Cat Life

New Cat

I Have A New Cat, Now What?

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Yay! You have a new cat! Or maybe you are about to get a cat and you are just planning ahead (good for you). Either way it is important to create a smooth transition for your new family member. These are our steps to help your new cat fit in right away!

Let Them Chill

Once your cat comes home you will want to give them some space. Make sure they know where the litter box is (put them right next to it immediately) but then let them explore. Give them places to hide. A cat bed or tree are good options but when my kittens came home they were happy to run back in their “cat box” from the shelter when they got overwhelmed.

I am also a big proponent of Feliway and other pheromones products. They are an easy way to help your cats feel a little calmer. I always spray it in their carriers to help calm them down and I think it is also great to put a difuser in a place wherever they spend a lot of time (ours is in the litterbox area)

Take Them To the Vet

Once you have finalized the adoption or otherwise brought your cat into your house you will want to take them to the vet. It is important to find a vet that is compassionate, highly trained and also in a practice that is cat friendly. Most shelters will advise you to go to the vet in the first two weeks. If your cat is not already spayed or neutered make sure to get to your vet as soon as possible.

It is important to see the vet to get a baseline of you cat’s health. You should bring any paperwork, including immunization records, that you have from the shelter or previous owner. You will talk to the vet about general and past health, feeding, litter box habits, and future vaccines and appoinments. Depending on the history they may also do blood work, stool sample or occasionally, depending on the age, get a urine sample.

new cat tips

If your cat does not already have a microchip it is imperative that you get one for your cat. In the unlikely event your cat gets lost and does not have a collar on they can be scanned when found and your contact information will be linked to the chip. Animal control, vets and some local police departments have chip scanners. While you think your new cat will never get out they might.

Right after we moved five years ago Nemo got out while I was bringing groceries through the garage one evening. We could not find her for eight days. We live in a small suburb and using the Nextdoor app people kept seeing her in the neighborhood but no one could catch her. Eventually someone reported her to public safety as wandering around a construction site.

Nemo is a sort of a weird cat in that she responds to whistling by meowing and coming to you. Luckily I was able to wander the area whistling and eventually she popped out a bush ready to go home. Long story short- microchip your cat because if someone else had been able to catch her they could have scanned her and returned her to us.

Set The New Cat Up For Success

The next step is easy: love your new cat! Make sure you have food, litter, some toys, a treat or two and a comfy place to lay and they will be okay. Depending on their personality and history they may jump right into your lap or take a while to adjust. As always make sure you are patient and respect your cats boundaries. Adopting a cat is a process and it may take a little bit of time for you to find your vibe together but cats are amazing, lovable companions and a great addition to any home.

My Cat is an Asshole and Yours Will Be Too: Five Reasons To Adopt a Cat

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.  Thank you for supporting my blog

My family and I just adopted our second bonded pair of cats, Eclair and Baklava. It has been twelve years since we adopted our first set of new cats, a bonded pair named Nemo and Bear. Bringing home the new kitties has reminded us of all the amazing reasons we have chosen to adopt cats into our home. Here are our family’s reasons to adopt a cat.

Reason #1: Personality

Ok, maybe yours will not be an asshole but cats tend to have a little bit of an attitude. I love it! Who wants an animal without some personality? If I’m gone too long my 15 year old will jump on the counter and bat down some mail just to make sure I know I know she is unhappy. If my kittens are in my lap and I go to get up I get some serious side-eye. Cats have incredibly unique personalities. Just like people some are skittish, some like to play, some have been hyper at 2am for the last 15 years! When you adopt a cat you will love getting to know their fun traits and interesting quirks.

Reason #2: Low Maintenance

Compared to a lot of other common pets they cats are pretty low maintenance. You do not have to walk them. I’m from Chicagoland so not having to walk around in the middle of winter is a huge plus. How long you can leave a cat depends a lot on their personality and if they have any other companions but generally you can go to work and run some errands without having to run home.

You can also go on vacation without a huge hassle. A neighbor or a cat sitter will need to come in to scoop, feed and play a bit but I am fairly convinced we have gone away for the weekend and my cats have not noticed.

Reason #3: Loyal

For twelve years if my husband and I sat down to watch TV our cat Nemo would sit on him and Bear would sit on me. They had their people. Today, one of our kittens, Eclair, will drop everything to set on our oldest son’s lap if he sits down. While cat’s do not traditionally receive the “man’s best friend” even a non-lap cat will make sure you know that you are “his person”.

Reason #4: Adaptable

Cats can live in a variety of housing. When we first got our bonded pair Nemo and Bear we lived in a 1200 square foot apartment. They loved the loft ceilings and used to vault across the kitchen from the top of the fridge to the top of the cabinets (it was terrifying). When we moved to a townhome and had more space the were just as happy to watch cars and people from the second floor as they had been looking out an 18th floor window.

