Adopting Archie & Clyde: Steps for an Easier Transition to a New Home
In the back half of 2024, I could sense that a cat would be coming into my life very soon. Lo and behold, it wound up being two! In the middle of November, I adopted two 3-month-old kittens – Archimedes (Archie) and Euclid (Clyde).
At two weeks old, they were found with two other littermates and their feral mom on the grounds of an apartment complex in Phoenix. Tanya, a long-term foster with the Southern Arizona Cat Rescue took in the whole family until mom was ready to be released to a feral cat colony. The kittens went to Hunter’s Kitten Lounge here in Tucson to be adopted, which is where our paths crossed. Tanya did a fantastic job of socializing these boys and I’m having a ball with them! That said, adopting new pets of any kind is, of course, always a significant adjustment. I wanted to share more about this story to provide some insight into steps you can take to ease the transition.
For starters, it’s especially important to get as much information about your new companion(s) as possible from the foster, shelter, and/or rescue organization. For example, talking with Tanya allowed me to start off with the same litter and food. This kind of consistency is a big help when introducing two kittens to an entirely new environment!
Another way to get information is to book a virtual Animal Communication session after you meet the pet – but before you bring them home. During this session, we can explore how they feel about joining your family, how they will fit in your current pack, what health or behavioral issues might need to be addressed, and what flower essences and/or energy work will assist with the integration and healing.
This was exactly what I did after meeting Archie and Clyde. I’d actually only planned on adopting one cat, but upon reaching out to them intuitively, I discovered that they wanted to be adopted together. Tanya confirmed this for me when she recommended that Clyde be adopted with one of his brothers, as he liked to be with them and protested when separated.
I recently worked with a woman interested in adopting a second dog, named Kiki. We explored if Kiki was “her dog” (she is), how their current dog, Bodhi, would respond since he’s not a Highly Sensitive Soul like his mom and Kiki. We also explored if it was a good fit all around, and determined that it will be – with a little preparation and help from flower essences :-) Thankfully, Bodhi is bonded with her husband and will continue to be supported by him!
We can also chat with your current pets to see how they feel about a new family member. For instance, I had a conversation with Reggie, our dog, about his preference for another dog (NO WAY!) or a cat (willing, but not enthusiastic). I let him know a cat or two were coming and started him on some flower essences to help him prepare for their arrival.
Speaking of flower essences, these are also an incredible help for adjustments. When the kittens arrived, I started them off on New Beginnings, Transition, and Animal Emergency Care from Green Hope Farm, all of which are great options for easing the transitions associated with adoption. Since they’d had vaccinations the day I picked them up, I also gave them a homeopathic remedy to help shake off the side effects. Although this triggered a healing crisis for Clyde, he weathered it well and bounced back more hearty and confident in his place in his new home.
Finally, we can listen for what other steps would be helpful to ease their transition. Do they need to be kept in a small room to start? Do they need the same litter and food or can a transition in these areas correspond and even help with the move to your home? What kinds of toys and/or cat trees would best support them? Where shall they sleep?
We often have lots of questions, so why not book a virtual Animal Communication session (or a 3-pack for more ongoing support) and get some answers? Especially if it’s a young kitten or puppy, checking in at different stages of development can be truly helpful. I mean… how do you keep kittens safe from a hot electric range top when they get big enough to jump up there???
