General Tips for Bringing a New Cat Home

A starter room is essentially a smaller room within your home where your cat will stay for the first few days/weeks. This room is meant to provide your cat(s)with a quiet place he/she needs while adjusting to you, your home, and your other pets.   We recommend a small bathroom or laundry room for the first 7-14 days if possible, and based upon the cat's needs.   This room should be "cat proofed" prior to the cat's arrival and include all the items your cat needs to thrive; a place to hide, toys to play, their dishes, and their litter box. A bedroom can act as the starter room but may be a challenge if your new cat(s) like to hide.  If they choose to hide under a bed or other furniture, it will lessen your chances of seeing them, and therefore getting to know them.  A room with a window to see outside is always a bonus, just ensure this window has a screen!  You should have a scratching post, or cat tree available so that the cat has a place to relieve it’s need to scratch.  If you have other pets in the home, we recommend you keep the door closed and bring a bed or blanket that current pet uses to them (and vice versa) so they can learn the each other’s scent.  For pet/pet introductions please see our section below. 

Safety should be everyone’s top priority when bringing home a new cat.  Cat's can get themselves into trouble as they are very curious about their world, especially if it's new. You can reduce their risks by "cat-proofing" your home prior to their arrival.  A few things you should pay attention to include; access to open doors/windows, ensure screens are secure, ensure that all plants/trees in your home are non-toxic; list of toxic houseplants.  Many cats like to chew on string, feathers, hair bands, zip ties, etc., which can be very harmful to a cat if swallowed.  If you have cleaning products, medications, laundry products, mouse/rat poisons, etc. stored in a space the cat has access to (especially in laundry/bathrooms) be sure that they are locked away.   Candles, essential oils, room sprays, rug sprays, scented carpet powders, diffusers, even scented litter are highly NOT recommended to use when you own a cat due to the potential harm and irritation to your pet. Learn more about this. If you have children in the home that can forget to close exterior doors, windows, or the starter room door, be sure that you monitor the situation at all times.  Some of our pet parents have purchased alarms that alert them to when doors/windows are open.  If you are at work or away from your cat for an extended period of time, you can add cameras to your cat's living area to observe them and ensure they are safe.   Read more about cat proofing here 

We have found that many cats will hide when they first arrive to their new home.  Cats are excellent at hiding! It is difficult for us to predict how long your cat will want to hide as some will hide for a few hours, while others will hide for a few days/weeks.  You can help your cat by providing them a safe place that allows your cat to hide in (i.e. a cardboard box, or a small igloo bed) This will also lower the chances of your cat retreating within your home to hide, getting lost in a room difficult to find them in (a basement, attic or far under furniture).   Even the friendliest of cats may retreat to hiding in a new environment so it's best you are prepared for this occurrence before they arrive. 

Learn more about a cat’s need to hide here

Before your new cat can bond with you, they will want to ensure they are in a safe environment, there are no threats/predators waiting for them around corners they don't know.  Some cats need very little time to feel secure, while others need more time before they are ready to engage with you.  You can help them along by simply providing them with a piece of your clothing, a blanket, or a pillow case (all which contains your scent) while they are in "exploration mode."  We recommend that you let them approach you on their own terms and when they are ready.  You can start off your relationship by sitting in the center of their room and allowing them to approach you as they wish. They may approach you slowly and in intervals, while retreating to a safe place. Don't overwhelm them by introducing them to too many people at one time. Let your cat bond with you and all the family members in the home before they meet friends/family that live outside of your home.  Learn more about the very special bond you can have with your new cat here.

We suggest that all cats have at least one scratching post or a cat tree that includes a scratch post. Scratching is a natural and comforting behavior for cats. It’s also important that the scratching post is new and has not been used by other cats. Your new cat will like the fact that h/she has a post all to their own and they will feel more relaxed having this available to them when needed.  Most cat trees include a scratching post and a hiding place which is why we highly recommend all new cat owners have at least one larger cat tree for their cat(s).  Read more about a cat’s need to scratch; here

If your new cat is an adult, you can use a store-bought product called "Feliway." Feliway imitates natural cat pheromones and helps a new cat feel more comfortable. Feliway comes in a spray and diffuser form.  This doesn’t need to be purchased right away, but if you feel your cat seems to be stressed (hiding, licking their lips, eyes dilating) it is a good tool to use to help them relax. You can purchase Feliway at most pet stores.  

