First time cat owner to a shelter animal!?

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A little intro first... I asked a while back about getting a shelter animal, and today I adopted her! Her name is Jenna and she is a 6 year old domestic short-haired cat. I got acquainted with her today and tomorrow I will be taking her home (they need to do her dental procedures before she comes home.) I have never personally owned a cat though my family did for some time while I was a kid. I've already set up her litter box, food and water, her bed and toys and gotten a collar. She will be living with me alone in my apartment. She has been declawed, microchipped, and all of her medical procedures have been taken care of up to date. Her previous owners gave her to the shelter because she 'didn't get along with the new kitten.' Now for my question... As a first-time cat owner, how can I help her settle in, feel comfortable, and are there any things I need to know as a new cat owner? Thanks!!
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Here is a trick our vet showed us to help our cat acclimate to his new surroundings: Put him into the room that will be considered his "sleeping quarters". Be sure the room has a door which can be shut to seclude him. In this room you should also put his cat box by the door, and his food & water bowls in the complete opposite corner of the cat box (as far away from the cat box as possible). His bed should be where it will always be. Rub a little bit of butter on top of both of his front paws & legs (not too much, just enough to make his paws a bit greasy), and confine him in the room for at least a week. Keep an eye on his paws, when he starts to clean himself, he has grown used to the room and considers it home (cats do not clean themselves when they are not at home). Be sure you interact with the cat many times during this process. You need to be in the room with him as much as you can, petting him, talking to him, playing with him, and if it's your bedroom, sleeping with him. Once he starts to clean himself, you will also hear him purr more often. Then you can let him explore the rest of the home. He will always come back to "his" room if he feels threatened or afraid. At this time you can move his catbox and food bowls to their permanent locations and show him where they are. He will find them on his own very quickly. After a month of exploring your apartment, you can put him on a leash and slowly take him outside to discover the neighborhood. He will quickly learn where home is and he will come home if he gets out. Remember that if you don't declaw him, he will have a much better chance of surviving outside. It seems like a lot of work, but you will be happy with the results. We have moved 5 times since we first brought home our "kitten" and he never ran away. He is 19 years old now. The acclamation process worked every time, even for an old cat. The last time we moved our cat was 10 years old (7 years is considered a senion cat). Good luck, with your new best friend!
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