Getting the cat used to its new home. Accustoming a cat to a new home. Habituation for an adult cat

A change of home for a cat is always a big shock, unlike a change of owner, because cats, as we know, are more attached to their place of residence. In the house they have favorite places to relax and play, to watch birds and to “ambush” the owner, whom the cat itself perceives more like its own animal.

It is difficult to say with 100% accuracy how long it will take for a cat to get used to its new home. In some cases, the cat will confidently explore the house within a few hours; in others, it will spend most of its time on the sofa, under cabinets and in other secluded corners for many days. In any case, you need to help the cat get used to it. To do this, it is advisable not to let your other pets near the cat and not to touch it yourself, not to impose your company, especially not to pick it up against its will. You should also avoid excessively sudden movements and loud sounds.

If the cat begins to eat and also use the litter box, then this is a huge step towards habituation and adaptation. If the cat is still afraid of you or other people, then, firstly, you do not need to force it into contact, and, secondly, you need to behave calmly with it.

You can sit on the floor while you are next to your cat and calmly talk to her - this way you will seem less big and scary to her. Also, you should not move your cat from room to room; it is enough to allow it to explore the entire space of your home.

Another shock for a cat when changing homes is meeting other pets. If you have other pets, then you should not immediately force them to “get to know each other.” Give your cat time to get used to your home. It is advisable to leave her a cage or something like a booth as a shelter, where she can sit out in case of quarrels with other cats or dogs. After all, conflicts will almost certainly arise and this is nothing out of the ordinary, because the pets that appeared earlier consider the stranger an encroacher on their property. You should not leave your cat with your other pets until you are sure that they get along. However, sometimes this never happens, especially if one of the pets is the object of hunting in the wild for the cat.

After getting used to the new home, the cat will become your friend for a long time and will decorate your home for a long time, bringing joy and tranquility.

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Probably everyone who is even remotely familiar with cats knows what the first day of a kitten’s stay in the house looks like. On this day, the house is filled with joy from the fact that the family has been replenished with another family member, who is now destined to be everyone’s favorite and center of attention, everyone’s favorite and the object of care throughout his life. As a rule, new owners cannot hide their glee as they watch a small fluffy ball walk through the nooks and crannies of their home, sniffing carefully.

By this point, the first meeting with the kitten, as well as its move to a new place of residence, are already behind us. In addition, on the very first day, the kitten, as a rule, manages to get to know its new home, at least in general terms, and smell everything and everyone. However, the matter is not limited to one acquaintance, and the kitten often still behaves warily and is clearly nervous. So what should you do so that the kitten as soon as possible feels confident in himself and in the goodwill of his new owners and stops being afraid?

First of all, it is worth saying that one of the best ways to adapt a kitten to new living conditions is direct contact with it. If the owner has the opportunity to be near the kitten constantly for two or, even better, three days, then he should take advantage of this opportunity and constantly be close to the kitten.

If the kitten does not resist, you should constantly stroke it, scratch it behind the ear and talk to it in a gentle and calm voice - cats love this very much. You can try to put the kitten to sleep next to you - he will appreciate it. True, one small problem may arise in this regard. If the kitten has not yet figured out where his litter box is and where he should relieve himself, then at night, when he wants to go to the toilet, he can, with the best intentions, relieve it directly in the bed, not far from the place where he sleeps.

However, regardless of whether the kitten is put to sleep with its owner or not, if the owner is everywhere next to him, he will gradually understand that where his owner is is completely harmless and soon the kitten will walk around after his owner. Thus, the kitten will be able to get used to its new home much faster than if it were left to its own devices. However, if he follows his owner everywhere, it is important to remain vigilant so as not to inadvertently crush the kitten, which will follow its owner as if tied.

Many owners mistakenly believe that in order for the kitten to adapt to new conditions as quickly as possible, on the contrary, it should be left alone for a long time. However, this is not at all true. Most likely, the kitten will simply go to bed and fall asleep, not waking up until its new owner arrives. But with this development of events, he will not really get used to either his owner or his new home.

Therefore, if you need to win over a kitten, then you need to spend (at least in the first days) all your free time with it, and before each feeding, pet it and talk to it affectionately. And only after that give him food. Thanks to this, the animal will be able to learn that only affection promotes friendly relations between him and the owner, and is the shortest path to the cat’s favorite pastime - food.

