By RE Writer
Crates are one of the best tools to prevent cat stress and damage to a new house. When a cat bonds to its crate or carrying cage, it feels secure when it is inside, no matter where the crate is placed. This article will cover recommended size, introduction, usage and crate training tips.
Many new home owners have been inundated by horror stories about cats in new homes. Stains on the new carpets, shredded banisters, meowing at all hours of the day and night... it just goes on and on. I'm happy to say that a lot of these problems can be addressed and/or eliminated with the humane use of a crate.
Some people view crates as "cruel" because they restrict a cat's freedom of movement. I am of the opinion that a crate is only cruel when abused. Keeping a cat in a crate all day and all night without a break to stretch its legs and use the litter box is definitely a horrible thing to do. However, using a crate to strategically restrict your cat's freedom will actually help it adjust to its new home and eliminate a lot of stress from your life.
Ideally, Poofy will already be accustomed to a crate from kittenhood. Cats can be socialized as well as dogs can, so it's always worth getting Poofy used to riding in the car and riding in her crate. It helps if Poofy is taken at an early age to places where there's lots of activity, like shopping malls and playgrounds. If she's used to being taken strange places, she'll be a lot more likely to settle down in the new house.
A good sized crate for Poofy will allow her to go inside, turn around, stand up, and lie down. You don't want the crate to be any bigger - it's a space to relax and sleep, not play or run around in. Get the pet supply store person's advice and do some research on the best brand of crate to accommodate Poofy. You can get away with something as simple as a cardboard pet carrier carton or you can invest in a plastic/wire crate that will last several cat lifetimes; it's up to you.
If you're introducing a crate for the first time, don't just yell, "WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME, POOFY!!!", toss Poofy in and leave. This is bad. Pooky will be terrified and probably have a meltdown and never want to go near the crate again. You may want to go so far as purchasing two separate crates for trips to the vet and home use, so that Poofy doesn't associate being popped into a crate with a bad experience.
What you want is for the crate to become Poofy's preferred sleeping area. Do this by first introducing the crate as an interesting new place to play around and sleep in. Set your cat up by not feeding her during the day you bring the crate home. When you set the crate up, don't force Poofy to come inspect it. Cats are naturally curious and will often voluntarily go into a crate to check it out. Have her favorite blanket and cat treats or a dish of food waiting for her. Feed her something she REALLY likes every day - always with the dish inside the crate. Bungee cord the crate door to the crate body so that it cannot possibly shut accidentally and hurt or scare Poofy.
After a week of this, see if you can get Poofy to go into the crate voluntarily. It helps if you don't feed her beforehand that day. Don't force her; just carry her to the opening and put something she especially likes inside. She should go in. If she doesn't, see if you can gently lift her inside. Once she is in, close the door. She will probably turn around and try to head for the exit. Immediately have a piece of the aforementioned Food She Really Likes shoved through the crate grill to meet her. If she takes it, great! If not, proceed to the next step, which is opening the door and making a big fuss over Pooky. If you play with Pookie, have playtime happen right then. Make sure Pookykins knows that she is the best cat in the entire world (she already knows this, but it never hurts to let her know you know).
Gradually increase the time she spends in the crate with the door closed. Watch her closely - if she bumps around in the crate and then settles down, that's good. If she seems stressed, let her out and try again later. If she seems okay with the procedure, try leaving the room for a minute. Work up to leaving her in there for a couple of hours. Regularly come by with a treat or dab of food. Some people find that a new product on the market, Feliway cat spray, helps cats relax in the crate. This is a feline pheremone spray that naturally relaxes the cat by mimicking the natural chemicals that cats give off when happy with life.
When Poofy uses the crate as her primary sleeping area, you've won. Cats who bond with their crate as their "territory" are a lot less likely to be stressed when moving to a new house. They are also less likely to engage in territorial marking of the new carpets or scratching the new doors. A crate is your cat's best friend, especially during a stressful transition. Seriously consider crate training your cat to successfully move it to a new home.
About the author:
Ultimate Calgary Real Estate Guide: View homes in the Cochrane real estate market edge the Alberta foothills and the beautiful Bow River, offering up breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Article tags: moving, relocation, animal relocation, house cats, new homes
The Final Countdown: Moving Your Cat
By RE Writer
You have closed the deal and are now the proud owner of a new house. Unfortunately, the stress is just beginning; not just for you, but for Poofypaws, your darling little cat. Here are some tips to eliminate some of the difficulties inherent in moving your cat from your old home to the new.
The final days leading up to the move are going to be the most stressful for Poofykins. As much as possible, keep to her schedule. If she normally gets fed at 8, feed her at 8. If you regularly have a game of Chase the String at 7, try to drag the string around for a couple of minutes every day. Try to maintain the illusion that everything is normal - despite the growing pile of boxes in the living room.
The day before the move, feed Poofy about half as much as she normally gets. On the day of the move, don't feed her at all. Not only will this minimize her projectile vomiting a ball of goo into the back of your head; it will make her associate the new house with something positive once you pop her into her holding room.
The holding room is a room in your new home that you have marked ahead of time to hold Poofy until the moving is over. It should be free from a lot of junk, exits or unsecured windows. An empty bedroom is good. Make sure that any closets or exits are closed and can't be opened by an enterprising paw. Set it up with a small amount Poofy's yummy food, water, her litterbox and any items that you know she is especially fond of. If you have music you regularly play, bring a player and let Poofy hear some familiar tunes or the radio. Some cats like to watch TV, so a TV with a DVD player can allow Poofy to relax with the Aristocats while you accidentally break that hideous sculpture Aunt Edna gave you for your birthday.
