Problem Solving & Advice by Pam Johnson-Bennett Cat Behavior Expert & Best-selling Author
This is an exciting time for you and your family. You’re about to bring home a new furry family member. Regardless of where the cat is coming from (shelter, rescue, breeder), here are some basic tips to help make the transition a bit easier for everyone. It’s important to not rush the process in order to give your cat time to adjust to the new surroundings and new family members. A little extra TLC during this time will help ensure a smoother transition. If you haven’t yet chosen your new cat, read the article on our website about making a good match.
1. Visit the Veterinarian
Even if your new cat is already up-to-date on vaccinations, visit the veterinarian for a medical check-up. This is important no matter where the cat from, but most especially if you don’t have any medical records. This is also the time to talk to the veterinarian about any questions you may have about your new furry family member. During this visit you can also have your new cat microchipped. Your cat may also be dewormed for internal parasites and you may be advised to start a flea control program for external parasites.
2. Cat-Proof Beforehand
It’ll be much easier to spend the time cat-proofing before you bring in your newest family member. If you haven’t lived with a cat before you’ll be surprised at the places a kitty can hide and the trouble he can get into. Look at cat-proofing as you would baby-proofing but consider this “baby” as a super toddler who can jump almost seven times his height, squeeze into spaces that seem completely impossible, use teeth to chew through cords, among many other talents a new cat parent probably never thought possible. Secure dangling cords to reduce temptation. Many cords can be hidden using cord containment tubes available at your local office supply store, discount store, or online. You can also secure cords using Command strips. Coat visible electrical cords with a bitter anti-chew product available at pet supply stores or online. Remove house plants that will be within a cat’s reach because so many are toxic if chewed.
Even simple, everyday objects could pose a potential danger such as rubber bands, small earrings, candy wrappers, and more. Objects that may appear to be fun impromptu play toys may end up as a choking hazard.
Food left on counters and tables can also be dangerous. Remember, cats can climb and jump, and the aroma of something on the kitchen counter may be too hard to resist.
Go through your home, room by room, to make sure it’s cat safe.
3. Give Your New Cat a Sanctuary Room
Even though you plan on providing this wonderfully loving home, your new cat may not be ready to see all of it yet. A cat takes comfort in predictability and routine. It can be overwhelming for him to be placed in the middle of the living room upon arrival. If you do that, the first thing your new cat will very likely do is run for cover somewhere. Instead, set up a sanctuary room (usually an extra bedroom or any room that can be closed off) so your cat can take time to settle in. Your new cat may be ready to explore and meet the rest of the family very quickly, or might need a few hours, days, or weeks to feel comfortable. Let your cat determine when it’s time to take the next step.
4. Provide Resources and Hiding Places for Your Cat
The sanctuary room should be supplied with a litter box, scratching post, water, food bowl, and toys. In addition to the basic resources, set up some hiding places and private navigation paths. If you just put the cat in a bedroom without any private paths, they may just dive under the bed and camp out there. A better option is to create tunnels so the cat can securely go from one hiding place to the food bowl or litter box without feeling so vulnerable. You can buy soft-sided cat tunnels at your local pet product store or you can make tunnels with paper bags. Cut the bottoms from the paper bags, open them and then tape one to another to create a tunnel. Fold a cuff around the end of each bag to create more stability. You can even cut a few peek holes in the middle of the tunnel so the cat can stop halfway and look out at the surroundings. Other options for hiding places are to turn boxes on their sides, line them with towels and create safe napping areas or set up kitty caves or semi-covered beds.
To help your cat feel more comfortable in this new and unfamiliar territory, plug in a Feliway diffuser. It contains synthetic feline facial pheromones that your cat will interpret as his own. You won’t be able to detect any scent but it may provide some additional comfort as your cat tries to identify with the new home. Once the cat is out of the sanctuary room, you can use Feliway diffusers in the main parts of the home to continue to help create familiarity and identification. Feliway is available at pet supply stores and online.
