Bringing Your New Cat Home

If you’re reading this article, odds are you’re preparing for a wonderful experience — adding a cat to your family.

It doesn’t matter if this is your 1st or 21st cat, you’re in for a treat. Not much compares to learning about and bonding with a feline.

That process starts before they set a paw in your home.

What supplies do you need?
Should you start them in a smaller space?
What if they’re nervous?

These are probably just a few of the questions playing on a loop in your mind. That’s why we wrote this article. We’re going to walk you through the basics of introducing your new cat to their new home, so you can start this magical journey with less stress and more fun.

A Few Facts About Cats

As you think about what your new cat may need, enjoy, and feel safe with, here are a few things to get you into their mindset:

Cats are not small dogs. Dogs were domesticated to make them more compatible with our homes and lifestyles. Cats were not. In fact, cats are not all that different than their wild ancestors. Trying to think like a wild cat may help you connect with your housecat’s instinctual needs and reactions a bit better.

Cats are predators. They have an innate need to “hunt” (preferably toys, not critters). Creating “hunting” opportunities falls to you.

Cats are also prey. They are programmed to be on alert and ready to run or defend themselves if they think they may be in danger. Keep in mind, their version of danger is different than yours.

Survival instincts often cause cats to run first, ask questions later. New environments and experiences can be stressful because cats don’t assume they’re safe. It has to be proven to them before they’ll let their guard down.

A cat’s senses are extraordinary. Hearing, vision, smell, touch … cats are highly sensitive to the world around them. This means they can be easily overwhelmed or overstimulated.

Supplies for Bringing Your Cat Home

Here are some of the things you’ll need for your new cat or kitten, as well as tips for choosing supplies that meet your cat's needs:

A carrier: You’ll use this to transport them home. Hopefully, the carrier will be a place where they feel safe and secure. Check out our article on choosing the right carrier and (down the road, when they’re settled into their new home) helping your cat get comfortable in it.

Food and treats: We suggest you continue feeding whatever your cat was eating in their previous home and gradually transition to new food if needed. Here are some of our favorite treats to toss and lickable ones too.

Multiple food and water bowls: Ceramic, glass, or stainless steel are easiest to keep clean and sanitary. They should be large enough that your cat’s whiskers won’t rub on the sides. Check out some of our favorite bowls and water fountains.

Multiple litter boxes: Go with litter boxes that are extra-large, and open/uncovered. This is my favorite litter box. The rule of thumb is one more box than the number of cats in the home. Check out our article on litter box setup. It’s a really important element to helping your cat feel secure.

Litter: Most cats prefer a fine-grain, clumping clay litter, like Boxie Cat. If your new cat used a different litter in their previous home, start with that and gradually transition to the new litter. If you have a kitten, you may need to start with pellet litter (a safer option until they learn not to ingest it). You guessed it. We’ve got an article to help.

High spaces: Cats live horizontally and vertically. Many feel safer up high. Cat shelves, trees, perches, etc. will do the trick.

Hiding spots: All cats need places they can hide or just cozy up for a secret nap. You can buy them, like this felt cat den, or make something out of a box, or simply drape a blanket over a chair.

Scratchers: All cats must scratch. Try different materials, orientations (horizontal, vertical, slanted), heights, etc. Your cat will have preferences that you’ll learn in time. This cat scratching article will help you understand their preferences and help you choose scratching options that work best. Here are two options: wall-mounted and attached to your existing furniture.

Toys: It’s important to have a variety of toys your cat can play with on their own, as well as interactive toys you’ll use during play sessions.

Enrichment items: Cats need lots of ways to work their brains and put all of their amazing senses to work. Consider things like food puzzles, tunnels, catnip, etc.

Pet first aid kit: It’s always a good idea to have a first-aid kit filled with cat-specific supplies. We have a great resource showing you exactly what you need.

You may want to explore other things as well, like climbing options that attach to the wall, training tools, a harness and leash, a catio, and more. These can come later, when your cat is free to roam the entire home.

Setting Up a Safe Room for Your New Cat

Keep in mind, every single thing about your cat’s life is changing right now.

Finding themselves in a new, large space can be really overwhelming. That’s why, no matter the size of your home, it’s important to start your new cat off in a smaller “safe space.” It will be a less intimidating area to settle in, get used to the new sights, sounds, and smells, and get to know you a little.

This room should have everything they need — all the basics above except the carrier (because you’ll be using it for transport on day 1) and first-aid kit.

You might spritz or plug in a pheromone diffuser to help your new cat feel calmer.

If you have other pets, keep them out of the room. You can do a careful introduction later when your new cat is more comfortable. See below for more details on pet introductions.

Cat-proofing Your New Cat’s Safe Room

A vitally important step is cat-proofing this room! Err on the side of caution here. Assume your cat can squeeze into any place, will chew on anything, and can climb anywhere. As you learn more about them, you’ll have a better idea of where you can relax a bit. But start off like you’re bringing home a brand new baby … who was born able to jump 6 feet straight up and climb absolutely everything.

Here are some things to do and watch for:

• Holes in walls, cabinetry, or furniture they could squeeze through
• Remove anything toxic or dangerous (plants, cleaning products, rodent bait, etc.)
• Remove or safely securing strings, cords for blinds and curtains, fringe, etc., a cat is likely to chew
• Use cord protectors for all electrical cords
• Secure furniture, TVs, etc., so they can’t fall over or on your cat, especially when climbed or jumped from. 
• Secure or remove breakables, like nicknacks. Sticky putty helps for these smaller items.
• Either keep windows and doors closed or replace your screens with cat-safe options so your cat can’t jump through them or knock them out and escape
  
  
  

It’s Time to Bring Your New Cat Home

You want to make this transition as gentle as possible for your new family member.

