Post Adoption Care and General Tips for Cats

Cats - After Adoption

Your first days home:

• Spend time in the same room as your new cat and let him slowly come to you.  Do not rush the relationship.  Cats and kittens need a lot of time to acclimate to you and their new home. 
• Speak in soft, kind, gentle tones and keep the house quiet.
• Don't overwhelm your new cat with a lot of family and friends until he is adjusted to your household.
• Always supervise small children with the cat.
• If you are introducing your new cat or kitten to animals you already have in the home, be sure to follow introduction procedures explained to you by your Placement Team volunteer.  Introducing your new cat to your other animals improperly and too soon may result in an aggressive and unfriendly relationship among the animals.  POA Placement Team members are experienced in animal introduction procedures and will give you information for you to take home, and clear instructions for you to follow. 

Follow up vet care:

• Establish a relationship with a vet as soon as possible after adoption and bring your new cat or kitten(s) to see the vet.  This is an important relationship to maintain throughout the life of your cat.  POA can offer you vet references in your area if you do not already have one.
• You will need to bring your cat to a veterinarian at least once a year for a wellness exam and to determine a vaccination schedule.
•  Always see a veterinarian immediately if your cat or kitten is sick, especially if he or she is experiencing severe diarrhea, vomiting, or a decrease or increase in litter box use or appetite. 

Cat care essentials:

• Food: Keep your cat on the same food he or she has been receiving at the Adoption Center for a few weeks.  Whenever possible, we will provide you with a bag of food when you take you new cat home.  Abrupt food changes often cause diarrhea and additional stress; introduce a new food brand by integrating it with the food your cat has been eating at P.O.A. slowly over the course of 7 - 10 days.
• Litter box: Make sure you have a litter pan for each cat and clean it daily.  It is very important to completely empty the pans regularly. Also make sure the litter pan is easily accessible to your cat and keep the litter pan in the same place all the time.  With small kittens, it is a good idea to have litter pans on each level of your home.  Whenever possible, use unscented litter.  Many “scents” cause respitory symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes and nose.  The scent also rests on their coat, which may result in lack of grooming.
• Scratching post: Scratching is a necessary and innate behavior for cats and kittens.  It's a normal characteristic of a healthy cat. Cats exercise the foot muscles to remove dead tissue from nails and scratching also has a soothing, comforting effect. It's a good idea to get multiple types of scratching surfaces for your cat because each cat has preferences.  Cardboard and sisal mats work well.  Your Placement Team adoption counselor can advise you of other helpful tips for proper scratching behavior.
• Toys: Kittens and playful cats need toys for entertainment!  Make sure the toys you give your kitten are appropriate for the kitten’s size and age.  String toys can be dangerous and should be avoided for cats and kittens.

Ways to correct furniture scratching:
Kittens:

• If a kitten starts to scratch your furniture gently pull it off and place its front paws on the scratching post or appropriate cardboard or sisal mat.  Do not yell at the kitten and do not ever throw anything at the kitten.  This will result in the kitten being scared of you and will do nothing to correct the behavior.
• Use horizontal scratching surfaces

Older cats:

• Gently shake an empty soda containing 3 or 4 pennies, but not directly in his or her face.
• Put double edged tape (“sticky paws”) or aluminum foil on the furniture.
• You can purchase little cat “booties” (Soft Paws) to slip over the cat's nails 
• Use horizontal scratching surfaces

 

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