It would be helpful to place toys around the house. Moving from one toy to another, the kitten will automatically explore the space and gradually cease to be afraid of being in a new home.

Owners should accustom the kitten to the presence in its life of a variety of sudden or loud sounds, which are present to one degree or another in the life of every modern person. It could be a loud TV, radio or something else. Of course, this does not mean at all that you need to shoot firecrackers (cats never get used to such sounds and they are very harmful to the cat’s hearing), but some loud sounds should still be present in a small volume. About two days after the kitten appears in the house and becomes a full-fledged resident, you should start turning on the TV at a volume that is comfortable for the owners, and no longer embarrass yourself with the sounds or try to muffle them.

It must be said that the sooner the kitten gets the opportunity to get used to loud sounds, the stronger its nervous system will be and the better it will function.

In order for the kitten to adapt to the new environment as best as possible and get used to all members of the new family, it is necessary that each of them does not cause him any disturbance. Therefore, residents should pay attention to the kitten as often as possible, play with it and stroke it: only in such an atmosphere can the kitten quickly get used to its new home and new family.

It wouldn't hurt to introduce the kitten to strangers. The only thing you should take care of in this case is that the total number of new people does not exceed two or three people per day.

As for walking outside, it is not advisable to go out there with such a small kitten. But it’s better to go out onto the balcony, getting used to the noise of the street, every day and several times.

Meeting with the new tenant

It is not recommended to adopt a kitten if it is not yet one and a half months old. Firstly, it is not good to tear such a baby away from its mother. Secondly, it will be very difficult for you to care for him (especially follow the feeding regime and rules) and protect him from everyday dangers.

When going to pick up a kitten, be sure to take with you a special carrier in which it will be more convenient and safe to carry it. This is especially true for purebred cats. I know of a case where a cattery breeder changed her mind about selling a kitten to new owners as soon as she saw that they had come for him without a carrier and were just going to carry him in their bosom. “I cannot entrust an animal to such careless people,” she said categorically. But even if you buy a kitten not from a nursery, but simply from friends or from a grandmother in transition, this still does not mean that you should be careless about moving it to a new home.

When you bring your kitten home, do not force him out of his carrier. Open it and wait for the moment when the baby becomes interested in something and comes out. If the cat is hiding, don’t try to force it out either. In the end, the baby's curiosity will take its toll.

During the first two to three days, try to create a calm, non-stressful environment for your pet. Don’t throw a festive feast at home in honor of the “new tenant”; don’t invite all your neighbors and friends to see him. It is undesirable to play loud music at home or talk in a raised voice. Remember: the baby is already scared, confused, and confused because he is in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. And then there’s some fuss and hype around it!

Try to reassure him and convince him that the new home is comfortable and safe. It's easy to do. During the first days, carry the kitten in your arms a lot (but not all the time and not with the whole family at once), pet it, play with it. After all, he was just separated from his mother, but he is still very small and needs her affection, love, protection... Let us remind you that in a family where everyone works, it is advisable for one of the household members to take a short vacation or at least a couple of days off for that the period until the animal adapts to the new apartment.

Everything unfamiliar and unknown...

At first, the kitten may meow frequently (especially at night) or hide (for example, under the bed). He may even refuse to go to the toilet and eat almost nothing. This is normal behavior for a baby during the adaptation period. The main thing is that this state does not last too long. Usually after two or three days the kitten gets used to the new conditions and begins to behave as it did before the move.

If you don't want your cat to sleep in bed with you, teach him to sleep separately from the very first days. He will get used to jumping into your bed as a baby - then you won’t be able to wean him off. However, practice shows that in the case of cats it is more difficult to delimit sleep zones than with dogs. In most cases, even the most principled owners in this matter sooner or later give in and allow their cats to lie with them.

In any case, at first it is better for the kitten to sleep alone - after all, he is still very small, and in his sleep you can simply crush him. If, when picking up a kitten from its previous owners, you took his favorite toy, blanket or any other item that has the smell of his home, this is very good. Place this thing in the house or on the bed - in general, in the place where the baby sleeps. In the company of his favorite thing that smells like mom, he will feel more comfortable. If you don’t have such a thing, give the kitten a piece of fur, an old woolen sweater or a soft toy - this will at least partially replace the mother’s warmth for the pet.

