If you already have a cat or kitten, you know the tremendous love and companionship a feline friend can provide. Here are a few pointers and reminders to help make the transition for you and your new family member a lot smoother.

Follow the breeder's directions and advice!! The breeder will know the cat better than anyone.

All of our cats must be INDOOR ONLY and NO DECLAWING

Take time to read this entire page. Learn how to set up a 'safe-haven' for the newcomer,and how to introduce to other cats, and introduce to dogs

A Stressful Time for Everyone

You must be patient acquiring an adult as they will be fearful at first and understandbly so. They will not know who you are or where they are...so you must have compassion and empathy for them. Once they adjust you will have a loving little friend.

If you are willing to invest some love and time, then an adult WILL come around - they are all different. Some will adapt nearly instantly...and some may take 3 or 4 weeks...some more. They are all individuals and the success is really dependent upon the effort you are willing to put into it.

If you are looking for INSTANT gratification, get a kitten or a puppy!!

Don't buy an adult because you can't afford a kitten. I have seen this happen and seems like the buyer is just never fully satisfied.

They are indoor only, not to be declawed nor ever dumped in a pound.

If you cannot keep the cat, we will help you find a new home for it or if possible, take it back. NOTIFY US FIRST!

Making a "Safe Place" for Your New Cat or Kitten

Remember, coming into a new home will most likely be highly stressful for your new kitten or cat. Older cats may especially have a rough time in new and different surroundings.

A cat's first and natural reaction to new surroundings is to run and hide. Setting up a "safe place" for your cat to hide and hang out will help to make her feel more secure and adjust to her new home a lot quicker. A little Rescue Remedy will also reduce your new kitty's stress level.

I encourage you to get a laser light as they ALL love to play chase and it is a good ice-breaker. And don't let the kitty just HIDE!! Go GET her...pay attention to her. You need to be the proactive one.

Remember that adult cats are highly territorial. Kittens are less so, but it still helps to follow a few suggestions to help reduce the stress and ease the transition for your new family member.

Setting up a safe place inside your home will help to ease the transition for your new kitten or cat. Just like when you bring home a new baby, you will need to have a place already set up for your cat, along with some essential cat supplies.

If possible, set up a small room for your cat to have as his own territory for a little while. If you don't have a spare room, a walk-in closet, or the bathroom will work fine. The room should be quiet and separate from other pets.

Always start a new adult out in a small area!!!

This will become their safe-haven. They will venture out as they feel safe to do so. Some adjust faster than others...some in a few days, some in a few weeks, but keep in mind, they are suddenly somewhere foreign and they don't know what has happened.

I can't tell you how many people actually do more harm than good by turning a newcomer loose in the house within the first two weeks!!! Doing this stands a good chance of ruining the cat's ability to ever adjust properly.

Getting The Essentials Ready

Be sure to have the essential cat supplies already set up for your cat. At an absolute minimum, you'll need the following:

• cat litter box and litter box supplies
• healthy cat food
• fresh water -- Be sure to keep the litter box as far as possible from the food and water
• a cat scratching post, or scratching alternative (such as a cardboard scratcher)
• some cat toys
• cat bed which can be as simple as a folded up towel or a pillow in the corner.

After your new family member is settled and ready to move in to the rest of her new home, you may want to consider additional cat supplies and cat furniture.

Introducing Your New Cat to Her "Safe Place"

When you first bring your new kitten or cat home, leave her in the pet carrier for a short time while you are in the room setting up or hanging out with your cat. After a little while, open the cat carrier.

• Don't force your cat to come out. This will only cause more stress and slow down the process of making your cat feel comfortable and safe. Let her decide when she wants to come out. Some cats will remain in the carrier for hours. Don't worry. This is normal for cats.
  
  Eventually, a bit of comfort and some hunger will set in and your cat will come out to explore.
  
  
• Make sure there are food, water, and a litter box set up in your cat's temporary and safe place.

Spend Time With Your New Cat in Her "Safe Place"

As often as you can, spend time visiting with your new cat in her safe space. It's a great idea to wait to bring home your new feline friend until a time when you'll be home for a while. If you work during the week, bringing your cat home on a Saturday morning is a good idea.)

Go into your kitty's safe place several times a day, but don't force your attention on your cat.

