SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Cat Care
Cat Care Tips
How
To Prepare Your Home for a New Cat
You’ve done the most important part: you’ve scoured local
shelters and found your new pet! Now, before you bring your
cat or kitten home, finish up the leg work and make sure
your home—and you—are completely prepared for the new arrival.
Once you bring your cat home, you’ll be secure in the knowledge
that you are ready for your new pet, and you can spend your
time playing and getting to know each other in a comfortable
environment.
1. Think like a cat
This one is a good place to start, particularly if you have
never owned a cat before. Get down on the floor and survey
the room from a cat’s perspective—after you’ve closed the blinds,
of course! What might pique a cat’s interest? What stands out
as a potential danger to the cat? Be sure to use a flashlight
and look under the sofa and in smaller areas that a human can’t
easily reach, but might be tempting for a cat to explore. Keep
a list of the potential hazards that you discover.
2. Remove temptation
Now that you have identified some of the hazards and off-limit
items that may be facing your cat, do something about it. Start
by moving any small breakables, irreplaceables, or valuable
items out of reach. Out of reach, however, is a relative term
for cats, as adults cats can jump and climb nearly anywhere
in a room. When possible, store valuables away in a closed
container. Also keep in mind furniture—if any pieces are extremely
important to you, you may want to move them to a room that
is off-limits to the cat.
3. Seek out hidden dangers
Go around any areas the cat will be in once again, this time
with an eye for hidden dangers. One that pet owners may not
consider is poisonous plants. Cats are often attracted to the
movement of plants, and investigate by biting as well as pawing.
Either move poisonous plants to a different part of the house
or hang them out of reach.
Another item that attracts cats with its movement is cords:
hanging blind cords, phone cords, or electrical cords. Cords
that can’t be moved out of reach or fastened securely can be
sprayed with Bitter Apple, a harmless but unpleasant tasting
substance.
Finally, remove any small hazardous items such as paper clips,
thumb tacks, or pest poisons from the area.
4. Litter box
The litter box should be placed somewhere easy for the cat
to access, away from busy areas, and out of the reach of any
inquisitive dogs or small children. It’s best to put the litter
box on a hard surface, as sometimes cats may mistake soft carpet
around it for the actual litter box. Once you get your new
cat home, she will let you know what type of litter and box
she prefers.
5. Make some areas off limits
In the first few tips, it was recommended to move hazardous
or valuable materials to another part of the house. Before
you can do this, however, you need to decide what parts of
the house can and should be considered off-limits. If a room
is a high-traffic area or does not have doors, you should not
plan on making it off-limits to your cat. Typically an unused
bedroom is a good place to put off-limits items or, alternately,
be certain to secure them in closed storage areas throughout
the house. The garage is one area that should always be considered
off-limits, as there are too many chemicals and hazardous materials
in there.
6. Shop till you drop
In addition to the many obvious essentials, such as a litter
box and food, several other items will make you and your new
cat more comfortable. As mentioned in regards to cords, Bitter
Apple Spray is a handy purchase for when moving danger items
is not an option.
To save your furniture and keep your cat happy, a scratching
post is also a good investment. If you like to build things,
you could make it yourself. Or purchase one from a store—there
is a great range of styles and prices available.
Although some cat owners prefer to have their cats sleep with
them, it’s also a good idea to purchase a cat bed. Your cat
can use this throughout the day, for short cat naps, or at
night. Ask store employees about what size would be appropriate,
depending on your cat’s age and breed.
7. Stock the pantry
Your best option for finding a food your new cat likes would
be if you can speak with the cat’s former owners. If not, be
sure to pay attention to the needs of your cat based on age
or physical condition. Kittens need more nutrients than adult
cats do, and overweight cats may be put on a special diet.
Don’t forget that the food needs to go somewhere! Food and
water bowls should be ceramic or metallic—plastic is not recommended
as some cats may develop a chin rash. If you will be gone for
long periods of time, also consider automatic food and water
servers.
8. Toys
Cats are born to hunt or—in the case of pet cats—play. Playing
offers you an opportunity to bond with your new cat and help
kittens develop. There’s a wide variety of toys available in
any pet store, from the very small to elaborate houses and
climbing posts. Purchase toys based on your budget, your living
situation, and what your new cat’s preferences might be. If
it is an older cat, you may want to stick with smaller toys.
With a kitten, the sky’s the limit!
9. Cat carrier
Cat carriers are a necessity even if you plan on keeping your
new cat indoors. For starters, you will need a way to get the
cat home from the shelter or pet store. Additionally, there
will be many trips to the vet and possibly to friends’ houses
or a boarding facility when you are on trips. A cardboard carrier
is a good short-term solution, but you will eventually want
to purchase a sturdy plastic one that will afford your cat
comfort and security during travel.
10. Grooming
If accustomed to it, cats enjoy grooming just as much as playing.
It is also important to your cat’s health, since grooming helps
prevent hairballs and overgrown nails can become problematic.
Be sure to get a fine-toothed comb and rubber-backed pin brush
for brushing, and a nail clipper specifically designed for
cats.
#
# # # #
SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
>
Home Page > Cat
Care Articles: Main Page |
