for a cat.
Think about using a Feliway diffuser, which releases “glad” pheromones into the atmosphere. These pheromones assist cats really feel protected and safe by mimicking the pheromones which might be naturally launched by your cat once they rub their face on issues. It’s also possible to use Feliway spray in your cat’s provider to assist calm them throughout transport.
Your home may appear a bit formidable to your new cat at first, so initially simply permit them entry to at least one or two rooms. Steadily permit entry to the remainder of your own home as your cat turns into extra assured of their environment. If you happen to intend to your cat to go outdoor, don’t permit them outdoors till you might be certain they’re settled in your house. This might take a number of weeks.
Let your cat to discover their new environment on their very own phrases. Sit quietly together with your cat and permit them to method you in their very own time. Cats require mild dealing with in order to not frighten them. Don’t scare your cat by grabbing them for a cuddle. It can take time to your new cat to belief you, so be affected person and take issues slowly. Providing treats may also help encourage your cat to come back to you and acts as a reward for his or her confidence.
2. Feed A Full Cat Meals
With a whole lot of meals to select from, selecting what to feed your cat may be overwhelming. We’ve picked out a number of key factors that can assist you:
- Select a whole and balanced cat meals. This ensures that your cat will obtain the proper steadiness of vitamins from a single meals supply.
- Select the proper meals to your cat’s age and life stage. A kitten’s dietary necessities are very totally different from these of an grownup cat, and an aged cat’s necessities are totally different once more.
- Resolve whether or not to feed moist meals, dry kibble, or each. This would possibly come right down to your cat’s private choice. Some cats desire one or the opposite, and a few cats benefit from the number of each.
- Measure out your cat’s meals. This may assist stop your cat from overeating and gaining an excessive amount of weight.
- Present free entry to scrub water. Ideally, have a couple of water bowl in several places round the home to encourage your cat to drink loads of water.
Additionally Learn: The 8 Finest Cat Water Fountains—And We Examined Them All
3. Select Appropriate Litter Containers And A Scratch Submit
Present at the very least one litter field per cat in your own home, plus one further.
Your cat will want litter containers in the home, even should you intend to allow them to outdoors ultimately. You need to present at the very least one litter field per cat within the family, plus one further in a distinct location.
Be sure that the field is sufficiently big to your cat and is positioned someplace quiet and personal. In case you have an aged cat with arthritis, select a litter field with low sides in order that they will simply get out and in of the tray.
You would possibly have to check out a number of totally different litter substrates to seek out one your cat prefers. For grownup cats, attempt to follow the identical litter that they’ve beforehand been used to.
Scratching is a crucial habits that permits your cat to maintain their claws in tip-top situation. Be sure that your cat has a scratching put up that’s tall sufficient to allow them to totally stretch out their physique when scratching. Some cats desire to scratch horizontally and would possibly desire a scratching field or mat.
4. Present A Protected Place For Your Cat To Sleep
Cats typically desire sleeping up excessive as that is the place they really feel most secure. Present your cat with someplace quiet to relaxation, away from the primary hustle and bustle of the family or any noisy kitchen home equipment akin to washing machines.
There are many various kinds of cat beds to select from, from enclosed beds to open ones. It may be a case of trial and error to seek out out which kind your cat prefers. Your cat will most likely select for themselves the place they want to sleep so attempt transferring your cat’s mattress to this location to encourage them to make use of it.
5. Play With Your Cat
Cats like to play, and taking part in together with your cat helps to construct a robust bond between you. Cats have very robust searching instincts, and play offers them with an outlet for this habits. Play is particularly vital for indoor cats to make sure that they don’t turn into bored and pissed off.
Schedule common play instances into your day however maintain play periods brief so that you just don’t exhaust your cat. A wide range of good toys for cats can be found in pet shops, however you don’t have to spend some huge cash. Cats are sometimes simply as glad taking part in with a scrunched-up ball of paper or the within of a rest room paper roll as a store-bought toy. Some cats like taking part in with laser pointers, however others turn into pissed off that they can’t “catch” the sunshine. You may assist make laser play extra gratifying by shining the sunshine onto an precise toy for them to pounce on.
