Last week we had our 20th adoption at Ministry of Cat, Phnom Penh’s first rescue cat cafe. This is a big deal for us as finding a home for our cats is our number one priority and the most important indicator of our success as a social business.

To mark the occasion, we compiled a list of the most common problems adopters have faced with their new companions in the six months since we opened. We also give you advice on how to address them.

Hiding

Many cats spend the first few days (or weeks) in their new abode squeezed in a little corner or behind some big appliance (they are big fans of fridges). We have received many a distress call or message from adopters worried about their cat not showing their whiskers around for a few hours. In all honesty, we believe this is a behaviour that adopters should not excessively worry about.

Wanting to hide in a small place where they feel protected is an instinctual reaction to a situation that for cats is equal parts confusing and stressful. Cats are very attached to their territory and a change in their surroundings is always a difficult thing to handle. Hiding is just the way they cope with it.

What we recommend: Let the cat hide for as long as she needs but make sure she has water, food and a tray with cat litter nearby.

Fighting with other cats in the house

Another big problem our adopters report is the new cat not getting along with the pets already in the house. It is very common that the new tenant takes an instant dislike for any cat already at home -- the feeling is often mutual. Hissing, growling and other signs of aggression can soon lead to a full-blown fight if the animals are not separated in time.

The root cause of the aggression most cats exhibit when encountering a new feline is their territoriality. Owners should not take this aggression as a sign that the relation between the cats is doomed. Rather, they must approach the situation with patience, taking small steps every day to endear the cats to each other. 

What we recommend: There are a lot of techniques out there to help the new cat make friends with your pet. Famed cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy’s Youtube tutorials can certainly help.

From our own experience with cats at the cafe and at home, we recommend that you start by placing the cats in separate rooms. You want to introduce them to each other progressively, each day allowing them to smell, hear and see the other cat a bit more.

Feeding time affords the perfect opportunity for this. On Day 1, place their bowls on either side of the door that separates them, at least two metres away from the door. On Day 2 you can bring the bowls a bit closer, 30 centimetres or so. Continue like this until each bowl is touching the door. Each day, the cats get more accustomed to each others’ scent and noises. You are also enabling them to associate the other feline with something positive -- food!

Eventually, you should be able to remove the physical barrier altogether, opening the door during feeding time so that cats can also see each other.

To speed up the process, you can try introducing items (clothes or cushions, for example) that have been in contact with one of the cats in the room where the other is kept. This will help her get used to the other’s scent.

Not eating or drinking

Even the most gluttonous cat can lose her appetite when moved into a new house. Do not panic. You would probably also forgo a meal or two if you were moved into a new house without warning or consent.

What we recommend: We tell adopters to try different foods to spur her appetite. She may snub her chicken, but she might be in the mood for fish or a treat. As long as she gets something in her tummy in those early days, it is fair game. If after a few days she continues to reject all food, a visit to the vet might be in order.

Pooping outside the box or making a mess in the litter tray area

Being a messy toilet user is common among many new adoptees, particularly kittens. It is annoying but you may have to put up with it for a while until the cat learns proper toilet etiquette.

A number of things can go wrong: she may not cover her poop (stinking up the whole room), she may spread litter everywhere, or she may go to the toilet somewhere she is not supposed to (plant pots are a particularly tantalising option).

What we recommend: It may just be a matter of practice before she hones her toilet habits, so give it time! 

One thing you can do to encourage her to choose the litter tray instead of, say, your favourite basket in the living room is to make sure the litter trays are spotless. Cats are clean creatures by nature and many will refuse to use a litter tray if the litter is dirty, smelly or full of stools. To ensure she poops where she is supposed to, clean the trays regularly, at least twice a day. This includes stains on the walls and edges of the tray, which you can clean with a cloth or sponge reserved for this particular purpose.

Kittens can be particularly troublesome in the WC. Here are a few tips to ensure they use the litter box and do it right:

• Make sure there is always a box nearby and easily accessible. If your kitten has a free range of movement inside your house, place trays around the house so that there is always one near. If the kitten is doing her business where she is not supposed to, you may want to consider keeping her in a playpen with easy access to a litter box

• Take away anything that the kitten could consider a tempting alternative to a litter box. Remove piles of cloth on the floor or any basket that they can access

• You can encourage her to use the box by running your fingers through the litter to show her that she can dig. For the same effect, you can also grab her paw and motion digging

• Finally, use positive reinforcement when the job is done right. Kittens can sense approval in the tone of your voice, so encouraging words and a few pats after they do it right can go a long way

For more amazing kitten-related advice, we recommend Kitten Lady’s Youtube videos.

These are the major issues adopters have been facing. Adopting a new pet is always going to come with some difficulties but so is anything worthwhile. The rewards, however, far outweigh these small challenges. By choosing to adopt (not shop), they are giving a former street cat a chance for a better life. In return, adopters get a companion that will give them endless love and cuddles.