I don't know if you remember but I sent you an ask a while back about a stray kitty. He got picked up by the local cat guy (check out New Concord Feral Cats, this dude is an angel) and he's being taken care of and is up for adoption. I can't adopt him just yet, never mind corona I've got one year left of college, but when I can I plan on moving out and adopting him. I've never had a cat before, any advice on how to kitty? Garbage Cat seems very smart but I have no idea what to do
Hooray for kitty! If you’re serious about adopting him, contact the cat guy NOW and let him know. See if kitty can be fostered in the interim, so he’s not gone to a forever-home by the time you’re able to come get him.
As far as being Cat Parent goes, the key to everything is love. And also patience because kitties can be little assholes, but mostly love. In my experience, cats respond well to a regular routine (knowing when you’re going to eat takes a lot of the stress out of the day), plenty of things to keep them occupied (interactive play and places to climb and explore safely, as well as their usual toys), general peace and quiet (they are NOT fans of loud noises or raised voices), having the OPTION to cuddle (some kitties are lapcats, some are sidecars), and a comfortable amount of attention. You’ll learn along the way what food your kitty prefers, their favorite kind of play, and what their comfort level is with physical touch.
Most kitties are a little skittish in a new home. This will usually fade as they grow accustomed and gain confidence, but some will need more reassurance. Introduce kitty to a single room at first, then allow more exploration as he becomes acclimated. If kitty is slinking or wide-eyed or tucking his tail, he is scared. If his tail is straight up like a flagpole and his ears are up, he’s feeling more confident. Let him sniff your fingers before attempting to pet. Don’t pick him up for the first little bit, and when you get to that point, if he wiggles or makes a protest mew, put him down gently and praise him for his good behavior. And whatever you do, don’t touch the belly unless you know kitty likes it. That way lies pointy death.
You’ll also learn your kitty’s body language and vocal cues along the way. Most cat parents can identify specific sounds their kitty makes when hungry, lonely, wanting attention, spotting a prey (the chittering is so cute), or just feeling talkative in general.
Some kitties will follow you around. Some kitties prefer to do their own thing and only come find you when they want food or attention. It all depends on the cat’s personality.
Make sure you keep fresh water accessible at all times for kitty to drink. Many cats suffer from kidney issues later in life, and making sure your cat stays hydrated is one way to promote good kidney health. Also, make sure their litterbox stays clean! Whether this means scooping every day or changing the litter a couple times a week, keep that potty in good order to prevent accidents and infections.
A bit of kibble left out for grazing is usually okay, but you’ll also want to feed your kitty a meaty meal at least once a day. Cats are obligate carnivores and they can’t get by on kibble alone. Test a few different kinds of foods to see what kitty likes, and watch for snubbing, vomiting, or overactive belly-licking. These can be signs of a food allergy, particularly the bare belly part. If this happens, try to note the components of the food your cat eats immediately before displaying the troubling behavior. Believe it or not, fish is a really common allergy in cats. Poultry-based canned food is usually a better bet.
Use a wide dish for water and food where you’re able. Some kitties get put off when their whiskers bump against the sides of the dish and this can lead to them not eating or drinking enough. A wide shallow dish can help prevent whisker fatigue.
Make sure you pick up ANYTHING that is small enough for kitty to chew on or swallow. Cats are like toddlers - they tend to explore things with their mouths. And that means eating stuff they find on the floor. But this can cause stomach trouble or worse, so make sure you remove those temptations, especially strings, cords, and dropped pills. And lock up ANYTHING he shouldn’t be getting into.
If you’re tempted to feed your kitty a human food, Google it first to make sure it’s safe. Also, make sure these things are a treat rather than a dietary mainstay, in order to prevent unhealthy weight gain. Same thing with actual cat treats. You’ll know your kitty is becoming A Bit Too Chonky when the little dip in front of their hipbones disappears.
Make sure kitty has plenty of soft toys to wrestle with or bat around on the floor, plus interactive toys like laser pointers or stringtoys. (I suggest something durable like braided felt or fleece, not easily chewed apart or swallowed.) And definitely invest in a good scratching post, it will save your floors and furniture.
A healthy kitty will be bright and alert, with a good well-groomed coat, strong teeth, a good appetite, regular litterbox visits, and energy for and interest in playtime. If kitty seems lethargic (not just sleepy, but like...not moving for 18 hours at a time or moving very slowly), or has no appetite, or displays any worrisome tummy trouble, take them to the vet for a checkup. Never hurts to be sure.
Also, if you love your kitty, please keep him indoors.
