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For more info, visit the Social Work and Pet Bereavement Services Web pages.
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Now that autumn is upon us, what better way to keep warm than to snuggle up with a new furry cat or kitten? Penn Vet behaviorist Dr. Ilana Reisner provides tips to better prepare your home for a new feline arrival.
Supplies
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| Young kittens may often need a shallow, tray-like litter box until they get bigger |
All the cat’s needs and supplies should be in the house before the animal arrives. Most important would be food, its litter box, food and water bowls and access to comfortable, safe places on which to perch, play and sleep. The most common behavior problem in cats is failure to use the litter box; this may develop even in a cat that has used the box faithfully. To prevent problems, provide an accessible, clean and adequately sized box. Generally, you should have at least as many litter boxes as cats in the house, plus at least one more. For example, if you have one cat, you should have at least two boxes, a two-cat household should have at least three and so on. In addition, the boxes should be large; a storage-type box is ideal, as long as the cat or kitten can enter easily. Some cats are deterred by scented litter, and most prefer an uncovered box. Young kittens may require a flat, tray-like box until they grow a bit.
Safety
Slowly walk through your home with a careful eye for potential escape routes or "traps" for a small cat or kitten. Cats can get into tight spaces and "disappear,” especially if they're timid or stressed when first brought home. Be aware that even a small window opening may be enough for a cat to squeeze through; loose or absent ceiling tiles or uncovered heating vents also can lead to escape, especially if high bookshelves or pipes give the cat access to the ceiling. The same is true for pieces of furniture or closets that may be open temporarily and then shut, inadvertently trapping the cat. Also, another a safety issue is toxic plants.
Other Household Animals
Cats may injure or kill small mammals or birds, and, in turn, can potentially be injured by other cats or dogs. Consider the other resident animals when introducing a new cat or kitten. If the dog is an "unknown quantity" because it has never lived with a cat, to keep the dog on a lead while introducing the two, and prepare a cat-safe space for the cat or kitten to live in for a while.
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| Initial hissing between a resident cat and a new cat often resolves within a week. |
Problems are common when a new cat or kitten is brought into a house where cats already live. Some caution and hissing are common at first; if these persist for more than a week, you may want to seek the help of a behavioral specialist (such as a veterinary behaviorist or certified applied behaviorist). To be safe, cats should be separated for the first week, with gradually increasing exposure through screens, glass doorways and other partial barriers.
Small mammals or birds can be at risk of a cat's predatory behavior. Although some cats seem less interested in these animals, others will persist in staring at them for long periods. Providing a cat-free space, such as a separate room, is best for small mammals and birds. Cages should be secured so that they cannot be opened or tipped. A cat sitting just inches away is stressful for these animals and, at least in the beginning, they should be separated when unsupervised. Finally, some animals, such as budgies, are fragile and may become victims even without being touched.
It's good to talk to your veterinarian first, or to select a veterinary hospital and open a file for the prospective new pet. This will give you the chance to discuss behavioral, environmental and social needs of kittens and cats.
Adoption Options
“Kitten Season”—the time of year, usually spring, when most kittens are born—ran late this year, and as a result, area shelters are still overburdened with many cats and new kittens needing homes. The following are good places to visit when considering adopting a homeless cat:
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Tiz Wonderful (right) works out with Curlin.Tiz Wonderful, a four-year-old Thoroughbred stallion, raced undefeated as a two-year-old. He could not race in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, however, because of a severe breakdown injury to his right hind leg at Belmont Park the previous fall.
Tiz Wonderful was taken to New Bolton Center, where radiographs and ultrasounds showed he had a career-ending and possibly life-threatening disruption of his suspensory ligament—a traumatic injury that could have crippled him or led to laminitis.
Thanks to the care he received, Tiz Wonderful was able to return to his owners' farm in Kentucky to recuperate; he is currently sound and will enter stud duty in 2009.
This is just one of the success stories made possible by Penn Vet's New Bolton Center and the outstanding care provided by its clinicians, technicians and staff.
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