Cat Blog 5a
Introducing a new kitten
So you’ve seen a plea for kittens needing homes, and you’ve opened your heart and mind to the idea of adopting one of them. You’re even considering introducing more than one new kitten, so they will keep one another company. You feel the stirrings of excitement but also of anxiety. What if your hubby/partner/children are not happy about your decision? Or if the cats and dogs you’re already sharing your home with, don’t accept the new kitten(s)? (See more about how to adopt a kitten in Cat Blog 1 at https://iamcat.blog/hey-cat-lover-this-is-for-you/.)
Fast-forward to a week later. You’ve brought your nearest and dearest around, you’ve passed the home check, and you’ve prepared your home for introducing the new kitten. (See Cat Blog 1 – https://iamcat.blog/hey-cat-lover-this-is-for-you/.) The day has finally come – your new baby will be arriving today!
Before his/her arrival, sprinkle Happy Cat (obtainable from some vets and shops and from Takealot – https://www.takealot.com/all?sb=1&_r=1&qsearch=happy%20cat%20valerian&via=suggestions&_si=85588e7042023ace10649761ec46b47f) all around the house. It would also be a good idea to set up one or more Feliway diffusers in one or more rooms.
Once the kitten arrives, the key phrase is ‘Slowly and gradually’. When you’re at home, ideally keep the kitten confined to some kind of cage in a corner of the room, to give existing pets a chance to discover the kitten without feeling threatened by him or her. While you’re not at home, keep the kitten isolated and confined to a secure room (with a radio and a warm or lukewarm hot-water bottle for comfort).
Don’t be surprised if your older cat reacts with great hostility at first. They will sometimes hiss and spit at the kitten for several weeks. They may even be terrified of what they see as a very unsettling apparition. Don’t scold your ‘old’ cat for this kind of behaviour. He or she needs a lot of extra love to reassure them that you’re not replacing them in your home and in your affections. Practically ignore the kitten in the older cat’s presence, but touch both cats often in order to transfer their smells to one another. Giving the older cat all your attention will also help the kitten to understand that he or she should defer to the older cat.
After a few weeks though, the older cat(s) will realise that the kitten is there to stay. Their curiosity will also get the better of them, and they may realise that it wouldn’t be so bad to have a pal.
Only allow your kitten to move around freely with existing pets once you’re very sure they’ve all accepted each other.
During this time, don’t suddenly change your habits. For example, don’t kick your older cat out of your bedroom so that the kitten can sleep with you. It is important to disrupt the older cat as little as possible.
If you have small children, it’s vital that you ensure that the kitten remains safe. He or she must also be given enough time to sleep. (Remember that kittens need to sleep for up to 20 hours a day.) Take care that your toddler treats the kitten with love, care and respect. This will ensure that a strong, healthy bond develops between them. We suggest that you try apply the following two ‘rules’:
1) That the child may hold the kitten only when the child is sitting still, not when s/he is walking or running.
2) That the child learns to release the kitten as soon as he or she begins to wriggle.
Keep your kitten indoors for several months before allowing him or her to begin exploring the outside world. Then start introducing them to the garden, an hour or so at a time, under supervision. Teach your kitten which window to use to get into and out of the house by physically guiding him or her in and out of the window several times. When he or she is completely settled in, ensure that you always keep this window ajar. Alternatively, have a pet door installed in one of your outside doors.
Now all that remains, is for you to enjoy your new kitten!
Cat quote of the week
The smallest feline is a masterpiece.
Leonardo da Vinci
Cat Story 8
A place called Cat Village – heaven on earth
When I met Irma Teller for the first time, I was struck by several things all at once. What became clear immediately was her huge heart and her love and passion for cats. I saw this clearly all around me in the lush haven she and her late husband Herbert had created.
Then there was her feistiness – she is and always will be a fighter for cats. And in conversation with her some time later, I realised her extreme tenderness, which she reveals mainly to the cats. ‘I sing to them every day,’ she told me. ‘I can’t sing, but they don’t mind. So I sing to them.’
Irma and Herbert dreamed for years of establishing a sanctuary for homeless, neglected and previously abused cats.
In 2004, they found the perfect property, and converted the 2 hectares of unspoilt, natural vegetation into a safe haven. So Cat Village was born, and today 1300 cats have found heaven on earth here.
There are no cages at Cat Village – only Wendy houses, and the cats roam freely. Some cats are in large enclosures to ensure that they enjoy a safe, happy and stress-free environment.
Non-profit and pro-life, Cat Village receives no financial support from government. This means that they depend completely on kind donations from people like you and me, who share their passion. Cat Village is a registered PBO and any donations made to them are tax deductible; tax receipts are issued on request.
We can also support them in other ways: by sponsoring specific cats, or by volunteering. See more on their website at https://catvillage.org.za/.
I’ve been to Cat Village numerous times, and each time I’ve come away buoyed by the care, goodness and love I encountered there.
Irma, you are an angel walking the earth – we love you and we salute you!
(Sources: With thanks to Cat Village – https://catvillage.org.za/; Joburg.co.za – https://joburg.co.za/cat-lovers-here-is-something-for-you-cat-village-in-benoni/ and Heather Seagers)