Accustom the cat to a new apartment. Adaptation of the cat to the house: for the first time in a new place. How does a cat behave in a new apartment

We all know that dogs get used to the owner, and cats to the house. If during the move the cat was offered to stay in the old place, then she would definitely choose the place where she is used to living and feels comfortable. However, due to life circumstances, cats are forced to leave their home comfort, moving with their owner. For a cat, moving is a huge stress, and therefore it is necessary to make every effort to ensure that it is as small as possible. It is the nuances of how to properly transport a cat to a new home that this article will be devoted to.

How to transport a cat to a new home?

First, you need to prepare the cat for the move in advance. To do this, arrange boxes with things in the house in a few weeks or at least a week, simulating a move. You also need to gradually accustom the mustache to carrying (this is such a special plastic basket for transporting small animals). To do this, you can put the plate closer to the carrier for a week before moving, and then put it inside so that the cat feels comfortable inside the basket. Once your cat has gotten used to the carrier, you can move it to a new home. If your cat is one of the most impressionable animals, then after consulting with the veterinarian, you can give her some soothing drops just before moving. Also, do not feed your pet for at least 3-4 hours before moving to avoid intestinal disorders. It is also not recommended to carry a cat in your arms, as it can scratch you or cause trouble to itself.

Secondly, you do not need to immediately give the cat complete freedom in a new place. Experts recommend first letting the cat into one room so that it adapts to the sounds, smells and general atmosphere of the room. It is advisable not to make noise in the presence of a cat, as it can be very frightened and hide under the sofa or in some crack. In the same room, you can place a cat litter box and a bowl for food. After a few days, you can open a second room for the fluffy, and then gradually all the rest. The second toilet must be placed in the place where it will be permanent.

Thirdly, if you have moved to a private house where there is a yard, then do not let the cat go for a walk immediately upon arrival, as the cat can go on trips. It is also recommended to let the pet out for a walk in the yard hungry: so he will not linger on the street for a long time and will be asked to go home. If you moved not far from your previous home, the cat may try to return. Ask your neighbors in advance not to feed your pet.

Fourthly, in the new house it is better to arrange all the "cat" items, for example, food bowls, toys, a scratching post, and so on, as in the previous housing. In such a new environment, which will remind the cat of the old house, the cat will feel much more comfortable. To fill the whole house with the smell of a cat, you can rub a damp terry towel on her cheeks and head, and then on doorposts, furniture and corners at the level of her height.

Either the cat "wound up by itself" - the children brought the kitten, or someone "kind" threw it to the door. Perhaps you are planning to purchase a thoroughbred animal from breeders. The way a fluffy purr gets into your apartment does not matter in this matter.

And the question is not idle - will the cat follow the rules of hygiene and visit the cat toilet as needed, or, ignoring the rules and principles, will he do "dirty" deeds where he pleases? Let us examine the issue in detail and try to help cat owners with varying severity of this problem.

Animals, like people, are endowed with different levels of intelligence. Some people quickly realize that a box with filler is a toilet (in fairness, I note that this happens extremely rarely), more often a “special” approach is required. Let's look at a few situations. The simplest one is that you took a kitten over a month old from a domestic one, living, by the way, in an apartment, and not in your house.

In the vast majority of cases, a cat teaches such kittens, you just have to pour the same filler into the tray as in the house where you got the animal from. Over time, you can change the filler to one that is more convenient for you to purchase and change.

Just slowly, in small portions, add a new filler, and remove the old one. So you can completely teach to walk in an empty tray (it is desirable that it be a special double tray in which the contents go through the holes). read here.

If the cat breed is "noble", that is, its origin is unknown.

Where and how he lived before you is also incomprehensible, then you need to experience all the ways of accustoming by experience. One of the following will probably work. Most likely, the animal was born and grew up on the street, that is, it got used to going to the toilet in the ground, in the sand. Then, at the stage of getting used to, you will have to pour “street” filler into the tray - sand from the street, for example. Add a little earth there "for smell" so to speak. You can also gradually replace the filler.

And while the animal is getting used to, wash the floor in the hallway, adding an odorous detergent to the water to confuse and prevent the appearance of “cat spots” at the front door. I’ll make a reservation right away - many cats are calm about the smell of bleach, so it’s better to buy a cheap shampoo with a strong smell and add it to the water when washing floors.

If the cat nevertheless chose his “favorite place” in the wrong place, then you can try to scare the cat at the moment when he set his sights on “dirty deeds”. You can throw a bunch of keys nearby, clap your hands sharply, spray the cat with a spray bottle.

