Bringing Home a New Cat?
Here's What You Need to Know
"What can I do to help ease the
transition for my new kitty?"
Congratulations! You're bringing home a new family member!
The first few days with your new cat can set the tone for
his or her entire lifetime with you.
Cute (but a little scared) New KittenSome cats and kittens easily adjust to their new surroundings; kittens are especially more likely to be easy-going about new stuff (but not all of them).
So you want to do the best you can
to help ease the transition and set the right tone.
Here are a few pointers (and reminders for seasoned cat people) to help make the transition for you and your new family member a lot smoother, and to lay the foundation for a happy household.
A Stressful Time for Feline and Family
Bringing your new cat home will most likely be highly stressful for your new feline friend. Older cats may especially have a rough time in new and different surroundings.
The majority of kitties' first and natural reaction to new surroundings is to run and hide. This is perfectly natural, and it does not mean that your new family member will always be "anti-social!"
Setting Up a "Safe Place" for Your New Kitty
Setting up a "safe place" for your cat or kitten to hide and hang out in will help make her feel more secure and adjust to her new home a lot quicker. You can also use a little Rescue Remedy to help reduce your new kitty's stress level.
Just like when you bring home a new baby, you'll need to have a place already set up for your kitty, along with some essential supplies.
You don't want to frantically be running around setting things up with your new family member already there. This will just cause more stress all around.
A Small Room
If possible, set up a small room for your cat to have as his own territory for a little while.
If you don't have a spare room, a walk-in closet, or a bathroom will work fine (as long as there aren't a lot of people going in and out). The room should be quiet and separate from other pets, and preferably with a hiding place for the cat, but where you can easily access the him or her.
Essential Supplies
Be sure to have these essential supplies already set up before bringing your new cat home.
At an absolute minimum, you'll need the following:
- cat litter box and litter box supplies,
- healthy cat food, and
- fresh water.
Be sure to keep the litter box as far as possible from the food and water so the litter doesn't contaminate them.
If you have the space in your kitty's safe area, it's helpful to also have the following set up and ready:
- a cat scratching post,
- or other scratching alternative (such as a cardboard scratcher),
- some cat toys, and a
- cat bed.
The bed can be as simple as a folded up towel or a pillow in the corner of the room.
After your new family member is settled and ready to move in to the rest of her new home, you may want to consider additional cat supplies and cat furniture, but for now, the above list will do.
Introducing Your New Cat to Her "Safe Place"
When you first bring home your new kitten or cat, leave her in the pet carrier for a short time while you're in the room finishing setting up or just hanging out with her. Talk to her in quiet tones.
PoppyAfter a little while, open the carrier. Don't force your new family member to come out. This will only cause more stress and slow down the process of making her feel comfortable and safe.
Let your kitty decide when she wants to come out. She may not want to until she's alone in the room.
Some cats will stay in the safety of their carrier for hours. Don't worry. This is normal.
Eventually, a bit of comfort and some hunger will set in and your new kitty will come out to explore.
Remember, at a minimum, you must have food, water, and a litter box set up in your new kitten or cat's safe place before she arrives.
Spend Time With Your New Cat in Her "Safe Place"
As often and as much as you can, spend time visiting with your new cat or kitten in his safe space.
It's a great idea to wait to bring home your new feline friend until a time when you know you'll be home for a while. If you work during the week, bringing your new cat home on a Friday night or Saturday morning is a good idea.
Go into your kitty's safe place several times a day, but don't force your attention on your kitty. He'll let you know when he's comfortable and ready.
How Long Will it Take?
It could take a day, a week, or even more for your kitty to get used to his safe place and feel comfortable.
This will depend on several things, such as his temperament, past experiences, or whether there are other animals in the house.
Kittens often adjust quicker than adult felines.
Don't worry and don't force the issue. Be patient; it will pay off in the long run. Let your kitty set the pace.
Let him get comfortable in this smaller space before you open up the rest of your home to your new cat.
When I brought home my semi-feral kitty, Neko, it took a couple of weeks for her to feel comfortable enough to venture from under a bed in her safe room. When I brought home Xela, it was just a couple of days.
Time to Explore the Rest of Your Home!
Once your new cat seems comfortable in her safe space, it's time to let her explore the world beyond. Open the door to your kitty's safe haven and let her come out and explore the rest of your home at her own pace.
Always keep the door to the safe haven open so your new family member can retreat to this safe place when she needs to. She'll most likely appear hesitant and a bit of a scaredy cat at first. Don't worry. This is normal.
Most kitties will start to make small excursions under the cover of night. This will include rapid retreats back to the safe haven, so be sure to keep the door open and don't let it shut by itself.
When getting used to her new home, your kitty should always be able to retreat to her safe place. Not being able to do so can result in more stress and a longer adjustment period for your new family member.
Be Patient with Your New Cat
Adapting to his new environment and establishing a new territory will take some time. For some, it may be just a matter of days, for others, a matter of weeks or even months.
If there are other animals in the house, the adjustment process could take a bit longer, but don't worry. Cats have a way of working out territorial issues.
Let your kitty adjust to her new environment at her own pace and you'll have a happier cat.
With enough time, he or she will rightfully act like she owns the place!
What To Do If There Are Other Pets In Your Home
You'll have additional considerations if you're bringing your new cat home to a household that already has one or more cats, or a resident dog.
Here are some additional articles with more information to help ease the transition in these particular circumstances.
Cats and Dogs
- Introducing new cats and dogs to each other.
Multi-Cat Household
- Introducing a new cat to a resident cat; how to help them adjust to each other.
Related Topics
Cat Names
- How to choose the perfect name for your new family member.
Cat Breeds - All about different cat breeds.
Top Choices for Pet Supplies Online
For transparency and disclosure, you should assume that all links on this page are affiliate links and that I do receive a commission if you click through and make a qualifying purchase.
That said, please note that I only recommend products that I believe in.
Amazon has pretty much passed up all the online dedicated pet supplies stores. They do have a great selection and you can get just about everything you could possibly need at the best prices.
Life's Abundance
is my #1 recommendation for the best cat food online (or
anywhere!). I've used this food for years (maybe even decades!). None of their ingredients have ever been recalled; and they have good customer service. Try a sample to make sure your kitty likes the taste.
Only Natural Pet Store
is my #1 recommendation for natural pet supplies. This a "must visit" pet supplies site, especially if you prefer more natural products for your pets.
Use the Search Box to find more feline info. |
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