Our next move brought bunnies, chipmunks and squirrels out the window which was probably a plus but I am not sure they really liked it anymore than their cozy spot in our closet of the first place. In a nut shell your cat will find a happy place no matter the size or location of your home.

Cats can also be fairly adaptable to new people. We adopted Bear and Nemo when they were three years old and they were quick to find a lap. They took a little longer to get used to our oldest son but were soon watching him through the crib bars and later letting him pet the cat. The twins were a little more of an adjustment because there were two but Bear and Nemo did not mind too much.

The same is true with cat sitters. All our cats have been totally fine with a random cat sitter popping in to feed and scoop. While we do not like to make a habit of having random people in our house it is nice to be able to

Reason #5: Loving

Cats are incredibly loving animals. My mom definitely does not have a lap cat but every morning her cat crawls into bed and hold her on the head. They then go have breakfast and play for a bit. Every cat has their own way of showing their love.

So You Want To Adopt A Cat

When you are ready to adopt a cat into your home check out my article on how to adopt a cat and then my post about cat essentials. I’m sure you’ll love your cat as much as we love ours!

FIVE reasons to adopt a cat

How To Adopt a Cat: Five Steps to Your Perfect Pet

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There are so many great things about owning cats. They are loving, loyal, fun and great companions. They are also (usually) one of the easier pets to own. Finding the right cat for you does not have to be hard but does involve a bit of preparation. Here we will take you through the basics of how to adopt a cat.

Think About Your Needs

What are you looking for in a cat? There are lots of questions to think about and talk over with your family other than just what color you want. Here are a few of the main questions to ask:

–Do you want to adopt a kitten or an older cat? Both have advantages and disadvantages. Kittens are cute, little and adorable. They also have a ton of energy which can be a good or a bad thing depending on your lifestyle. Older cats usually come litter box trained and can be a chill companion. After we got married my husband and I went looking for two kittens. We got a 3 year old bonded pair that were an amazing pair.

–Would you be willing to adopt a senior cat or one with some health issues? Senior cats can be amazing companions. They are obviously older so they MAY have health issues sooner. But they might not. Sometimes they are in the shelter longer so they are even happier to live a great life in your house.

–Do you want one cat or maybe a bonded pair? If you already have pets or a busy house then a single cat may be the right answer. But, if you are bring home your first pet then maybe you want to bring home to. A bonded pair can keep each other company if you work a lot or add double the extra fun to your house.

Find a Shelter

ASPCA and petfinder are both great places to start your shelter search. Which shelters are the closest and which have available pets are probably the two biggest factors in picking a shelter. Two questions to ask are what is included in the adoption fee and where do the cats come from. Adoption fees may include spay/neuter, follow up care or microchipping. Some of the sources for shelter cats include transports, animal control and people giving up their pets.

Pick The Perfect Cat

If you can then go visit the cats! Or if they are in a foster home check them out on the web. See which one will be a good fit but do not forget that the cats will be a little shy at first. The shelter staff (or foster parents) may be able to give you some insight into their personality! Be sure to ask any questions you have but remember they may not have been at the shelter very long so they may not have a ton of information on the cats.

how to adopt a cat

Prep For Your New Friend

First make sure you and your family are ready to adopt a cat. If you have kids let them know your cat or cats will be coming soon. Also, make sure you have a little more time the first few days to spend with your new cat. Buy some cat essentials including a box, litter and a few toys. Make sure to find out what food the shelter or foster has been giving them so that you can have some on hand.

Give Your Cat Time To Adjust

Your cat will need to decompress once she gets to your home. Make sure to give her places to hide and room and space to come out and visit when she is ready. Spraying some calming cat pheromones in the carrier or diffusing them in an area she will be in can also help ease the transition. In the end she may just need time to adjust to her sorroundings especially if you have other cats.

What’s Next?

Once they are settled in enjoy your new addition! I am sure your new pet will enjoy being in your home as much as you enjoy them being there.

How To Introduce Cats: 6 Tips To Make It a Happy Transition

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.  Thank you for supporting my blog

Whether you are adopting a new cat or fostering a cat or two you will need to introduce your new cats to your resident cats. While this is fun for the owner it can be very stressful for the cats. Proper preparation can help ease this transition for everyone. Here are our tips on how to introduce cats to each other while keeping them as happy as possible.

Separate Everything

Make sure you have one of each of the essentials for each cat. Two litter boxes are necessary and if feasible they should be in different places. Also make sure the food and water dishes are in totally separate areas so they do not compete for resources. Adding an extra cat bed is also not a bad idea so your new cat does not borrow your resident cat’s favorite.

Stock Up On Treats

Your old cat walks by the new cat and does not hiss- have a treat. The new cat does not run away when the old cat comes in the room- have a treat. Reward BOTH cats every time they are nice, or at least are not fighting, chasing or hissing at each other. Giving them a treat during individual time with you or family members is also a great way to reinforce that they are special.

