September Stories:

	Fundraising Focus: World Animal Week & Celebrity Christmas Evening
	A Day In The Life: Lucy Edwards – Cat Adoption Officer
	Find Me A Home: Casper
	Volunteer Case Study: Lindsay Harman - Residential Visits
	Happily Homed: Stan
	Mayhew International: Nowzad Dogs Update
	Animal Ideas: First steps with a new adopted cat

Animal Ideas:
First steps with a new adopted cat

For people who haven’t adopted before, a lack of knowledge about the basics of looking after an animal can be bewildering or even off-putting. At The Mayhew, we provide you with all the information and support that you need to make a new pet's transition into your home as smooth as possible. In this months Animal Ideas, we give a few pointers on taking home a newly adopted cat, with particular attention paid to nervous cats.

As always we stress that The Mayhew’s Animal Ideas are basic pointers on looking after an animal and for specific cases, you should seek out specific advice from a vet or animal trainer.

It’s important to make sure you’re prepared for the new arrivals. Keep all windows and doors closed and put the following in place: litter tray, food, water and of course a sleeping area.

If your chosen pet is confident place the carrier on the floor in the area you have chosen to introduce your cat to, opening the door and allowing the cat or cats to come out in their own time. Never rush a cat out of the carrier as all cats need to survey the area before feeling comfortable.

At this stage contact should be kept to a minimum and children must be asked to observe, not touch, allowing the cat the freedom to roam the area in a quiet environment.

Do not give the cat full run of your home unless you are certain they can cope with the vastness as they’re likely to have gotten used to a relatively enclosed space whilst in a cattery. Kittens should always be introduced slowly to other parts of the house and supervised at all times.

If you're adopting a nervous cat, you may want to confine them to one room before introducing them to the other rooms in your home.
Be prepared for nervous cats to go into hiding, and if possible, block any difficult to reach areas so that the cat cannot become trapped.
Never try and force a cat out of hiding, instead monitor them for eating, drinking and use of litter tray, which will probably be during the night.

A good way to encourage a nervous cat out of hiding is to spend time talking in the same room as them, perhaps reading the local paper quietly. The tone of your voice without intrusion will have a soothing effect and your pet will feel less threatened.

It could be slow progress, but please be assured that it's well worth the time spent when your pet eventually stays out of hiding, comes a little closer and eventually looks for you, which is a triumphant and rewarding moment.

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