With Christmas fast approaching, many may be considering adding a new pet to the family. Once a family has decided to make the long-term commitment that a new pet requires, it is important to know what to expect, especially if you are planning to bring home a new cat.
While dogs are known as man’s best friend, cats sometimes make you work to earn their affection. They tend to be more aloof and are often misunderstood. The independent nature characteristic of some felines can be mistaken for a disinterest in having a relationship with humans. However, once they warm up, cats can be extremely affectionate and become very bonded to their people.
Like dogs, cats have very distinct temperaments and personalities. Some will want to be lap cats and will purr and let their humans know they crave attention, while others are happy just to be in the same room, near their people, but aren't eager to cuddle.
If adding a new cat is part of the holiday plans, consider these five bonding tips to make it a purr-fect love connection:
1. PRIME LEARNING TIME: Kittens learn key social skills between 2 to 9 weeks of age. If adopting a kitten, it’s the perfect time to quickly bond and to introduce to other cats and dogs in the family.
2. DON'T RUSH: If adopting an adult cat, let him explore at his own pace. Felines need space and time to feel comfortable and acclimate to a new environment. Slow introduction to other pets is a great approach so everyone has time to settle in.
3. START SMALL: Restrict the cat to one room until he is comfortable. Some cats may walk in a home and feel at ease from day one, while others may be nervous, even terrified, and hide for a few days or even weeks. The time period for settling in is different for each pet. Having a safe space to start will make things go smoother.
4. PICKING FAVORITES: Do not expect a cat to bond equally with every person in the home. Some cats “pick their person” and get more attached to one family member than others.
5. FOOD IS A TOOL: Bonding is better with food. Instead of leaving the food out all the time for the cat to free feed, make meal time a time to bond and gain trust. By being the food source for the cat, he will learn that his human is the one providing something he wants.
To round out the information on cats, here are some feline fun facts.
In it for the long haul: Cats can live 14 to 16 years, some even longer, so be ready for a long-term commitment.
Look at those eyes: Ever notice how cats have beautiful eyes? Kittens are all born with blue eyes, and their eyelids stay closed until they are 10 to 14 days old. They will get their true eye color by 8 weeks of age.
Talk to me now: Meowing is not actually their method of communication. Rather, purring, hissing and shrieking are how cats get their points across. Cats also communicate through body language and mark things with their scent. Marking happens by rubbing up against them with their tail or face, or by spraying them.
High jump: Felines in their prime can jump about 5 feet off the ground. As they get older and arthritis sets in, 75% of cats won't jump at all anymore. Medicine, supplements and losing weight can help ease arthritis pain for a cat.
Visit your local shelters and rescues to find the purr-fect cat companion. They literally have felines of all ages, colors, degrees of fluffiness and affection levels available. Adding a new cat to the family can be a rewarding experience for all. Just have some patience because the bonding will happen at their pace, not yours.
Events
Dec. 16: Join JP Helping Paws volunteers for a HOWLiday PAW-dee, a dog friendly Christmas celebration at the Pontiff Dog Park, 1521 Palm St. in Metairie, from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring towels, sheets, dog and cat food and gift cards from PETCO, Petsmart, Home Depot or Walmart for Animal Rescue New Orleans no-kill shelter's homeless cats and dogs. Meet adoptable dogs and puppies in hopes of a home for the holidays. For more info, email adopt@animalrescueneworleans.org.
Traci D. Howerton is the volunteer manager for Animal Rescue New Orleans, a nonprofit, volunteer-based, no-kill shelter. For more information on ARNO, visit www.animalrescueneworleans.org.