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Cats and dogs are the two most popular pets to own and have been welcome in human homes for thousands of years. This long history of domestication means owners tend to know what to do to look after their pets, whether they’re a cat or dog person at heart.
However, if you’ve only ever owned dogs in the past, and now you want to adopt a cat, you’re going to have to get used to a few differences. Indeed, there’s plenty of differences between big dogs and small dogs, let alone between two completely different pet species!
So what do you need to do to adjust? Bringing a cat home is a wonderful thing, but you’ll both need some time to get used to each other. Here are a few ways to make that process easier.
Make Your Home an Obstacle Course
Cats need a lot of stimulation, and they differ from dogs in the way they like to get their enrichment. Sure, both pets like to play and exercise, but cats are bigger climbers than dogs, and they need to have somewhere they can go to get away from it all.
This means turning your home into a mini obstacle course. You don’t have to put up walkways and shelves for them to go along, but at least one tall cat tree and a few window sills to sit on will be required. The more your cat can climb, the happier they’re going to be; every kitty loves a vantage point to watch from!
Set Up a Toilet Station
For cats, having a neat place to do their business is key to a happy home. Unlike dogs, this is unlikely to be outside, and if you’ve never had a tray filled with cat litter pellets in the house before, this is probably going to be the biggest adjustment to get to grips with! Make sure you clean the tray at least once a week to stop the smell from getting up your nose.
It’s also best to have one more litter tray than the amount of cats you own, meaning for one cat there should be two, for two cats there should be three, and so on. You’ll need to keep these trays away from where your cat eats, which may take careful planning if your feline tends to be a fussy eater.
Give Them Their Own Space
Dogs tend to like being with their owners as much as possible. While you can get some ‘velcro’ cats, most cats are more likely to want time and space to themself. As such, make sure there’s a space where they can get some of this, again for example on a high cat tree, or in a bed only they use. It’s nothing against you as their owner, they just need a quiet moment to themselves!
If you want to adopt a cat, don’t let a lack of experience put you off. Give that kitty a good home!