She'll let you know when she's ready. It could take your new cat a day, a week, or even more to get used to her safe place and feel comfortable.

Your cat's comfort will depend on several things:

• her temperament
• past experiences
• whether there are other animals in the house
  
  
  Kittens often adjust quicker than full grown cats. Don't worry and don't force the issue. Try to be patient; it will pay off in the long fun. Let your cat or kitten set the pace.

Let her get comfortable in this smaller space before you open up the rest of your home to your new cat.

Time to Explore the Rest of Your Home!

Once your new cat seems comfortable in her safe space, it's time to let her explore the world beyond. Open the door to your cat's safe haven and let her come out and explore the rest of your home at her own pace.

Always keep the door to the safe haven open so your cat can retreat to this safe place when she needs to. Your cat will most likely appear hesitant and a bit of a scaredy cat at first. Don't worry. This is normal.

Most cats will start to make small excursions under the cover of night. This will include rapid retreats back to the safe haven, so be sure to keep the door open and don't let it shut by itself. When getting used to her new home, your cat should always be able to retreat to her safe place.

Be Patient with Your New Cat

Adapting to his new environment and establishing a new territory will take some time. For some cats, it may be just a matter of days, for others, a matter of weeks or even months.

If there are other animals in the house, the adjustment process could take a bit longer, but don't worry. Cats have a way of working out territorial issues.

Let your cat adjust to her new environment at her own pace and you will have a happier cat. With enough time, your cat will rightfully act like she owns the place!

Multi-Cat Household - Introducing a new cat to a resident cat; how to help cats adjust to each other.

Survival Tips: "A multi-cat household can be a joy; if you lay the right foundation."

Bringing your new cat or kitten home to a household that already has another cat or cats could take a little more effort, depending upon all the personalities involved.

Your New Cat Needs a Safe Place of Her Own

Just as when you bring a new cat to a home without other animals, you must set up a safe place for your new cat. As a matter of fact, the safe haven is even more important for your new cat in a home with more than one feline.

Let your new cat get used to her safe haven and feel comfortable there before you introduce her to the other cat or cats in your home. You can also use a little Rescue Remedy to help in reducing the stress of the new cat or your resident feline.

Territorial Issues

Cats are very territorial animals. Providing a safe haven for your new cat will not only help her adjust to her new environment, but will also help the resident cat(s) in your multi-cat household, as well.

In all likelihood, your resident cat will know that another cat has been brought into her home, into her territory. Keeping the cats separate will allow them to slowly get used to each other's scents before their first face-to-face meeting.

First Face-to-Face Meeting—The "Sniff Test"

When it seems that your new cat is comfortable enough in her safe place, it's time to crack the door open a few inches and let your new cat and resident cat sniff each other.

Watch your cats interact like this for about a half an hour. The responses will vary from cat to cat, so your supervision is important to ease the transition in your multi-cat household.

A little hissing or batting at each other is normal behavior in a new multi-cat household. But if one or both of your cats gives a very intense hiss or growl, or if they swat at each other, close the door.

Never punish your cat for aggressive behavior towards another cat. This will only make your cat more stressed and upset and will prolong the aggression between the two cats. Just close the door. Repeat this process until the visits become calmer.

One way to help break the ice and help your cats to get used to each other in your multi-cat household is for you to use an interactive cat toy and play with your cats together.

You can also give healthy cat treats to each cat on either side of the door.

Another helpful thing to do is to switch the cat's bedding so that they get used to each others' scents.

Take it slowly and let your cats set the pace.

Exploring the Rest of the House in a Multi-Cat Household

If the supervised "sniff tests" are going well, it's time to open the door and let your new cat come out and explore. At the same time, your resident cat can go into your new cat's safe haven and explore.

These excursions into each others' territory should be supervised by you and fairly short in duration, perhaps a half hour at a time. If things seem to be going well, the time can be extended. Ideally, this can be done several times a day with your new cat retreating back to her safe space to process the information. This gives your resident cat the same opportunity to process in her own territory.

At first, your cats may not seem to be getting along so well. This adjustment period can take from two weeks to two months, and sometimes even longer.

Some "fighting" is normal as your cats work out their territorial issues. Be patient and try not to interfere, unless it seems that they may hurt each other by drawing blood or if one cat seems to be continually chasing or dominating the other.