6. Select A Veterinarian
You’ll need to register with a close-by veterinary clinic as a way to entry well being care to your cat, together with preventative care akin to vaccinations and parasite management to forestall your cat from changing into infested with parasites akin to fleas or worms.
Taking your cat for normal checkups is a crucial a part of proudly owning a cat. Additionally discover out the place you’ll be able to take your cat in an emergency or if they’re unwell outdoors regular enterprise hours.
Additionally Learn: How To Take Care Of A Kitten: The Full Information
7. Spay Or Neuter Your Cat
Spaying or neutering your cat prevents undesirable being pregnant and eliminates many behavioral points.
You will need to spay or neuter your cat to forestall an undesirable being pregnant. Spaying females additionally reduces the chance of mammary most cancers and womb infections, amongst different well being advantages. Neutering males helps cut back the chance of them roaming to try to discover a feminine mate. It additionally helps to forestall them from spraying in the home in addition to combating with different male cats.
Some kittens are spayed or neutered earlier than you carry them residence from the animal shelter. In any other case, kittens are often spayed or neutered from round 4 months previous. Communicate to your veterinarian, who will have the ability to give you extra info.
8. Guarantee Your Cat Is Microchipped
Microchipping is your finest likelihood of being reunited together with your cat ought to they turn into misplaced. Microchipping is fast and simple to do and is not any extra painful to your cat than receiving an injection.
In case you have adopted an grownup cat, discover out whether or not or not they’re already microchipped. If they’re, be sure that your change the contact particulars over to you. Be sure that your contact particulars are stored updated, and ask your vet to examine that your cat’s microchip continues to be working at every appointment.
Additionally suit your cat with a collar with an ID tag together with your particulars on it. Be sure that it’s a quick-release collar to forestall your cat from getting its collar caught anyplace.
9. Select A Appropriate Pet Insurance coverage Coverage
Pet insurance coverage is designed to present you peace of thoughts you could pay for any surprising vet visits. As a result of there are such a lot of cat insurance coverage insurance policies to select from, it may be a little bit of a minefield. Remember that there are a number of various kinds of protection obtainable. Learn the small print to ensure you have chosen the perfect one for you and your cat.
Verify that the coverage restrict is ample for what your cat may need. Keep in mind that the price of treating and medicating lifetime sicknesses can mount up shortly, as can surprising emergency veterinary remedies.
10. Preserve An Eye On Your Cat’s Well being
As you get to know your new cat, you’ll quickly have the ability to shortly spot when one thing isn’t proper. In case your cat is extra withdrawn than standard, not consuming their meals, or appears unwell, take them to the veterinarian as quickly as you’ll be able to to get them checked over. Cats with well being issues may be excellent at hiding indicators of being unwell, so even when your cat appears solely a bit of out of types, it’s best to get them checked by a veterinarian, simply in case.
Last Ideas
Your particular bond together with your new cat will proceed to develop for years to come back.
Proudly owning a cat is an enormous accountability however can also be extraordinarily rewarding and lots of enjoyable. By following the recommendation above, you’ll assist to maintain your new cat glad and wholesome. Taking care of all your new cat’s wants and spending high quality time collectively implies that you and your new cat will kind a robust bond that may final a lifetime.
Additionally Learn: New Cat Proprietor Nervousness: Why It Occurs & How To Overcome It
Often Requested Questions
How a lot ought to I feed my cat?
How a lot you feed your cat will rely on many alternative elements, together with the kind of meals you might be feeding, and your cat’s age, physique weight, and exercise ranges. All good cat meals will include a feeding guideline on the package deal, however examine together with your veterinarian in case you are uncertain.
What ought to I do if my new cat is hiding?
It’s regular to your cat to cover away whenever you first carry them residence—it may be a scary time for them. Permit your cat time to regulate and discover their environment once they’re good and prepared. Utilizing treats may also help encourage your cat to come back out of hiding and method you. Keep in mind to be affected person although!
When ought to I let my cat outdoors?
You need to solely let your cat outdoors as soon as you might be certain they’re settled of their new residence. This often takes a minimal of three weeks however may be for much longer in some instances. Guarantee your cat is microchipped and sporting a collar with an ID tag, and allow them to out for brief intervals initially to get them used to coming again once more.
