I strongly recommend that anyone who is wanting to add a kitten or cat to their life, do so by adopting one from a shelter or rescue organization. I have done this often and have found the following tips helpful when bringing home a cat or kitten from a shelter. I am offering these tips, not as a professional, but as someone who has provided a forever home for some numerous shelter animals. When you bring your newly adopted cat or kitten home, have one room of your home set up to be its personal domain. Have food, water, toys, and a litter box in that room. Allow the cat or kitten to become comfortable with you and with its new living quarters before allowing it to explore the whole house.
In some cases, a cat or kitten may hide immediately after you release it into the room. Rather than frantically trying to remove it from its hiding place, let it come out on its own. Speak softly to the cat even if you can't see it. Sit in the room quietly reading or watching TV until the cat comes out and approaches you. There have been times when I've had to visit quietly in the room with a cat numerous times a day for several days before a really frightened cat would make contact with me. It has always been worth the patience it required.
Once the cat is allowed to explore your home, let it find a place of security and always have that space available to it. Set limits and rules as the cat begins to explore your home. It's easier to set rules than to break inappropriate behavior that you have allowed to go on for a while.
I personally believe every cat should have a scratching post. Each time they start to scratch on furniture, redirect them to their scratching post. Sprinkle catnip around the post to attract the cat's attention.
Kittens are playful and should be given a selection of toys to keep them occupied. Playing with the kitten is a great bonding opportunity.
If you have other pets in your home, introduce the cat to them slowly. Never leave them together unsupervised until you know they have bonded or accepted each other.
The rewards for saving a shelter animal's life are immeasurable. It's as if these animals know that you did indeed give them a second chance by providing them a safe, secure, and loving forever home.
By VeronicaHB from Asheboro, NC
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Adopting a Shelter Cat or Kitten