Aggressive Behavior

If your cats are seriously fighting and are in danger of hurting each other, use a squirt bottle with water and spray the cat who is acting overly aggressive. If you don't have a water bottle handy, a loud clap of your hands can do the trick.

Don't put yourself in the middle of a cat fight, as you could get seriously hurt.

Best of Buddies or Tolerant Roommates?

	With time, your cats will get used to each other and some may even become the best of friends. However, you should also be prepared for the possibility that your two cats may only learn to tolerate each other and never become best buddies.
Cats' personalities are somewhat like people, and there is no guarantee of how your cats will get along in a multi-cat household. But if you are patient and take the process slowly, you're doing the best you can to help your cats get off on the right paw.

Cats and Dogs - Introducing new cats and dogs to each other.

Can Your New Cat and Dog Get Along? "Yes, your new cat and dog can get along; as long as you make the proper introductions!"

Bringing Your New Cat Home

Cats and dogs can get along. And, of course, you hope your new cat and resident dog will get along. However, bringing a new cat home to a household with a dog may require some extra work.

Some cats may already be used to being around dogs and vice versa. You won't know how this particular cat and dog will get along, so it's best to play it safe and keep them separated until you are around to supervise.

Set Up a Safe Place for Your Cat

You should set up a safe place for your new cat before you bring her home. Let her get comfortable in her safe space and then let her get used to the rest of your home before you introduce her to your dog.

Letting Your Cat Explore Her New Home

When you think your new cat is comfortable in her safe place, allow her to explore the rest of the house without your dog there. Let her get used to your home and start to feel that this is her territory.

The more comfortable and familiar with her new territory she is, the easier it will be for her to handle a potentially stressful situation, such as meeting your dog for the first time.

Start with Supervised Visits

When it seems that your new cat is comfortable in the rest of the house, it's time for her to meet your dog. Make sure this visit is supervised and that your dog is on a leash. It's essential that your dog knows basic obedience and is under control for the first meetings.

One of the best ways for your cat and dog to first meet is when your cat is on a high surface that your dog cannot reach. Bring your dog into the room on a leash and watch out for any aggressive behavior.

If your dog seems to be doing OK, but your cat seems nervous or threatened, it's time to let her retreat to her safe haven until she gets a little more comfortable and seems willing to try meeting your dog again. But if things seem to be going OK, you can let your dog walk around (on leash at all times).

As long as your dog is on a tight leash, your new cat can approach your dog if she wants and can also have an escape route. Make sure she can get easily back to her safe space.

Watch Out for Aggressive Behavior

It will be normal for your dog to be curious about the newcomer, but if your dog lunges, snarls, growls, bares her teeth, or exhibits other aggressive behavior, then the animals should be separated. This behavior is considered serious enough that one local S.P.C.A. says that the cat is better off being returned to the S.P.C.A. I hope this isn't the case for you, but it's always best to do whatever is best for your cat and dog.

If your dog barks or tries to chase your cat, you should correct your dog immediately. He needs to learn right away that these behaviors are not acceptable.

On the other hand, if your new cat bats your dog on the nose as a warning, this is acceptable behavior and should not be discouraged (aahh, the advantages of being a cat). This is a sign that they are setting up boundaries and working out their relationship. It's a good thing.

Be sure to reward your cat and dog for any friendly behavior and encourage their positive interactions.

Keep the First Visit Short

Just as when you are introducing your new cat to another cat in your home, it's important that the visits between your cat and dog are supervised and only last for about a half an hour to start (less, if things aren't going well). Then separate your cat and dog until you can supervise the next visit.

Don't rush it or you could set back their progress. Use your best judgment to decide when it will be OK for your dog to be off-leash with your new cat.

Let your cat set the pace and reward them both profusely for their friendly behavior and interactions.

Kittens and Dogs

Although it's usually easier to introduce a kitten and dog, it's still possible for an adult cat and dog to get along. Mind you, they may not always become the best of friends, but they can learn to live in harmony.

It's recommended that you not leave a kitten under four months old alone with a dog. The kitten needs to be able to defend himself should the need arise.

Four months is a general guideline for leaving your kitten alone with your dog. If it seems to you that your five- or six-month old kitten cannot yet defend himself, then don’t allow him to be unsupervised with your dog