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Cat From Shelter
Why Are Cats Returned to Shelters?
What a joyful moment when a person leaves the shelter with a cat!
The small fluffy lump spins amusingly in her arms, meows sweetly and tenderly clings to her shoulders.
A few days later, the new owner sends a photos, where her favorite is already basking on the carpet or on the couch. Everyone is happy!
But this does not always happen.
Sometimes the pet does not immediately get used to the new environment, and the caused stress can manifest itself in behavior. And as far as the owner having enough patience and love to help the cat, no one knows. Occasionally (about 2% of the time), after a week, after a month, or even after a year, people return animals to the shelter. Alas, happiness has failed. The cat was not the ideal and trouble-free companion that they dreamt about. What happened?
We single out the most common reasons for cats being returned and describe methods for solving these problems.
1. The Cat Walks Past The Tray
Where exactly is the cat relieving himself? On the floor? On the bed? It does not matter.
The owner is angry and feels betrayed: “I took you from the shelter, and you dirtied my whole apartment!”
The situation is unpleasant, and is most likely associated with stress. The owner will have to be patient. The fact that the cat regularly goes to the tray in the shelter does not guarantee that it will not have an accident in your house. Of course, this also does not mean that all cats from the shelter will behave in this way.
We can say this with confidence: the cat certainly doesn’t do this to specifically to upset the owner!
Moreover, he does not even realize that the owner is upset. Therefore, screams and punishments will not help.
Our experience shows: when the owners do not give up on the cat, but methodically solve the problem, the struggle for hygiene ends in success.
Read more: What to do if the kitten does not use a tray
2. The Cat Scratches Wallpaper, the Sofa and Other Furniture.
Everyone who made repairs to a house knows how much work and how expensive it is. Choosing and hanging wallpaper, order and assembling new furniture. And now this fluffy purring animal, which you took from the shelter, treacherously treads on soft chairs with its claws, piercing them like a fork, or tearing apart an expensive wallpaper or carpet.
What should you do?
Before you return the cat to the shelter try this.
To protect your home, a unique device has been invented, a claw pad. In addition, we recommend that you master the procedure for cutting the claws with special scissors (not to be confused with the removal of claws!).
The sooner the pet learns about the existence of the claw pad, and you master trimming their claws, the more intact the furniture will be!
3. The cat interferes with my sleep, runs around all night, scratches and attacks the owner.
You certainly did not expect this!
A quiet and modest cat, plaintively looking at you from the shelter cell, once in your apartment, suddenly transforms and not for the better. Now, as soon as you fall asleep, he runs circles around the apartment, rustling boxes, knocking objects on the floor and climbing up whatever he can.
There can be several reasons for this behavior, from simple curiosity, to health problems.
It is also possible that the pet just got bored and would like to play, satisfying his hunting instinct.
And also remember that while you were at work, the cat most often just sleeps so naturally in the evening, unspent energy comes out.
Therefore, it is necessary to prepare the apartment in advance for the arrival of your cat, putting away everything that is breakable and precious, being patient, and playing daily with the cat before bedtime.
Over time your cat will adapt and learn your "rules of the game."
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4. The cat hides and does not make contact.
There are reverse cases. Upon arrival home, the cat hides in the bathroom, and you can only hear it rustling in the middle of the night.
This is a sad but solvable situation.
First, remember that for a cat, moving from a cage in a shelter to your home is stressful. Perhaps the pet never lived in home, and is simply overwhelmed by the space.
Or, on the contrary, he lived in an apartment where he was mistreated and he remembers. Or maybe the smell of a neighbor's dog scared him.
In any case, your task is to gradually accustom the cat to his new house.
Put his tray and bowls in a safe and quiet place. Spray his toys and catnip. Feed, play, and gently talk with him.
After a while, the cat will understand that he has nothing to fear in your house, and he will begin to socialize .