How To Introduce The Cat To Her New Home

How do I introduce the cat to her new home?

When you're ready to introduce your cat to her new home, take my advice. I have two cats, and they have moved nine times in three different states. And each time, it's been a harmonious introduction. The reason: when I first bring the cat in, I put the cats in a nice room that I've already pre-set up, that has all their kitty amenities. I'm talking about a window that the cats can look at what's going on. They've got their cat bed, they've got their water and cat food, they've got a cat toy, they've got a little radio plane. Then, what I do is then I gradually let the cats go room by room. Within a week -- or maybe even less, depending on the personality of the cat -- the cat should be able to have free access to the whole house. But expect what I call the perimeter prowl. What they do is, the cats walk and they walk around the baseboards, they go from wall to wall to wall to wall. And that's how cats sniff out their new environment. And let the cats do that. Don't baby them, just let them sniff and explore. Maintain a real calmness about you, like it's no big deal. "We're in a new place, you're in a new place, no big deal. You're going to like it here."Let the cats have certain escape areas. But be careful that the cats are not going to get trapped behind the couch or deep inside a closet. You can let cats be able to run under the bed, but keep the closet doors closed. And until they feel more at home, make sure that there's no little nooks and crannies, like by the stove, that cats can hide in and get in a bad spot.