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All You Need To Know Before Adopting A Cat

Adopting a cat can see you develop one of the most beautiful bonds of your life as you connect with your feline friend. Cats are playful creatures who can be very affectionate and form a strong relationship with you. Every time you play with your cat or simply spend time with them, you may notice a significant drop in stress levels and experience a boost of happiness. However, it is important to remember that cat adoption is a big decision which comes with a lot of responsibilities. Your home will become the cat’s home and you become their family. To ensure they get the best possible future with you, there are a few things that you need to understand before proceeding with cat adoption.

Things to consider before cat adoption

Whether you are opting to adopt a kitten or a grown cat, here are some things you need to consider before going through with the entire process.

The cat will need to be spayed/neutered:
If the cat has not been spayed or neutered already at the time of adoption, you will need to get this done. If you are adopting a kitten, you will need to get them spayed/neutered once they are of suitable age. Do talk to the shelter house and a vet for more information on the procedure.
Proceed with cat adoption only after reviewing your routine:
If you lead a busy lifestyle, you will need to consider how you will make time for your cat. This includes taking care of your cat and maintaining their feeding times. You will need to dedicate your time to planning the right cat food, serving meals at proper intervals, and ensuring that you can make time for play too.
Adoption is a long-term commitment:
Adoption is a permanent duty and a bond that lasts for a lifetime. When you bring home a rescued cat or adopt one from a shelter, you are providing the animal with new hope. The cat will be a member of your family and you will need to treat them as such. The lifespan of cats generally ranges from 12 to 20 years, and this is how long your commitment will be. Only once you have considered the enormity of your decision and are ready for it, should you go through with cat or kitten adoption.

Providing favourable conditions for the adopted cat

Before you bring home an adopted or a rescued cat, you will need to make a few changes in your house to create favourable conditions for them. You can begin by doing the following:

Remove items that can be toxic to a cat, like certain plants or chemical agents.
Cover up exposed electrical wires in a way that the cat can’t reach them (since they might try to chew up the wire, which can lead to a severe accident).
Prepare your kids and teach them the basics of being responsible around a cat.
Keep a special room or space for the cat, so they can feel safe and get a sense of belonging.
Find a vet near your area where you can take the rescued cat for regular check-ups.

What are some benefits of cat adoption?

Adopting a cat also has many benefits such as:

You help a cat in need:
If you adopt a cat instead of buying one, you will be helping a cat in need. You will be giving a rescued cat much-needed shelter, their own space, and a family that loves them.
The cat will most likely be trained:
A cat that is adopted from a shelter will already be trained in basic activities like feeding from a bowl and using a scratching post.
You can adopt a cat based on their personality:
One of the biggest benefits of adopting a cat from a shelter is that they often have an already established personality. This makes it easier for people to adopt a cat that best suits their lifestyle.

Factors to keep in mind when adopting a cat

When adopting a cat, here are a few factors you should keep in mind:

Presence of other pet cats:
If you have other cats at home, you will need to adopt a cat that likes their company. You can talk to the shelter home about this, so they direct you to cats who bond well with other cats.
The inevitable costs:
Adopting and taking care of cats means having to bear quite a few costs – costs of regular vet visits, medicines, foods, toys, and more. Moreover, if you are bringing home a rescued cat, they may require even more care and attention from a vet. So, do consider these costs before proceeding with the adoption.
Your routine:
When you adopt a cat, you should be able to make time for them and give them proper care and attention. You can also consider adopting a cat whose lifestyle matches yours. For instance, a cat who likes being independent can be a perfect choice for someone who is often busy.

Essentials to purchase for your cat

To give your cat the best life, ensure that you have all of the following essentials:

Food and water bowls
Litter box
Scratching post
Toys
Cat nips
Cat grooming equipment
A durable carrier or crate
Cat bed
Collar with an ID tag

Frequently asked questions

What is the best age cat to adopt?

If you are looking to adopt a kitten, the age of the kitten should ideally be 12 weeks. At 12 weeks of age, kittens are ready to move into a new home. You can also adopt a middle-aged cat that is younger than 10 years. Middle-aged cats usually have developed a personality which makes it easy to adopt them. Cats are also at their healthiest during this time. Adopting an elderly cat, who is over 10 years of age, also has some benefits. For instance, senior cats will already have a developed personality, and will most likely be less active and prefer staying indoors.

What basics do you need for a cat?  

A few basic things that you need for a cat are food and water bowls, a litter box, a scratching post, some toys, cat nips, some cat grooming equipment, a carrier or a crate, a cat bed, and a collar with an ID tag.

What is the first thing you should do when you get a cat?  

The first thing you should do after you bring a cat home is to make them feel safe and secure. The cat may feel nervous at first and might take time to open up and get used to you. Give your new pet the time and space they require, and they will adapt to you. Meanwhile, you should also have good quality cat food, food bowls, and water bowls ready at hand.

How long does it take for a cat to bond with you?  

There are a lot of factors which affect how quickly a cat bonds with you. Some of these factors include how old the cat is, what kind of shelter they have grown up in, whether they had a home before that, and what kind of life they had in that home. Bonding also majorly depends upon your behaviour towards the cat. So, there is no definite number of days to answer this question. All you can do is show the most care and affection possible to the cat while also giving them the required space and time to connect with you.

