Adopting a new CH baby or a new CH pet parent? Take a deep breath and remember that you “got” this! Remember that JUST like children each pet is different so “proofing” for one family may not be exactly like the next!
What do you need to purchase BEFORE your new addition comes home?
Food/Water Dishes (I always recommend a silicone based dish for safety and stability as pictured below – the photographed bowls you can remove the stainless steel dishes and strictly use the silicon portion for holding your new addition’s food & water!)
Silicone food/water dishes such as this one is dishwasher safe and catches any mess from your new baby!
Depending on the “severity” of your new special baby (Bifford is considered “moderate” and only needs certain accommodations) they may need ramps to help them into bed or furniture ! Again depending on the severity of your new baby you still may need to help them use the ramp/get onto the furniture to further insure their safety!
Ramp for the furniture such as this one has a carpeted/felt material on the ramp providing better traction for your special baby)
Low rise litter box (or in Bifford’s case a rubber maid container with a hole cut out!)
Low rise litter boxes such as this one are available online (such as Amazon or Petco)
Washable “pee pads” to use in the event of any “accidents” (or like we do with Bifford place them outside of his litter boxes to catch any mess he was attempting to bring with him!)
Spray Shampoo (our favorite is Burt’s Bees brand of feline spray shampoo — no water and it has a nice natural scent to it that is not overpowering!)
Pet Proofing — “Safety!”
Small and dangerous objects like paper clips, nails, staples, thread, pins/needles, rubber bands, tacks — basically anything that has fallen on the floor that shouldn’t be there.
Any electrical cords that are too long, suggest taping the cords to the floor (a tape which can be purchased online) or running the cords out of your pets way.
Intriguing things like plants, electrical cords, drapes, the pulls/cords on blinds, other cords.
Also consider if there are any objects (furniture/decorations) that could fall over if knocked-into, or if something could fall of the furniture.
Be mindful of sharp corners of furniture or fragile items that your new pet could accidentally fall into and cause them to break.
Don’t forget to check your window screens — they should fit securely and should not give way in case your cat leans against them.
Odoban! It comes in a spray bottle or a one gallon jug and it breaks up any enzymes in your pet’s urine or bowel movements that may be on the floor/blanket etc.!
Odoban can be purchased on Chewy or Amazon and even found at your local Wal-Mart!
Close closet doors and make sure you keep your room tidy. That means keeping laundry and shoes (consider shoelaces and loose buttons) in your closet or behind other closed doors.
Remove plants, if necessary.
Move all wires so they’re out of your pet’s reach.
Take a look at what you have on night stands, dressers, etc. If necessary, move the items into a drawer or cabinet.
Close all drawers entirely. You never know when a cat will crawl in.
Check your bed’s box spring. Cats and kittens are known to find their ways into them.
Be mindful of closed doors — make sure your cat isn’t in your closet or bathroom before closing the door.
Purchase trash cans that your pets can’t get in to (like those with lids), or hide your trash can in a cabinet. Don’t forget about small wastebaskets in the bathroom — cats can easily turn them over and rummage through the contents.
Use childproof latches to keep cabinet doors from being pulled open. (This is usually the case with cabinets that don’t have latches to keep them shut in the first place.)
Place all medications, cleaners, and chemicals on high shelves or in childproofed cabinets. Similarly, keep insecticides, rodent poisons and dryer sheets out of reach.
Look for small spaces your pets can squeeze into — behind appliances, between an appliance and the wall, etc. — and find ways to seal them.
Always keep the doors to your washer and dryer closed. Before doing each load of laundry get a visual on every furry member of your household.
Always put down the toilet seat lid. Cats can easily fall in and drown.
Again, look for small spaces your pets can squeeze into — under your couch, holes in furniture, etc. — and find ways to seal them.
Move wires and cords from lamps, entertainment systems and phones so your cat can’t access them. Petfinder.com suggests running the cords through PVC pipes to prevent pets from chewing on them. You can also purchase sprays that give the wires a bad taste, or run them under heavy rugs and carpets.
