Wow, thanks for posting this Blackie007! So much excellent advice.
The bit about giving your cat some "safe space" really jumped out at me. Maneki has a kitchen cupboard that she retreats to when life gets too stressful -- during lightning storms and when the doorbell rings. If I should forget and close the cupboard, she'll stand in front of it and howl until I open the door again. But I noticed in our early days together that she would behave much more calmly and confidently, just knowing that the cupboard was there for her if she needed to flee.
Thank you again, and I hope your posting makes for some easier adoptions and re-homings!
