When you adopt a young cat, you are in some ways adopting an overgrown kitten. Both are high energy and will need lots of attention from their new owners. Young adult cats, however, pose some unique challenges for their owners that are not seen with their younger counterparts. Between the ages of 11 months and three years, young adult cats are very sturdy and a greater capacity to make mischief. Before you bring a young cat into your home, you should prepare yourself and your home. The adjustments are simple enough and do not require a large investment of your time.
Once you decide to adopt a young adult cat, prepare your home for your new friend's explorative tendencies. Unlike kittens, young adults will start to explore their new homes and stake out what is their territory almost immediately. This process means that any space in your home is fair game. Do not assume that any fragile items on your mantle are safe because they are elevated. Young adult cats have the physical capability to scale heights many times greater than their own size. Even if your kitty is unable to jump eight feet on her own, she can still find a way to turn your furniture into steps to reach a ledge near the ceiling. Another thing to consider is a cat's ability to figure out simple machinery, in particular anything that uses a lever. This is evident in the number of videos on YouTube that show cats flushing toilets and opening doors. If you wish to keep your grandmother's tea pot in one piece or prevent your water bill from increasing due to mysterious flushing, prepare to cat-proof your home. Remove valuables from open spaces and place them in cabinets. If you can lock them up, it will provide extra security if your new pet figures out how to open all of the cabinetry in your house.
With young adult cats, play time will be less frequent but more physically intense. These cats are just about fully grown and have energy to spare. When they have finished exploring your home, they will want to play. Provide a space in your home for playtime. Whether it's an entire room or a section of a larger area in your home, a play space can keep your feline friend from tearing up your house. You can use the space to keep all of your cat's toys organized. A designated area for play also allows you to set up larger play structures such as kitty condos. If your cat likes to extend her claws during play time, consider adding a scratching post to the area to save your furnishings and skin. If you are stumped for ideas for suitable toys, consider catnip toys for your cat to bite. They'll have their permanent teeth at this point, and they will want to try them out. You can even tie these toys to some sturdy string and swing them around. Your cat will get to leap and bite with minimal damage to people and objects in the home.
Adopting a young adult cat can bring joy into your home while providing your new feline with a safe shelter. Their youth and exuberance may test your patience, though. Just take a little time out before your new friend's arrival to make the transition as smooth as possible for your home, your family and for the cat as well. By making your home cat friendly, your cat will be better able to adjust to her new home and provide you with many years of companionship.
Elisa Dvorak has grown up around cats of many ages, having five of her own so far. She has also volunteered for the Martin County Humane Society. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pets.
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