Читать книгу 77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat - Susan Ewing M. - Страница 40

If you’re getting an adult cat, some of this information about a cat’s first day at home won’t apply. What will apply is that your house is strange to your new cat, and there may be a period of adjustment. Whether you’re bringing home an adult or a kitten, be patient and let him get used to all of the new things he’s encountering.

There’s some truth to the old adage “curiosity killed the cat,” so before you introduce your cat or kitten to your home, do some “cat-proofing.” Make sure that electrical cords are either tight against the baseboards or encased in a length of PVC pipe. Vertical, rather than horizontal, blinds will help deter unwanted climbing. Most blinds no longer have looped cords and have sticks to twist them open and closed, but if you have older blinds, snip the cords so your cat can’t get caught in them. Move heavy books to the bottom shelves of bookcases so that leaping cats can’t topple them; you also might consider securing bookcases to the walls.

All cats like hiding places, but some hiding places can be dangerous. If you have a reclining chair, always check to make sure that your cat isn’t hiding in its depths. Activating the reclining mechanism can seriously injure your cat. Other places that can turn into death traps for your cat are washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators, freezers, and dishwashers. Cats are quick and can be silent, so before you use any of these appliances, check that your cat is not inside.

Welcome your new cat with affection, but remember to give him his space, too.

Keep in mind that cats can squeeze into small spaces to hide.

Cats also seem to love hiding in box springs. If there’s a small tear in your mattress, for example, your cat may open it further and crawl inside. While box springs don’t pose an immediate threat, your cat could get tangled in the springs, so it’s a good idea to repair any openings in furniture.

When planning to bring home a new kitten or cat, try to do it when someone will be home all day. Get him on a Friday night, for instance, so that you’ll have two days to help him get adjusted before everyone goes back to school or work.

While crates are typically thought of in connection with dogs, a crate can work for a kitten, too. The enclosed space will make him feel more secure and, when you’re not watching him, the crate will keep him safe and away from electrical wires and other potential dangers. If you decide to use a crate, a fiberglass one may be a better choice than a wire one, especially for a kitten, who might be able to squeeze between the bars. If you don’t want to use a crate, a large cardboard box or a plastic storage bin without the lid can work as a temporary bed. Whatever you use, keep it in a quiet place, like a spare bedroom, where your kitten can rest undisturbed.

Keep the atmosphere at home relatively calm. This is not the time to invite all of your friends and relatives to meet the kitten; let him get used to you and the other members of the household first. Certainly, children should pet and hold him—just not your child’s entire class!

If you use a crate with your cat, a fiberglass crate is recommended.

Show your kitten the litter box and supervise his first few trips there to make sure that he knows where it is. Even if you’re planning on eventually keeping the litter box in the basement, keep it on the house’s main floor in the beginning. Kittens are too small to easily navigate stairs. Yes, cats instinctively search out dirt, but don’t make that search impossible.

Kittens are curious and adaptable, and it won’t be long before your new kitten has settled in and eagerly explored every area of your (and his!) home.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS?

The belief used to be that Christmas was the absolute worst time to get a pet of any kind; however, the San Francisco SPCA has found that the number of animals returned after being adopted at Christmastime is no greater than at other times of the year. There are many reasons why the winter holidays may still not be the best time. If your house is “holiday central” for all of the relatives, or if you always host the neighborhood party, maybe it’s best to wait on getting a kitten or cat. Likewise, if you have very young children, it might be better to wait. Children can get pretty wound up around holiday time, and your new pet needs relative calm so he can adjust to all of the newness with a minimum of stress.