Problem Solving & Advice by Pam Johnson-Bennett Cat Behavior Expert & Best-selling Author
This is an exciting time. You’re about to bring home your very first cat. To get started on the right foot, here’s a list of 7 things you should do BEFORE you even bring the cat into the house. You are about to enter into a relationship that will hopefully last for many, many years and this new feline family member needs you to be prepared for his physical, mental, and emotional needs.
1. Be Sure Everyone in the Family is Ready for the Responsibility of a Cat
Everyone in the family needs to be on the same page in terms of actually even wanting a cat. If responsibilities and specific cat-related duties are going to be assigned to certain family members, make sure they are in agreement and will comply. Don’t give a young child the duty of feeding the cat, for example. Make sure assigned duties are age-appropriate.
2. Make a Good Cat Match
Don’t be impulsive when it comes to choosing the cat because you may get in over your head. If you want to adopt a fearful cat who will require lots of TLC due to his history but you have family members at home who want the perfect lap cat, it will disappoint everyone and make things harder for the cat. Sit down with your family and make sure you are all in agreement on what to expect.
3. Get the Supplies You’ll Need for the Cat
Do your homework and get the supplies needed for when you bring your cat home, such as:
- An uncovered litter box
- A litter scoop and a receptacle to place soiled litter
- Litter substrate (initially start with the litter the cat is currently used to)
- Food and water bowls (get separate bowls and not the double-dish kind)
- Food (start with the food the cat is used to for now unless your veterinarian tells you otherwise)
- A few hideways (these can be open paper bags, A-frame beds, donut beds, open boxes)
- A scratching post (a sturdy sisal-covered post)
- Interactive toys (fishing pole design toys for supervised playtime that you’ll do together)
- Solo toys (the toys you can safely leave out for kitty’s solo playtime)
- Brushes (the type will depend on the cat’s coat)
- Nail trimmers (the kind meant for cat nails. Don’t use human nail trimmers)
- A sturdy cat carrier (make sure it’s the right size for your cat – not too big and not too small)
- Identification tag (you may also decide later to have your cat microchipped as well)
4. Cat-Proof the House
Go through your home carefully and look at it from a curious kitty’s point of view.
- Secure wires to baseboards
- Use cord containment devices for computer cords
- Don’t keep small items out such as earrings, pins, or other objects that can be swallowed
- Make sure windows have secure screens
- Keep indoor trash cans in a cabinet or use cans with secure lids
- Don’t keep cleaning products or household chemicals out
- Keep medicine put away
- Keep toxic houseplants out of reach (almost all plants are toxic to cats)
- Get in the habit of putting leftover food away
5. Make a Visit to the Veterinarian
Choose a veterinarian before you get your cat. Ask for referrals and then make a personal visit to several clinics so you can tour the facilities and meet the doctor(s). Make an appointment to have your cat examined. Based on where the cat came from and his age, you’ll need to have him tested for specific diseases and start a vaccination schedule. Your veterinarian is also a good resource for answering first-time cat parent questions.
6. Set Up a Sanctuary Room for Your Cat
Before you bring your new cat home, have a sanctuary room set up. Cats are territorial creatures who take comfort in predictability, and it can be quite overwhelming for a cat to suddenly be in unfamiliar surroundings. Set up a room that has the litter box on one side of the room and kitty’s food/water bowls on the other side. Place some hideaways in the room such as an A-frame bed, open paper bags, kitty tunnels, etc., so the cat won’t just hunker down under the bed or cower in a closet. Place a scratching post in there as well as some safe toys for solo play. This way, the cat can get his bearings, gradually become familiar with the scents of your home, and start the process of getting to know you and your family. Have this room all set up before you bring the cat home to avoid creating lots of chaos when the time comes.
7. Learn About Cats
This is a big commitment you’re about to make. Start the relationship off right by learning about what cats need, as well as how they communicate. Many of the behavior problems I see come through our office are related to cat parents misunderstanding what their cats are communicating by particular behaviors. Take the time now to learn about how to train a cat so you can hopefully avoid future behavior problems. Cats are not dogs and they aren’t little fur-covered children. Cats need to be able to act like the beautiful, intelligent, and sensitive creatures that they are. A sound, positive, and loving training plan can make a huge difference when it comes to having your new cat happily integrate into your family.
Need More Information?
For more information on cat behavior and training, refer to the best-selling books by Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at bookstores and online. We’ve included Amazon links here on our website.
If you have a question about your cat’s behavior or health, contact your veterinarian. This article is not intended as a medical diagnosis nor is it a replacement for your cat’s regular veterinary care. This article is for general information purposes only.
