The time has come: your new, dreamed-of, beloved cat is coming home! Maybe you already have experience with cats, but this time you want to do things “right” and avoid any missteps, or maybe you are completely inexperienced in feline matters and would like to know how best to set up this new adventure.
Perhaps your new friend has already arrived, but you have several doubts about his or her management and well-being, or you already have one or more cats at home and are pondering whether or how to bring a new cat into the house.
In all these scenarios my professional help can help you:
- to establish a conscious, mature and respectful relationship with feline nature;
- to allay anxieties and concerns about the proper handling of kitty;
- to be well together, today and especially tomorrow, avoiding the onset of behavioural problems, conflicts between cats or small major discomforts born of human-feline misunderstanding.
Write a message to info@aliceguardaigatti.it or fill in the form.
I will get back to you as soon as possible!
I GOT A NEW CAT: A CHOICE FOR LIFE
Whether the dream of a cat has always belonged to you, or whether you have wanted to satisfy your children’s or your partner’s desire… whether the new cat has simply happened to you, chosen you, or whether it has arrived to fill a void, a loss. Whatever your reality, welcoming a new cat into your home is no small affair.
If we think that a cat can live up to 20 years, adoption is a commitment, a responsibility (as well as a joy and enrichment, of course) that will bring a great transformation in the lives of its adopting family, in a way almost comparable to the birth of a child.
Because a cat is indeed independent, and in his ability to look after himself we must recognise and respect him, but we humans who decide to take him into our homes will be his guardians, his guardians for the rest of his life (just as he will be for us). It will be our job to ensure that kitty not only receives care, not only affection, but also the chance to express itself, as a feline and as a unique and unrepeatable being. Because a happy cat will make us happier and vice versa. If we know how.
ADOPTING A CAT (?) AND HOW TO DO IT
The relationship between humans and cats has evolved a great deal over the centuries, in recent decades and even more so in recent years: from being kept as rat catchers in exchange for a warm shelter, to becoming companion animals, thus creatures in charge of receiving and providing affection, there is now a growing need to understand how to make a cat happy, in an increasingly equal and balanced relationship with humans, which brings out the cat not only as an object of our love but as an active, sentient member of our family.
If previously there was an ingrained belief that a cat was a ‘low-maintenance’ animal, a substitute for the dog for those with little time or a small house without a garden, today fortunately this mentality is gradually changing.
The cat is an animal that requires commitment, a correct relational approach and a suitable environmental and sensory context in order to be happy and to live its life fully alongside a human. That is why the cat is just as demanding as a dog, if not more so. The cat, but any other species with which we relate, also demands a change in the person’s perspective, the ability to empathise and identify with a different world, with perceptions, cognitions, emotions, motivations, needs and requirements that are ‘other’ than human.
The very decision to adopt a cat should therefore be weighed up not only on the basis of one’s desire to have a pet, but also on the basis of what we can offer the little feline in terms of resources, time, space, opportunities, but also humility and open-mindedness. In this very early phase, a discussion with a feline relationship counsellor can be important for approaching the decision phase with awareness and peace of mind.
FROM PRE-ADOPTION TO POST-ADOPTION: WHY RELY ON AN EXPERT
If you have finally decided to adopt a cat, you may be undecided as to what type of cat you can go for: no cat is the same as another and this choice should be made not only on the basis of your own wishes (“I would like an affectionate cat, black, red, puppy…”), but, once again, on the basis of the reality in which this cat will be immersed, so that the characteristics of the physical and social environment are compatible with the experience, temperament and other individual characteristics of the chosen kitten.
Once the cat has been chosen (or once we have been selected by her or him) we will then have to think about preparing the house, purchasing or finding dedicated resources (litter box, bowls, scratching post toys, but not only…). Finally, the Big Day will come, the day when kitty finally gets his paws on our house and the acclimatisation phase that will follow.
These moments are as joyful as they are sometimes delicate and in any case full of opportunities. Leaving them to improvisation, at the mercy of ‘hearsay’, the misinformation that sometimes arises from excesses of protectionism or the superficiality of advice found on the net, would be an unwise choice. We are laying the foundations of a wonderful adventure that will last (we hope) for several years to come. Doing it with positivity and awareness, based on the unique characteristics of one’s cat, one’s family and one’s home, will be the key to us all being well together.
DISCOVER HOW TO WELCOME A NEW CAT INTO YOUR HOME
From pre-adoption to post-adoption, I will guide you in creating a happy coexistence with your new feline friend in all aspects: his choice, his practical care and management, and even education about the feline universe. From how to create a kitty-friendly home, to activities to do with him, to understanding his personality and ways of communicating, a consultation with Alice Guarda I Gatti could be the best welcome gift to give your new kitty friend!
1 - THE FIRST CONTACT
Write me an e-mail using the contact form or at info@aliceguardaigatti.it and tell me why you need my help: I will get back to you for a brief chat. If the case falls within my competence, we will make an appointment for a home visit.
Do you live outside Lombardy or is it not possible to meet? No problem, a video consultation can be arranged.
2 - HOME VISIT
The time has come to get to know each other! I will come to your home and here the case study will begin, which will last between 1 and 2 hours. The visit comprises 3 moments:
- Listening: you will tell me everything you know about your kitten or kittens, their history and your cohabitation.
- Observation: I will ask you to show me the house to collect clues and study it through the eyes of a cat…
- Discussion: I will give you my initial thoughts on the case and the first steps to be taken, weighing up the pros and cons and feasibility together.
3 - A TAILOR-MADE PLAN
Thanks to the impressions and information gathered through observation of the animal, the family and the environment, and after analysis of materials that you will send me (diaries, videos, photos and materials about your cat), I will share with you all the advice and recommendations to follow for a new life with kitty.
Here I will need maximum co-operation and commitment from the whole family to be able to achieve good results together!
4 - HOW IS IT GOING?
It has been a few weeks, how is the situation with your feline companion evolving? Some time after the visit, 14 to 30 days depending on the case, we will get in touch for a new discussion.
We will take stock of the situation, understand what is working and discuss any changes or adjustments to the initial plan.
If you are ready to improve your relationship with kitty or take on a new challenge together, write to me!