Learn more via a link to the company website; Feliway 

It's important that you give your cat the time they need to get to know you and each member of your household. Cats generally do NOT like change, and adjusting to a new home along with new people or pet(s) can be very stressful on the cat(s).  We recommend that upon arrival you give your new cat all the time he/she needs to decompress. This is also why we recommend that they begin in a starter room that you have already set-up for them.  It is best you let them come to you on their terms.  If you sit in the middle of their stater room and allow them to approach you on their terms you will allow the cat to feel in charge.   They may decide sniffing and exploring their new room is more important than you right now, and that is ok.  They may also decide that hiding in a safe place feels better. This is just how your cat responds to change.  Your cat needs to know that first and foremost they are in a safe environment.   It is simply feline instinct.  Some cats may growl, hiss, twitch its tail or pull its ears back and this behavior doesn't mean you just adopted a vicious feral animal! This behavior is a cat simply telling you that they're scared and they need more time to feel secure.  Patience is key and in time you and your cat will be best of friends! Learn more about bonding with a new cat; here

How will you introduce your cat(s) to the rest of your home? Well, each cat is different and he/she will let you know when they’re ready to explore outside of their safe space. When the cat is no longer hiding or showing signs of fear, and allows you to pet/handle them, this is when we suggest you start to let them explore.  You can start by closing doors to other rooms so they can only explore the main rooms of your home first.  You should start the process only under supervision and for short intervals of time. You can increase the time they are out and the amount of rooms h/she has access to with each visit outside the starter room. Let them explore each area slowly and allow them to return to their room once you feel they have had enough.   Many will get overwhelmed and seek to return to their room on their own. We recommend that if your home is large or with several floors, that you place a harness/leash on the cat to allow them to safely explore without getting lost. Too many new spaces at once can be stressful and frightening to a cat.  If you’ve adopted a shy cat who will likely look for a safe space to hide, be sure that they cannot access an attic, garage or basement.  *Most of these rooms have many hiding places—some inaccessible to humans, or escape routes to the outdoors.    Learn more about introducing your cat(s) to your home; here

One of the benefits to the starter room is ensuring that your cat knows where his/her litter box is at all times.  It is a huge bonus if  your starter room happens to be where you will keep the litter box permanently.  If you eventually plan to move the litter box out of the starter room, you should slowly move the litter box to it’s permanent location.  If you move the box too abruptly it may lead to confusion and to possible accidents.  The rule of thumb for one cat is to have access to two litter boxes.  This is due to the fact that cats prefer to have a clean box at all times.  Two boxes ensures they will always find a clean place to go.  The larger your home, the more boxes you should have for the cat, especially if you have other cats in the home.  Essentially 2 cats would have 4 boxes, and 3 cats 6. The more boxes you can have for your pride, the better!  

Read more about litter box compliance; here 

 Feeding your cat the proper diet for the rest of their life is crucial to their longevity. We believe that the cost for a higher quality food can lower the chances of your cat developing chronic conditions such as; weight gain, diabetes, tooth and dental issues, kidney issues, and cancer. Cats should eat very little carbohydrates as they are obligate carnivores. Low grain, no grain and limited ingredient diets are best for all cats. Our shopping list will provide you with recommended brands of food to purchase. Hydration is also key! Kidney disease is extremely prevalent in cats, and it is one of the leading causes of death in cats. Since cats naturally do not drink sitting or still water, wet food adds moisture to their diet keeping them hydrated. Purchasing a water fountain is also highly recommended as cat’s are naturally attracted to running water and a fountain encourages drinking.  To learn more about selecting the best food choices for your cat click here

Our rule of thumb in pet to pet introductions is slow and steady wins the race. Cats will be overwhelmed by the new home and your current pet(s) will be stressed by the stranger in the home. Have patience and do not rush the process. 

Here's additional information that you may find useful when you are introducing your current pets to a new cat(s)! Cat to Cat; here and Cat to Dog; here

This is our list of recommended items to have ready for your cat prior to their arrival:

• Wet & (some) Dry Food- We feed all cats ~ 2- 3 oz of wet food in the AM and PM each day + some kibble and plenty of water. We highly recommend that you limit dry food as it is proven to be the cause of several chronic health conditions in cats. Read HERE to learn more about the correlation between a cat's diet & health.  
• The food brands we recommend include; Petco’s own store brand “Whole Hearted” Merrick, Weruva, Nutro, Wellness, and Blue Buffalo are all excellent brands! *Any food you can purchase in any super market is full of non-meat products and fillers, which are not healthy for your cat to eat! