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Acclimatization

Kittens

If you have adopted a kitten, please remember that this is probably your kitten's first time away from the only home they have ever known. Give the kitten time and don't expect him to be best friends with you right away. Keep the kitten's introduction to other family members and pets as quiet and stress-free as possible and, most of all, allow him a day to become used to the new surroundings.

Show the kitten their litter box, food and water as soon as you get them home but be prepared for accidents! However, don't spank the baby if they miss their litter box! Rather, pick them up, put them in their box, and make digging motions with their front paws. Young kittens sometimes forget where their boxes are, or suddenly realize they have to go now - this is normal, and will pass quickly. Also, kittens do best with their 'own' litter box and their 'own' food bowl.

Introduce the kitten to one room at a time; offer encouragement and petting, but allow them to explore in their own time. After they are comfortable and settled down in the first room, allow them to proceed to others. Try not to startle the kitten, and again, remember that this is a stressful time. It is not unusual for a new kitten to hide, be skittish, or refuse to eat for a couple of days. Give lots of 'gentle' petting, soft speech, and encouragement and you will find that the kitten will quickly adjust.

Be aware that the kitten might cry a lot the first couple of nights. Although they are completely weaned, they may miss being around other cats or their mother, or just feel insecure and lonely. As soon as they make friends with you and your other pet(s), this crying should stop. If the kitten does not stop crying, there could be another problem and you should consider consulting your vet.

If you have other pets, wait until the kitten is settled and comfortable before bringing in other animals, then only one at a time. Do not leave the kitten alone with the other pet(s) until you are certain that they are good friends (this may be several weeks!). First let the animals smell where the other has been and then see each other from a distance. When they are first introduced, if they are a dog and cat, have the dog on a leash and make sure the cat does not scratch the dog (keep a water spray bottle handy). Be certain to give the pets already in your home lots of attention in order to prevent jealousy and avoid stirring territorial instincts. The original pet may not take too kindly to the new addition. The new kitten should have his own litter pan and food dish.

Cats

Your cat has been under stress. They have been in a strange place full of other animals. Now they are in a new home, with a new family and maybe even other pets. While you are ready to make your cat a part of your family, they may need transition time. They may go under a bed or some other hiding space. A few hours or even a couple of days may pass before your feline friend decides to come out from hiding. When they emerge, try not to make any sudden movements. Talk softly to them and allow them to sniff you when they are ready. Place treats nearby to lure them out. When your cat realizes you will not hurt them, they will become comfortable and content in your presence.

To introduce two cats, keep them separated for a couple of days, allowing them to smell each other's bedding. Then allow them to sniff each other under a door. The first encounter may be hostile, but allow the cats to work it out. Keep a spray bottle with water ready in case a fight should occur. If the first attempt is unsuccessful, wait a few days and try again.

When introducing a dog and a cat, When the dog is in a calm state and still on a leash, allow the dog and cat to view each other at a distance. You should exude calm but also express firmness and not allow the dog to chase the cat or the cat to scratch the dog. Another human family member should hold the dog leash while you calmly pet the cat, thereby letting the dog know that the cat is part of the family. Most dogs want to please their human companion. If the dog remains fairly calm, allow the dog, while still on a leash, to get close to the cat.

A dog's basic instinct is to chase a cat. Whether the dog chases or not depends on the introduction and on the cat. A cat who is not afraid of dogs and does not run is less likely to provoke a chase. The new dog and your cat should not be alone together for a few weeks because the dog may still chase a running cat. Also, if your dog sees the cat outside, they may feel like the cat is fair game for a chase.

It is important to give equal attention to your original pet. Do not ignore them as this may cause resentment of the new pet, and most important is that the original pet too needs to feel loved, even more so because of the new addition to your family.