Talking With Pets For shelters
Mixed Company

For grown-ups and older teens

So you're a dog person getting a cat

What to unlearn in week one. Hosted by Armando.

A watercolor portrait of Armando
Your hostArmando"Welcome, and congratulations. You already know how to love an animal, so the hard part's done. The details change: I'll come to you, I'll want somewhere high to sit and somewhere small to hide, and my affection is quieter than you're used to. Rather more elegant, too."
The short answer

Let the cat come to you. Give a new cat one quiet room with food, water, a litter box, a scratching post and somewhere to hide, and let them decide when to explore. Don't call, chase or carry. Admire the belly; don't touch it. Give the cat height. Most of what your dog taught you is still true about love and patience, and almost none of it is true about the details.

Nobody tells you

A hiding cat is a cat settling in. International Cat Care's advice is not to coax them out. Some cats settle in days; some take several weeks.

What to do

  1. Start with one room.Food and water at one end, the litter box at the other, a box or covered bed to hide in, a scratching post. Open more rooms once the cat eats, uses the box and explores this one. (International Cat Care, Cats Protection)
  2. Sit low and let the cat approach.Keep your hand still and let the cat come to it. Stroke the cheeks, chin and head for about three seconds, then pause and see if they ask for more. (International Cat Care)
  3. Don't pick them up to say hello.Many cats prefer four paws on the ground. (Cats Protection)
  4. Get the litter maths right.One tray per cat, plus one extra, in quiet spots away from food and water. Scoop at least twice a day. (International Cat Care)
  5. Go vertical.Shelves, a tall cat tree, the top of a bookcase with a way up and down. Height is where a cat feels safe. (International Cat Care)
  6. Scratching is a need.A post tall enough for a full stretch, near where the cat sleeps. Reward them for using it. (same source)
  7. Play like prey.Wand toys and small toys that move like mice. Put toys away between games and rotate them so they stay interesting. (same source)
  8. Small meals.Cats naturally eat little and often, so several small meals suit many cats. (International Cat Care)
  9. Boy or girl? Ask about the cat, and ask your vet about neutering.Being a boy or a girl tells you little about a cat's personality. Neutering matters for health and habits: UK cat welfare groups advise neutering by about four months, and it stops or cuts spraying in most boys and cuts roaming. (Cats Protection and the Cat Group, VCA)
When to ask for help

Blocked cat? Go to a vet now, or an emergency vet if yours is closed. Signs: going back to the litter box again and again; straining with little or nothing coming out; small amounts of bloody urine; vomiting; seeming tired, weak, or off food. Boy cats are the usual case, but any cat who strains and cannot pee needs help. Do not wait to see if it passes, and do not try to fix it at home. (Cornell Feline Health Center, University of Illinois Veterinary Medicine)

A cat who stops eating for a day, or stops using the box, should see a vet promptly. Missing the box is often a health problem first. (ASPCA)

One thing we never repeat

Myth: A belly up means "rub me".
What is true: For most cats, a shown belly means they're relaxed around you, or saying hello. Touching it is a fast way to undo that. (Cats Protection)
Armando's field note: Most dog people spend week one patting their knees and calling 'come on, buddy'. I spend it on the bookcase, enjoying the view. In week two they sit quietly on the floor, so naturally I come down. Charming, really. Do keep that to yourself.
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Mixed CompanySo you're a cat person getting a dog