Bringing home a new rescue cat is a really exciting experience, but it may also feel daunting! It can be hard to know how best to go about things, especially if your new rescue cat is nervous.
What does your rescue cat’s behaviour mean?
Moving to a new environment can often be stressful for cats. This is because they’ve got to adapt to new surroundings, get used to a new routine and become familiar with new people.
This means that on arrival they may hide, retreat, or communicate in ways such as hissing, grumbling, or even snapping to let you know they’re stressed and worried. These responses are normal and the reaction will vary depending on your individual cat’s temperament.
Behaviour is your cat’s way of showing you how they’re feeling.
How to help your rescue cat settle
The best way to help your rescue cat build confidence is to give them time and space to settle in. We know that they’ve landed on their feet in a lovely new home, but it might take them some time to realise that they’re in a safe space. Hence, pressure through interactions can sometimes hinder progress.
Rather than showing your new cat love with fuss and interaction, it may help to give them time and space. Cameras are a great option for monitoring your cat whilst they settle without needing to invade their space. Taking a hands-off approach can speed up the process of building confidence because they can figure it out in their own time.
My experience with Luna…
Here I share my experiences of bringing home my rescue cat Luna. I explain how I’ve set up the environment to help Luna settle and I show you how I’ve gone about things.
Find out lots of tips & tricks about what your cat’s behaviour might mean and how you can set them up for success in your cat’s new life:
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