The First Day at Home with a Cat How to Do the Right Icebreaking Operation?

Elements of a Cat’s First Impression

It is very important to leave a good impression on a cat when it first comes home.

However, leaving a good impression here is different from meeting people, where you should be enthusiastic and generous. Instead, you should try to be as “low-key” as possible.

What can affect a cat’s first impression of us?

(1) Avoid visual impact

In the animal world, the bigger something looks, the more dangerous and difficult it is to deal with. So, compared to “giant creatures,” cats are more inclined to approach smaller creatures.

How can you “shrink yourself a bit”?

• You can use a squatting, sitting, lying down, or half-kneeling posture.

Image from: wikihow

(2) Avoid olfactory impact

• Do not leave strong smells on your body (perfume, disinfectant, etc.) as it may create a bad impression during the first meeting.

Image from: WordPress

• If you happen to bring the cat’s favorite food and it emits a strong aroma, the kitten will definitely have a good impression of you.

• If the cat is interested in catnip and you happen to have some, it will also attract the kitten’s attention.

(3) Avoid auditory impact

Since cats have sensitive hearing and they don’t communicate by meowing, when interacting with cats, you should either remain silent or greet them in a soft voice.

Especially when you first discover the cat, do not yell “Ah!” or “Oh!” loudly. It will directly give a negative first impression.

Cats are sensitive to all loud and sudden noises. Image from: wifflegif

(4) Other factors that may affect the first impression

• If you are visiting a friend’s house, try to avoid wearing clothes that generate static electricity. This can make the cat “unable to approach you.”

• Walk lightly and avoid large jumping movements. But also make some noise to avoid “sudden appearances” that startle the cat.

Also avoid sudden bending down, chasing the cat, and other behaviors. Image from: konekono-heya

• Although some cats may like to play with hair and whiskers after becoming familiar, it is generally recommended to avoid excessively fluffy hair (like puffed hair) during the first meeting.

Wrong example! Image from: pictures-of-cats

By leaving a good first impression on the cat, you can prevent the cat from running away or hiding completely when it sees you for the first time.

However, if you want the cat to come closer to you, you need to have good interaction:

The change in impression depends on how you interact!

In 2021, researchers from the University of Nottingham Trent and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (an adoption agency) in the UK designed a set of “CAT guidance manuals.”

Through the validation of 120 volunteers, 100 adoptable cats (average age 6 years), and 535 observation tests, its effectiveness was confirmed:

• Reduction in aggressive behavior of cats: from 27% to 16%
• Decrease in cats' avoidance behavior
• Decrease in cats hiding in cages (with covers)

Stairs (higher place) and cages (with covers) are considered as covers/away from people. Image from: citation [3]

After seeing the “effectiveness,” are you interested?

Let’s take a closer look at the CAT manual:

C: Let the cat choose and control

Gently reach out towards the cat…

• Let the cat choose whether to touch or interact with you (do not touch directly).
• Let the cat control the intensity of your touch (do not apply force).
• Let the cat decide whether to continue (pause every 3-5 seconds).

If the cat wants to be touched, it will rub against you.

Learn to take one step back: In the instructional video, after stroking the cat from head to tail, stop and wait for the cat to come and rub against you, giving instructions.

A: Pay attention to the cat’s body language and pause at any time

Pausing before the cat becomes impatient will reduce the time it takes for the cat to come back to you.

So, pause when you observe the following cat behaviors:

• Moving away from you
• Flattening ears or turning around
• Tail wagging or back hair twitching
• The cat starts grooming itself
• Licking the nose
• Suddenly turning its head towards you or your hand

For the second encounter, if the cat moves away, just retract your hand. If the cat clearly “hasn’t been petted enough,” the third encounter will be faster and more proactive.

T: Limit touch to areas that cats like

During the first contact with a cat:

• Only touch the chin, cheeks, and base of the ears.
• Even if a friend’s cat flips over and likes to be scratched at the base of the tail, when you first interact, do not attempt these sensitive areas.
• When touching the back, chest, and other areas, pay close attention to the cat’s body language.

First contact, scratch the cheeks and top of the head. Even if the cat flips over, pretend not to notice.

