What to Do Before Bringing Home Your New British Shorthair

You’ve made the decision to bring a cat into the family, and you really couldn’t have chosen a better breed than the British shorthair. For one, they’re striking cats with a beautiful coat and gorgeous eyes. Secondly, they’re very good natured cats that love affection and family, and they’re going to make sure your home is a much happier place. A British shorthair is going to make you very happy whether you bought it from a breeder or you found one – miraculously – to adopt at bring home with you.

Before you bring home a British shorthair cat to call your own – or any other breed, for that matter – there are a few things you need to do and need to know. A new cat is always a change for the entire family, and you need to know that when you get your new British shorthair home that it’s the right fit for your family. We have a list of things you need to do before you bring that cat home; you’ll thank us later.

Make Sure the Family is On Board

Sure, making the decision to get a cat, even a British shorthair, is one that doesn’t take much thought, but it’s something you should discuss with the entire family. It’s never a good idea to just assume everyone in your family would be happy with the addition of a new cat, so it’s time to talk about it. Chances are good that the entire family will be okay with it considering cats are so self-sufficient and not at all needy. However, you still need to make sure. You don’t want to bring home a cat only to find out that he or she is not well-received by the rest of the family. It’s not good for you, the cat or anyone else in your home for that matter.

Get the Basics

Don’t just assume that you can pick up a litter box, litter, food, dishes and toys and your British shorthair addition will be just fine. The transition is much easier on your new cat when you take the time to speak with your breeder or rescue about the specifics related to your new cat. For example, ask what type of litter your new cat is fond of using – or at least used to using. The same goes for your cat’s food. It’s better to provide something with which the cat is familiar thanks to the fact that you don’t want your cat to end up sick or miserable. Cats are nervous, too, you know. They are in a new place with new people, and it might not work well with them to find that every single thing in their life is different. It might be better to bring them home to something just a little bit familiar to ease their mind and make them feel a bit more comfortable.

Pet Introductions

Do you have other pets at home? If you do, know that your British shorthair might be a bit skittish. Of course, he or she might also be exceptionally excited to meet new animals; you just never know. All animals are different. However, you should still give your cat some time to get used to other animals, and vice versa. This means giving your cat a room of its own to explore and then giving the cat the option of heading out into the rest of the house to meet the new animals. This gives you time to ensure that the cat is happy to meet the rest of the clan. It also gives the rest of the cats and dogs in your house to get used to the scent and sounds of your new cat so that they become familiar with it and its new place in your home.

Pet Proof the House

Cats are notorious when it comes to being very playful and curious, and that means you’ll need to move anything you don’t want to find them playing with. For example, if you bring home a new British shorthair and you commonly leave your hair ties or q-tips lying around on the bathroom counter, you might find that your cat finds them entertaining. And this usually happens sometime around 2 am. Cats love to play, and anything small enough for them to swat off of a counter or high surface, or even the floor, is going to provide them with endless entertainment. For you, however, it might provide long nights full of restlessness. Go ahead and ‘cat’ proof your house before you bring your new kitten home.

Find a Vet

One of the most important things you can do when you bring home a new pet, whether it’s through adoption or by purchasing it from a breeder is to find a quality vet. It’s tempting to just go with the vet closest to your home, the one you already know of or the one that is listed first online when you perform a local vet search. However, this doesn’t make it an amazing idea. Your vet is someone you must feel comfortable with, and that means finding one with a good reputation, one with a good client relationship and one that’s going to make you feel comfortable.

Your vet should be encouraging of an appointment within the first week of having your new cat. Even if your breeder assured you that the kitten has been to the vet already, you want to take the kitten into your own vet for a visit. Not only does this provide you with the most up-to-date health information, it also provides you with the knowledge that your cat is forming a relationship with the vet. Additionally, it helps to have already been once so you have all your cat’s information and all your personal information on file in case you have an emergency that requires a visit to the vet at a later date. This is going to make your visit a lot smoother and much more comfortable in the future.

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