How long does it take an adopted cat to adjust?

A lot of factors affect how quickly an adopted cat can adjust to their new home and new owner. These factors include the cat’s age, whether they had a home before yours, and whether they had a good life there. The cat’s ability to adjust also depends upon the circumstances that brought them to the shelter home and your behaviour towards them. It is best to be patient and wait for your feline friend to get used to their new life.

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Is Your Cat A Picky Eater? Here Are Some Tips To Help You!
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Cats are known to be finicky and picky about a lot of things. Their pickiness in terms of toys and activities is fine and completely natural; if it extends to their eating, things could get a little concerning. If your cat is a picky eater, you can try a few remedies such as serving them different food items. If they still turn away from the food served, you should consult a vet. However, before drawing any conclusions, it is necessary to understand that it is in a cat’s nature to be fussy. And while your feline friend may be stubborn initially, they tend to adapt to a set routine eventually. So, here is a brief guide to help you better understand your cat’s pickiness about food.

Why is my cat not eating?
There are certain reasons why your cat turns from the food served. This behaviour may not necessarily indicate that your cat is a finicky eater.

Lack of appetite
If your cat is refusing to eat food served to them, it is possible that they are not hungry. Some possible reasons for this could be that they have been munching throughout the day and have had a lot of treats. If your cat does roam around outdoors by themselves, it is entirely possible that they switched to their hunting instincts and caught prey.
If you notice your cat has not eaten in more than 24 hours, it might be a sign of an underlying weakness and it is best to consult a vet in this matter.

Improper routine
Despite being finicky, cats are creatures who thrive on routine. So, when it comes to their daily feeding, it is best to establish a routine and stick to it. If your cat is not served meals at regular times, they may refuse to eat.

Soiled serving plate
If you have not cleaned your cat’s serving plate before pouring in their food, they may not enjoy the meal. Cats may refuse to eat out of a soiled bowl or plate, so ensure that your pet’s serving dish is always clean.

Too much attention
A lot of cats tend to enjoy eating alone. They do not like consuming meals in the presence of others or being the centre of attention during meal times.

Stress due to sudden changes
If your cat starts eating less, you may want to look for a factor that could be causing stress. Has another animal been added to the household? Has a family member left or died? Have the cat's surroundings changed, such as a move to a new house? When the stress is removed, your cat will probably go back to a normal diet. If your cat seems healthy, happy, and lively, and has a good coat and clear eyes, there is little cause for concern. Cats also have an uncanny ability to smell changes in the world around them. Even a new bowl can disturb a cat's eating habits. Some cats refuse to eat from plastic or hard rubber bowls.

Medical factors
Medical factors also could contribute to a change in your cat’s eating habits. The only way to verify this is to visit a veterinarian. If the medical examination does not verify that a problem exists, your cat may be manipulating you in grand style!

My cat is a very picky eater. What are some feeding tips I should try?
If your cat is a picky eater and it’s tough to get them to finish a meal, here are some tips you could try:

Heat wet food before serving
Cats have a strong sense of smell and enjoy food by its aroma. If the wet food you served them has gone cold, it may not give off the aroma that cats love. So, heating the meal a little may help.
Clean the serving dish/bowl
Since cats have a strong sense of smell, they will know if their serving bowl is unclean. If so, it can quickly kill their appetite and they may turn away from the food. So, ensure that you always serve meals to your cat in a clean dish/bowl.
Add chicken broth/tuna water/cat oil to their food
Try to entice your cat to eat food by adding a little amount of warm chicken broth, tuna water, or cat oil to the meal. This will significantly improve the smell of the food for the cats. However, do be sure to never serve anything containing onions, chives, or garlic, as these ingredients can be harmful to a cat.
Try different foods
If your cat is still refusing to eat, it may be time to change the food. You may have to try a different product and hope your pet likes the new one.
Consult your vet
If despite trying everything your cat still won’t eat, it is time to consult your vet. Also, if your cat has gone more than 24 hours without eating anything, you should visit the vet immediately as your pet could be ill.
Make slow changes
If your cat is set on a routine that needs to be changed, make the change slowly and gradually. Your cat may not like a sudden switch in things and can continue to refuse to eat. If you wish to switch your fur baby over to different food, start off by mixing a little quantity of the new food with their current food, over the span of a few days. Gradually, increase the quantity of the new food item until it is the only thing being served.

Switching to a new cat food can be tough. IAMS™ recognises that caring cat owners want to have the option of feeding their pet a more varied diet. IAMS cat foods offer a number of nutritional choices for your cat, including dry and canned foods, naturally preserved diets, and options for overweight cats or cats with reduced activity levels. All IAMS™ cat foods are complete and balanced for specific lifestyles and life stages. Consult your veterinarian or a Pet Professional at The IAMS Company to discuss the best selection for your cat.

What every cat needs
Here are some more things you need to keep in mind as a cat parent.
Regardless of which food you choose to feed, your cat must have plenty of fresh, clean water available at all times. We suggest placing the water 3 to 5 feet from the food to help prevent your cat from gulping water and air in addition to food.
Make sure that your cat has a quiet, comfortable place to eat.
And remember, your cat needs to visit the veterinarian regularly. Regular visits help keep your cat happy and healthy!
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