After the first interaction with the cat, if you want to have another round of interaction, you should take care of the “aftermath” and pay attention to the little details:

Do not neglect the aftermath and details

• For cats, food rewards are always more substantial than other forms of rewards.
• You can let the cat see and smell the reward from the beginning, but it is best to give it after the interaction. Let the cat’s associative memory be “playtime is followed by food” rather than “being petted after eating.”
• Sit in a place away from the door and window where you are less likely to be disturbed during the interaction. The room should have covers, even if the cat doesn’t use them, it will reduce the tension in the atmosphere.

A 2007 study published in “Animal Welfare” in the UK showed that covers can greatly reduce the stress and anxiety of cats. Image from: greatpetcare

• If the cat is startled or appears impatient in the middle, and you want to attract its attention again, do not use your hands or previous tricks. Change the approach and start with a teasing wand.

• If a timid cat feels anxious, ignore the cat, avoid visual interaction, and the cat may become curious and explore you when it calms down.

When you don’t look at it, the cat becomes curious about you.

That’s all.

References:

[1] B M W A, B B B A, B D G A, et al. Factors influencing the temporal patterns of dyadic behaviours and interactions between domestic cats and their owners[J]. Behavioural Processes, 2011, 86(1):58-67.

[2] Manners and attention in a cat cafe - from prohibited actions to how to tell a good shop.[ED/OL].

[3] Haywood C, Ripari L, Puzzo J, et al. Providing Humans With Practical, Best Practice Handling Guidelines During Human-Cat Interactions Increases Cats' Affiliative Behaviour and Reduces Aggression and Signs of Conflict[J]. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2021:835-.

[4] Kry K, Casey R. The effect of hiding enrichment on stress levels and behaviour of domestic cats (Felis sylvestris catus) in a shelter setting and the implications for adoption…[J]. Animal Welfare, 2007, 16(3).

[5] Understand what cats like and dislike! ~ The surprising feelings of cats.[ED/OL].

[6] Soennichsen S, Chamove AS. Responses of cats to petting by humans. Anthrozoös. (2002) 15:258–65. doi: 10.2752/089279302786992577

Methods to Help a Cat Adapt to a New Home

Keeping a cat is sometimes similar to encountering a person for the first time, where the initial interaction is crucial.

When a cat arrives at a new home, it is either nervous or excited.

Timid cats often think, “There must be rebellious citizens trying to harm me.” They usually hide in corners, under sofas or beds, refuse to eat, drink, or use the litter box, and continuously meow. When you reach out your hand, they may hiss at you as a warning, and more aggressive cats may even bite you.

Bold cats, on the other hand, tend to be more excited, curious, and friendly towards people (you must have accumulated good karma in your previous life to have such a cute and kind-hearted cat). In this case, they can eat and drink without any worries. You can focus on educating yourself about cat-related knowledge to make your life easier.

Knowledge Point: Kittens adapt better to a new home than adult cats.

So how can new pet owners help cats become familiar with their environment and live harmoniously with them as soon as possible?

First, prepare the necessary supplies (cat food, litter, scratching post, and a cat bed) before the cat arrives. You can also prepare some treats to interact with the cat, and it is recommended to have a cat teaser wand that kittens enjoy.

If you are adopting a cat, you can ask the previous owner for some familiar items, such as toys or blankets that have its own scent. If there are existing pets in the house, you should take the cat for a check-up beforehand to ensure there are no health issues before bringing it home.

Next, when the cat arrives at the new home, it may spray or defecate randomly because it cannot find its previous elimination area or smell its familiar scent. This, combined with its fearful emotions, can be overwhelming for the cat.

To reduce the cat’s anxiety when moving into a new home, place it in a quiet and prepared space as soon as it arrives. Mix some of its usual litter with the new one in the litter box, and place the cat bed nearby. This way, it will know where its designated “spot” is.

During the initial period, you can buy the same type of litter as the one used at the pet store to help the cat adapt faster.

Afterward, close the room door and leave the cat alone in a quiet and safe environment, allowing it to explore and familiarize itself on its own.

Finally, once you are familiar with the cat, regular affection is essential.

In the cat’s world, mutual grooming represents a close bond. When you stroke the cat, it has a similar effect to grooming, as it tells the cat, “Hey, four-legged creature, welcome here!”

If the cat does not want to be touched and strongly resists, remember not to scold or force it.

