Settling in your new feline friend!

Bringing home, a new kitten or cat is such a fun and exciting time! But you must remember that they are probably not feeling that way initially, as it's quite daunting for them moving to a new home. So we need to take things slowly with them and make sure that they are comfortable in their new surroundings.

The first thing you want to do is ensure you have the right equipment for the settling in period. Talk to your local pet store to ensure you are fully-equipped for this new adventure!

For the first night, make sure your feline is confined to a safe space like a laundry or a bathroom with a litter tray. If they are given the run of the house right away they can have toileting errors in unwanted areas of the house. Remind children of ground rules around your new cat or kitten. Remind them not to startle him or her and to keep the door shut until they are settled.

If they don't eat too much for the first day or two, don't be too concerned as this is normal behaviour when they are a little nervous and should get back to normal eating habits as it settles. Find a treat they like as this comes in handy when trying to get them back inside once they start exploring.

Introducing your kitten to another pet family member is a very important part of settling in. It is important that you don't change your existing pet's world too much as you want them to not feel threatened. Dogs tend to accept new kittens faster than cats as cats are not fans of sudden change so take your time to introduce them slowly and positively with treats and lots of love to make them know everything is ok.

As your feline friend adjusts, he or she will show signs of wanting to explore outside of their safe haven. Make sure pets or other family members don't startle them as they explore this new territory. And do it in small doses, with the use of a kitten harness or just simply carrying your kitten around with you initially before letting them down.

Provide your cat with a scratching post that is tall enough for them to extend themselves to scratch. Encourage them to use it by sprinkling catnip or dangling a toy at the top. Your furniture will love you for it!