Adopting horded cats :
Cats that come from hoarding situations have spent most of their lives with other cats and many times have had very little contact with people. They can be fearful in new situations, especially when meeting new people and are usually not use to a litter box or carrier. However with time, patience, and positive reinforcement techniques like clicker training and play therapy, these cats will experience a reduction in their stress and become a part of the
family.What to expect When you first get your new cat home, she will be fearful and want to hide.The best way to help her adjust to her new home is to set her up somewhere in your house that is small, like a bathroom. In this room, provide everything she will need; food, water, a litter box, a bed, and toys.
Visit her every day, several times a day, doing positive things when with her, like offering high value treats or engaging in play.
As she starts to become more comfortable, and is seeking attention, you can then let her out into the rest of your house.
Start with another small area of your house though and build up to giving her total access.• She may not consistently use the litter box, especially if given too much space.When a cat is afraid and hides, they may eliminate wherever they are hiding, especially a cat that hasn’t always used a litter box in the past. By placing your new cat in a small room, you are helping her to adjust and increasing the chances of her using the litter box. The more she uses the box, the more it becomes a habit.
When your new cat is reliably using the litter box and is given access to the rest of the house, additional boxes are recommended to help ensure that she continues to use the box. It is also recommended to keep the original box in its original location if possible. If accidents occur, clean the soiled areas using a proper pet cleaner and use aversives to deter your new cat from re-visiting these spots (see our handouts: “Successful Cleaning to Remove Pet Odor and Stains” and “Aversives for Cats”).She may always be fearful of new situations and new people.Due to a lack of socialization, hoarding cats may always be quick to run and hide when people come over or loud noises occur. You can however help your new cat work through her fear and recover quicker. The best way to
help her is by using positive reinforcement training techniques (see our handouts: “Positive Reinforcement:
Training Your Cat with Treats and Praise” and “Cat Clicker training”). There are also several stress reducing
products that can help your new cat adjust in fearful situations (see our handout: “Stress Relief for Your Pet”).
Cats that come from hoarding situations have spent most of their lives with other cats and many times have had very little contact with people. They can be fearful in new situations, especially when meeting new people and are usually not use to a litter box or carrier. However with time, patience, and positive reinforcement techniques like clicker training and play therapy, these cats will experience a reduction in their stress and become a part of the
family.What to expect When you first get your new cat home, she will be fearful and want to hide.The best way to help her adjust to her new home is to set her up somewhere in your house that is small, like a bathroom. In this room, provide everything she will need; food, water, a litter box, a bed, and toys.
Visit her every day, several times a day, doing positive things when with her, like offering high value treats or engaging in play.
As she starts to become more comfortable, and is seeking attention, you can then let her out into the rest of your house.
Start with another small area of your house though and build up to giving her total access.• She may not consistently use the litter box, especially if given too much space.When a cat is afraid and hides, they may eliminate wherever they are hiding, especially a cat that hasn’t always used a litter box in the past. By placing your new cat in a small room, you are helping her to adjust and increasing the chances of her using the litter box. The more she uses the box, the more it becomes a habit.
When your new cat is reliably using the litter box and is given access to the rest of the house, additional boxes are recommended to help ensure that she continues to use the box. It is also recommended to keep the original box in its original location if possible. If accidents occur, clean the soiled areas using a proper pet cleaner and use aversives to deter your new cat from re-visiting these spots (see our handouts: “Successful Cleaning to Remove Pet Odor and Stains” and “Aversives for Cats”).She may always be fearful of new situations and new people.Due to a lack of socialization, hoarding cats may always be quick to run and hide when people come over or loud noises occur. You can however help your new cat work through her fear and recover quicker. The best way to
help her is by using positive reinforcement training techniques (see our handouts: “Positive Reinforcement:
Training Your Cat with Treats and Praise” and “Cat Clicker training”). There are also several stress reducing
products that can help your new cat adjust in fearful situations (see our handout: “Stress Relief for Your Pet”).
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