This will only increase its fear and mistrust towards you.

Moreover, companionship is crucial.

It is strongly recommended to spend about ten minutes playing with the cat every day. Through playtime, you can quickly build a bond and also take the opportunity to correct any bad habits, such as considering your fingers as prey.

If the kitten starts treating your body parts as prey, it is essential to correct this behavior promptly. Let it know that biting is not allowed, as it will be much harder to change this habit once it becomes an adult.

Summary: The process of a cat getting familiar with its new home can be divided into the following 6 stages:

1. Initially, the cat may feel scared and quickly find a hiding spot, even refusing to eat, drink, or use the litter box.

2. After observing from hiding for a while, the cat will venture out to explore when you are not around. It will eat when hungry but will immediately run back to its hiding spot at the slightest noise.

3. The cat gradually becomes familiar with the environment and you. It will start to come out, wander around, sniff and patrol its territory. It will keep a distance from you and watch you closely. However, it will still run away when you approach.

4. The cat becomes curious about you and will approach to see what you are doing. At this stage, it allows you to touch and interact with it.

5. The cat becomes familiar with the entire family and the home environment. It explores every corner and starts sleeping on the couch or in the hallway.

6. The cat becomes completely familiar with the environment and fully accepts you. It no longer guards against you and starts sleeping in various funny positions.

In conclusion, it’s not difficult to raise a cat. The most important things are to give them enough love and patience. Gradually, you will find that your cat’s personality becomes better and ultimately, you will both enjoy each other’s company.

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Adaptation Period and Problem Solving for Cats in a New Home

“Love is not always easy, every cat has its own temperament, but after a week of adjustment period, the cat and I are inseparable.”

Hmmm~ I’ve been raising cats for twenty years, and my experience tells me that every cat is different, just like every person. Like my cat Qian Duoduo, it’s very outgoing. It wasn’t afraid at all when it arrived home and didn’t even need a quarantine period. It just ran around the house freely and enjoyed every meal.

However, his wife Pudding didn’t adapt as well. Since it came to my house when it was already a year old, it had a strong stress reaction. It hid under the bed as soon as it arrived and only came out after a week. On the first three days, it scratched me when I tried to pet it…… („ಡωಡ„）Too many tears, let’s move on.

It’s because of Pudding’s scratching.

But it is normal for cats to feel uncomfortable and have stress reactions on their first day in a new home. This is because they have left their familiar environment and people behind and are facing new stimuli and uncertainties.

For example, they may hide, such as under the bed, in the cabinet, or in a box. This is their way of trying to protect themselves and adapt to the new environment.

Secondly, they may lose their appetite. Just like Pudding in my house, it didn’t eat anything for the first two to three days, and only started eating when it became very hungry. This is because the cat feels nervous or uneasy, or is unfamiliar with the new food.

Furthermore, they may have elimination problems. Some cats may have issues with defecation or urination, such as urinating in places other than the designated spots or using the litter box more frequently. This may be because they feel anxious or are not accustomed to the new litter box.

Some cats may also become inactive or avoid interacting with their owners. Just like when someone came to see my cats before, they said my cats were not energetic and ignored them. I thought it was normal. Like humans, cats also need some time to adapt to a new environment and establish trust.

In very few cases, cats may have stress reactions such as urine spraying or biting. This usually happens when they feel extremely anxious or threatened.

When encountering these situations, cat owners should not be overly anxious because these are temporary reactions. To help cats reduce their stress reactions, we can try the following:

First, provide a sense of security: Provide a safe, warm, and comfortable environment for the cat, such as a cozy bed and some toys.

Second, give them space: Give the cat some time to adapt to the new environment, without excessive contact or forcing it to do anything.

Third, provide a stable daily life: Try to maintain a stable daily routine for the cat, such as regular feeding and cleaning of the litter box.

Fourth, gradually build trust: Establish a trusting relationship with the cat by gradually increasing the time and ways of interaction. Use gentle voices and gestures to communicate with it.

Of course, if the cat’s stress reactions persist or worsen, it may be necessary to consult a veterinary hospital, as there have been cases where cats have died due to extreme stress.

In most cases, cats can adapt to their new homes in about a week, so there is no need to be overly anxious or worried.

Back then, I also posted about it on my social media… sigh.

