Congratulations, you have just welcomed a feline friend into your life! Cats are wonderful pets who can be frisky, loving, silly, goofy, aloof, clingy, loud, shy, and everything in between! Getting to know your kitten or cat is the first step when welcoming them into your home. We’ve put together a list of the most helpful tips for acclimating your new furry family member into their new life with you.
Health is Wealth
We always recommend scheduling a first veterinary appointment shortly after your new cat or kitten has arrived in your home. Most shelters and rescues will test for diseases such as feline leukemia (FELV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), but if not, your veterinarian can perform any necessary pet blood tests and recommend the appropriate vaccinations. If you have other cats in your home and do not know if your new addition has been tested for infectious diseases, including intestinal parasites, we recommend keeping your new family member isolated until test results are obtained to prevent any transmission of disease.
View Results
Your Kitten’s Estimated Weight in Adulthood is pound/s
Share Quiz
Your House, Their Rules
Cats can be nervous in a new environment and may prefer to navigate their surroundings at their own pace. To support your new cat or kitten’s comfort level, consider slowly introducing him or her to your home. Keeping your new addition in one room for a few days can help create a smooth transition. As long as they have a clean litter box, food, and water available, your kitty will be just fine for a few days.
Pro-Tip: If your new cat wants to stay hidden, try sitting in a quiet room where they like to hide while reading a book or listening to music with headphones. Don’t stay for longer than 30 minutes, and if your kitty doesn’t venture out, leave the room and try again later. You can gradually increase your presence and slowly your feline friend will become more and more comfortable with you. Be patient!
Grant Access Slowly
Limit your new cat to smaller sections of your home at first so as not to be too overwhelming. Larger spaces can be stressful for pets. By sectioning off areas for your feline friend to explore, they will gradually feel more comfortable. Similarly, try to introduce other family members and friends to your new kitty slowly too, as they can be overwhelming and overstimulating for your new companion. Slow and steady wins the race with cats, and the love and connection shared between you and your pet will be worth the wait!
After your cat has had a few days to adjust to your home, a veterinary visit is a great next step to look for any underlying medical conditions, infectious diseases, etc. Your BetterVet team will be ready to provide excellent care for your new pet.
Moving can be stressful for both people and pets alike. New spaces, smells, people, and routines take time to adjust and acclimate to. Cats make wonderful companions, and just like their pet parents, require love, patience and care in order to live their most fulfilling, happy lives. We hope these tips can help you and your new feline friend adjust to your new lives together smoothly, and know that the BetterVet team is there to help lend a hand whenever you have any questions or concerns.
