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Once they seem settled, show them to their food bowls, water bowls, scratching post and bed. Also, if you live in a small space, get a couple cat towers so your cats can get away from each other if they need to. When you bring home your new cat, introduce it to your old cat slowly by keeping them separated and getting them used to each other's scent first. When you first adopt a kitten and bring him home, Dr. Bales recommends taking him straight to his own room and shutting the door. Let the kitten and resident cat sniff each other through the door, but not actually meet face to face.
“Vertical space is very important to cats,” says Dr. Fry. If you are thinking of adding a kitten to the family, follow these expert tips for introducing a kitten to a senior cat to ensure the comfort of your resident feline. But what about introducing a kitten to a senior cat?
Cats and Moving to a New Home: Making the Transition
Provide an area such as an enclosed cat bed, or a cardboard box that the cat can retreat to if it is feeling scared. It’s not uncommon for cats to display behavior problems during the first days in a new home, but these usually disappear over time. New cats and kittens often bolt under furniture. If you must take the cat out of his hiding place, carry him gently to a quiet protected area where he will feel secure. Introducing a kitten to your new home is slightly different to if you were introducing a cat. Instead of leaving them on their own, provide them with a safe and secure bed at ground level – even a cardboard box will do.
Animals can easily transmit parasites or diseases to one another. To prevent this from happening as much as possible, make sure your resident pets are up to date on their vaccinations before introducing a new cat or kitten to your home. Purchase a sturdy pet carrier to take your cat home. You can help make the transition to a new home smoother and easier by providing some privacy for your new cat. If possible, start by preparing your home before you bring in the cat. Choose a room for the litter box; a bathroom works well.
Changing the cat’s diet
Do this slowly until you have introduced the cat to all the rooms in his new home. If you have another cat in the house, it’s best to take a slow, staged approach to introductions. When you first bring the new cat home, put the resident cat in a separate room to give the newcomer time to check out the house without interference. You should keep the cats in different rooms for some time, so they can get used to the sounds and smells of each other before meeting face to face. I’ve adopted several adult cats, and ALL of them have eventually settled into our home. Our most recent adult adoptees, Calvin and Norman, settled in right away, possibly because they had each other for comfort, possibly because that’s just who they are.
For example, small toy mice rather than fishing rod toys with string attached. Isolate other animals from your new cat during this time. Supervise children, advising them to always be gentle with the cat. Have the litter box ready when you remove the cat from the carrier.
Settling Your Cat Into the New Home
Moving may be one of the most disruptive life changes—for both humans and pets. Cats are averse to change, which can make moving day extra stressful for all. Try not to let your cats even come into contact on their first few days.
Once the new cat’s confidence has grown, you can gradually introduce her to other parts of the house. Let her decide how far and when she wants to venture out if she doesn’t seem ready, don’t force the issue. You can try to coax her out by moving her food bowl gradually towards the door and beyond. Once you have a quiet room set up in your home, it’s time to welcome your cat to their new environment.
Adding Another Cat to Your Home
Stories abound about cats that have escaped during the moving process, so establishing a secure, comfortable location – on both ends of the move – is critical. Let the new cat settle in before introducing it to other pets in the home and make the introduction slow. Put dogs on a leash when introducing the new cat as the cat may flee, which can in some cases, trigger the dog’s chase instinct. Some cats will settle in quite quickly after appearing fearful at first, while other cats may take longer but you should still expect to see small steps forward. If your new cat is stressed for a prolonged period of time, without showing any signs of improvement, contact your vet for advice.
If you have a dog, keep the litter box out of its reach so the dog doesn't eat the cat's feces or scare the cat from relieving itself. Your children have probably been dreaming about having a cat for as long as they can remember, and they will be excited to have it home at last. Keep your toilet covers and dryer doors closed. Also, check the dryer before putting laundry into and watch to ensure your cat or kitten does not go into the dryer. They may be seriously injured or even killed from being shut inside of a dryer while it is running. Welcoming a cat or kitten into your home is like bringing home a curious toddler.
Don’t worry if your cat doesn’t eat for the first day as this can be normal, particularly if your cat is a little scared. If you hear your cat crying in their room on the first few nights, don’t be tempted to get up and feed them or pay them any attention. If you do, they may learn that crying at night will bring food or some other reward and this might quickly become a habit. If this does occur, it usually only happens for the first one or two nights. Even after you and your cat have settled, stressors like thunderstorms or fireworks can unsettle your cat during the early days in your new home.
This will transfer her scent onto the scratching post, which increases the likelihood that she will use it. You’ll also want to provide her with multiple hiding places. A cardboard box with holes cut in both sides and a blanket placed in the bottom makes a good hiding place.
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