I'm bringing a new cat home for the first time! What should I do to help them settle in?
Bringing home a new cat (or two) can be very exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking if you’re a new cat owner who doesn’t know what to do! Cats can react poorly to sudden changes in their environment, so if you have a timid cat, you’ll want to do your best to make them feel at home.
Whether you’re preparing to bring home a new cat or looking for tips on how to make your cat settle in more quickly, the tips in this guide can help ensure a smooth transition for your new kitty. The settlement phase may take a few weeks (for especially shy kitties), so be patient and refer to your cat to see how quickly or slowly they want to do things. Never force your cat out of their comfort zone too quickly.
If you’re not sure how your cat will react when you bring them home, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and assume they’ll be very scared upon arrival.
Pro tip: Cats generally fare better in new environments if they have a friend with them, so consider adopting two cats instead of just one. Not only will this make the transition period less tough on the kitties, it’s also much better for their emotional and mental health! You can read more about why that is here.
Prepare an isolation room
When you first bring home your kitty, you don’t want to give them free reign of the house. Plopping a cat down into the middle of a house can be very overwhelming for them, so you should confine them to a smaller space at the beginning.
You can set aside a specific room to be their isolation room, or, if you’re dealing with a very skittish cat, we recommend getting a large tiered cage, covering it with a blanket/sheet to make it feel safer, and letting them acclimate in there for the first few days.
Make sure to block off all potential hiding spots before you let the cat loose into the room. Spaces like behind or under beds/couches, under shelving units, tight spaces between furniture, etc., should all be blocked off so the cat can’t hide in there. You don’t want your cat to be able to hide somewhere you can’t reach, not only because it’s dangerous in an emergency, but if the cat can hide from you constantly, you won’t be able to get them to warm up to you as easily.
You can provide alternative hiding spaces like open cardboard boxes, covered beds, or cat trees with cubby holes instead. These spaces allow the cat to feel safe while simultaneously allowing you to interact with the cat as needed.
Monitor their eating and toileting
Sometimes, cats can be so stressed in a new environment that they refuse to eat. But because cats have weak livers and are susceptible to liver failure (and potentially death) if they don’t eat for several days, you must closely watch them to ensure that they’re eating properly at least within the first two days after arriving at your home.
You can try offering the cat treats as a way to rouse their appetite. Microwaving their wet food to make it smell more appetizing, mixing in liquid treats, or sprinkling freeze-dried meats on top of their food are also good ways to encourage them to eat.
If your new cat doesn’t eat anything by the second day of being at your home, you need to bring them to the vet for a hydration drip and some appetite stimulants if possible.
Give them a piece of clothing that smells like you
Cats rely greatly on their sense of smell, so you can get them used to you by introducing them to your scent early on. A t-shirt that you’ve worn for a day is a good choice for this. Place articles of clothing that smell like you in areas that the cat will hang out in a lot, like a cat bed or up in their cat tower. As they sleep on it more and their scent mixes with yours, they’ll become more comfortable with your smell and, eventually, you.
Spend lots of time with them
The other thing you can do to help a cat (especially a shy one) warm up to you more quickly is to Stockholm Syndrome them to you. Basically, you want to spend as much time in the room with your cat. You don’t necessarily have to interact with them the whole time. In fact, you can bring your phone, laptop, or a book into the room and simply settle down for the long haul. You want to let your cat grow used to your presence, and trapping them in the same room as you is a quick way to do that. You can even try reading a book to them.
Play with them. A lot!
One of the best ways to help a cat gain confidence is by playing with them a lot. Not only does playtime help them relieve stress, it also creates a stronger bond between you and your cat. If they aren’t already exploring the room confidently, try to lure them into the center of the room with a fishing wand toy and let them explore the space while distracted. Eventually, they’ll learn that it’s okay to wander away from the walls and take over an entire room.
Let them explore the other parts of your home
If your cat seems curious about the door and wants to explore the other spaces in your home, go ahead and let them out. Just like at the beginning, you shouldn’t let them go everywhere just yet. Instead, let them explore new parts of your home room by room so it’s not too overwhelming. Some cats will run out, tails high and excited, but others might need some time to take in the new sights and smells.
Leave the room to their isolation room open so that they can run back into it whenever they feel scared. Like with everything else, you should let your cat guide the pace of their own exploration.
Before long, your cat will be exploring the whole place with confidence! If they’ve gotten to this point, then congratulations! You’ve successfully introduced your cat to their new home.