5. Allow Time for Your Cat to Settle in
Depending upon where the cat came from and the anxiety level, it’s normal for him to not want to eat, use the litter box or drink any water right away. Provide a small amount of food and offer privacy. The new cat may feel more comfortable to eat when no one is around initially. If kitty doesn’t show any interest in eating the first day, just keep providing small meals and fresh water. Don’t put out too much food so you can monitor whether any is actually getting eaten or not. By the second day the cat should be hungry enough to start nibbling. If not, talk to your veterinarian. You don’t want the cat to go more than two days without eating but your veterinarian will provide instructions on how you should handle the situation based on your cat’s specific circumstances.
6. Let the Cat Make the First Move
Go at the cat’s pace when it comes to interaction. It’s tempting to try to hold, pet or interact with your cat right away but depending on where he came from and current comfort level, he may not be ready to have you get too close. You can use a fishing pole or wand style toy to conduct a casual, low-intensity play session to ease anxiety. If he’s curious and seems interested in checking you out, get down on his level, extend your index finger and let him approach to sniff it. Don’t try to pet the cat at first – just let him sniff your finger and if further interaction is desired, he will move closer to you. The trust-building process shouldn’t be rushed.
If you’re dealing with a cat who is fearful, has been traumatized, or displays aggression, try clicker training to transition the behavior in the right direction, decrease stress, and increase confidence. Here’s more information on clicker training:
7. Slowly Introduce Other Family Members to the New Cat
Everyone in the family will be anxious to greet the newest member but he may not be ready to have several unfamiliar people crowded in the sanctuary room. Do individual introductions slowly. If the cat is hiding and doesn’t seem ready, more settling-in time may be needed and you may have to work with the cat yourself to build trust and confidence. There will be plenty of time later to make formal introductions. It’s important to teach children, right from the start, how to interact with the cat appropriately. Here’s more information:
Helping Children Develop Good Relationships with Cats
Photo by Andrew Branch on Unsplash
8. Let Your New Cat Explore
When your new cat feels comfortable and is no longer hiding, it’ time to explore beyond the sanctuary room. If you live in a large home, don’t overwhelm the cat by letting him wander around in every room. Let him explore slowly, a little at a time so he always know the route back to the sanctuary.
As your cat is given access to more parts of the home, increase resource availability. Make sure your cat have convenient access to litter box locations, scratching posts, water, etc. If your new family member is a kitten, keep in mind that bladder control isn’t that strong yet so don’t expect the youngster to have to try to remember that long distance to the litter box location. Make everything convenient so your kitten is comfortable and will succeed at learning.
9. Introduce Other Family Pets to Your Cat
If there are other resident pets in the home then the introduction of the newcomer must be done with finesse and patience. Cat-to-cat introductions can be very tricky so take the time to give the cats a reason to like each other through a gradual intro and positive associations. Keep in mind that the resident cat will feel as if the home territory has been invaded and the new kitty will feel as if he has been dropped across enemy lines. If the resident pet is a dog, use care to ensure safety for all concerned. Don’t leave the cat and dog alone until you’ve completed the introduction process and are absolutely sure both the cat and the dog will be safe around each other.
10. Begin Trust-Building and Training
It’s never too early to start training. Your new cat is always learning and what is learned depends on the messages you send. Be consistent and humane in your training process. Provide what your cat needs and use positive, force-free training that sends a consistent message. Always reward and praise steps in the right direction, however small. The decision to bring a cat into your life may have been a sudden and impulsive move but providing for that cat’s health and happiness should never be. Take the time to educate yourself on what cats need for physical, emotional, and mental health.
Need More Information?
There’s so much for a new cat parent to know when it comes to raising a well-adjusted cat. You can find step-by-step instructions in the books by Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at bookstores and online. We have also included Amazon links here on our website.
If you have a question about your cat’s health, contact your veterinarian. This article is not intended as a medical diagnosis nor is it a replacement for your cat’s regular veterinary care. This article is for general information purposes only.