Give Them Places Be Alone

If someone came to your house unannounced and slept in your bed you would not be very happy. Neither will your cat. Make sure your resident cat can find places where they can be by themselves. Make sure to put their favorite cat bed in a place they can easily access. Put their cozy blanket next to you on the couch. You may also want to get your new cat a cat igloo or other enclosed structure. Cats love to hide and this will help your new cat acclimate to both your resident cat and your house.

Cat Toys for All

Distraction, Distraction, Distraction. Some new toys will keep the new cat occupied (especially if there is a kitten) and away from your current cat so that they have time to process their new friend. Be sure to grab your resident cats some toys too! We want to make sure your resident feels just as loved as always.

Cat trees are a great option because they double as a place for your cat to get away and a place for them to check out the new cat action without actually having to be in it. They can also be a fun place for the cats to play or at least get near each other (don’t forget to give them a treat when they do)

Stock Up On Pheromones

I am a huge fan of Feliway cat pheromones. I use the spray in the cat carrier and sprayed on the cat beds and have a diffuser in the area near the food. The pheromones have been shown to calm cats down and make them more relaxed. When we were adding kittens to my 15 year old’s solo life I also added a diffuser by her cat favorite (heated) cat bed and I think it really helped her with the transition.

Give Them Your Time

More than anything else both your your new and old cats need your love and attention. Make sure to leave room on your lap (both physically and metaphorically) for both cats! Be sure to remind any children and grandcatparents of this too because they tend to get wrapped up in “new kitty”.

Most of all make sure to keep your stress level low. It may take time but they will be able to learn to peacefully coexist or maybe even be friends!

how to introduce cats

What You Need For Your New Cat

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.  Thank you for supporting my blog

Congrats on your new cat! Whether it is your first cat or you are a veteran you are going to have so much fun. Here is our list of the basics, plus a few fun things, you will need for your new friend.

Food and Treats

The best place to start in deciding what cat food to feed your new cat is what they are currently eating. Ask the current owner, the shelter or the foster where the cat lives what they eat and buy a medium amount of that. Often shelters are sponsored by a cat food company and will have free samples or coupons for the food too.

That said, my go to new cat food is science diet adult kibble. It is tasty, has high nutrition and is pretty easy on cat tummys. Once you have started a food you may need to adjust if your new cat isn’t tolerating the food you give her. This is also a great topic for your vet! Make sure to ask about the best food for your cat (or cats if you already have one or are adopting multiple) because they can guide you in this as well.

You will also want to grab a pack of cat treats. They are great for rewarding good behavior or just giving your friend an extra treats. My cats like the catnip flavored temptations treats but will pretty much eat any type.

Litter and a Box

As a general rule you want one litter box per cat. Some cats like covered litter boxes but honestly have never had a cat who liked one. Your best bet is to go for a very basic litter box. Another option that people like are disposable litter boxes. These can be used alone or in conjunction with a standard litter box and this can be a way to make cleaning easier.

I always choose the same litter, tidy cats instant action, no matter whether we have one cat in the cat or several. It is relatively low dust and clumps well. It is also often on sale! So that you do not make my mistake please avoid store brand litter. My husband likes a good deal and has tried both the Jewel and Marianos/ Kroger brand and both were really dusty and my cats actually hated them (and I really didn’t know cats could hate litter). Don’t forget to grab yourself a scooper and you are all set.

Cat Carrier

If you are adopting your cat from a shelter they will probably give you a “cat box” so you will not immediately need a separate carrier. You will eventually want a better, easier to handle and comfier for your cat carrier. We have always had a soft sided carrier and our cats have always been happy. I also recommend getting a Feliway cat pheromone spray. Spraying it can help calm your cat down while they are in transit.

Places to Hide

Cats love to hide away and when they get to their new house they will definitely want to find a few places they can run away and hide. My first bonded pair used to love to hide in the the shelves in my closet. My current kittens love their cat condo. Covered cat beds are also a great option for your cats to hang out in and feel secure. They come in all shapes and colors to match your furniture or there are fun unicorn and shark beds too. Also, be sure to keep the “Cat box” because that may become one of their favorite places to hide out.

Places to Climb

You probably have curtains or a big piece of furniture but that is probably not your first choice for your new cat to climb! Cat condos are a great option and can also double as a scratcher and place to hide. Cat climbers are also a great option to give your cat a safe place to climb.

Things to Play With

Cats are naturally very playful but having a few toys around will give them some ideas of what to play. Balls and catnip toys are great options or you can grab a cat toy sampler pack and see what your new cat chooses.

What Next?

Have fun with your new cat. Be sure to tell us your favorite cat products in the comments or just tell us all about your cat!

what you need for your new cat