You realized that a cat can be a wonderful creature that can bring a lot of joy to your life, and now you are planning on buying or adopting one. So what do you do if you plan to add this new cuddly addition to your family? Here are a few things to think about.

Preparing Your Home

Welcoming the cat into the new home can be an exciting as well as overwhelming experience but, some action on your part is required before a cat can be safely added to the family circle.

1. The first thing you may need to do is to kitten or cat proof your home. This means removing small items like tinsel, rubber bands, screws and nails that may have fallen on the floor and other dangerous items that may choke the new addition.
2. You must also have a cat carrier on hand which will become a safe as well familiar place for the new cat.
3. Also be sure to have a litter box to help the cat understand where to eliminate.
4. Adequate safety for your cat should be your number one priority. Keep windows locked, especially if you live in a high rise apartment. Check all doors that may not close securely - make your home escape proof!

Socializing The Cat

Once you have your cat secured in the home, you will need to socialize it. Socializing your cat is an important chore to help your new cat adapt to his new home environment. First you want to spend time playing with your cat. Get all family members who live in the house and will be around the cat to play with him as well. Also, if you have other cats, dogs or other pets, be sure to get them involved in meeting and playing with the new cat as well.

Playing, touching, petting and handling are important parts of socializing your cat. However, if you are bringing home or adopting an older cat, give the cat time to get adjusted. Don’t force him to be friendly with strangers (including yourself). Let him come to you or other family members as he feels comfortable. Remember that you want the new cat to have a pleasant, not traumatic, experience. Understanding cat behavior can be a bit perplexing and needs time before cat training techniques can be successfully applied to keep the cat from engaging in unwanted behavior. So just have a little patience.

Cat Health and Care

Cat care will normally revolve around its food and nutrition needs and these will also change as it grows older. Premium cat food formulas can be given at different stages of his life to help him stay fit as well as healthy.

Giving the cat food that has all the necessary nutrients as well as being delicious is essential for its health. Try to refrain from giving your cat human food which will upset the nutrient balance of its diet. Your cat’s food should contain milk but, it should be supplemented with raw eggs, in limited doses, and raw fish and meats should be given with other ingredients to complete a nutritious and delicious diet.

It is also essential to take good care of the cat’s teeth as dental diseases can affect it as much as humans get affected by dental problems. It is also a good idea to have your cat’s teeth cleaned regularly by a friendly veterinarian. Good veterinarian dental care would prolong the life of the cat’s teeth as well as ensure that it does not require any painful oral treatment.

You may also consider topical flea control products to keep your cat free of fleas and other pests. And having a first did kit handy to prepare for emergency treatment of the cat.

It may seem like a lot to prepare to bring a new cat home, but remember if you keep your cat safe and healthy, he will bring you many years of enjoyment and love.

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