Friends of Baylor Campus Cats
When bringing a new cat home, it's essential to allow it to acclimate to its new environment gradually. Simply releasing the cat into the area can lead to it feeling overwhelmed and potentially running off, as it won't be familiar with its surroundings. Take your time to introduce the cat to its new space, ensuring it feels safe and secure before exploring on its own.
The easiest way to acclimate cats to your property is to pen them up for 2-4 weeks in a secure structure on your property. It could be a crate inside your home, or if outside can be a tack room, storage shed, chicken coop or other small animal pen that is secured from the cat escaping. It should be in the same place or close to the place they will be fed and find shelter after being released. You provide them food, water and a temporary litter box in the space they will be acclimating to. This way they can become accustomed to the sights, smells, and sounds of their new home and get used to a feeding routine, which will improve the chances that they stay around after they are released.