On some impressionable animals, this method works flawlessly. You can also put something with a strong smell, such as a wet wipe with a strong smell. Just be sure to replace it when it dries.

But if you come across a “thick-skinned” specimen, which is hard to reach, then you need to act differently. Try to put the tray exactly in your “favorite place”, and then gradually move it towards the toilet. And it is better to fence off the “inappropriate” place with something as the tray moves away from it. Sprays for accustoming to the tray work effectively. You need to spray the tray after each replacement.

When the cat first explored the apartment, he should be put in a tray sprayed with spray so that he gets used to the smell. Of course, the ideal option is for someone to be constantly at home during the adaptation of the animal to a new place of residence. To catch the animal in time when it starts to look for a place for a toilet.

Signs of such searches, as a rule, are always obvious. The kitten starts restlessly sniffing the corners and tries to sit down. Just at this moment, he needs to be caught and put on a tray, accompanying the action with gentle persuasion. And the next time the kitten starts sniffing corners, you need to talk to him strictly, explaining that this is not possible.

If you still didn’t manage to catch the bully at the “crime scene”, then you need to scold him in a strict voice, then put him on a tray and affectionately explain where everything needs to be done. Sometimes it happens that an animal that is quite adult and accustomed to the tray begins to dirty things “in a big way” or “in a small way”. There aren't many reasons for this behavior.

The most common is that your pet is protesting because of some annoying factors. It rarely happens that, for the sake of a cat, you can, for example, stop repairs, cancel a move, resettle a new family member, etc. You will have to give the animal sedatives to drink. It is best to consult with your veterinarian regarding their choice.

Another way animals can manifest the instinct of reproduction - it attracts an individual of the opposite sex with its smell. In this case, you can act in two ways - give the animal pills or castrate the cat, or sterilize the cat, solving the problem once and for all in the latter way.

One has only to draw your attention to the fact that it is better to castrate cats a little in advance - when the cat has grown up, but has not yet begun to “mark corners”. Then the chance that the cat will not be dirty is very high.

If the cat has been “marking the territory” for a long time, and you suddenly decide to castrate it, then there is a high risk that it will continue the ingrained line of behavior. In this case, and after castration, you need to give the animal a sedative medicine. The main thing is to take into account the temperament and character of the animal in this delicate issue. Nervous and impressionable animals are well affected by persuasion, sedatives and pungent odors in “inappropriate” places.

Calm and naughty cats can be influenced by the newspaper or slipper method. Just don't hit the animal. You can just sharply slam a slipper or newspaper near the wrong place at the moment of "sitting down". And then just threaten him with a slipper or a newspaper when he is about to "go the wrong way."

Which tray to choose?

Even in such a simple matter as choosing a tray, there are a lot of difficulties and surprises.

Tray size

Depending on the breed of the pet and the possible maximum growth in the future, the size of the tray is selected. At the same time, length and width are not all criteria when choosing. Depth is of great importance in the comfort of using the tray for animals. The height of the sides varies from 5 cm to 15 cm. The best option is a 10 cm side.

For large breeds, such a size is selected so that at least 4 adult cats of the selected breed can figuratively be seated in the tray. It also should not be too large, so that the animal clearly understands the limits of its capabilities. The ability to install such a tray in a certain place is also taken into account.

tray material

The standard decision when buying a tray is to choose a plastic tray. Such a product is easy to clean, wear-resistant, does not absorb odors, affordable.

But in recent years, trays made from natural materials - wood - have also become popular. Outwardly, it looks very environmentally friendly and natural, but when used, such a tray is not practical. The tree absorbs odors, which are not so easy to get rid of. Also, the tree absorbs moisture, where fungus or mold can develop if it is constantly wet.

Tray Models

Habitual for "cat lovers" are the following models of trays:

  1. Whole. It has the appearance of a rectangle, inside is smooth without obvious protrusions and reliefs. For him, fillers for cat litter are used. The most optimal and versatile option for accustoming a cat to a tray.
  2. With mesh. Outwardly, it looks like a solid tray. Only a special mesh is installed inside, which serves as a kind of filter. The cat defecates, liquids drain to the bottom of the tray, while the filler is not used, and the tray has to be washed after each visit to the toilet by the cat.
  3. With high sides. An additional rim is installed on the solid tray, which serves as additional protection against the spread of filler elements throughout the room. Can also be used as a film clip. When installing the film, it is clamped with a side. After the cat has defecated, the film can be removed and thrown away and covered with another one.
  4. Closed. This type of tray-house is also called. Suitable for units, since cats usually ignore it, which makes toilet training more difficult.
  5. Auto. Good only for the owner, as the tray is able to self-clean and replace the filler. Cats rarely recognize it due to the noise of the cleaning process.

