CAN I ADAPT?
A Companion Animal Care Article from All-Creatures.org

This Companion Animal Care directory is presented to help people seeking reliable resources, tips, and information for companion animals.

FROM

Debra L. Stitt © (and Chance)
June 2009

I’m Chance the cat and I didn’t get my name by accident.  I’m probably one of the best authorities on the question of adaptability.  You see, I was a wanderin’ kind of guy for a while until I got myself in a heap of trouble.  I’m one of the lucky ones, although I didn’t know how bad I had it until I had it so very good! 

My mom doesn’t know whether or not I had a “real” home in the past, although she assumes I didn’t by the condition she found me in.  I guess I was one sorry dude!  Thankfully, when I decided to use bad judgment I was fortunate enough to do it at just the right time – when my new mom was driving by and saw me get hit by a mini-van.  I don’t really remember anything after running out in the street, but she sure does.  Thank goodness someone that cared was there to rescue me or I wouldn’t be here to share this advice with you!

Here’s the thing . . . I was an outdoor kitty, and now I’m an indoor kitty.  And, I’m a happy indoor kitty.  As a matter of fact, I don’t like it at all any more when my mom or dad try to get me outside of the house for any reason (and they do for my doctor visits).  I’m about as stubborn as they come.  I quickly learned to love my new . . . home and my life.   

The key is this -- my mom and dad were so very patient with me.  They knew from my condition that I had been on my own for quite a while.  They put up with my middle-of-the-night howls until I adjusted to new sleeping patterns.  You see, when you live on your own outside, you use the nights to prowl and you hide and/or sleep during the day.  That can be a challenging habit to break but it can be done.  It really didn’t take me long to adjust to their schedule because I got a lot of attention when I was living by their rules and schedule.  Positive reinforcement for good behavior made me feel like a king! 

When you take us street kitties in, you need to really think like a kitty.  We’re so small compared to you and you scare us – not to mention that we’re not used to being taken care of.  Our existence has all been based on our ability to fend for ourselves.  We are not used to being pampered.  If we can learn to trust you, you’ve got a loyal kitty for life!  So, here are a few simple tips.  These same tips will work for any type of feline, indoor or outdoor, that you choose to adopt.

1)  When it comes to discipline, never, ever use your hands for anything negative.  We equate objects (hands) with pleasant or unpleasant experiences – not both.  If you want us to equate your hands with everything pleasant, never hit us.  If you hit us, the unpleasant experience will override the pleasant one and we will never trust your hands.  The same is true with our name.  Don’t equate our name with bad behavior by yelling it.  If you do, and then try to get us to come to you by calling our name, we will be frightened.  A good way to discipline us is with loud noises, like loud clapping – that’s very unpleasant to us!

2)  When getting to know you, there’s a pretty nifty trick that most people don’t think of.  Get down to our level.  When you stand over us, it’s a bit overwhelming.  But, when you get down on the floor with us, it’s a lot less scary.  This will give us more courage to approach you.

3)  Once we know you, we will ALWAYS enjoy your company.  We may lie in a corner, on a perch or across the room, but we like being near you.  It’s comforting!  So, the best way to reinforce good behavior in us is to allow us to be close to you.

4)  Our noses are our most powerful sense -- and our best sense of well-being.  If you think something frightens us, slowly extend it to us and let us smell it.  Don’t move quickly or speak loudly, just let us investigate.  It’s the best way to help us feel comfortable.

5)  We LOVE our familiar space.  It’s comfortable and safe.  We kitties are creatures of habit, as well as territory.  We really don’t need the wide-open spaces to be happy.  Give us enough indoor stimulation and we’ll never miss the outdoors.  Just be patient and let us adapt.  Give us lots of interesting and different types of toys, scratchers and places to call our own when we want to be alone.  If we cry at the door, distract us with something pleasant and positive.  It’s simply a matter of focusing us on something positive that pleases us both.  We quickly learn that when we please you, we get hugs and pets and that’s something we really, really like!

6)  If and when we have to move, think of us first.  ALWAYS make sure you isolate us with familiar belongings (as well as food, water and a litter box) during a move so that we feel safe.  Give us a room that we can stay in, away from all of the chaos, until things settle down.  We really don’t like change, so don’t subject us to a lot of it.  Once things settle down, crack the door to our room open and let us decide when to venture out and investigate.  We might do it at night when you’re sleeping but trust me, we WILL investigate – but on our own terms.  Allow us to retreat to our “safe room” for as long as we need it.  We’ll let you know when we’re finally comfortable enough to let you have our room back.

Bottom line, be patient with us.  Seriously, we’re pretty darn smart and will catch on if you give us the chance.  Think like a cat!  We like making you happy!  When you’re happy with us, you want us with you and that’s right where we want to be.

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