TOP 10 TIPS FOR NEW CAT OWNERS
As a cat owner, it is important to provide the best possible care for your pet. What can you do to make your cat’s new home feel as comfortable as possible? What can be done to make your cat feel comfortable, happy, healthy, and safe? A checklist for first-time cat owners should include cat scratchers and extra litter boxes. Here are 10 amazing tips for new cat owners.
Give your cat the security and comfort it needs
It is normal for your cat to be shy at first. Try to make your home more welcoming. If your cat is nervous or hides from you, it’s normal. Change is not something cats like. It may take some time for them to adjust to the new smells and sounds in their home.
If you want to help your cat feel secure and at ease, give her a room. There should be a comfortable bed for your cat to rest on. For cats who feel overwhelmed, an enclosed bed might be more appealing. Place a few catnip toys, a soft blanket and some other items inside.
Comfort Zone Calming Diffusers can be set up around the house. One should be plugged into the outlet in the room where the cat is most likely to spend time. These diffusers emit a odorless, drug-free vapor that mimics cat’s pheromones. It acts as a signal to your cat in her own language, which can improve her mental health. If your cat feels safe, it’s less likely that she will react to stress with spraying and scratching. Comfort Zone Multicat Diffusers are available for households that have more than one cat. Comfort Zone Calming Collars with BreakAway safety features are also available.
Visit the Vet
Locate a good veterinarian for your cat, make an appointment to have him checked out, and ensure that he has all of his vaccinations up to date. Get him a microchip. You can keep his microchip number and a photograph of your kitten on your phone in case he escapes. You’ll be happy you did.
Introduce Your Cat to Other Pets Slowly
Introduce your cat slowly to other pets. You should keep your cat in a separate bedroom and have your pet feed on the other side of a closed door. You can swap rooms with your pet by putting their blankets in each other’s rooms. This will help them get used the other’s smells. You can eventually start feeding them either side of a closed door and then you can try supervised visits. You should be able to read their body language so that you can help them separate if necessary.
Explore Different Types of Litter and Storage Boxes
It is best to have at least one litter box for each cat.
You may also be interested in trying different kinds of litter and boxes. Some cats prefer soft litter, while longer-haired cats may prefer crystal litter that sticks to their fur. Cats may prefer covered or uncovered litter boxes, as well as boxes with low edges and other types. Avoid heavy foot traffic and loud noises. Spot clean your cat’s litter once a day, and then do a deeper clean once every week.
- These steps can be used to encourage your kitten to stop pooping.
- Use high-quality food and keep your cat away from anything that could be dangerous
High-quality food is what cats love. AvoDerm’s cat food is both wet and dry. This is a great place for cats to start. You will find many different flavors.
Keep cats safe by avoiding toxic human food and keeping only safe house plants. You should lock away any products that may cause harm to your cat, such as cleaning products.
Create your own water bowls and food ideas
You should know that cats can get into your dogs’ food. You might consider a cat food bowl that attaches directly to a window. You can place it high up so your dog can’t reach it.
Cats often drink less water than what they really need. You might want to set up water bowls at different locations in your house and use filtered water. Some cats like to drink water from a fountain bowl. It has more oxygen, so it tastes better. They can also hear it running, which tells them it is fresher.
Design a sexy indoor environment
Indoor cats are safer than outdoor cats, but they can be bored. Make your cat feel at home in an indoor space. You can set up cat trees and condos for your cat to climb. To give your cat some “cat TV”, open the shades and put up window perches. You can also place a bird feeder outside of the window to add some fun. For your cat, get plenty of toys with catnip for him to play with. You can also buy interactive toys.
Install cat scratchers
To remove dead outer layers from their claws, stretch their bodies and mark their territory, cats need to scratch. You can show happiness or ease stress by allowing your cat to scratch. If scratchers are not provided, your cat may turn to your carpets or furniture.
It’s better not to give too many than enough cat scratchers. Place scratchers in the rooms that your cat loves to go. Some cats won’t use both horizontal and vertical scratchers.
Get Outdoor Fun!
You and your cat can have safe outdoor adventures even if it’s not convenient to let them out. For your cat, set up an enclosed space outside that you can let him play in. A leash can be used to take your cat outside.
It will take some time for your cat to become comfortable with the harness indoors. Some cats may “belly crawl” on to the ground before they are comfortable with the harness. Other cats might take a while to get used the feeling of the harness. Most will soon come to love the harness, especially after they realize they are going outside when they put it on.
Play with Your Cat
Spend lots of time with your kitten. This will keep her brain active and help her socialize. Encourage your cat to chase you around the house with a feather wand or a treat. Clicker training can be a great way for you to strengthen your relationship with your cat. It will also challenge her mind.
Additional Resource:
https://www.vetstreet.com/cats
https://www.purina.com/cats/cat-breeds
https://pets.webmd.com/cats/default.htm