Cat litter

There are two main types of filler composition - natural and artificial.

It will be better for the animal if the owners choose natural (wood sawdust compressed into granules). After a liquid bowel movement, the granules swell and disintegrate. You can not clean such a site immediately, there is not much smell.

After the granules break down into sawdust, they stick to the paws of the cat and spread throughout the housing. Therefore, pet owners prefer artificial types of fillers. The principle of their action is to envelop the bowel, which ensures the neutralization of the smell. The filler does not cling to the paws and does not spread.

The nuances of the process of accustoming to the tray

  • It may happen that the pet does not like the filler - excessive flavors in the filler can scare the animal. To begin with, it is better to do with neutral aromas or the absence of them.
  • If the cat stubbornly refuses to go to the tray, reconsider your choice. Perhaps it is too big and has high sides. Try changing the type of filler, the tray itself.
  • If a cat was taken already older than a kitten, then the process of accustoming is practically the same. The only thing that may be, an adult animal will understand the essence much faster and will not make incidents with “misses”.
  • During the training period, do not allow the animal into all rooms of the housing. After a stable result, access can be expanded.
  • When defecating in the wrong place, a special solution is used or made with one's own hand - in a ratio of 1: 1: 1, mix alcohol, vinegar and water and treat the place where the incident occurred.
  • Repeat attempts again and again if the cat cannot get used to the place of defecation. This will require patience and calmness.

Keep in mind that a cat is an animal that lives according to its own instincts, and not according to the rules of the owner's family.

How to wean a cat to mark

In nature, felines adhere to a hierarchical system of behavior. Tags can be left only by those cats who are leaders, or who claim this place. Therefore, at home, the cat must have its own leader, whom he will respect. But it is impossible to achieve this by poking the cat's muzzle into its secretions and hitting with slippers. The problem needs to be solved differently.

You may find this funny and funny, but you have to arrange a semblance of a cat fight. Cats do not understand human speech, so the best solution is to act in their language of sounds and gestures. When the cat lifts its tail to mark something, go up to it and take it by the scruff of the neck. When he calms down and presses his paws, it will be possible to transgress directly to the battle of characters.

First you need to hiss at the cat. Also, throughout the process, try not to look away, if you break eye contact, the cat will assume that he has won. Without any effort, with the help of light strokes of your fingers, hit the cat on the muzzle, this will simulate paws.

With all this, you need to be really angry with your cat, as they feel the emotional state of a person quite well. Otherwise, he will not take this fight seriously.

If everything is done correctly, it will cease to resist. When the cat starts to turn away and meow, it will be possible to consider that the deed is done. All that remains is to wash away all traces, in order to leave your scent, sprinkle your perfume or cologne on the marks. A new leader will appear in the house and it will be possible to forget about the unpleasant smell and aggressive behavior of the cat.

What the first day of a kitten's stay in the house looks like, perhaps, everyone who is familiar with cats at least remotely knows. On this day, the house is filled with joy from the fact that the family has replenished with one more family member, who is now destined to be everyone's favorite and center of attention, everyone's darling and object of care all his life. As a rule, newly minted owners cannot hide their jubilation, watching how a small fluffy ball walks around the back streets of their house, sniffing carefully.

By this time, the first meeting with the kitten, as well as his move to a new place of residence, are already behind him. In addition, on the very first day, the kitten, as a rule, manages to get acquainted with a new home for itself, at least in general terms, and smell everything and everyone. However, after all, the matter is not limited to one acquaintance, and the kitten often still behaves warily and is clearly nervous. So what should be done so that the kitten as soon as possible feels confident in himself and in the goodwill of his new owners and ceases to be afraid?

First of all, it is worth saying that one of the best ways to adapt a kitten to new living conditions is direct contact with him. If the owner has the opportunity to be near the kitten constantly for two or, even better, three days, then he should take advantage of this opportunity and constantly be close to the kitten.

If the kitten does not resist, you should constantly stroke it, scratch it behind the ear and talk to it in an affectionate and calm voice - cats love this very much. You can try to put the kitten to sleep next to you - he will appreciate it. True, in this regard, there may be one small problem. If the kitten has not yet figured out where his tray is and where he should relieve himself, then at night, when he wants to go to the toilet, he can, with the best of intentions, send her straight to bed, not far from where he sleeps.


