Cat Parents: Bringing Your New Cat Home

If you're new to this whole cat parent thing, you might be feeling a little intimidated. Even if this new kitty isn't your first, adopting a new cat can be both exciting and overwhelming. It's easy to overlook something that you or your kitty might need to make her life more comfortable, especially for her first few days and weeks with you. Be sure you and your new cat have everything you need by following these ten tips to help you be the best pet parent to your new feline friend.

Before She Arrives

Before you bring your new furry friend home, take the time to prepare your home, your family, and yourself to make her transition to her new life is a seamless one.

1. Remove Potential Toxins

This is an important step to ensure your kitty's safety. Cats jump, climb and fit into small spaces, so look high and low for anything that might present a hazard, including household cleaning agents and other chemicals. Don't forget house plants — many common plants, including begonias, peace lilies and lucky bamboo are toxic to cats if eaten, and unfortunately cats love to eat plants. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) provides a comprehensive list of plants that are toxic to cats, but for the safety of both your new cat and your plants, it's best to relocate all plants and flowers so she won't be able to nibble on them.

2. Finish Cat-Proofing Your Home

A lot of cats like to chew on cords and string. This not only poses a choking hazard, but also an electrocution hazard if she tries to eat an electrical cord. Be sure to secure all power cords, as well as pull cords on curtains and blinds, yarn, sewing thread and needles, decorative tassels, and anything else resembling string. Go through the house and check for any openings that would let her crawl into duct work, attics, crawl spaces or anywhere else she might become trapped, and double check that they're securely covered. If you have a dog door, you should also make sure she won't be able to use it as an escape hatch. The ASPCA recommends installing sturdy screens on all windows if they don't already have them, and making sure garbage cans are secured with tight-fitting lids.

3. Talk to Your Family

If you share your home with others, make sure everyone's on board with getting a new cat, and determine ahead of time who will be responsible for duties like feeding her and cleaning the litter box. If you have kids, establish rules and talk to them about safe ways to play with the cat.

4. Prepare Your Other Pets

If your new cat won't be an only pet, you'll need to plan on how to handle introductions carefully. PetMD recommends familiarizing your current pets with the new girl by letting them sniff something she's slept on or interacted with before bringing her into the house. Prepare a safe, small space for her to spend her first few days in isolation, such as a bathroom, to allow her to get acclimated to her new surroundings in peace. This will provide her places where she can hide from unwanted attention from other household members.

5. Buy Necessary Supplies

Food and water dishes, a litter box and cat litter will only serve her most basic needs. A good cat parent will of course also want her to be happy and comfortable. For this, you'll need grooming supplies like a cat brush, cat shampoo and nail trimmers, a variety of cat toys and at least one cat bed. If you want her to stay off the furniture, you'll likely need a cat bed for each room. Consider providing a cat tree to give her an alternative to jumping on cabinets or tables in order to satisfy her urge to perch on high ground. Scratching posts or pads will also give her an alternative to sharpening her nails on the furniture or carpet.