For the first day or two, it is advisable not to let the kitten wander throughout the apartment, but to keep it only in one room - where its toilet, bowls of food and water are temporarily located, and where its bed house is equipped. By observing how the animal adapts to new conditions, you yourself can determine when the time comes to expand these boundaries. And then everything will fall into place: he will eat in the kitchen, and relieve himself in the place where you put the cat litter box. By the way, if your litter box is located in the toilet, do not forget to keep the door ajar at all times so that the cat can enter freely. Relatives and guests who come to your home will also have to be constantly warned not to slam the door when leaving the toilet.

Caution first

Since you probably took care of the safety of the animal in your home in advance and removed away all things that could potentially poison it, sharp objects, and also did not leave windows and doors open, there is no need to worry about a kitten roaming freely around the apartment. But still, at first, don’t lose sight of your baby for long: perhaps you didn’t take something into account - and he will need your help. After all, a kitten’s curiosity knows no bounds!

If there are small children or other animals at home, be especially careful and allow them to interact with the small pet only under your supervision.

Feeding and education

As you know, a sudden change in diet and diet can have a bad effect on the well-being of any animal. Therefore, even if you do not want to feed your kitten the way its previous owners fed it, you will still have to stick to the menu to which it is accustomed for the first time. The animal must be switched to a new food gradually and very carefully. But if you adopted a kitten from a nursery, it is better to follow the menu recommendations that the breeder gave you. A professional will not give bad advice.

When feeding your pet, gently repeat the word “eat” and call him by name. Also, when calling a kitten, at first avoid the common “kiss-kiss-kiss”. Instead, say: “Barsik, come here!”, “Ryzhik, come to me!” or something like that - in general, the more often he hears his name, the faster he will get used to it.

Although cats are independent animals, they are by no means stupid and, with good upbringing, are capable of showing miracles of obedience. Therefore, immediately establish rules of behavior for your pet. If he tries to scratch the furniture, show him with all your appearance that he can’t do that, and bring the kitten to the scratching post every now and then. If he jumped on the dinner table or grabbed you by the leg, scold him (but don’t yell!), hiss at the mischief-maker, lightly spray him with water from a spray bottle, or come up with some other method of punishment. Just don't hit the animal! Every time your pet misbehaves, repeat the word “No” along with the punishment. Very soon, just this “scary” word will signal to the kitten that he is doing something bad, and the need for punishment will disappear by itself. Gradually, the baby will understand what can and cannot be done in the new house. You just need to be a little patient.

Dear readers!

An adult cat in a new home - how to help with adaptation?

There are situations in life when it is difficult to pass by an animal and not give it help. Unfortunately, not only small kittens, but also adult animals have to move to a new home. It often happens that owners, for some reason, can no longer keep a cat, especially for older people whose age-related health problems do not allow them to pay proper attention to their pet.

Sometimes the animal is taken in by relatives, and sometimes by caring strangers. But an adult cat is an animal with an established character, with its own habits, which do not always easily and painlessly endure moving and getting used to a new home. Moreover, cats generally tend to become attached to their place of residence. There are many cases where a cat stubbornly did not want to leave the house. Some cats run away from home if they are planning to move. And a new place of residence is always very stressful for them. An adult animal that finds itself in such a situation must be helped to adapt to its new home.

There are several important rules, following which will help an adult cat adapt to a new home. First, you will have to be patient in order to calmly endure all the whims of the new tenant. Cats generally tend to keep their distance, and even with strangers. It is not for nothing that there is a humorous saying that the cat is the only animal that has domesticated itself. Therefore, if an adult cat comes to you for the first time, you should not overdo it with communication, and even more so - forcibly pick it up and squeeze it. If the cat doesn't mind, you can pet it a little.

It is necessary for the animal to calmly explore the territory that is new to it and look into all corners without fear. A new settler can hide in a secluded place and sit there for a long time. In this case, there is no need to pull him out of the shelter. Let the animal calm down and get used to new smells and sounds.

Of course, it all depends on the character of the cat. If a cat has an affectionate, purring disposition, then it will be easier for him to get used to a new habitat and a new owner. And if the cat is wild and has lived its entire life on the street, then it will be much more difficult for him to adapt.

The main thing is to immediately provide the cat with a tray and bowls of food, and show him where they are. If the cat is trained to the litter box, then he will immediately understand what is what and there will be no problems. You shouldn’t forget about the scratching post if you don’t want your upholstered furniture to turn into rags.

