Tips for Welcoming a New Kitty

It is highly recommended to adopt from a shelter or rescue, which typically comes with an initial physical exam, core vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip, and sometimes FeLV/FIV testing. Within the first 7-10 days, it is recommended to have a check-up with your veterinarian to ensure your pet is healthy and discuss preventive care recommendations. Plan to have supplies ready before picking up your new kitty, to avoid shuffling them around the pet store and/or being unprepared when you bring them home.

Supplies:

Litter and boxes (one more litterbox than the number of cats in your home)

Food dish (stainless, or ceramic)

Water fountain (stainless or ceramic)

Perches

Cat trees

Scratching posts/nail caps

Toys

Food

Stress relievers

Breakaway collar/tag

Introducing to New Home:

1. Set your kitty up in a quite, separate, safe room where it has easy access to food/water, a litterbox, a place to perch and place to hide. Setup stress relief ASAP.

2. Encourage your cat to explore that room by introducing toys, treats, and catnip.

3. Once your cat seems to be feeling confident (this could be hours/days/weeks), consider cracking the door open and allowing your cat to explore other areas of the home on its own terms.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as needed.

Introducing to Pets in Home:

1. Make sure your current pet is healthy and up-to-date on vaccines and other recommended preventive care before introducing to new pets, and initiate anti-anxiety treatment before introducing pets.

2. While your new kitty is getting acclimated in it's separate room, allow your other pets to access the opposite side of the door where they can get used to each other's scents and see each other without coming into direct contact.

3. Try swapping pets/rooms for a few hours or so to allow them to get to know each other's scents even more closely.

4. Move food bowls to opposing sides of the door for a few feedings.

5. Ideally, add a gate/screen that allows them to visualize each other without coming into full contact before opening the door, then eventually open the door.

6. Play with your pets together and reward good behavior with treats

Important Notes

• Mild stress for several days is normal, but severe stress can lead to injury and/or illness, and is best addressed by your veterinarian

• Some pets are most happy and healthy in single pet households

• Dogs who have not been acclimated to cats and/or have high prey drives should be well trained prior to interacting with cats, and kept on leash during initial direct contact interactions

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