Adopting an adult cat, which is at least 12 months old, can be for many reasons a good idea. Cats no longer puppies are more difficult to be adopted by families, since we tend to prefer small and tender kittens. Adopting an adult cat is an excellent choice for those with special family or work needs.
A kitten is a real earthquake and must be brought up from scratch. Tender but a concentrate of energies that will initially go to romp on furniture, curtains and beds. Adopting an adult cat for many can instead be safer. A grown-up cat is generally much quieter, with a character already outlined but still able of adapting to new situations and new houses.
How to set an adult cat in the new house
It is known that cats are territorial animals, so a cat entering a new house will experience some discomfort, he will have to explore the rooms and may hide as a first reaction. Here are some tricks to help him calm down and feel comfortable as quickly as possible:
1- Bring an object from the cattery where the adoption took place.
It is important to let him find something in the new home that reminds him of his old home: a cushion, a blanket or a toy.
2- Do not leave the cat move freely in the whole house. First he must settle down and it is better to limit the area of interest. Place him in a room with everything he needs: water, food, games and litter box.
3- Do not forget a scratching post, as the ones from Ferplast , with multiple shelves and hiding places. Ideal for leisure, jumping, climbing and using his nails.
4- Let him get familiar to you. It could be useful to leave some things with your smell, like a sweater with your perfume helping to get used to you.
5- Play with him, interact by playing, pampering or being present at lunch time. Try to be as gentle as possible, without sudden movements and without forcing him. Just give him time to get used to the new family, bringing him closer. Some cats are initially very suspicious and spend a lot of time in their safe hiding place: usually under the bed or behind the sofa.
6- Ask what his habits were. Those who have dealt with him certainly know his favorite food or games.
7- After the first 3 days, expand the areas where he can move inside the house.
8- Talk to the cat, make him hear your voice as much as possible.
9- Finally introduce new family members to the cat, always gradually and without noise.
Beware of stress
For an adult cat, being adopted most likely means landing in his third home. Observe his behaviors, if he doesn’t eat, if he hides himself, if he is aggressive and scared means that he is very stressed. Any change for the cat is difficult to overcome, for this reason one must arm oneself with a lot of patience and love. His mistrust will decrease day by day, following the advice we have given you in the previous point.
In the event he remains aggressive or excessively frightened, we advise you to ask your vet for help, sometimes a little “teamwork” is enough to solve the problem and become good friends!