Introducing a cat to its new home
Cat and the new homeThe cat is purchased and taken home. Of course each family member wants to pet and hug the animal and make it feel welcome and at home. This is a wrong approach. A cat is, after all, despite its calm and serene appearance, a very stress-sensitive animal that should be calmly guided in new situations.
To correctly introduce a cat to a new home, start by introducing the cat to one single room in your house. This should be the room in which your new friend can at least find its litter box, food, water, toys and a scratching pole. When introduced to an entire house at once, your cat may experience too much stress which could cause a panic attack. Also, chances are it has to go to the litter box and can't find it in time, causing it to urinate on the floor.
Make sure that your cat can examine its new environment in its own pace. It will sniff everything, it will rub its head against things (on the cheeks are scent glands that have their own smell which cats spread by rubbing) so everything is personalised and marked as the cat’s territory.
Avoid looking/staring in the eyes of the cat: as a brand new cat owner you're obviously proud and want to watch your new best friend, but for the cat “looking straight in the eye" is considered a threat, a challenge to fight. Let the cat come to you on its own for a cuddle, even if it takes several days.
When the cat is at ease in the room, you may leave the door open so it is able to examine the rest of the house - again in its own pace.
Keep your cat indoors for at least three to six weeks before you open up the windows and doors to the garden. The animal must first mark its territory in your home. They must know they get food and attention in the house, so the cat will recognise the house as its territory, its home to return to.