Bringing in a family member of the feline variety is more rewarding than you can fathom… and it requires a bit more work than expected.
To make transitioning easy for your cat—and guide you in setting realistic expectations—we delve into the basics of cat ownership for new pet parents.
Before Bringing a Cat Home
Research Your Cat
Every cat is very different from the next, even among the same breed… But there are still some correlations to be found in certain lines.
Siamese cats are known for being vocal, if a bit aloof at first. Russian blues are on the calmer side. Ragdolls are the dogs of the cat world, and Bengals are essentially small wildcats.
Then there’s the more toss-up of a domestic American shorthair. If you’re adopting from a shelter, you’re likely getting a shorthair (or medium- or longhair) due to their abundant presence. Their personality will be known by the workers there unless you’re looking for a kitten. Due to their youth, their personalities tend to be labeled “To Be Determined,” that is… you won’t know their true disposition until they’ve grown up—about two years into their life.
If you’re rescuing from a specialty group, knowing a cat breed’s genetically predisposed personalities (and potential genetic health issues or breed-specific care) can allow you to provide a home that meets all their needs.
If you want a happy, healthy, and long-lived cat just as much as you want to be a happy pet parent, you’ll need to be prepared.
Research Cat Language
Dogs are pretty vocal as a whole, but not every cat is. Knowing what different meows mean (a mew, a trill, chirp, or yowl) can benefit you—but there’s much, much more to be taken into account when trying to communicate with your new furbaby.
Some things to study:
- Dilated or thin eyes
- Slow blinks
- Arched backs
- “Question-mark” tails, puffy tails, lowered or tucked tails
- Tail movements (swishing, twitching)
- Scratching (yes, that can mean something)
- Hissing or purring
- Sleeping positions
- Resting positions (think “loaf”)
- Ear positions
As cats generally communicate with other cats silently, understanding the basics can aid you in building a deeper bond with yours—or at least tell you when to take your hand away.
Prepare your Home
There are two phases you should go through when preparing your home to receive your new cat. “Put away” and “Provide.”
Put Away
Try to tuck wires away, and ideally flush against a structure (either a wall or a desk, for example). A loose wire looks like a toy begging to be chewed. Chemicals, essential oil diffusers, trash, small items like bottle caps or hair ties—anything you wouldn’t want a child to eat should be put away. Cats are a bit more agile (and quieter) than curious babies, so countertops and seemingly cabinets aren’t safe containers for toxic objects.
If your cat can get to it, they’ll either play with it or eat it themselves. Consider designating one cabinet as a “cleaner” cabinet, and put all chemicals away behind a locking mechanism.
Provide
When a cat gets to your home, they’ll reasonably be unsettled. It’s a new place! By populating your home with cat-friendly assets, you give them places to hide if they’re feeling scared. Having food and water out for them to graze on if they want is only polite… and subsequently, set up their litter box, so they don’t have an accident.
Ideally, you’ll want to start them off in a one-room environment until they’re used to your smells and presence. Too large of a place to explore for too small of a cat can be intimidating, encouraging them to hide. The more scared a cat is, the harder it will be for you to monitor their safety during the acclimation period.
“How can I set myself up for success,” you ask? Here’s a checklist for everything a new pet parent would need when adopting a cat:
Make a Family Plan
If you’ve got kids or roommates, being clear about your expectations sets everyone up for success.
If children, you can let them know not to let the cat out or into specific, dangerous rooms. Directions might also include not eating cat food or playing in the cat’s water (or worse, the litter box). You might also want to teach “gentle hands,” showing them how to properly handle a cat before bringing your new adoptee home.
For roommates, you might set feeding times and alert the household to the times. That way, you aren’t doubling up on food. Or tripling…
Couples might set up a plan of “I feed in the morning, you feed at night,” or who cleans the litter box when. Often, a well-cared-for cat is supported by communicative parents, so no one category of care goes neglected.
It helps to have a plan ahead of time so no one’s stepping on toes, and you know your cat is fully taken care of on any given day.
Establish Routines
Some folks free-feed their feline friend, while others are strict about feeding times. Decide what’s best for your cat—you may need input from a vet or the rescue/foster parent—and your cat will make sure you’re following the rules. Trust me. (I’ve been woken up by an errant whisker in the nose or a cat on the chest if I sleep in “too long.”)
A cat should have a daily routine and weekly and monthly routines. An example would look like this:
AM:
- Food
- Play
- Brush
Noon:
- Play
- Replace water in bowl
- Scoop litter
PM:
- Food
- Play
Mon, Thurs — Clean litter box(es)
Saturday — Deep clean litter box(es)
Your cat may need more or less tending depending on their age and ability. Your kitty litter box may need more cleaning, depending on the number of cats in your household. You’ll have to find your own rhythm to ensure all their needs are met.
After Bringing a Cat Home
Patience is a Virtue
It’s a common stereotype that cats don’t acclimate fast. Really, it’s true for cats and dogs—strangers have practically kidnaped them! They’ll need time to figure out how they feel and if the environment is safe.
It’s important not to rush this process. It can take days, if not weeks, for a cat to feel fully comfortable in a new place. You can facilitate this process by making a small cozy space for your cat so there’s less sensory input to take in at once. You should also let your cat decide when they want to approach you, as moving too fast or too “ominously” (you’re a human, and you’re huge compared to them) can put them off.
Some cats may be friendly and attach to you right away. If so, you’re lucky! But don’t be offended if your new cat isn’t too keen on being in your lap on the first day.
It’ll take time, but the result of patience is so rewarding.
Pick Your Cat’s Dedicated Vet/Pet Insurance
With a new cat, you’ll need to look into their healthcare. Rescues, shelters, and breeders should be able to provide receipts for the services rendered. Depending on the cat’s age, those services could be spaying or neutering, microchipping, and vaccines.
You want as much of a report as possible (allergies? Previous illnesses?), ideally in a printable format. You could also request the details be emailed to you and your new vet for congruent and complete medical records.
Vaccinations and Preventatives
Heartworm, ticks, and flea preventatives should have been given to your cat—if not, they must be. Some boosters may be recommended by your vet, such as rabies and feline leukemia.
Petsmart details a timeline of age-appropriate treatments, tests, and preventatives.
Pet Insurance
Picking pet insurance should also be done as soon as possible. Depending on the provider, they can reimburse you for a portion of treatment costs, appointments, and surgeries. In some cases, they may entirely cover regular and required visits or common ailments.
Shop around for the best rates and best coverage. This can be done online.
Don’t Stress
You’ve chosen to open your home, and your life, to a furry friend. And you’re researching how best to provide for them? That’s further than some go. You’ve clearly got their best interest at heart, and you should be proud of that. (No need to be humble, I’m patting your back for you.)
Remember to give yourself as much patience as you give your cat. Best of luck!
Pet Parent Pointers 
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