Adopting a Cat – Analyzing Cat Behavior

Analyzing cat behavior can be key to deciding whether or not to adopt a cat or kitten, especially if you are viewing different cats in a shelter.  It can be difficult to determine whether a cat has been traumatized and whether it will be able to adapt to life in your home.  If you have young children you may have concerns about whether a cat will be a gentle play partner, or whether it will be prone to biting or scratching.  You might learn about analyzing cat behavior from the video below, to figure out whether the cat you are considering adopting will be a good fit for you or your family.   Feline care coordinator Daniel Quagliozzi, of the San Francisco SPCA, is skilled at handling and gentling cats and kittens, and is an expert at evaluating cat behavior traits.  Here’s an interview of him at work.

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When you bring home a cat or kitten, you should understand cat behavior, that establishing territory will be of prime importance to your cat.  If you already have other cats in your home, it’s critical that you introduce the new cat or kitten gradually and with as little confrontation as possible.  If  you rush this introduction, your adopted cat could panic and it would be much harder for old and new cats to establish mutually agreed upon territorial limits.

Cat behaviorist Mieshelle Nagelschneider grew up with cats and other animals in central Oregon, and has spent 20 years counseling cat owners on how to live in harmony with their cats. Here’s a quotation from her, from an interview conducted by Lori Soard of LovetoKnow.com.

 
In the beginning, cat owners should create a safe room for the kitten away from any other resident cats in preparation for the introduction behavior plan. This room should have everything the kitten needs; food, water, two litter boxes (preferably not right next to one another), toys and perching and resting areas. The food and water should be located away from the litter boxes as much as possible. A big mistake cat owners make is letting kittens have the run of the household right away, which is too sudden for the resident cats. Many kittens can also forget where the litter box is in the beginning and begin soiling around the home.”

Byanalyzing cat behavior, when cats or kittens are introduced to a new territory, their first instinct is likely to find a place to hide.  Even more so if there are already established cats in the “new territory.”  Our cat Scratch hid under the covers of my son’s bed for a week when we moved to a new home!  We knew he was home, but our cat did not.  You can ease the transition to a new home by providing an area of safety and privacy for your new cat. Let your new cat make the first moves and figure out his or her territory, and you’ll have taken the first step towards an enjoyable life together.
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