A cat in a new house is often not anything like the friendly companion that people imagined. Most cats become silent, creepy and choose a shelter then select an individual. It is easy to misunderstand that initial impression as lack of interest, particularly among those households accustomed to dogs.
As a matter of fact, being a creature that copes with change, reserve is a natural response; as soon as one feels safe, affection is likely to manifest in more obvious (and even less obvious) forms. Faster attention is not the best route, it is a more relaxed environment, more comprehensible habits, and being able to recognize the subtle cues that indicate that it is too much or that it is alright.
1. Begin with a safe room which makes the world small
A sound-free starting area assists a fresh cat to familiarize with the odor and sound of the house without feeling intimidated. It is also easier to ensure that the eating, drinking and litter box habits are normal before allowing the cat to roam the entire house by keeping it in one room first. A simple enclosure consists of food, water, litter box, scratching surface, toys, and at minimum one comfortable hiding area; an exit on a hideout (two-opening box) can assist an anxious cat to feel not so confined. A large number of cats are willing to widen their territory after several days and some take longer; both trends are normal.
2. Allow the cats to dictate when they are adults forced bonding is backfiring
When a cat runs away, it is possible to carry him or her out of a hiding place or even to make him or her remain in one place, or to force a cat to pet it, and this will give the cat the idea that people are dangerous. Communication works better when the cat is in control of distance: the cat walks up, the cat walks away and attention ceases before annoyance develops. An applicable domestic concept here is that resting and hiding areas are no-go areas, particularly when it comes to children who are still getting used to the delicacy of handling.
3. Create trust on meals not a full bowl of food 24/7
Timely feeding may be transformed into a routine of relaxed socialization especially among timid cats. Eating with the cat will help the cat to associate an individual with something positive without demanding physical contact. In a case of cats who are going to leave shelters or foster homes, it is possible to stick to the food and feeding schedule familiar to the cat to minimize the stress on the time of the transition, and then make changes over time, in case of necessity.
4. Play should be the primary conversation during the initial stages
Playing is a way to release your energy, relieve stress and allow a shy cat to interact without being in close physical contact. Cats that like distance can usually be enticed with wand toys, and the confidence can be gradually built by having moments each day. Hands are not to be taken as toys as it is taught to bite and scratch as a usual play, which may make it harder to build the trust later.
5. It does not require a cat to read body language before it escalates
Cats express the state of discomfort before swatting and running. Vertical, erect tail is also used to indicate confidence and low tail is usually used to indicate fear and the meaning is always related to the situation or place where the cat is; it is always related to the surrounding environment and whether the cat can escape or not. Tail flicking will often be present with agitation and it is also common during strong stalking play- it is possible to see the entire body to aid in determining which is occurring. The ears that are angled back (particularly flattened airplane ears) normally denote fear or defensiveness. Slow blink (as opposed to rapid blink) is usually a signal of comfort, though, a slow blink in return can be a very subtle means of signaling safety. These signals can be recognized with practice, such as slow blink, tail and ear position.
6. Other cats should be introduced gradually and in a measured manner with the use of scent and relaxing timing
With resident cats, the initial effect of separation is the reduction of pressure on all. One of the most typical ones is isolation of cats during at least seven days and allowing them to familiarize themselves with the scent of one another, then create positive associations by providing them with treats by the door and changing bedding. After the tension has reduced, visual meetings can be effective: a physical barrier like stacked baby gates can be used to ensure that he can continue to see while rewards are given, as long as hissing continues. Initial introductions must be done when the cats are already relaxed that is after a meal or even after playing since the strain in the surroundings is likely to be transferred to the contact.
7. Observe stress symptoms, which are supposed to subside, not to increase
A certain amount of hiding and quiet behavior is to be anticipated in the beginning, but stress should diminish as time progresses. Symptoms such as lack of appetite, less grooming, sleeping in out of the ordinary locations, or uninteractivity may be common, and extreme stress may present itself by seeming to be fearful or violent. A cat that loses appetite must be timely addressed and constant changes in behavior should be monitored by visiting a doctor. Even the cats can purr when they are in good mood, however, purring may happen when they are in bad mood too, and that is why the whole picture is important.
The new cat does not have to be a lap cat in order to get bonded. Sitting beside a person and opting to eat with him in the room is also a significant step towards trust.
When the house remains constant and the signals of the cat are seen as instructions and not insurrections love will come according to a pattern that seemed both natural to the cat and unexpectedly satisfactory to the people.
