Adding a cat to the family! Any tips?
My fiancee and I are planning to adopt a 4.5-year-old kitty cat named VanGogh (he's missing part of his right ear, haha), to be nicknamed Vinny.
One of our dogs has been wanting a cat for some time. I've added a photo of him communicating that for giggles. This was the first time he'd seen a cat since we adopted him last August. Every time we tried to walk away from the cages, he screamed and grumbled and yanked on his collar to go back and look more. So funny.
Anyway, we will be meeting Vinny on Sunday at noon (along with a few other kitties for the sake of fairness) and, if all goes well, will be bringing the dogs to meet him the same day. If they all get along, he'll be coming home with us!
My fiancee and I have had cats before, but it's been a few years, so I'm looking to get some advice to make Vinny feel oh-so-welcome!
We plan to build a few cat trees throughout the house, install some carpeted shelves going up the stairs so he can stay off the floor if he wants to, and also put up some hanging shelves on some window sills through the first floor.
What else can we do to encourage him to be social? We read all about him, talked to a more than a few volunteers that knew him, and watched a video where he's introduced to a dog and isn't the least bit scared or aggressive.
Any types of foods we should look into or avoid? Our dogs eat Bil-Jac, but they don't make cat food. I don't want to feed Iams, Purina, or Blue Buffalo.
Thanks in advance!