Congratulations!
You have adopted a cat from Hyde Park Cats.You should receive your cat's paperwork in the US postal mail shortly, and our Alumni Coordinator will be in touch with you in the near future just to hear how it's going. Our goal is to find forever homes for our cats, and we're committed to helping that process when it needs help. Please reach out if you have questions or concerns ... and of course we always love to hear from our adopters with any happy updates!
Please remember, as you settle in with your new companion, that all cats require adjustment time to new situations. For some cats, that adjustment time might be one hour. For others, it can be much longer. Many of our cats came from scary situations, and may need a little extra TLC. They may also need extra consideration when entering situations such as a multipet household.
Here are some of our thoughts and tips for a successful transition.
Before you bring your kitty home you must buy your litter box, litter, a litter scoop, bowls for food and water, some cat food, a scratcher, and some toys.
Look at this comprehensive, nicely organized Cat Care Information Center from our friends at PAWS Chicago.
Lay the appropriate groundwork for getting your cat to scratch the scratchers you provide. Read up on training your cat to scratch appropriately. If you are local, we recommend the reclaimed-wood cat trees available at Parkers (55th St.).
Definitely prepare ahead if you will be introducing a new kitty to a resident kitty. Tips for introducing a new cat from PAWS.
Some Common Concerns for the first days:
Litterbox. Make sure your cat knows where you put it. The best place is quiet, easily accessible for your cat, and gives your cat the necessary feeling of security. Do not put the litterbox and the food next to each other.
Food. You may want to ask the fosterparent what kitty has been eating, and feed that for a couple days to minimize stress. If you want to change the food, change slowly to avoid digestive stress. Here is a guide.
Microchip. Your cat has a microchip that is registered to HPCats/Treehouse Humane Society. You can either change this information to your own, or you can leave it as is. If your kitty gets lost, and somebody brings it to a vet or a shelter, the microchip information will be scanned, and either we or you will be notified. Please look for the AVID Microchip brochure with your cat's paperwork for more information. If your cat did NOT receive a microchip for some reason, our Adoption Coordinator will let you know about that. In that case we discount our adoption fee, and ask you to get your cat microchipped as soon as possible.
Vet care. Most of our adoptables will have been neutered or spayed and have received an FVRCP shot and booster, a one- year rabies shot and a dose of revolution (an anti-parasite medication). Your adopted cat's specific medical information will be provided at the time of adoption on the medical disclosure sheet. Please review your cat's paperwork carefully, and make a note in your calendar as to when your cat's next shot is due.
Some cases are slightly different than our standard. For instance we have had cats who were too skinny, or too young, to receive a vaccine. These things will all be disclosed to you, and our Adoption Coordinator will work with you to make sure your cat receives the appropriate care.
