TAIL TALK
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[You've heard the phrase "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" from Charles Dickens Tale of Two Cities? Well, this has been one of those weeks. Our cat, Thomason, crossed the rainbow bridge long before his time. Country living can be difficult for house animals that live part time outside, and Tommy met his match on a day when he wasn't prepared for the fight. He isn't the first animal we've lost this way and I'm sure he won't be the last. We do our best to keep our animals safe, but this is why I beg you not to dump your animals in the country when you can no longer take care of them. Tommy had a safe place to call home just steps away from where he lost his fight for life, so what chance would an animal with no experience in the area and no place to call home just steps away have out here? In honor of our Thomason I found a great article on Petfinder.com that goes into detail about how to bring a new cat into your home, so hopefully there won't be any issues that would cause you to want to part ways and possibly dump your cat in the country.
Do New Cats Need to be Litter Box Trained?
By Dr. Stephanie Janeczko, D.V.M., Medical Director for Animal Care & Control of New York City
Going to a new home is a stressful situation for any cat, and some need more time to adjust than others. The best way to help your new friend adjust to his home is to give him time and safe place to hide. If there is one word you need to know about introducing a cat to your home, it's this: SLOWLY!
Initially, your new cat should be restricted to a single room in the house with all the necessities -- food and water, a place to rest, a place to hide (this doesn't need to be anything fancy -- cats love having a cardboard box or paper bag to hide in), something to scratch, and a litter box. This is also the perfect time to set up your litter cafeteria so that you know exactly what your cat will like best! Be sure to spend plenty of time with your new cat during this time, but don't force him to interact with you -- you should let him come to you on his own terms. Some cats will be out exploring that first day, and others might hide for a week, so it is important to go as slowly as your cat needs you to.
Once your kitty has adjusted to this area of your home, it's time to give him access to a bit more of the house. Again, this should be done slowly and gradually if at all possible rather than turning your cat loose to a whole new area. If your new cat shows signs of stress, you may need to restrict his access to a smaller area of the house and allow for more time for adjustment. With enough time, patience, and attention, just about every cat can happily settle into your home!
Your new cat doesn't need an expensive cat house to sleep in because a cardboard box with a blanket will do just fine and will ultimately be their favorite place to retire anyway. All they want is someplace private to hide. They need a place to get up in the air so they can check out their domain as they would if they were outside climbing trees and a perch by a window so they can see the wildlife that lives just outside their home. It doesn't take much to have the best friend you always wanted in your life if you keep in mind that cats have a couple of needs that need to be met. Meet those needs and they'll be loyal and loving beyond anything you've dreamed about and you'll help solve the cat overpopulation problem in the process. And never forget, it's only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.