Advice for Prospective Cat Owners 139
This room should contain all that the cat or kitten needs:● Food.
● Water – placed away from the food.
● Litter trays – placed away from food and water.
● Comfortable and warm bedding.
● Toys.
● Hiding and ‘safe’ places – for example, cardboard boxes, access under furniture
and/or high places.
The safe room should also be somewhere that the cat or kitten will later have easy
access to.
The homecoming
● Always transport the cat or kitten in a secure purpose-built cat carrier. Hold the
carrier close to your chest rather than by the handle, as the ‘swinging’ motion
when you walk may be disorientating and unpleasant for the cat or kitten.
● A cloth or item of bedding containing scent from the cat or kitten’s current home
should go into the carrier as well.
● If transporting by car, the carrier should be well secured using a seat belt or simi-
lar to prevent it from moving around.
● When you reach your home take the cat or kitten in the carrier straight to the
pre-prepared ‘safe room’.
● Open the carrier and allow the cat to exit in his own time. Don’t lift him out or
make any fuss.
● Allow the new cat or kitten to explore the room and/or hide as he wants. Don’t
try to restrain him or remove him from a hiding place. Give him time.
● Keep the carrier containing the ‘familiar scent cloth’ in the room with him. Or if
he finds a preferred hiding place put the cloth there.
● Allow the new cat or kitten to become settled and relaxed in this safe room before
allowing him access to the rest of the house.
● If you have other cats, see Appendix 5 for further advice. If you have a dog,
see Appendix 7.
References
Ahola, M.K., Vapalahti, K. and Lohi, H. (2017) Early weaning increases aggression and ste-
reotypic behaviour in cats. Scientific Reports 7(1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11173-5.
Bernstein, P.L. (2007) The human–cat relationship. In: Rochlitz, I. (ed.) The Welfare of Cats.
Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Caney, S. and Halls, V. (2016) Feline bereavement. In: Caring for an Elderly Cat. Vet
Professionals, Edinburgh, UK, pp. 113–117.
Dinis, F.A. and Martins, T.L.F. (2016) Does cat attachment have an effect on human health?
A comparison between owners and volunteers. Pet Behaviour Science 1, 1–12.
Finkler, H., Gunther, I. and Terkel, J. (2011) Behavioural differences between urban feeding
groups of neutered and sexually intact free-roaming cats following a trap-neuter-return
procedure. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 238, 1141–1149.