Have the safe room set up in advance, with fresh food, water, and litter at the ready.

If you have other pets, secure them in a separate room so you can walk from the door to your cat’s safe room without any interactions.

Take your cat into the safe room, close the room door, and open the door to the carrier. If they don’t come right out, that’s OK. Let them stay in the carrier until they decide they’re ready. You can encourage them by dropping a few treats outside the carrier. But don’t force it.

If there are other people around, especially children, ask them to please be patient and wait outside the room. Give your new cat some time to relax before the whole family comes in to say hello.

Your cat will decide when they’re ready to approach you and interact. Just follow their lead. If they rush over and climb all over you, great. If not, that’s OK too. Let them set the pace.

If Your New Cat Is Nervous or Afraid of You

It’s common for cats to be fearful of new people, especially when paired with new places. This just means you move a bit slower.

One person at a time might sit on the floor, a good distance away, and talk softly to your cat. You can toss a few treats or try playing gently with a long wand toy. If they won’t engage with either of these, they’re pretty nervous.

In that case, if this is an adult cat, it may be best to leave the room. I know that’s hard to do. You want to comfort them. But a scared cat is not necessarily soothed by your presence. They may feel more secure without anyone in the room to worry about.

A nervous kitten, on the other hand, may be comforted by you more easily. Or they may just need a smaller space (like a large box or covering the carrier on 3 sides for extra security) until they see they’re safe.

When your cat feels secure enough to come out and move around the room a bit, you can try engaging again. Move slowly and quietly and keep your distance. Toss treats and toys or use a wand toy. You might turn on a battery-powered toy. 

As they feel safe, they’ll move around more freely with you in the room and should start interacting with you.

As you get to know your cat, watch for signs that they’re nervous or uncomfortable so you can turn down the intensity of the interaction. If you see things like cowering, ears turning, trying to look larger or smaller, fidgeting, staring intently, keeping their distance, or a generally tense posture, that’s your cue to ease up. Your cat is getting stressed.

Letting Your New Cat Explore the Home

When your cat feels nice and relaxed in their safe room, they’re eating, drinking, and using the litter box normally, and they’re comfortable interacting with you at least minimally, it’s time to expand their territory.

There are just a few things to do first:

• Do your cat-proofing! Same idea as what you did for the safe room, on a larger scale.

• Have additional resources spread throughout the home — water, litter boxes, toys, high space, hiding spots, and scratchers.

• Take a blanket or soft bed your cat has been sleeping on and rub it around your home, on furniture, and at cat-nose height along the walls. This will spread their scent which is a very comforting thing for cats.

• If you have pheromone spray or plug-ins, you can spritz or plug them in.

• Make sure all exterior doors and windows are closed. Even screened windows should be closed unless you have cat-safe screens.

• If you have a large home, close off areas to make the space less overwhelming. Close doors, and use pet gates. You can even create a false wall with boxes or furniture maybe 10 ft. away from your cat’s safe room door. This gives them a smaller area to start in until they’re ready to walk over, under, or around the wall.

• If you have other pets, secure them in another room when your new cat is out exploring. We talk about when to start those introductions below.

Start by just cracking the safe room door. Let your cat come out when they’re ready. You can certainly encourage them with treats, play, verbal praise, catnip, etc. Show them really good stuff happens when they’re brave and poke their head around each new corner or sniff each piece of furniture.

Leave the safe room door open. They should be able to retreat to that room anytime they feel the need.

You can start with short, supervised sessions and gradually increase how long they’re out and how closely you supervise until you feel they’re ready to have full run of the home.

When your cat stops spending so much time in their safe room, you may choose to move some of those resources to other areas of the home.

How Quickly Should Your New Cat Settle In?

You won’t know how your new cat is going to react to these big changes until it happens. They may adjust really quickly, ready to play with you, and explore the entire home on day 1.

Or they may hide for a week and be very slow to warm up to you and feel safe moving around this new space. Both of these, and anything in between, are just fine.

Every cat is unique. Their reaction will be driven by things like genetics, their history, and how well they were socialized. Things you can control, like other pets in their faces, loud sounds right outside the door, and whether the space meets their instinctual needs can also certainly make an impact. But some of it is out of your hands. It’s part of who they are.

Don’t let a slower response worry you. This is not a reflection on your new cat’s ability to bond with you and love their new home. They may just need more time and patience.

If your new cat is especially nervous, they may not eat, drink, or eliminate on a normal schedule. Don’t worry too much if they go 24 hours without doing these things. Any longer than that and it’s time to give your vet a call for guidance.

When to Introduce Your New Cat to Other Pets

It’s a good idea to hold off on introductions until your new cat feels comfortable in their safe room and they’re ready to start exploring other areas. We have a detailed article on introductions between cats to help you through this often challenging next step. See this article for help in introducing a dog to a cat.

What If Your New Cat Isn’t Settling In?

If your new cat isn’t feeling comfortable in their safe room, in the rest of the home, with you, or with other pets, and you’ve given them plenty of time and support, it may be time for a little help.

Reach out to a certified feline training and behavior consultant. We can help you find and work on potential triggers that may be causing fear or stress, as well as creating a customized plan to move your cat from their current state to feeling safe and secure in their space and with you.

There’s so much that can be done to get your new furry family member feeling relaxed and content in their forever home!