The Correct Method for Breaking the Ice

I feel like many respondents didn’t mention the key points.

As someone who has adopted wild cats many times, breaking the ice is a necessary process each time.

Some people say to leave the cat in the house and let it become familiar with the environment on its own, but this may be wrong for cats that are highly alert. Unless you want to keep a wild cat.

Interacting with humans is a process that cats must go through, so they must adapt and become familiar with interacting with you.

The correct approach is to have a confrontation with the cat, so that it understands that escaping or avoiding you is impossible.

Kittens actually don’t have much of a problem, and they don’t even need to break the ice.

Difficult-to-tame adult cats will avoid and resist. At this time, you can approach it with gloves, not fearing its scratching and biting, and simply hold it down, then pick it up by the neck and place it where you want it to stay (in a cat bed) while stroking it.

After stroking it for a while, you can leave for a moment.

Note that it’s you who leaves, not letting it run away.

After a while, come back, hold the cat down, pick it up by the neck, and return it to the cat bed to continue stroking.

This action should be understood by everyone, it’s the method a mother cat uses to discipline her kittens. And stroking the cat is equivalent to grooming.

Even adult cats have no resistance to this kind of handling.

It will quickly establish a sense of familiarity with you and no longer resist your capturing behavior.

A wild cat will also become a domesticated cat through the continuous process of capturing, holding by the neck, returning to the bed, and stroking.

At this point, the ice has been broken.

Welcoming a New Cat Home

According to the 2023 China Pet Industry White Paper, the number of pet households in urban areas in our country has surpassed the milestone of one million. The number of pet cats continues to surpass that of pet dogs, with 71.9 million cats topping the list as the “number one pet” in our country. This indicates the love people have for cats.

Both cats and dogs are domesticated from wild animals that exist in nature. It is widely believed that dogs are domesticated from gray wolves that existed in the Late Pleistocene period and belong to the canine family. On the other hand, cats are domesticated from some wild cats and belong to the feline family.

Compared to canines, a very typical characteristic of felines is that most of them are solitary animals. This type of animal personality is more cautious and inherently aloof. Therefore, when we decide to welcome a new cat into our home, we must make a series of preparations to help the cat adapt to the new environment quickly and reduce unnecessary troubles.

In specific situations, if you are bringing home a cat from a friend’s house, you can visit your friend’s house a few times before bringing the cat home and try to interact with the kitten a few times to let it get familiar with your scent in its own territory and safe space. If you are purchasing from a pet market, unfortunately, there is no way to do this. However, you can try asking the previous owner for some of the cat’s toys to bring home. This will also help the cat feel more at ease.

After returning home, remember not to immediately interact with the cat frequently. When they encounter a new environment, they become instinctively alert and highly nervous, making it easy for them to have stress reactions. At this time, you can provide them with a quiet space for them to adapt first before gradually engaging with them.

Here, we also need to distinguish between two situations. If the cat you bring home is a kitten, their personality is often not fully developed, so you can have more contact, interaction, and stroking to establish a sense of closeness. However, if it is an adult cat, its personality has basically formed, so it is necessary to maintain an appropriate distance and the time it takes to break the ice will be longer.

“There are risks in stroking cats, so be cautious when doing so.” Friends who have raised cats know that there are certain areas of a cat’s body that must not be touched casually, and this is especially true for newly adopted cats who are not familiar with you yet. For example, the hair follicles on the abdomen and tail of a cat are quite sensitive to external stimuli. Once touched by people, it is likely to cause excessive stimulation and lead to the cat’s resistance.

Of course, “stimulation” is a double-edged sword. If handled properly, it can be an enjoyable experience, but if mishandled, it can have the opposite effect. Therefore, with a newly welcomed cat, it is important to not rush to interact with it. Even when you become more familiar, handle them with gentle actions.

The area where cats most enjoy being touched is a little below the cheek and the chin. This area has scent glands, and when cats rub their chin against the sofa or table legs, they are actually marking their scent.

Finally, how do you know if your “ice-breaking” action has been successful? In other words, how do you know if the cat has accepted you?

The answer is quite simple. When the cat is willing to actively rub its cheek against your feet, face, or any part of your body, it means it has accepted you. This behavior is a way of mixing each other’s scents. If it doesn’t accept you, it will never perform such actions.