If you are going to get a shelter cat, you want to make sure that you have your home set up for an adult cat. Adult cats have specific needs that need to be met, so make sure that you are ready to meet them before you bring your cat home.

Put Cat Trees Near Your

Cats like to be able to survey their surroundings and see what is going on. They like to do this from high places, which is how cats end up stuck in trees. If you don't want your cat surveying your room from the back of the couch or the top of the entertainment center, you are going to want to invest in some cat trees. Put the cat trees in the rooms where the cat will most likely hang out, and when you get your shelter cat home, encourage your cat to use the cat tree instead of your furniture for a high perch.

Remove Items from High Places

Your new cat is going to want to explore your home, so you want to make sure that it is cat proof. If you have valuable items on high shelves that a cat is likely to want to jump onto, move the items to lower shelves or put the items away while you train your cat on where they can go in your home and where they cannot go.

Check all of your high shelves and make sure that you don't have items on them that will get damaged by getting knocked off.

Install Scratching Posts

Cats need to wear down their claws, as they are constantly growing. Cats wear down their claws in order to keep them at the right length to use them. Some cats like to lie on the ground and scratch their claws, and others like to reach up and scratch.

Provide your cat with places to do both. Put scratching posts in each room of your home that your cat is allowed into. This will discourage your cat from scratching on the furniture and instead encourage the cat to scratch the post.

Get your new cat to use the scratching posts and pads instead of your furniture by putting cat nip next to the scratching posts and pads. This will encourage your new shelter cat to use these devices.

Before you bring a shelter cat home, make sure that you have cat trees, scratching posts, and scratching pads set up, and make sure that you have protected any valuables placed on high shelves as well. Also make an appointment with a veterinarian for an initial checkup. These steps will make your home more appealing to your new shelter cat and will help your cat learn how you want them to behave in your home.