There will always be one who dominates. If you're going on a longer trip, though, it's likely the cat won't eat during that time, so it's better to feed the cat normally leading up to the drive. Isolate other animals from your new cat during this time. Place food and water on one side of the room and an open (unenclosed) litter box on the other side. But as soon as you open the carrier, she flees. References. Never, under any circumstances, leave a cat in the car. Cat Behavior Trainer. Don't expect your cat to be acting like a perfectly relaxed lap cat instantly, even if … tag on at all times. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. I'd suggest using something very fragrant such as tuna, and not caving in, but leaving it in the house. Your gift today will give critical care to abandoned, injured and orphaned animals right now, in their time of need. If you wish to move the litter box and food and water dishes to another permanent location, set up a second box and dishes in the permanent location and keep both available for a few days. Offer a bowl of water but do not provide food for an hour. Whether your Sit quietly with your cat whilst they explore their … New cats and kittens often bolt under furniture. If you ultimately want to feed the cat elsewhere, or move that chair somewhere else, try leaving it there for a day or two to let the cat get comfortable, and then move it when the cat seems more comfortable. To learn how to travel long distance with a cat, keep reading! Don't expect your cat to … If you can, hold off on inviting people over to your new home for the first few days so your cat has time to adjust. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. You can get Feliway products from your vets, pet supplies shops, or online. Expanding the new cat’s space. Let them come out when they are ready. Cats don't like moving any more than people do. Do not leave the cat unattended in the car or stop to visit friends, shop, etc. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If you allow your cat to sleep on furniture, a washable cover can be placed over favorite spots. How can I train him to be calm on something so sudden and scary? Does your cat sleep in the bed you bought him? Help your cat to feel familiar and secure by using a pheromone plug-in in the rooms they occupy most. A new cat will often upset the existing pecking order or the old cat or dog may feel it necessary to establish dominance immediately. Making your cat feel comfortable in a new home though is part of your job as their caregiver, so it’s important to go into the experience prepared. Do not overwhelm him with attention or demands. Try to put out items that are familiar to your cat, like toys, blankets, or furniture, to make it more comfortable. Have the litter box ready when you remove the cat from the carrier. We are about to move, but he just got into the old house. This article was co-authored by Brian Bourquin, DVM. Meclizine is an anti-nausea medication that you can use with a prescription from your vet. You want them all to get on together and welcome the new feline into the house, but this seldom happens quite so easily - even though your reason for getting another cat may be to keep your resident cat company. Introducing a new cat or kitten to your resident cat or dog can be quite nerve racking. The cat needs food, water, a litter box, toys, and a place to hide. Getting Your Cat to Their New Home If your cat has never been in a car before, it can be quite a scary experience. There, you can provide food and water, though cats will commonly only be interested in drinking a bit and using the litter box. http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/motion-sickness-in-cats/6528, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-house, http://www.georgiaspca.org/qa-sfspca-intro-cat-to-new-home, http://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/litter-training-kittens-cats, Levar e Estabelecer um Gato em um Novo Lar, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The process of introducing your new cat to your dog should not be rushed. Due to COVID restrictions, PAWS Companion Animal Shelter in Lynnwood, PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood, and PAWS Cat City in Seattle are open to the public by appointment only. Cars can overheat extremely quickly, making them death traps for your pet. Allow your animals to accept one another in their own time and don’t leave them alone together until this is accomplished. You can get your older cat to like your new kitten by starting with proper introductions. Your new cat will need time to get used to your family and her new territory, so … The first 24 hours in a new home can be stressful for your new cat. Many cats' first instinct will be to crawl under the refrigerator, couch, or between some hard-to-reach boards in the basement and hide there, for as many as three days. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. When you sprinkle some catnip in the shelter, it will attract a cat … Bring all his old stuff and try to set it up as similarly as it used to be. Introduce them indoors with the dog under control on a leash. A cat’s sleeping spot should be respected as his own. Continue to allow easy access to the haven if the cat gets nervous and needs to retreat. Two altered adult cats often become friends in the same home. Check on your cat often, and make sure it has everything it needs. