The ride home: Use a cat carrier to bring the new cat home; never let a cat loose in the car or leave the cat alone in the car.

A room alone: Prepare a room where the new cat can live for the first few days. A small, isolated room, like a bedroom, is perfect. Place a cat bed, a litter pan, and water and food bowls in the room. Do not push attention on the cat or make too many demands. He/she needs time to adjust and get used to the sounds and smells of your home. Do not rush this part of the "welcome to our family" process. Be patient and move to the next step only when you are sure everyone is really ready.

Prepare the kids: Introduce each child to the cat one at a time, in a supervised visit. Remind children that it is important to be gentle with and speak softly to the cat; there will be plenty of time to play later.

Cat in residence: Introducing a new cat or kitten into a home that already has a cat should be handled the same way. Give the new arrival a room of their own and plan on a two-week introductory period. Never force the new arrival on the resident cat. Never force them to interact. Accept that some hissing and posturing is normal and necessary; they will sort the situation out on their own. Try not to set the stage or permit a fight to break out. Have a blanket ready to throw on the combatants if it does! Realize that cat fights sound and look worse than they really are. Don't leave them together when you're away until they have clearly made their peace. Give each animal their own litter box and food bowls. A good rule of thumb on litter boxes is to add one to the number of cats you have, and that's how many litter boxes you should provide. Give the resident cat extra attention to minimize any negative attention the cat may focus on the newcomer.

Dog in residence: Here again, a room of their own and a two-week adjustment period are important. Never let the dog chase or corner the cat. Always give the cat an escape route or safe perch or place to go. Do not let either animal be aggressive with the other, however, be careful about harsh corrections or loud yelling which may only serve to escalate the problem. Until they accept one another, always supervise their visits. You may want to keep the dog on a leash until it is clear that each party is comfortable with each other, however, be aware that pulling a dog back on leash may cause something known as barrier frustration where the dog might act more aggressive because of the confinement that he/she might not otherwise exhibit if free. Put the dog in a confined room and let the cat explore the house. If you make sure to ease their introduction, you will be rewarded by pets who become friends for life.

Ask SPCA representatives for other helpful tips.

• Nail Clipping
• Scratching Posts
• Litter Box
• Kitty Behavior