Adequate preparation is the key to successful adoption of a new cat. Both new and veteran cat owners need to carefully consider whether or not both they themselves and their homes are adequately prepared. Unseen dangers lurk in adoption of strays; medical examinations and vaccinations are especially critical.
His new owner searched the house but couldn’t find him. That night he came out of his hiding place and found an open window with a torn screen....
His would-be owner knew there were predators in the area. She called Animal Control and posted signs around the neighborhood, but she knew there wasn't much chance.
She was right.
PREPARATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS
This situation could have been avoided, and Tiger could have been integrated quickly and easily into his new home if the people who adopted him had made some preparations and taken precautions.
What are some of these preparations? What should you do before you bring a new cat home?
• Prepare the house to receive your new cat.
• Make sure your new cat’s medical needs are completely taken care of.
• Make sure your other cats are adequately protected from disease.
• Make sure you have on hand the things your cat will need.
• Know how to introduce your new cat to your live-in companions, children and other pets.
And perhaps most importantly:
• Prepare yourself beforehand for a good relationship with your new cat.
People who have never owned cats before don’t really realize what a cat is: A highly intelligent, independent animal which needs love and affection daily – but is not a dog.
BONDING WITH YOU
Cats will bond with people, just as dogs do, but they don’t always bond with the person who has adopted them. They will choose whom they like, much to the consternation of the person who “picked them up” hoping to have acquired a new friend.
This is one very good reason why the first 24 hours is so important. It is during that period that your cat will decide whom she wants to bond with.
PREPARE YOUR HOME
Adequate preparation of the home is vitally important. If your new cat panics when she is first introduced and finds a way to exit your house, she will do so. Remember, she does not know where she is and has no motivation to return.
MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES
In addition, there may be serious medical consequences to adopting a stray, both to your new kitty and to your existing cats. Inadequate medical examination and vaccination can be tragic for the new addition to your family...and have serious consequences to your existing cats.
Unless you know what you are doing, your attempt to bring home a new kitty could result in tragedy.
EVERY CAT IS DIFFERENT
The bottom line is that no matter how many cats you have adopted, you still may not know what you are doing with THIS one.
In Part 3 we’ll discuss five things you need to consider before you adopt a new cat.
Your New Cat: Why Are the First 24 Hours So Important? Part 3
Adequate preparation is the key to successful adoption of a new cat. Both new and veteran cat owners need to carefully consider whether or not both they themselves and their homes are adequately prepared. Unseen dangers lurk in adoption of strays; medical examinations and vaccinations are especially critical.
Your New Cat: Why Are the First 24 Hours So Important? Part 1
Animal Shelters are quite aware of adoption in haste. Many cats are returned accompanied by reasons such as, "This cat just didn't work out, can I look at another?", or "The cat doesn't like us. He hides in the closet all the time." Inadequate preparation of the new home and psychological preparation of the new owner are at the heart of the problem.
What You Can Do When Your Feet Catch Fire, Part II
Nerve damage due to a variety of causes can result in symptoms ranging from tingling in the extremities to extreme pain, a condition known as Neuropathy. Conventional drugs merely suppress or "manage" the symptoms. Alternative therapies exist that can be very effective in actually restoring nerve function and eliminating pain.
