What to do before bringing a cat home.
Creating a healthy feline environment should start days before the adoption.
The Five Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment (developed by AAFP and ISFM) outlines the steps to take, but to summarise, you should:
• Ensure there's safe, quiet hiding spaces.
• Have separate resources per cat
• Provide opportunities for play
• Have predictable, calm human interaction
• Stick to a routine.
If there are children in the home, predictable interaction is especially important.
"Cats thrive on routine," she said. "Unpredictability — noise, sudden movements — can be very stressful. They need quiet places where they can retreat."
It's also important to recognise the signs of stress ahead of time, to be able to remedy it quickly.
Some signs are obvious: hissing, an arched back, and puffed fur.
But others are easier to overlook, and can include:
• Excessive hiding
• Over-grooming
• Hairballs
• Inappropriate urination (often a stress response, not naughtiness)
• Changes in appetite
• Dilated pupils or flattened ears
These behaviours are signals your pet is struggling to adjust.
"When in doubt, trust your instincts," Dr Robertson urged. "If something changes suddenly, get your vet involved.
"If there's a refusal to eat for more than 24 hours, definitely bring them in."
How to encourage healthy feeding habits.
Cats have a bit of reputation for being fussy eaters, but their fussiness isn't a personality flaw. It's biology.
"Cats have only 5 per cent of the taste buds humans do," Dr Robertson said. "They don't taste sweet things, so they rely heavily on smell, texture, and temperature."
Dr Robertson's feeding tips for new owners include:
• Warm wet food slightly to enhance aroma.
• Feed in quiet areas away from the litter tray.
• Introduce new foods slowly to avoid digestive upset.
• Remove wet food after about an hour.
• Mimic natural feeding patterns with multiple small meals (cats often eat up to 20 tiny meals a day as their stomachs are small and can fill up easily).
• Use puzzle feeders or hide small amounts of food around the house for enrichment.
How to choose your cat's food.
One of the first questions you should ask before bringing your feline friend home should be "what are they currently eating?"
"You don't need more stress during the transition," Dr Robertson said. "Keep them on the same food initially, then change gradually over seven days."
From there, look at the life stage of your cat.
Kittens need higher energy, protein, and nutrients for brain development, plus antioxidants to support immunity. Adult cats may need diets tailored to their lifestyle — e.g., indoor cats often benefit from hairball control formulas or foods with psyllium to support digestion. Breed-specific cats (like Persians) may benefit from diets designed for coat health or skin sensitivities.
Dry versus wet food?
Both are fine, as long as the diet is complete, balanced, and fed correctly.
"Dry food supports dental health and works well in puzzle feeders," Dr Robertson said. "Wet food helps hydration and urinary health. Many owners prefer to mix both — but make sure the wet and dry foods are compatible and from the same product range."
Dr Robertson said Royal Canin's Sensory Range is a great option for picky eaters, thanks to its emphasis on aroma and texture.
"The brand is pet first," she said. "There's a lot of research that goes into all of the products, and the quality control is really high as well. Even palatability, for example, is backed by research.
"All Royal Canin foods go through palatability tests, and each diet actually needs to be consumed enthusiastically by 80 per cent of cats before being launched as a product."
The takeaway: and the question everyone is afraid to ask.
When it comes to adopting a cat, another question that often gets glossed over is about their toilet habits, or more specifically, their litter.
Clumping? Crystal? Clay? Self-cleaning?
The options to choose from are endless, and there's no easy answer. Every animal is different.
"At the end of the day, it's the cat's preference, so it's going to be an element of trial and error," Dr Robertson laughed. "My cat would only use the clay litter, she would not use crystals. I worked out it was because her feet were sore on the crystals."
The one non-negotiable?
"Clean the litter at least twice a day. Cats have an incredible sense of smell — they do not want to use a dirty tray."
If there's a core message Dr Robertson hopes would-be cat owners remember from this article, it's this:
"Use food as enrichment," she said. "And see a high-quality, well-balanced diet as one of the best tools you have for preventative care."
Royal Canin is the #1 petfood brand recommended for palatability by Australian vets. Explore the Royal Canin Sensory range using savoury flavours that stimulate your cat's sense of taste and support their health and wellbeing.
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