Groom The Cat

Choosing your cat
As a wise woman once told me, ‘you won’t pick the cat, the cat will pick you’. Bewildered at the time I didn’t exactly know what she meant by the phrase, but now as I look back I understand.

I collected my kitten from a rescue centre, abandoned at only a few weeks old she was taken into care with her sisters and brothers. Of course the womans advice was strange, I’d never picked a kitten before as my previous cat showed up on my doorstep one day and that was that for seven years. Faced with the task of picking one kitten out of the dozens the sanctuary offered was tricky; I didn’t know what one to pick.
All the kittens were timid, they looked at me with their huge fixating eyes wondering who I was. As I peeked into each of the baskets, one kitten popped out and began playfully staring at me. I asked the lady to let this kitten out, as she did she let out several other kittens. Most of the kittens ran away from me as if I was some sort of cat repellent which was a change given I seem to attract every breed of cat. I wondered if any of them would let me approach them, to my surprise the playful kitten popped out of nowhere and approached me slowly allowing me to pick her up. The lady then ranted off in some philosophical rant about cats senses, although her advice was amusing at the time, it was right; I chose the playful kitten and a year down the line I still have her.

So, the moral of the story? When picking your kitten or cat, don’t go by gender or breed unless you already have cats or wish to breed them, but instead go by their characteristics. There’s no point picking the timid cute cat if you want an affectionate outgoing cat, if the cat you like is missing an eye, take pity on it and give it the loving home it deserves. Love your cat and treat it well and I guarantee it will return the favour.
Welcoming your cat

Now you’ve adopted your kitten or cat, you need to prepare your home! See here for more information on the basics to buy before your cat arrives.
For the first two months or so it’s highly advised to keep your cat indoors, kittens are curious and playful and tend to get lost in areas they don’t know well especially when they’re surrounded by people they’ve yet to grow close to. Adult cats will have previously been homed, or they may have lived in a sanctuary all their life meaning they may take longer to get use to the area as it’s entirely new to them.
Once your cat or kitten arrives, they may be very scared and as a result of this will hide behind, below and above furniture; or anywhere that’s possible. Due to the cats fear, it’s best to keep it one room, perhaps the kitchen or a room that people will always be in meaning your cat will feel as if it’s not alone. Try to keep noise levels down, as it may scare the cat even more and every time the cat wonders around the area, let it smell it’s surroundings. Once you feel the cat is happy enough, begin to introduce it to the rest of the house keeping an eye on it and then in due course let it wonder around outside.

It’s best to let your cat outside for the first time on an empty stomach. If your cat or kitten is hungry, it won’t wonder far as it knows it will be receiving it’s food soon. Continue to only let your cat out on an empty stomach for a week or two so the cat will get to know the outside area of your house and also so you have peace of mind knowing your cat will return. If necessary leads can be purchased, check your local pet store as they’re not expensive. It’s especially good to walk your cat around your garden for the first time if you feel it’s not ready to go outside on it’s own; especially if you live in a busy urban area.

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