If you have lived in your own home for a while now, you might feel as if you have got this whole adulting thing down to a tee and this can be the ideal time for you to look at adopting a pet to add to your family. For first time pet owners and those who work many hours in the week, the best option for a pet can be a cat, and today we are going to look at some tips for looking after a rescued cat and making them feel at home.
Make the house safe
The first thing you need to do when you are looking to get a pet cat is to make your home as safe as it can be. When we are living in the house day in and day out it is easy for us to become blind to the dangers. This is why we need to make sure that we have a safe space. It is important for example to leave all cleaning supplies locked away safely in cupboards and ensure that they can’t be reached. Cats will often like the taste of these chemicals but they can be fatal if ingested. If you have things such as cacti and other spiky plants around the house you need to make sure that you get these out of reach of your cat.
Choose the right cat
It is so important that when you choose to bring a cat into the home that you choose the right one. When you adopt a cat you need to be sure that you choose one which has the right length of fur for you and one who is the right size and temperament for you. For example if you live in a tiny flat you won’t benefit from having a huge maine coon cat running around! Be sure to do your research to see which breed of cat is the best option for you. Check out this cool Cat World’s infographic.
Let them explore first
The first day that you adopt or rescue a cat which has been in a shelter for a while, they will be incredibly nervous. You likely won’t see them for a while until they find the confidence to come out. However sometimes this might not be the case; you could have the most confident cat in the world who settles in within minutes. But this is a rarity. In most cases the best thing you can do to prepare for a cat coming to your home is to put down some cushions and blankets underneath the radiator. Clear some space behind the sofa and under the bed. A cat likes to be in small spaces so they will try to find a hiding place straight away. The best thing you can do is leave the heating on and walk away.
After a few hours, kneel down and try to offer them a treat to show them that they can trust you. This might work or it might not. Just be patient and gentle and allow your cat some space to settle and get used to their surroundings. After a day or two they will likely become curious and will want to explore the home. Be sure to be there if they want to interact, but give them space and don’t scare them. Buy them a shark cat bed to hide in when they need it, and slowly start to introduce the idea of play and food. It might take a week or so for your cat to eat a full meal but this is normal for nervous animals.
