How to Give Your Adopted Cat a Warm Welcome

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TidyTreatment #CollectiveBias

I have some exciting news to share- we have a new family member! We adopted a beautiful cat named Chloe and I want to share How to Give Your Adopted Cat a Warm Welcome because pets are family and deserve the best. We started our warm welcome with an adventure to PetSmart to grab TIDY CATS® Free & Clean™ Unscented Clumping Litter and other necessities so Chloe feels that she is now home.

Chloe is almost a year old and we adopted her about 2 months ago on a whim. We went to a pet store just to waste time and look at puppies because playing with puppies makes the kids happy but we saw Chloe instead as part of the adoption event. She is so petite and gentle that the whole family fell in love immediately. We all thought it was really unique that she is without a tail. Needless to say, Chloe came home with us that day.

Why You Should Adopt a Cat

So you also decided you want to adopt a cat! YESSS! Perhaps, you are still on the fence. Heck, maybe the kiddos are just begging you for a pet and you are in research mode to see if a cat is the right fit for your family. Here are just a few of pros and cons to take into consideration as you bring your adopted cat home:

PROS

• Cats basically take care of themselves. They need just a few necessities like food, water, litter box and are self sufficient from there.
• They need bathed often because cats keep themselves well groomed. Give your cat a bath once every 2 months or so.
• Cats are affordable in comparison to many other pets. Vet check-ups, vaccinations, toys, food are all very reasonably priced.
• Most cats are very affectionate animals. Chloe is snuggling my arm right now as I type.
• Cats may help lower their owners blood pressure and reduce stress. We can all use less stress.
• Cats are entertaining. They loves toys and playing… that is when they aren’t sleeping the day away.

CONS

• Cats have claws that they like to put to use. Furniture, clothes, carpet, and whatever else they can dig those claws into may be shredded. There is a procedure to de-claw cats, however I do not agree with that direction but it still may be an option for you.
• Cleaning the litter box daily. I still prefer cleaning the litter box over scooping my dogs poo from the backyard though.
• If you have an outdoor cat, expect some dead mice or birds to be left out for you because they like to hunt. Although, this may also fit into the PROS category because you won’t have a rodent problem…ever.
• Cats are very intelligent, however, they rarely listen to commands. They understand them but will just refuse and keep doing whatever it is they want to do. Chloe really has that “I’m busy, go away” look down.
• Cats don’t always get along with children or other pets or people in general. I have come across just some straight up cranky cats.

How to Give Your Adopted Cat a Warm Welcome

• Give your adopted a cat a litter box area that is convenient, clean and quiet.
• Set boundaries with the kids. Your kids need to know what areas are the “no play” zones with the animals. When Chloe is in her hideout spot, nobody is allowed to come grab her away. The kids are not allowed near the litter box or her food and water bowls either. Make sure to set up those boundaries with your children.
• If you have other pets, introduce them on common ground. Don’t just put the cat into your dogs bed right when you bring them home. All of your animals should have their own areas on the home so introduce them in a  community area wherever that may be that nobody has claimed as their own. Watch your animals very closely at first when they interact to ensure everyone is getting along nicely and if they are not, pull the animals away from each other and try again later. My dog loves all animals so he had no problem with that cat but the cat gave my dog a few good whacks across his face but I think they have come to an understanding now. My son also has a ferret that we had to introduce and of course, cats naturally want to hunt animals like a ferret so we still keep a close on those two playing together probably forever.
• Give your cat a hideout spot. Chloe found her own in my closet where she likes to lay on one of the top shelves so I placed a bed in there for her to get away whenever she would like.
• Pet-proof your home. This is basically like baby-proofing your home. Make sure chemicals are somewhere safe, small toys or other tiny items are stored away, make sure any of your household plants are safe to a cat. Also make sure to clean under the beds, behind couches and in other small areas the cat can crawl into to make sure there are no unsafe items hiding.
• The must-have list from PetSmart. Below you will find a whole list of items your cat may need from nail trimmers to food and more.

The first stop after adopting your new family member is PetSmart for a great selection and amazing prices! Pets are welcome so take your furry friend on their first adventure with the whole family to pick out a collar, find new toys and grab the necessities like food and, of course, litter.

PetSmart carries all of the Tidy Cats products. TIDY CATS® Free & Clean™ Unscented Clumping Litter is a new dye and fragrance free littler option that does more than mask those litterbox odors. It actually works to destroy them with the odor-absorbing power of activated charcoal.

The must-have list from PetSmart:

• Stock up on TIDY CATS® Free & Clean™ Unscented Litter.
• Litter pan and scooper. You pick from a basic pan to something fancier and covered. Grab a sturdy pooper scooper.
• Collar that can breakaway. Grab a collar with bell attached in the appropriate size. Cats like to crawl, jump and squeeze into those hard to reach spaces in your home so make sure you have a collar that breaks away if they get caught on something for safety.
• Cat food. I recommend dry food but when adopting, try finding out what the previous owner was feeding the cat so you can stick to the same diet or slowly switch over to a new diet plan.
• Food and water dishes.
• Toys. My Chloe loves those fury play mice and little balls to toss in the air and carry around the house in your mouth.
• Bed. You cat needs a place to curl up and nap that is soft and comfortable. Chloe has her covered bed next ours in the bedroom and also a bed in my closet which happens to be her favorite area to get her quiet time.
• Scratch post or nail caps. If you cat still has their front claws, you will need a scratch post! On our visit to PetSmart we also found some nail caps which are pet safe nails that get adhered with a non-toxic glue over their own so they cannot scratch on furniture or anything else in your home.
• Nail clippers.
• Treats. Try out a few different treats to find your cats favorite to teach tricks or to give when they are being a good cat.

*Make an appointment with Banfield veterinarian services at your local PetSmart as soon as possible to ensure your new cat is healthy and up to date on all vaccinations! A trip to a PetSmart on-site grooming salon isn’t a bad idea either to get clean and those nails trimmed up.

Have you recently adopted a cat? Let me hear about your tips, tricks, and advice for giving your cat a warm welcome in the comments below to share with the Leggings ‘N’ Lattes community!