Caring for a cat for the primary time would possibly really feel a bit daunting. There’s so much to consider, together with what you’re going to feed them, which veterinarian you’re going to decide on, and what gear it’s good to purchase.
On this information, we’ll offer you some helpful recommendation about an important issues to think about when caring to your new member of the family as a first-time cat dad or mum. Listed here are our prime 10 key guidelines to comply with:
1. Assist Your Cat Settle In
Your cat could be a bit scared and timid once you first convey them residence. The automobile journey, a brand new atmosphere, new folks, and presumably new animals is quite a lot of adjustment for a cat.
Think about using a Feliway diffuser, which releases “glad” pheromones into the atmosphere. These pheromones assist cats really feel secure and safe by mimicking the pheromones which can be naturally launched by your cat after they rub their face on issues. You can too use Feliway spray in your cat’s provider to assist calm them throughout transport.
Your home might sound a bit formidable to your new cat at first, so initially simply permit them entry to at least one or two rooms. Progressively permit entry to the remainder of your own home as your cat turns into extra assured of their environment. Should you intend to your cat to go open air, don’t permit them outdoors till you’re positive 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 light 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 might 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 choose from, selecting what to feed your cat could be overwhelming. We’ve picked out a number of key factors that will help you:
- Select a whole and balanced cat meals. This ensures that your cat will obtain the proper stability 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 completely different from these of an grownup cat, and an aged cat’s necessities are completely different once more.
- Determine whether or not to feed moist meals, dry kibble, or each. This would possibly come all the way 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. It will assist stop your cat from overeating and gaining an excessive amount of weight.
- Present free entry to wash water. Ideally, have multiple 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 Bins And A Scratch Submit
Present at the very least one litter field per cat in your own home, plus one additional.
Your cat will want litter packing containers in the home, even when you intend to allow them to outdoors ultimately. It is best to present at the very least one litter field per cat within the family, plus one additional in a special location.
Be sure that the field is large enough to your cat and is positioned someplace quiet and personal. You probably have an aged cat with arthritis, select a litter field with low sides in order that they’ll simply get out and in of the tray.
You would possibly must check out a number of completely 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. Make sure that your cat has a scratching submit 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 principle hustle and bustle of the family or any noisy kitchen home equipment corresponding to washing machines.
There are many several types of cat beds to select from, from enclosed beds to open ones. It could be a case of trial and error to seek out out which sort your cat prefers. Your cat will in all probability 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 very vital for indoor cats to make sure that they don’t turn into bored and pissed off.
Schedule common play occasions into your day however maintain play periods quick so that you simply don’t exhaust your cat. A wide range of good toys for cats can be found in pet shops, however you don’t must 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 bathroom 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 not “catch” the sunshine. You may assist make laser play extra pleasant 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 so to entry well being care to your cat, together with preventative care corresponding to vaccinations and parasite management to stop your cat from changing into infested with parasites corresponding 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 possibly can 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 stop 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 scale back the chance of them roaming to attempt to discover a feminine mate. It additionally helps to stop them from spraying in the home in addition to preventing with different male cats.
Some kittens are spayed or neutered earlier than you convey them residence from the animal shelter. In any other case, kittens are often spayed or neutered from round 4 months outdated. Communicate to your veterinarian, who will be capable of offer you extra info.
8. Guarantee Your Cat Is Microchipped
Microchipping is your greatest 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.
You probably have adopted an grownup cat, discover out whether or not or not they’re already microchipped. If they’re, make certain your change the contact particulars over to you. Make sure that your contact particulars are stored updated, and ask your vet to test that your cat’s microchip remains 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 stop your cat from getting its collar caught anyplace.
9. Select A Appropriate Pet Insurance coverage Coverage
Pet insurance coverage is designed to provide you peace of thoughts you could pay for any sudden 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 several types of protection out there. Learn the small print to be sure you have chosen the most effective one for you and your cat.
Test that the coverage restrict is enough for what your cat may wish. Keep in mind that the price of treating and medicating lifetime sicknesses can mount up rapidly, as can sudden emergency veterinary remedies.
10. Hold An Eye On Your Cat’s Well being
As you get to know your new cat, you’ll quickly be capable of rapidly spot when one thing isn’t proper. In case your cat is extra withdrawn than traditional, not consuming their meals, or appears unwell, take them to the veterinarian as quickly as you possibly can to get them checked over. Cats with well being issues could be superb at hiding indicators of being unwell, so even when your cat appears solely a bit out of types, it’s best to get them checked by a veterinarian, simply in case.
Ultimate Ideas
Your particular bond together with your new cat will proceed to develop for years to come back.
Proudly owning a cat is a giant duty however can be extraordinarily rewarding and quite a lot of enjoyable. By following the recommendation above, you’ll assist to maintain your new cat glad and wholesome. Taking care of your entire new cat’s wants and spending high quality time collectively signifies that you and your new cat will type a robust bond that can final a lifetime.
Additionally Learn: New Cat Proprietor Anxiousness: Why It Occurs & How To Overcome It
Regularly 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’re 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 test together with your veterinarian in case you are not sure.
What ought to I do if my new cat is hiding?
It’s regular to your cat to cover away once you first convey them residence—it may be a scary time for them. Enable your cat time to regulate and discover their environment after they’re good and prepared. Utilizing treats might 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?
It is best to solely let your cat outdoors as soon as you’re positive they’re settled of their new residence. This often takes a minimal of three weeks however could be for much longer in some instances. Guarantee your cat is microchipped and carrying a collar with an ID tag, and allow them to out for brief durations initially to get them used to coming again once more.