Watch your cat carefully when opening a front or back door.
In some severe CH cases your pet may benefit from you purchasing a “portable crib” for pets (found the one photographed below on Amazon) to help keep your baby safe (and the carpeted insert allows you to easily remove it to wash it in the event of any “accidents”!)
Have any suggestions/tips or tricks? Post them below and we will include them in our “Guide for New CH Pet Parents!”
When I brought Bifford home for the very first time as a “foster” I remember the moment very clearly — it was Tuesday May 13, 2014 and I had NO idea what to expect! I had NEVER had a “special needs” animal let alone a cerebellar hypoplasia cat I was asked by a local cat shelter to take him home for a bit because he was not thriving well getting bullied and beat up on at the shelter after being surrendered for the THIRD time (the first time the “family” was going on vacation and simply did not want to be bothered any longer, the second time was because he successfully used the litterbox but did not want to “cover it up” and the third and final time before he permanently adopted me was a couple who would lock him in an empty hot tub to “contain the mess” and allow him to “die with dignity” as documented on the surrender intake forms).
To say that I wanted to wrap the boy in bubble wrap and coddle him beyond belief would be an understatement. He wandered my one story, ranch style home aimlessly and cried all hours of the night. I was at my wits end and honestly felt like I was letting him down because he seemed so… displaced? Scared? Alone? I remember calling the cat shelter crying because I felt like I was letting him down and that maybe the shelter was a better environment for him then my home was.
At the insistence and pep-talk of the shelter they asked me to be patient and give it time and stressed to join some local CH forums for guidance and advice. Blogs and forums such as Kitty Cat Chronicles became my saving grace and honestly the gift that both Bifford and I needed to better understand one another.
Today I am that “cool mom” (well, I would like to THINK of myself as the cool mom. But who that is cool calls themselves “cool”) – do you remember those diaper commercials that document “mom of one child” (the stressed out, type “A” personality who looks overwhelmed) versus “mom of two kids” and the latter is always more calm, cool and collected in the face of chaos & adversity? It took some time but now I let Bifford BE Bifford. There truly is knowledge in letting kids (furry or otherwise!) fall, wipe out, crash and burn and allow them to get back up on their own without the coddling of their helicopter “smother” (smother + mother = “smother”) and I promise it will get better!
When I adopted Bifford (which occurred about five minutes after I took him home to foster him and instantly fell in love with the boy) I was navigating uncharted territories, attempting to haphazardly steer a storm I was unaware of all around.
If I could instill wisdom for new “CH pet parents” it would be this:
Burts Bees wipes allow new pet parents the ability to wipe away any “messes” that may arise from their special babies falling in the litterboxes (or maybe not yet mastered the art of the litterbox just yet) Instead of the trauma of soaking your special baby in the bathtub, Burt’s Bees waterless shampoo removes the stress and trauma of a traditional bath while leaving your pet smelling fresh & clean! We utilize these “bowl mats” WITHOUT the stainless steel/hard plastic bowls in them. They easily hold food/water and capture any spillage as well as prevent any injury if your pet would “head but” the dish lip. Plus they are easy to clean & dishwasher safe! Interactive toys such as this one are a GREAT way to entertain (and exercise) your special baby where they do not have to run and chase it but can lay on their side to play with it (plus it is pretty sturdy so if your special baby is a tad rough on toys like Bifford is then they have a harder time damaging it!) Littergenies are FANTASTIC for pet parents (both special pet parents and non special alike) providing an easy and convenient way of disposing of litter clumps (plus there is no foul odor!) Mats such as this one are GREAT to play in front of the litterbox/litter trays to capture any spillage or little bits of litter (they are easy to shake out and some have pockets underneath that makes it easy to fold the mat and siphon spillage into the trash)Soft side or canvas carriers allow these special babies the ability to not hurt themselves on hard plastic carriers or injure themselves/break a tooth on metal carrier barsNail caps give these babies the ability to keep their nails (which they need to climb onto furniture) as well as protect your legs/arms from unintentional “booboos” (plus we are staunchly AGAINST declawing!) When you get your pet spayed/neutered sometimes hard plastic e-collars cause them great stress and sometimes injury because they are traumatized by those plastic cones of shame. NEVER EVER LET YOUR PET GO WITHOUT AN E-COLLAR/ONSIE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN SPAYED!! All it takes is ONE time for your pet to be left alone and able to work at their spay sutures causing infection (or worse, ending in a fatality) When you get your pet spayed/neutered sometimes hard plastic e-collars cause them great stress and sometimes injury because they are traumatized by those plastic cones of shame. NEVER EVER LET YOUR PET GO WITHOUT AN E-COLLAR/ONSIE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN SPAYED!! All it takes is ONE time for your pet to be left alone and able to work at their spay sutures causing infection (or worse, ending in a fatality) These properly cover any spay incision thus preventing your pet from licking or chewing at the suture site (plus they are super adorable and able to be machine washed!) When you get your pet spayed/neutered sometimes hard plastic e-collars cause them great stress and sometimes injury because they are traumatized by those plastic cones of shame. NEVER EVER LET YOUR PET GO WITHOUT AN E-COLLAR/ONSIE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN SPAYED!! All it takes is ONE time for your pet to be left alone and able to work at their spay sutures causing infection (or worse, ending in a fatality) When you get your pet spayed/neutered sometimes hard plastic e-collars cause them great stress and sometimes injury because they are traumatized by those plastic cones of shame. NEVER EVER LET YOUR PET GO WITHOUT AN E-COLLAR/ONSIE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN SPAYED!! All it takes is ONE time for your pet to be left alone and able to work at their spay sutures causing infection (or worse, ending in a fatality) When you get your pet spayed/neutered sometimes hard plastic e-collars cause them great stress and sometimes injury because they are traumatized by those plastic cones of shame. NEVER EVER LET YOUR PET GO WITHOUT AN E-COLLAR/ONSIE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN SPAYED!! All it takes is ONE time for your pet to be left alone and able to work at their spay sutures causing infection (or worse, ending in a fatality) When you get your pet spayed/neutered sometimes hard plastic e-collars cause them great stress and sometimes injury because they are traumatized by those plastic cones of shame. NEVER EVER LET YOUR PET GO WITHOUT AN E-COLLAR/ONSIE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN SPAYED!! All it takes is ONE time for your pet to be left alone and able to work at their spay sutures causing infection (or worse, ending in a fatality) These properly cover any spay incision thus preventing your pet from licking or chewing at the suture site (plus they are super adorable and able to be machine washed!) Thundershirts are GREAT for babies that get easily stressed/nervous/anxious! Mimicking the same ideals of when you swaddle an upset baby – the thundershirt does the same action! Feliway is a natural pheromone spray that captures the endorphins that mother cats used to release to their kittens whenever they were stressed/upset. It comes in a spray/collar/plug in (nonscented to us! And not harmful to other non-cat friends. They also made a dog equivalent!)Feliway is a natural pheromone spray that captures the endorphins that mother cats used to release to their kittens whenever they were stressed/upset. It comes in a spray/collar/plug in (nonscented to us! And not harmful to other non-cat friends. They also made a dog equivalent!)Pee Pads (either washable or disposable) are really ideal to have around the home (we use washable pads here which are ideal if they get soiled just chuck them into the wash and reuse them!) We also place these around the litterbox or under food/water dishes. If you have a second story home and want to keep your pet on one floor (NEVER ALLOW YOUR SPECIAL BABY UNATTENDED ON STAIRS!) provides a safe & ideal way to keep your special baby from attempting stairs unsupervised! If you have a second story home and want to keep your pet on one floor (NEVER ALLOW YOUR SPECIAL BABY UNATTENDED ON STAIRS!) provides a safe & ideal way to keep your special baby from attempting stairs unsupervised! If you have a long-hair special baby like Bifford then unfortunately mats in the hair can be somewhat common! Having a dematting tool on hand will help provide you with the ability to