Welcoming a Senior Cat Into Your Home
As you look around the pet shelter, you see cats of all shapes, colors, and ages. You’re surprised by the sure number of older cats that you see. Even if you are dead set on getting a kitten, you shouldn’t rule out the joy of taking home a senior cat.
The adoption fee will be much cheaper. In fact, in many cases, you can adopt your new fur friend for free. You also know what you’re getting.
Kittens can be unpredictable. You never know what kind of adult they’ll grow up to be. The shelter will be able to tell you exactly what kind of temperament the mature cats have.
There’s only one real problem with adopting an older cat. Getting them adjusted to their new home. They’ll be spooked by the foreign environment at first.
Check out this guide to learn how to get your new friend used to the idea of living with you.
Preparing Your Home for a Senior Cat
Before you bring your feline friend home, you’ve got to do a little cat-proofing. Your older cat won’t be able to get around your home as easily as a kitten can. They’ve got special needs that you’ve got to meet.
It’s possible that they won’t be able to jump up to high places like they used to. Create a bunch of comfortable laying spots that’s easy for them to access. If their mobility is too hindered, you might have to create little ramps around your home so they can get up to sunny perches and couches without having to jump whatsoever.
Lastly, your older cat might not be as spry and energetic as a kitten but they’ll still have the urge to scratch stuff. Buy a few scratching posts so your furniture doesn’t become the victim.
Get a Special Room Ready
It’s not a good idea to try and introduce your cat to your entire home on the first day. Again, they’ll be spooked by the new environment so you want to take things slow. Prepare a special room for the cat and let them spend the first few days (or longer) in there where they can feel safe.
In this room, you want to provide them with all the basics. Set up a litter box, give them a comfy bed to lay on, purchase food and water bowls, and give them an out.
An upside-down cardboard box with holes cut in it will do fine. They just need a safe place to hide when they get a little too overwhelmed.
Take Things Slow
Your cat may not take with you and the room you’ve provided for them right away. In fact, they might be a bit hesitant to leave their cat carrier. Give them pets and talk to them in a gentle voice to try and slowly coax them into coming out to explore.
Cats are cute but try to resist picking up your senior cat to love on it. That will probably make it feel more anxious. Instead, sit by the carrier and wait for it to come out to sit on your lap on its own.
You can also try to persuade them to explore by putting out a small bit of food and water. Don’t put out too much because the cat’s nerves will have it feeling a little nauseous.
If the cat won’t eat at all, you can try giving them CBD for cats to stimulate their appetite. That might calm its nerves some as well.
Bond with Your New Fur Baby
You want your cat to see you as someone who will love them and keep them safe. That’s why it’s important that you make an attempt to bond with it. Doing so will speed up the house introduction process.
Purchase toys that will allow you to be an active part of playtime. Feather wands are perfect for this.
Try hand feeding them their senior cat food for the first few weeks. It’s a great bonding exercise that teaches them to trust you and makes them feel like they can rely on you.
If you have to be out of the house for work a lot, consider buying a pet camera. They can allow you to check up on your pet and interact with it from anywhere. Some of them even allow you to feed your cat or use a laser to play with it.
Introducing Your Cat to Your Other Pets
Introducing a new cat to your other pets can be a bit tricky. This is especially true when the cat is a senior. This isn’t a process that you can rush through.
They need to get adjusted to your home before you even think about opening up introductions. Keep them separated for a few weeks so your cat can get used to the smells of other pets.
When you do allow them to meet face to face, do it through a screen door, or keep the other pet in a carrier. The last thing you want is for your dog to get scratched because they got a little too excited and spooked your senior cat.
Be Patient
The last piece of advice we have for you is to be patient. Your older cat isn’t going to get used to living in your home overnight. It’s going to take weeks until it finally feels comfortable enough to start exploring your entire house.
All you can do is show your new cat as much love and affection as you can and wait for it to open up to you.
Help Your Older Cat Adjust to Their New Environment
Even though they won’t be with you for as long as you would like, adopting a senior cat can be a worthwhile experience. Once they get used to you they’ll shower you with so much affection that you can’t stand it. Getting used to you may take a while though.
They’ll be a little nervous about exploring their new environment. Using the steps above should help them adjust but if they don’t CBD can help calm them. Check out our shop to get started.