However, regardless of whether the kitten will be put to sleep with his owner or not, if the owner is everywhere next to him, he will gradually realize that where his owner is completely harmless and soon the kitten will walk after his owner. Thus, the kitten will be able to get used to the new home much faster than when it is left to its own devices. However, if he follows his owner everywhere, it is important to remain vigilant so as not to inadvertently crush the kitten, which will follow the owner as if tied.

Many owners mistakenly believe that in order for a kitten to adapt to new conditions as quickly as possible, on the contrary, it should be left alone for a long time. However, this is not the case at all. Most likely, the kitten will simply go to bed and fall asleep, not waking up until the arrival of his new owner. But with such a development of events, he really will not get used to either his master or the new housing.


Therefore, if you need to arrange a kitten for yourself, then you need to spend (at least in the first days) all your free time with him, and before each feeding, stroke him and talk to him affectionately. And only after that pour him food. Thanks to this, the animal will be able to learn that only affection promotes friendly relations between him and the owner, and is the shortest path to the cat's favorite pastime - food.

It would be useful to arrange toys throughout the house. Moving from one toy to another, the kitten will automatically explore the space and gradually cease to be afraid of being in a new home.


The owners should accustom the kitten to the presence in his life of a variety of sudden or loud sounds, which are present to one degree or another in the life of every modern person. It can be a loud TV, radio or something else. Of course, this does not mean at all that you need to fire crackers (cats never get used to such sounds and they are very harmful to cat hearing), but some loud sounds should still be present in a small volume. About two days after the kitten appears in the house and becomes a full-fledged tenant, you should start turning on the TV at the volume that is comfortable for the owners, and no longer embarrass yourself in the sounds and try to muffle them.

I must say that the sooner the kitten gets the opportunity to get used to loud sounds, the stronger its nervous system will be and the better it will function.

In order for the kitten to adapt to the new environment as well as possible and get used to all the members of the new family, it is necessary that each of them does not cause him any disturbance. Therefore, residents should pay attention to the kitten as often as possible, play with it and stroke it: only in such an atmosphere will the kitten be able to quickly get used to a new home and a new family.

It will not be superfluous to introduce the kitten to strangers. The only thing to take care of in this case is that the total number of new people does not exceed two or three people per day.

As for walking on the street, it is undesirable to go out there with such a small kitten. But to go out onto the balcony, getting used to the noise of the street, it is better every day and several times.

How to accustom a cat to a new home is of interest to those owners who have an adult animal or move with their pet. You can't just move a cat and expect it to handle the change without stress. Like people, not only adult cats, but even a kitten, do not immediately get used to a new place of life; and due to the fact that they cannot understand what caused the resettlement, adaptation is much more difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to help the pet and accustom him to change. Mistakes by the owner at the stage of getting used to a new home can cause the animal to fall into a long-term depression, which is dangerous for its physical health. The experience gained by lovers of four-legged pets will help to accustom a cat to a new home.

Mistakes in teaching

It is easier to accustom a kitten to a new place of residence than an adult animal. A number of common mistakes leads to the fact that getting used to a new place in a cat is very difficult and difficult. For an animal, many little things that seem insignificant to a person turn out to be important during this period.

The main mistakes that prevent a cat from being accustomed to a new home are::

  • ignoring the cat - after moving, she needs the maximum amount of attention so that she does not experience fear of loneliness, hiding in corners;
  • getting rid of old things familiar to the animal - having lost them, the cat is very confused;
  • introducing new animals at the same time as the cat moves to a new home - first you need to accustom your pet to it and only after that introduce new ones. The exceptions are cases when it is required to save the life of a four-legged animal, which has to be urgently introduced into the family;
  • punishing a cat for misbehavior - often a cat gets lost in a new place and cannot immediately remember where his tray is or where the scratching post hangs. The owner should not punish an animal that experiences severe stress after moving, but it is necessary to calmly accustom it to changes. To do this, you just need to remind the cat where his toilet or scratching post is, taking him to them when the need is noticed. The cat gets used to everything new gradually. Soon the pet will remember everything;
  • strangers in the house in the next 3-5 days after the cat's relocation - for an animal, even a very sociable one, the presence of strangers in the house becomes an additional shock and prevents the owners from accustoming it to a new home. Therefore, it is necessary to try at first to provide the pet with a calm environment.

Tricks of accustoming

To make it easier for a cat to survive the move, you should not completely destroy its world. A new home for an adult cat should have items that are already familiar to the pet. The animal will be easier to accustom to the changed conditions of life if the owner keeps his old things:

  1. bedding;
  2. house;
  3. scratching post;
  4. toys;
  5. bowls;
  6. tray.