gently yet effectively remove any mats in the hair before they go on too long (if you let mats go they can get tighter and tighter to the skin causing a great deal of pain as well as potentially tracking moisture which can then cause a skin infection!) This provides less trauma to your pet (you do not have to snip/shave or use a brush to tug! If you have a long-hair special baby like Bifford then unfortunately mats in the hair can be somewhat common! Having a dematting tool on hand will help provide you with the ability to gently yet effectively remove any mats in the hair before they go on too long (if you let mats go they can get tighter and tighter to the skin causing a great deal of pain as well as potentially tracking moisture which can then cause a skin infection!) This provides less trauma to your pet (you do not have to snip/shave or use a brush to tug! Play mats like this are ideal for pets who cannot really run around and play. This provides a mat where your special baby can lay on their side and easily play! Play mats like this are ideal for pets who cannot really run around and play. This provides a mat where your special baby can lay on their side and easily playPlay mats like this are ideal for pets who cannot really run around and play. This provides a mat where your special baby can lay on their side and easily playNon scented, sensitive baby wipes are great to keep around the house as well! I use these to wipe eye nose/eye boogers, any “danglers” that may be left on Bifford’s behind after bathroom time as well as wiping dirty paws! Toys like this are ideal for pets who cannot really run around and play. This provides a mat where your special baby can lay on their side and easily playHaving one of these books on hand is GREAT for at-home, after-veterinary-clinic-hours injuries that may result from babies being special (falling, tripping, minor injury etc.,). It is great to have at home as well as a guide for helping stabilize emergencies until you can get them immediate medical attention. Having one of these books on hand is GREAT for at-home, after-veterinary-clinic-hours injuries that may result from babies being special (falling, tripping, minor injury etc.,). It is great to have at home as well as a guide for helping stabilize emergencies until you can get them immediate medical attention
If you notice your new special baby stressed or overly anxious try to utilize the Feliway spray as well as try to get your baby into a “routine”. I noticed that Bifford enjoyed having a semi-structured routine (we woke him up from his “big boy room” and fed him breakfast, then we would let him play the day away with his brother and sisters then “mommy” would be home from work so he got snuggle time then it was dinnertime and then lounging with “mom and dad” before bedtime). I found that if anything derailed his routine in such a dramatic way he would freak out (and eventually that turned into stress cystitis, but that is a topic for another post!
Schedule regular dental cleanings/examinations! I cannot tell you how many times when I first brought Bifford home would he sneeze a little too aggressively or be playing and “biff” it a little to hard and hurt his mouth or even chip a tooth! By having regular dental cleanings done I was able to address any injured teeth (injured= extremely painful).
Construct a first aid kit for cats! This will come in handy if your little angel stumbles and falls or gets a “booboo” that may need a little attention when your veterinarian is closed (or you need to address and stabilize while en route to the veterinarian!)
Invest in a low lip litter box! We actually made “BHOP” (Bifford’s House of Poop” which was a 13 gallon Rubbermaid container that Bifford’s “dad” cut a hole out on the bottom of one side (always use caution when using power/sharp tools!) This way Bifford could easily bobble into BHOP and do his absolute worse inside and there was no spillage or issue! He could also fall in it (or sometimes, play) without him knocking the entire thing over or causing any damage/injury!
COMMUNICATION! When you adopt one of these special babies call your regular veterinarian right away (or send them a letter/postcard!) letting them know you adopted a specially abled pet (e-mail us if you would like our informational packet for veterinarians/veterinary staff) and if they have any questions (or maybe concerns) about these special babies. (Check out our map of veterinarians that are aware and understand these special kiddos here)
What are some useful tips/tricks that you were given (or found yourself while on your personal adventure!) that you would like to pass onto future specially-abled pet parents? Comment below!
