How To Settle Your New Cat Into Your Home: 5 Top Tips

Cats make a fantastic addition to the home, and they can actually be very loyal companions. The great thing about cats is that they are independent, so they definitely require less maintenance than a dog. Cats generally are low-maintenance, just sleeping all day and playing a bit in the evening. If you are someone who enjoys a low-key lifestyle, then a cat could be the perfect pet for you.

When it comes to adopting a cat, it is important that you know how to settle them into your home. For some cats, it can be a little scary being brought into a new home, so you must do what you can to help your cat settle into their new space. If you are planning to adopt a cat soon, then this article is for you. In this article, we will go over five tips that can help you settle your new cat into your home. Keep on reading to find out more.

Prepare Your Home

One of the first things you will need to do before you bring your cat home is sort out your house. We all know that cats are very curious creatures, and they also have a knack for finding tiny spots to hide. Therefore, when you are preparing your home for the cats’ arrival, you must take the time to cat-proof your entire house. Go around your home and think about if there are any escape spots or any hiding places that your cat may get stuck in. This is something that can take a lot of time, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. As well as cat-proofing your home, you should also declutter and clean your entire house, so that your cat has a welcoming and comfy home to come into.

Buy All The Essentials

Before you bring your new furry friend home, you should spend some time buying all of the essential items you need. Things like cat food and cat litter are, of course, important, but you will also need to buy some cat toys too. You may find that your cat is a little nervous at first, and they may not want to play. However, the more confident your cat will get, the more engaged in playing they will become, so just take things slow. Furthermore, cats have a funny way of choosing something to play with that isn’t necessarily a toy, so you may find that they enjoy playing with shoelaces or even hair ties. To shop all of the cat essentials, you can visit Time For Paws and check out their fantastic range.

Avoid Having People Over For A While

In the first few weeks of adopting your kitty, it would be a good idea to avoid having people over. Even if your cat is super confident, they may become skittish around new people, so it is best if you give them the space they need, before they start meeting other people. Unlike dogs, cats tend to need more time to warm up to humans, which is why it is best to avoid your cat meeting too many people at once. Instead, wait a couple of weeks so that they are settled at home, and then slowly have people over to meet them.

Create A Cosy Sleeping Nook

It is no secret that cats love to sleep, in fact, cats can spend up to 20 hours of their day asleep! Because sleep is so important to cats, you should make sure that your home and plenty of cosy sleeping nooks, so that your cat can rest whenever they need to. Although, yes, you can buy a fancy cat bed, most of the time, cats will prefer to sleep on a cosy chair or even under the bed. Perhaps initially, it would be best to not buy a cat bed, and just kind of see where your cat likes to sleep during the day. Once you know this, you can then start making their favourite sleeping areas a little cosier and adding some soft blankets for them to curl up on. If you really wanted to, you could invest in a cat bed, but don’t be offended if they do not use it!

Be Patient with the cat

One of the best ways to help your cat settle into their new home is to just be patient. Cats need a lot of time and patience, so you must allow them that time to find their footing in their new home. If your cat doesn’t want to cuddle up with you or sit next to you, don’t force it! It is important to remember that not all cats will be cuddly and sociable; some just prefer to sleep during the day and go about their business. This is something you must understand as a cat owner, so just make sure that when you bring your cat home from the shelter, you give them as much time and space as they need.