It is more difficult if there are other animals in the new home. The cat will have to get used to not only the new place, but also the new neighbors. Therefore, at first, if possible, it is better to place an adult cat in a separate room, where it will be free from the annoying curiosity of other pets. It is better for both the tray and bowls of food to be in the same room where the new resident’s adaptation is taking place. Although, of course, not everyone will agree to the presence of a cat litter box in the room (especially if it is the master bedroom).

But, as mentioned earlier, you need to be prepared for anything. Cats in a new place may at first go not to the litter box, but generally wherever they want, show aggression, tear up wallpaper and generally do worse things, just to show everyone how unhappy they are with what is happening and to draw attention to their misfortune.

Only sincere love for animals can help here. As practice shows, over time, even the most capricious cat and the most stubborn cat, if they are treated with affection and patiently taught to behave well, change for the better and fit perfectly into their new home.

And an adult animal can become attached to its new owners just as sincerely as a small kitten. Sometimes such “residents” turn out to be much more affectionate and obedient than the original feline inhabitants of the house. Sometimes the fears when an adult cat moves to a new home turn out to be completely unfounded and within a few days the animal feels and behaves as if it had lived here its entire adult life.

Situations in which not only people, but also animals have to get used to a new place of residence are different. “Cat people” have to deal with them more than once, and therefore the question of how to adapt a cat to a new home is always relevant.

So, you bought, or your friends gave it to you, a little fluffy dog. Don't worry, training and taming a baby is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The main thing is to pay him more attention, generously showing care and affection. It is recommended to talk to your pet, stroking its fur, and then feed it. A kind attitude and warm words will help you establish trusting contact with him. Remember that the kitten will love you only after you love him.

It would be a mistake to leave your pet alone in the house for a long time. Most likely, he will hide in corners and avoid you most of the time.

Owners spend quite a lot of time training their kitten to use the litter box. Introduce your baby to the new toilet, and if he relieves himself in the wrong place, sternly but kindly, scold him and point to the litter box again. A naughty fluffy can be “directed” to the toilet by placing a piece of paper or cotton wool moistened with his urine: he will come to the smell.

Another sensitive point: getting used to a new sleeping place. If you do not want the kitten to spend all the time in your bed, you must immediately offer him a secluded, warm and soft corner where he can relax comfortably, if necessary, luring him with special mint from the zoological store.

Be patient and love, and the kitten will very soon get used to its new home.

How to accustom a cat to a new home

Changing a place of residence causes stress not only for owners, but also for pets. In such cases, breeders begin to take an active interest in how to adapt a cat to a new home, and what needs to be done to successfully complete the matter.

Moving to a new home

It is advisable not to transport an adult pet to a house where cosmetic repairs have not yet been completed, or things have not been sorted out and tidied up. Cats do not like disorder, and “chaos” in the house can aggravate the situation when the animal gets used to new conditions.

If you have a very sensitive animal, it will be better to at least partially keep the original interior to help him get used to an unfamiliar home. The fact is that cats remember smells well, and keeping old things will help them quickly adapt to a new environment. Gradually everything can be replaced.

Take care in advance of the sleeping place, the “dining room” and the tray for the cat. It is best to bring everything you need from your previous apartment, and after adaptation, purchase new accessories. The animal will be grateful to you.

Moving to a new owner

It will be more difficult to adapt the cat to a new home with a new owner. Especially if the cat is outdoor. And it won’t be easy to wean her away from her previous home. In this case, it will take more time, patience and work to accustom an adult pet to a new environment.

The cat, as you know, gets used to the house, so you need to try to create conditions for it similar to those in which it lived previously. To achieve this, you must first ask the previous owner about the details of the pet’s life and preferences in food and other areas of activity, and try to adhere to them.

Create a secluded corner for the animal, but at first do not leave it alone for a long time. Pet your cat if she reaches out to you and allows herself to be petted. Otherwise, do not impose your affection, the time will come and, sensing your disposition, she herself will show interest and love in you.

When accustoming your pet to a new toilet, use the litter that is familiar to him. If possible, bring some old litter soaked in animal urine and place it in the litter box. As in the case of a kitten, an adult cat will find a “latrine” place by smell.

Set up a place your cat likes, where she spends most of her time, as a sleeping area. Remember that it should be warm and comfortable.

It is also better to feed your pet with food that is familiar to him.