Congratulations on adopting & Saving a life!

A guide for adopting a rescue cat!

Before you bring your new friend home, please ensure you have considered:

Where will the cat sleep
Is the cat permitted on couches and beds
Who is feeding the cat
Unexpected costs may occur - am I prepared for vet bills?
Unexpected behaviours may occur - which trainers and vets should I use?
What happens if my circumstances change - who will care for the animal?
Ensure you you have a ID tag for your cat
Register your dog with your local council
Get Pet insurance - We recommend Fetch!

New cat checklist!

Fetch insurance

Bringing your BFF home

Research shows us that when a cat has a change, the stress hormone cortisol is pumping through their brains.

When cats are stressed they may show different behaviours than when relaxed and happy. This may be hiding, hissing, growling, toileting issues, etc

The first few days & weeks your new friend will be decompressing.

It's important to understand as they feel more comfortable and safe their behaviour will change. Even though they may appear confident, follow the 3-3-3 rule to see how they decompress with the change.

3 Days: Your dog may feel overwhelmed and may not act like themselves.
3 Weeks: They start to settle in, understanding your routine.
3 Months: They feel comfortable and secure in their new home.

Please be empathetic for your new bestie as they settle in.

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Body Language

The best way to understand your cats is to be empathetic!

Cats are sentient beings that have very subtle body language. Learn about how they communicate through their body language to better support your new friend.

Fear, Anxiety & Stress in cats

Learn about body language

Pat Consent

Just because your cat can't talk doesn't mean they don't communicate in other ways. One very important thing they may be communicating to you is how comfortable they feel with pats and interaction. It's always a good idea to check for consent from your pet before engaging with them.

Learn more about pat consent

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Fun Fact!

A cat's tail position and movement is one way to tell body language! Depending on the movement the could be alert, playful, or cranky!

Introducing Cats

Each cat will be very individual, a cats behaviour will depend on past history (if they have been socialised young), current environment and nutrition. Some cats may love other cats or tolerate other cats, but each cat will be very different and just because one cat likes another, does not mean that rule applies to all cats.

If two cats don’t get along, this can cause a stressful environment which can lead to behaviour and health issues.

When introducing cats, always take it slow.

Follow the guidelines
Give each cat separate spaces for eating and toileting
Give each cat a separate hiding space & high up space
Watch their body language

Introducing cats article

Introducing cats video

How to Greet a Cat

Visitors

Please limit the number of visitors in the first few days. We know everyone wants to meet your newest family member, but your cat needs time to settle and to bond with your family before being introduced to too many others. They may be exhausted from the stress of it all and be happy to lay down and sleep for a while, so please keep excitement to a minimum.

Cats may just want to hide when encountering visitors and new people for the first time, ensure they have access to safe spaces to hide if they do.

Kids

No child should ever be left alone with a cat for any reason. It is vital that you supervise your children’s play with your new cat, making sure that each child respects the cat and gives them their required space. Some cats can be very spicy and can easily injure a child without intent.

Let them play as normal while the cat has a chance to observe them. You will need to teach both children and your cat to be respectful of each other.
Make sure your children understand that your cat should never be approached or bothered when in their bed, and particularly when sleeping. They should also be taught not to go near them at meal times or to try to take toys out of their mouth.

Fun Fact!

Cats love to climb because they are descendants of tree hunters! Climbing and scratching is instinctual for a cat, and releases happy hormones in their brain.

Feeding

Cats have stomachs like humans and will get hungry every 8-9 hours, so they require a meal in the morning & evening. We recommend high quality food found at Vets & Pet Shops like Royal Canin & Hills brands.

If you got fed the same meal daily in a bowl, I bet it could be pretty boring! We recommend enrichment feeding your cat.

Behaviours like sniffing, chewing, climbing, chasing & licking are incredibly satisfying for your cat. This is what we mean by enrichment.

Cats need exercise to stay physically healthy, they also need mental stimulation to avoid boredom.

There are many types of enrichment that can be used to improve your cat’s health and happiness; Sensory, Social, Nutritional, and Behavioural. You will find that some activities fall into more than one category.

Enrichment Feeding Guide

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Cat Proofing Your Home

The first few weeks is when your cat is most at risk of escaping as they are in an unfamiliar environment. Be diligent about all doors, windows, latches and small hiding spaces like vents.

Pick up any sharp objects and choking hazards like paper clips, bottle caps, staples, nails, pins, needles, yarn and rubber bands. Then get down on the floor at a cat’s level, and look again.
Put cleaning products and medications on high shelves or in cabinets with child-proof locks.
Store human food in closed pantries and cabinets.
Cover cords and wires or move them out of reach.
Look for and block any small spaces that your cat might try to hide in.
Either secure or put away any breakable objects that are valuable.
Move houseplants out of reach.
Keep washing machines and dryers closed, and block access to the space behind.
It's a good idea to make sure that the toilet lid is always down just in case.

Household toxic items

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Find a Fear Free Trainer

Training

It's a myth you can't teach a cat tricks!

If you have behavioural problems with your furry friend, there are a lot of experts to support you. We recommend finding a trainer or veterinary behaviourist that is certified fear-free.

We recommend this awesome cat body language book! By Lili Chin.

30 Tricks to Teach your Cat

Counter Conditioning