Getting a cat to adapt to a new environment can be tricky. If you’ve recently moved or just adopted a cat, you may require some tips to help your furry friend feel comfortable in its brand-new home.
When trying to help your cat adapt to its new home, there are some easy things you can do. First, take things slow. Introduce your cat to its new digs room by room over time. The same goes for introducing it to your other pets as well. Be sure to feed your cat regularly and offer easy access to water and its litterbox. Building trust is crucial, so show your cat affection and give it ample attention. It can take time for a cat to adjust to its new surroundings, so be patient and know that sooner or later, your cat will feel right at home.
Our team of is here to dot on your cat and provide high-quality care when you can’t be there. To learn more about the cat sitters at Critter Sitters, call us today at (404) 793-6178.
Tips to Help Your Cat Adapt to a New Home
Whether you’ve moved into a new home or just adopted a cat, it can take time for your pet to get accustomed to its new surroundings. Luckily, we have some tried and true tips for cat owners to help their furry friends adapt to their new abodes.
Keep It Inside
When your cat first steps inside your new home, it may be overwhelmed. There’s so much space to explore, and unluckily for you, many places to hide. So, the best thing to do right away is to keep your cat isolated to one or two rooms. How long you do this will depend on your cat’s personality. If your kitty is known to run and hide, you might have to keep it in one space for longer. If your cat is more mature and relaxed, you may be able to skip this step altogether. Introducing your cat to one area of its new home can allow it to familiarize itself with all the new sights and scents. Once it seems comfortable there, you can begin to allow it to explore other areas of its abode.
It’s also important to make sure your cat stays inside during the first few weeks. Although your cat may enjoy the outdoors, it has a greater chance of getting lost and being unable to find its new home, especially if you recently adopted it.
Monitor Socialization
If you have other pets, like dogs or more cats, limit socialization when you first bring your feline home. This is only important if your cat is new to your family and not if you’ve just moved from one house to another. It can take time for your new kitten to feel comfortable with your other pets, even if it is social. In the first few weeks, monitor its contact with your other animals. Cats and dogs can be territorial, and the last thing you want is a spat to derail your cat’s progress. If you need to leave town during this time, our cat sitters are happy to take your place as the chaperone for such interactions.
Make the Necessities Available
When your cat enters its new home, it may still be unsure if it can trust you. Whether you move to a new house or bring your cat home for the first time, be sure to keep its food and water easily available. It’s important that your furry friend has access to these necessities. If you have to monitor your cat’s food intake, don’t be obvious about it, as that can put your cat on high alert. Remember, food and water are the key to your cat’s heart and helping it adapt to its new home.
That goes for its litterbox, too. Make sure your cat can easily access its litterbox and knows its location. Once your furry friend gets used to its new digs, you can relocate its litterbox. However, in the first few weeks, it’s important that your cat has easy access to all necessities, including a litterbox.
Be Affectionate
If your cat is new to your little family, it’s important that you make it feel like it belongs. As a new pet parent, you should shower your kitty with affection. Find some interactive toys and source the tastiest treats. Making your cat feel loved and safe is a great way to help it adapt to its new home.
Our cat sitters are here to take over when you have to go out of town. Our dedicated professionals can maintain the affection and care your cat needs while adapting to its loving home.
Why Is It Taking So Long for Your Cat to Adapt to Its New Home?
All cats are different. They have personalities and past experiences that shape how they approach new people and places. If your cat has a difficult past, it may take a bit longer for it to adapt to its new home. That doesn’t mean you’re a bad cat parent at all. It just means you may have to be a bit more intentional in making your house feel like a home.
It can be frustrating when your new furry friend takes a long time to feel comfortable in your house. It may scratch at your furniture or be a flight risk every time you crack open your front door. After a few weeks, you might feel at a loss. Our experienced cat sitters know all too well how discouraging it can be when your cat is resisting its new home. It can feel like your should-be best friend is resisting you too.
When this happens, it’s important to consider your cat’s history. Did you rescue it from a shelter or find it on the street? In that case, your kitty may have some difficult memories or associations that are harder to shake. If it seems that your cat just can’t adapt to its new home, try to be extra intentional. Don’t smother it with love and affection right away, as it may not be ready. Be patient and persistent. You can always ask our loving Alpharetta cat sitters to try their hand at socializing with your coy cat. Sometimes, it just takes some extra effort and care to help your cat adapt to its new home.
Call Critter Sitters to Help Your Cat Adapt to Its New Home
Our team is here to help you make your cat feel comfortable in its new home. To learn more about the Rosewell cat sitters at Critter Sitters, call us today at (404) 793-6178.
