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Re-Homing an Ex-Breeding Female Cat -
 

What You Should Know!
 
Taking home an ex-breeding girl is not the same as rehoming a rescue cat that has been a pet all its life and used to the noise and bustle of an average household although, this information could be relevant to a rescue cat that has a timid temperament.  It also does not apply to ALL ex-breeding queens as there will always be those who will fit into a new home without any fuss or bother.

 When you consider taking an ex-breeding queen the only thing you will need is lots of patience.  You also need to be aware that even though the cat appears not to like you or your family at first that is putting a human face on the problem.  It is more a matter of the cat being uncomfortable with the new house and the new family after living a life constrained by small spaces and possibly limited human contact.  Breeding cats - even those who have and raise their kittens in the breeder's house may spend a lot of time in the cattery and are not instantly comfortable with the new sensation of having a big house to roam around with all the strange noises, unfamiliar smells and maybe lots of people they contain.  Cats are creatures of habit and any change to an established routine, even if we humans think that it is a GOOD change, is still likely to make the cat feel uncomfortable.

Having said all that your re-homed cat will almost always fit in and given patience and space it will adapt to your situation and become a loving and affectionate household pet.  Never try to make a cat do something, like come out of hiding and sit on your lap.  You need to wait patiently for it to decide that it is safe to do this.  Remember it has probably been used to a confined space and it knew that space was safe.

When you first take the cat home you should have organised a secure and limited space for it to spend its first few days in (or maybe first few weeks).  Make sure it does not have to venture out into the larger space to access its litter tray, fresh water and its food bowl.  Leave the cat to settle in - do not try to force contact.  If you work or are absent for periods during the day leave the door open to the rest of the house so it can slowly venture out and re-assure itself that the space is safe.  You may also do this at night but block off your bedroom for the first few days so that it doesn't accidentally interact with you causing it fright.

Once it is happy with the new home and its new humans it will start to appear to get your attention and will also start to accept your attentions.

After a while you will not even remember when it didn't greet you at the front door and jump into your lap every time you sit down.

If you are also introducing a new cat to a house with other animals it is much better to make sure they are comfortable with the house and your family before introducing them to the other animals.  Please see the information on introducing the cat to a house with an existing cat in our kitten care guide.