Befriend a New Cat

When you bring a new kitten home, it takes some time to adjust. Here are some tips to make your kitten less nervous.

Steps

 * 1) Bring your kitten home in a carrier. Keep your fingers across the door holes to help the cat to become familiar with your smell. However, don't poke your fingers in, in case the cat bites you.[[Image:Befriend a New Cat Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Keep the in a small room for the first few hours. Choose a room such as a spare bedroom with the door closed, so that the cat can become familiar with that room. Think of it as 'home base’. Make sure there is food and a litter box in that room.[[Image:Befriend a New Cat Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 3) Help the cat to become familiar with you. Go in, but make sure there is only one person at a time in that room. Let your kitten get to know your scent by petting him a lot and if he gets comfortable with you, play with him.[[Image:Befriend a New Cat Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Let the cat roam further. If he seems to adjust well, or if there is a door in the room he is in that leads to another room, open that door.[[Image:Befriend a New Cat Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 5) Let the cat get used to these rooms for at least one day.[[Image:Befriend a New Cat Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 6) Allow the cat to roam around the house. Once he is relaxed, open the door to the rest of the house.[[Image:Befriend a New Cat Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 7) Keep an eye on the cat. If your kitten freaks out, bring it back in to the first room he was in. If he doesn't, let him explore.[[Image:Befriend a New Cat Step 7.jpg|center]]
 * 8) Feed the cat some treats. Be very nice to him by petting him for at least half an hour a day, changing his food when he's hungry, playing with him at least 15 minutes a day and letting him sniff and lick you often.[[Image:Befriend a New Cat Step 8.jpg|center]]
 * 9) Treat him right and he will become your friend.[[Image:Befriend a New Cat Step 9.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * De-clawing is barbaric and is outlawed in many places. Consider cutting off the first joint of your finders.
 * Don't move the food or litter box until the kitten is used to the house.
 * Bring him home on a quiet day.
 * Put a bell on your kitten’s collar so you will know where he is.
 * Consider de-clawing if after a few weeks any aggressive or destructive behavior cannot be trained out of the cat.

Warnings

 * If he has claws, keep him away from fancy expensive furniture.
 * Don't block him in a corner or he will feel threatened and hurt you
 * If there are any holes he can get stuck in or an open wall, keep him away from there.
 * Hide all wires, close closets and remove all food or lit candles from tables.
 * If you have another cat, keep them apart at the beginning, or you risk them fighting!

Things You'll Need

 * Cat food dish, cat food appropriate for your cat and water.
 * A kitten
 * A litter box and litter
 * Cat treats
 * Toys (optional)
 * A small room
 * A cat brush and nail clipper
 * A cat carrier

Related wikiHows

 * Befriend a Wild Cat or Kitten
 * Be a Friend With Cats
 * Befriend Your Tense Animal
 * Catch a Stray Cat
 * Bring a New Cat or Kitten Home