Until you have an ARISTOGATO, you don't know what its arrival will bring. Basically because every ARISTOGATO is unique. Many mistakes are made when trying to «apply no matter what» tips you have read or that someone has recommended to you. That's why today we're sharing some basic guidelines to help the welcome go well. The aim is to help you combat impatience, balance your expectations, and lower the pressure for an immediate bond between our cat and us.
Give it «its own space»
When a cat arrives home, it is disoriented, nervous, and frightened. It doesn't know the place, and it doesn't know you… If it's a kitten, you also need to add separation anxiety from being away from its mother and siblings… It may have had a long journey and be tired. This isn't the time to overwhelm it with affection, but to leave it in peace.
It's best to leave it alone with everything it needs: bowls, a litter tray, a scratching post, toys, a little bed… (remember that you can find everything you need at ARISTOSHOP). During the first few days, this will be the cat's corner or room. Ideally, avoid too much noise (from outside or appliances), although it's a good idea for it to hear your voice and even the sound of cat music, as well as the scents of the home…
If you don't have a room or corner available, leave the carrier open in a high place (sofa, bed, table) and let it come out whenever it wants.
Give it time
Some cats take hours to come out. Others come out immediately. Most commonly, they explore a little and, as soon as they find a hiding place, stay there. At the other extreme are cats that start exploring openly, approach you, and feel neither fear nor confusion. Although this is less common. Let it go at its own pace.
Don't intimidate it
A cat that wants to show its good intentions will lie down and look away. Or blink. But one that feels aggressive will stare fixedly. So avoid doing this yourself, because it will find it threatening.
Go about your life and let it go about its own. Let it take the lead in the relationship, as they say. When you least expect it, it will come over to sniff you. Depending on that, you'll see how far you can go: trying to pet it, playing with it (ideally with a wand, to maintain some distance. Little by little, you can introduce other games to improve its physical and mental health).
Act normally
Enter the room several times a day. Replenish the food (it may eat very little at first. Keep an eye on it. If three days pass without it eating anything, be sure to take it for a check-up), change the water, clean the litter tray, and spend a while there, ideally sitting or lying down. Do your own thing.
When the cat stops being frightened when you enter (although it may continue hiding), you can think about opening the door. And see what happens.
Let it explore
When it feels ready to move around the house, leave it to its own devices. Let it explore. Most cats explore one part of the house, return to their room, and after a while take another look around… Depending on the cat's personality, it will quickly choose its new favorite spot or take a few days. In any case, take advantage of this new mood to start moving its things to «its» permanent corner. Once you have it set up, you can start thinking about enriching its environment.
Normally, your ARISTOGATO will have adapted within a couple of days, but it may take up to a month. So be patient, don't overwhelm yourself, don't overwhelm it, and everything will be fine.
