What a pleasure it was to see little Cinder had found her forever home when I arrived at the local animal shelter on Thursday to socialize the cats. She was a shy little feline who sometimes hissed when I reached into her kennel.
Someone, though, had apparently fallen in love with her. I would miss her, but such is life in theD.A.W.G. Cat Room. Kitties come and go daily.
By the following Tuesday, however, she had returned to her kennel. Animal Control Associate Karin Klug relayed the adoptor's complaint: "All she did was hide."
Klug's face showed dismay as well as irritation. "People need to learn how to introduce a new cat to their homes. There's a process. People need to give cats time to adjust."
This reminded me of the month I allowed my adopted cat, Charlie, an entire month to hide in the utility room before I pulled him from his hidey-hole and cuddled him under the bed covers. That broke the ice with Charlie, but some cats need more time.
When you adopt a shelter cat, you will be more successful if you just follow these few steps:
Prepare a Space Just for Them
When Klug brings a new rescue into the Cat Room, she advises volunteers to leave it alone for the first day because it is terrified by recent events. That same fear will recur when the cat is placed in its forever home.
Before going to the shelter to choose a cat, prepare a room, preferably one separate from the roiling activities of children and other pets.
Set up food and water bowls, an enclosed cat bed, litter box, and any other cat items in this room so the cat can have all its needs met in a safe place.
Limit Family and Animal Access
One person will become the main caregiver during this period. Allow children and other pets to come into the room on a limited basis until the cat becomes comfortable with them. If dogs are a problem, deny them access completely.
A baby gate is a handy safety barrier for daily interactions. The cat can jump the gate, but most dogs can't. If there's a more athletic dog around, close the door when you can't quickly break up a crisis.
Give It Time and Brief Contact
Remember when you moved to a new town? Animals also need time to meet the neighbors and learn the layout of the community.
Give the cat time to explore its new territory. A weekend is not enough time. Some animals, as well as humans, take longer to adjust and may even need a little help from trustworthy caregivers.
At the shelter, I try to have a few moments of one-on-one with each cat. We sit quietly on the couch as I pet the cat for as long as it can stand it. When the cat gets restless, I let it jump off so it can go where it wants.
Sometimes, that's straight back to its kennel. Other cats begin playing with other cats in the room. By letting it go, though, I've told the cat it still has control over its life.
Respect the Cat's Autonomy
Every cat is different. Some are loners who want to be the household Alpha. Others adjust quickly, learning that other pets and children are fun to play with and won't harm it.
And then there's the sensitive, shy cat who, for whatever reason, does not trust its environment or the people in it. These cats will take careful handling and a longer time to learn that its forever home is a comfortable place to be.
Get Information About the Cat
Part of the adoption process is to find out if this beloved forever pal has had trouble with dogs or children in its past lives. Ask about the personality of each cat before choosing one or even two.
Vet techs, like Klug, and volunteers who socialize shelter cats see them when they are frightened, insecure, and in a transitory situation. Sometimes the cats have come from abusive or harsh situations. Change is a cat's enemy, so negative behaviors will come out.
If you want an active, friendly, and playful cat, choose one who has shown those qualities to the shelter staff. Kittens are the best bet here, but sometimes they will scratch and bite, even in play. They need to learn their limits.
Adult cats display a variety of personalities based on their natures and life experiences. Just like humans!
Mellie was a two-year-old tabby who insisted on being left alone to sun herself on the window sill. More than a couple of strokes on her back and she would nip or scratch.
Same with Saul, who would climb to the highest, most unreachable place in the Cat Room to snooze. He tore into me every day and finally bit someone else badly enough to be put in quarantine. He's still available for adoption, but whoever finally takes him will need to respect his space and independent nature.
Now that Cinder is back in the shelter, her kennel connects with Missy's, who is much more out-going. Missy loves to play and cuddle and be petted while Cinder still hangs back.
Both Cinder and Missy are not yet a year old, but their personalities have already formed. They are very different from each other, but both are adoptable either alone or as a pair.
Missy will probably merge faster into the household, but even so, she too will benefit by going through this process of adjustment.
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