Bring Poofy over to the new place before you do anything else and set her up in the room you have prepared for her. Allow some time for her to check things out while in the crate; then open the crate and let her inspect the room. Try to have a way for her to be able to see out the windows – her cat tree or a small table may help. Again, bungee cord the crate door open so it can't close, so Poofy has somewhere familiar to escape to. Stay with her for a few minutes to make sure she isn't too freaked out and then head out to unload your stuff. Put a sign on the door to alert movers and other people that the cat is in residence and severe bodily harm will come to the unfortunate who releases her.
After the movers have left, check on Poofy. If she seems calm, you can leave her again. If she is nervous, try spending a few minutes petting her and calming her down. Try playing with her or engaging in a familiar activity if you have the time. If she has eaten her yummy food, try making a big production of giving her more - only a little bit of it. You don't want her leaving you the cat's version of the letter, “Dear Person-who-brings-me-Food, I am displeased with the way things are going. Signed, Her Most Serene Highness, Poofypaws”.
Later on, you can try introducing Poofy to other areas of the house. You may want to take it slow and not overwhelm Poofy at first. Always bring her crate or cat bed and encourage her to retreat to it if she's feeling stressed. You can also bring Poofy's equipment into your new bedroom so that she can have you around for comfort during the night.
Over the next week, gradually allow Poofy greater freedom within the house. If she is an indoor/outdoor cat, don't let her outside for a few weeks, so she can learn to bond with her new territory. If your move has been a short one, you may find that Poofy has taken a sojourn back to her old stomping grounds. If she makes a habit of it, ask your former neighbors to make life hard for her and the new tenants of your house to make it clear that she is unwelcome.
With a little bit of preparation, you can make your cat's transition from your old house to the new relatively easy. A smooth transition, where the cat is exposed to a minimum of stress, will pay off. You will have a cat that is less likely to reduce your house to its original components or take its stress out on your furniture.
About the author:
Ultimate Calgary Real Estate Guide: tour Calgary luxury real estate for sale and discover the communities in Canada's greatest city at JustinHavre.com
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Article tags: moving, relocation, animal relocation, house cats, new homes
You have closed the deal and are now the proud owner of a new house. Unfortunately, the stress is just beginning; not just for you, but for Poofypaws, your darling little cat. Here are some tips to eliminate some of the difficulties inherent in moving your cat from your old home to the new.
The final days leading up to the move are going to be the most stressful for Poofykins. As much as possible, keep to her schedule. If she normally gets fed at 8, feed her at 8. If you regularly have a game of Chase the String at 7, try to drag the string around for a couple of minutes every day. Try to maintain the illusion that everything is normal - despite the growing pile of boxes in the living room.
The day before the move, feed Poofy about half as much as she normally gets. On the day of the move, don't feed her at all. Not only will this minimize her projectile vomiting a ball of goo into the back of your head; it will make her associate the new house with something positive once you pop her into her holding room.
The holding room is a room in your new home that you have marked ahead of time to hold Poofy until the moving is over. It should be free from a lot of junk, exits or unsecured windows. An empty bedroom is good. Make sure that any closets or exits are closed and can't be opened by an enterprising paw. Set it up with a small amount Poofy's yummy food, water, her litterbox and any items that you know she is especially fond of. If you have music you regularly play, bring a player and let Poofy hear some familiar tunes or the radio. Some cats like to watch TV, so a TV with a DVD player can allow Poofy to relax with the Aristocats while you accidentally break that hideous sculpture Aunt Edna gave you for your birthday.
Bring Poofy over to the new place before you do anything else and set her up in the room you have prepared for her. Allow some time for her to check things out while in the crate; then open the crate and let her inspect the room. Try to have a way for her to be able to see out the windows – her cat tree or a small table may help. Again, bungee cord the crate door open so it can't close, so Poofy has somewhere familiar to escape to. Stay with her for a few minutes to make sure she isn't too freaked out and then head out to unload your stuff. Put a sign on the door to alert movers and other people that the cat is in residence and severe bodily harm will come to the unfortunate who releases her.
After the movers have left, check on Poofy. If she seems calm, you can leave her again. If she is nervous, try spending a few minutes petting her and calming her down. Try playing with her or engaging in a familiar activity if you have the time. If she has eaten her yummy food, try making a big production of giving her more - only a little bit of it. You don't want her leaving you the cat's version of the letter, “Dear Person-who-brings-me-Food, I am displeased with the way things are going. Signed, Her Most Serene Highness, Poofypaws”.
Later on, you can try introducing Poofy to other areas of the house. You may want to take it slow and not overwhelm Poofy at first. Always bring her crate or cat bed and encourage her to retreat to it if she's feeling stressed. You can also bring Poofy's equipment into your new bedroom so that she can have you around for comfort during the night.
Over the next week, gradually allow Poofy greater freedom within the house. If she is an indoor/outdoor cat, don't let her outside for a few weeks, so she can learn to bond with her new territory. If your move has been a short one, you may find that Poofy has taken a sojourn back to her old stomping grounds. If she makes a habit of it, ask your former neighbors to make life hard for her and the new tenants of your house to make it clear that she is unwelcome.
With a little bit of preparation, you can make your cat's transition from your old house to the new relatively easy. A smooth transition, where the cat is exposed to a minimum of stress, will pay off. You will have a cat that is less likely to reduce your house to its original components or take its stress out on your furniture.
About the author:
Ultimate Calgary Real Estate Guide: tour Calgary luxury real estate for sale and discover the communities in Canada's greatest city at JustinHavre.com
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Article tags: moving, relocation, animal relocation, house cats, new homes