Most likely, when moving, there will be a desire to change them, since rarely these old items look attractive. However, for the animal they are very important, and when moving they must be taken with you. Finding your belongings on the first day in a new home helps your pet get used to it faster. When the cat settles down in a new place, there will be no problems with replacing them with others.

Many cats try to hide when moving and are not ready to start developing the territory of their new place of residence for a long time. For the speedy elimination of such a problem, fragrant delicacies should be laid out in the apartment in different places. Even the most wary pet won't be able to resist going in search of a treat while exploring their new home. Having examined it and making sure that there is no danger, the cat will get used to it much faster.

The adaptation period will be much longer if, in addition to the house, the cat has changed its owner and must also get used to a new person. In such a situation, in order to accustom it, one must accurately learn from the previous owner about the habits of the animal and try to satisfy them. If a pet is drawn to people and wants to be petted, one cannot ignore his desires and refuse attention to a four-legged friend. When an animal, on the contrary, seeks to remain alone, one should not impose its society on it. Gradually, realizing that they love him, the cat will begin to make contact himself.

In order for a cat to easily endure moving to a new place and get used to another house, first of all, she needs the love of her owners.

There are different situations in which not only people, but also animals have to get used to a new place of residence. Cat lovers have to deal with them more than once, and therefore the question of how to adapt a cat or a cat to a new home is always relevant.

So, you bought, or your friends gave you a little fluffy. Do not worry, it is not so difficult to teach and tame a baby, as it seems at first glance. The main thing is to give him more attention, generously showing care and affection. It is recommended to talk with the pet, stroking its fur, and then feed it. A good attitude and kind words will help you establish trusting contact with him. Remember that a kitten will love you only after you love him.

It is a mistake to leave your pet alone in the house for a long time. Most likely, he will hide in the corners and avoid you most of the time.

Owners spend quite a lot of time on accustoming a kitten to a tray. Introduce the baby to the new toilet, and if he relieves himself in the wrong place, strictly but kindly, scold him and point to the tray again. A naughty fluffy can be "directed" to the toilet by putting a piece of paper or cotton wool moistened with his urine: he will come to the smell.

Another sensitive moment: accustoming to a new sleeping place. If you do not want the kitten to spend all the time in your bed, you must immediately offer him a secluded, warm and soft corner where he will be comfortable to rest, if necessary, luring him with a special mint from the zoological shop.

Stock up on patience and love, and the kitten will get used to a new home very soon.

How to accustom a cat or a cat to a new house

A change of residence causes stress not only for the owners, but also for pets. In such cases, breeders become actively interested in how to adapt a cat or a cat to a new home, and what needs to be done to successfully complete the business.

Moving to a new home

It is advisable not to transport an adult pet to a house where cosmetic repairs have not yet been completed, or things have not been dismantled and tidied up. Cats do not like disorder, and "chaos" in the house can exacerbate the situation of the animal getting used to new conditions.

If you have a very sensitive animal, it will be better to keep at least some of the old interior to help him get used to an unfamiliar home. The fact is that cats remember smells well, and the preservation of old things will contribute to their speedy adaptation to the new environment. Gradually, everything can be replaced.

Take care of a sleeping place, a “dining room” and a cat tray in advance. It is best to bring everything you need from the old apartment, and after adaptation, purchase new accessories. The animal will thank you.

Moving to a new owner

It will be more difficult to adapt the cat to a new home with a new owner. Especially if the cat is outside. And from the former housing it will not be easy to wean. In this case, it will take more time, patience and work to accustom an adult pet to a new environment.

The cat, as you know, gets used to the house, so you need to try to create conditions for her that are similar to those in which she lived before. To achieve this, you must first ask the former owner about the details of the life and preferences of the pet in food and other areas of activity, and try to stick to them.

Create a secluded corner for the animal, but do not leave it alone for a long time at first. Caress the cat if it reaches out to you and allows you to pet it. Otherwise, do not impose your affection, the time will come and, feeling your disposition, she herself will show interest and love for you.

When accustoming a pet to a new toilet, use the filler familiar to him. If possible, bring some old, urine-soaked animal litter and place it in the litter box. As in the case of a kitten, an adult cat will find a "latrine" place by smell.

Equip the place that the cat likes, where she spends most of her time, under the sleeping corner. Remember that it should be warm and comfortable.

It is also better to feed your pet with the food he is used to.

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