1. Respect your cat’s space
Your cat will need some time to settle in if she’s new to the home; some take longer
than others to do this. Let your cat find comfortable spots to hang out, and don’t invade
those spaces. This general rule will continue even after she becomes comfortable in
her home. Cats enjoy their independence and will let you know when they would like
your attention (or give you clues as to when they don’t want it, if you are a space-invader!).
2. Observe body language
Your cat will communicate first and foremost with her body language (see cartoon below).
Respect what she is telling you. Is she crouched away from you or is her body oriented towards
you and more welcoming? Is she flicking her tail as a sign of annoyance, or is
it relaxed? Pay attention to her ear positions, how wide her eyes are, and body position.
3. Let your cat come to you
Don’t force a friendship – let your cat decide how comfortable she is and when she wants to
interact with you (although you can do some things to encourage interactions, see below).
Cats learn a lot just through observation, so even though you may not be directly
interacting with her, she’s learning a lot about you if she’s simply watching you from a window
perch or the couch. Let her watch and learn about your movements, smells, and sounds!