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. You should also provide your cat a small, quiet area to calm himself; a box should work. It may take several days, or up to a week for the cat to really calm down and acclimate, but it'll happen eventually. Likewise letting the cat get used to the new smells of the house and another cat before the initial meeting can make it more tolerable. If you have an appropriately sized litter box, most cats won't try to use it to do their business. To help speed this process for your new dog and your resident cat, switch their sleeping blankets so they become used to each other's scent. Your patience and understanding during his initial adjustment period can do a lot to help your new cat feel at home. Let Her Set the Pace. The first week or two may be hectic, frustrating and time consuming. Call to schedule an appointment to bring in an injured wild animal during business hours. Jackson Galaxy, a cat behaviorist and host of the television show My Cat From Hell,... How much will it cost to care for my new companion? Now he must adjust again to totally new surroundings. Cats are inherently territorial creatures, and transitioning from the home they’re used to into a new home can cause some stress—even for the most laid-back of kitties. Keep your cat in his carrier until you are safely inside your home. The length of time it will take your new cat to settle in really depends on several factors. The surroundings, the smell, environment, people. How to Introduce Your Cat to a New Cat Litter or Litter Box. If you're going to move with a cat, it's important to use a good quality cat carrier, not a temporary one used in some pet stores, and certainly not a cardboard box or other type of carrier. Read our advice on how to ensure the introduction goes as smoothly as possible. The adult cat may have been separated from a familiar home and forced to break a bond with human companions or other animals. If this is a concern, close them up for a while. Never force interaction. Nonetheless, you can do it with some time and preparation. Whether your cat is the newbie or the senior pet in the house, the cat needs to be able to move freely when the introduction is made. To make a transition to a new home as stress-free as possible for your pet, it's important to prepare properly and learn to travel with your cat and keep them comfortable, and how to introduce them to the new space. This is an especially good idea if you're hiring movers to come and go, which usually requires the door to be left open for a longer period of time, increasing the odds that your cat may make a dash for it. PAWS is recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax ID number 91-6073154. Your cat may be bewildered, fearful or curious. Be patient. Adult cats are generally more accepting of kittens than of other adults. It also gives them a room of their own to use later as a refuge or if they feel uncertain. For a quick and easy remedy, try putting one of your t-shirts into the carrier. It's not recommended that you try to use a big carrier and put litter inside. Try to unpack most of the house before you let the kitties wander the rest of the house. If you're careful it can be okay. Then, leave this lying around at home for your existing cat to become familiar with. Equip the safe room with cat food, water and litter. Remember: cats can usually jump about five feet in any given direction. We are located in Lynnwood, Washington, with a satellite cat adoption center in Seattle’s University District. By using our site, you agree to our. Be sure that all windows and doors are kept closed and that all screens are secure. Adjusting to a new home can be a tense and frightening experience for a cat. Use a carrier big enough for your cat to turn around comfortably, but small enough to keep them contained and persuade your cat to bed down and hide. Some may spend hours or even days hiding. Don’t allow children to disturb your cat when he is resting. Do not allow the dog to chase or corner the cat, even out of playfulness or curiosity. Some people suggest withholding food from the cat for 8 hours, if your cat gets car-sick regularly. Set up a litter box in a quiet, low-traffic part of the home. Cat toys or blankets can also be used in the same way. Prepare a room for your cat – it is a good idea to confine them to one room in the house for a couple of days to slowly introduce them to their new environment. This way, it can make him feel troubled or unhappy. Even a well-trained cat can have "accidents" if a new, unfamiliar litter box is not set up properly. Elizabeth Teal, Former ASPCA Animal Behavior Counselor. Cats also appreciate perches high up off of the ground, like a cat tree or the back of a couch. Also, use the same feeding schedule as you used in your old home, which will make the transition easier for your cat. Before you bring a new cat into your life, it helps to understand a little bit about how cats relate to their world. It varies a lot from cat to cat and owner to owner. Older cats are often less receptive to newcomers, so getting your older cat used to the kitten slowly is better than springing this hyper little kitten on her all at once. 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