Bringing a new cat home? Learn how to prep for your pet.

You’ve researched your local vet clinics, you’ve taken the quizzes, you’ve read the blogs (maybe even this one), and you’ve definitively answered, “Yes!” when asking yourself if you’re ready to adopt a cat. The next step before introducing a cat to a new home: prepping for your four-legged family member. Read on for some tips on how to prepare for a new addition.

Scratching post and cat tree and cat perch, oh yes!

If you’re wondering how to get a cat used to a new home, you can start by stocking up on essential supplies. Make sure you have at least one litter box, and more if you’re introducing a new cat to any resident cat kids. A cat scratching post will help your new cat kid stretch and file their nails on something other than your furniture. You can also help them adjust by giving them a place of their own, like a cat tree house or a cat window perch, where they can survey their new surroundings from a spot where they feel safe (and can clack at birds with unobstructed views).

Household harmony tips

If you already have one or more cat kids and you’re worried about your cat hissing at the new cat, there are things you can do to prepare. As we outlined in our previous cat adoption blog post, you should start off slow rather than force socialization. Make sure you have a separate room where your new cat kid can acclimate away from their new siblings. You can stash that new cat window hammock or cat wall perch in there so they have a place to relax right away before venturing out for a playdate.

Finding the best cat food for your cat kid

Your impending arrival has all the goods — now they need good food. If you’re asking yourself, “What should I feed my cat?” check with the shelter or foster home to see what they’ve been feeding them. It’s a good idea to stick with the food they’re used to in the beginning to avoid upsetting their stomach. You can phase it out gradually if, through your cat food research, you want to try different cat food brands or go the homemade cat food route. If you’re wondering “How much should I feed my cat?” the ASPCA lets you download a food calculator that determines meal amounts according to weight and life stage.

Cat litter questions? We have suggestions.

Just like with your new cat kid’s food, it’s a good idea to ask the shelter or foster home what litter they’ve been using, then stick with that when you first bring them home before gradually transitioning them to a different brand. If you’d like to try an eco-friendly cat litter for your interspecies family,we wrote about how Naturally Fresh compares to other brands , especially when it comes to organic odor control and absorption. Hint: walnuts neutralize odors better than clay, corn, wheat, and pine, and they’re soft on your cat kid’s paws!

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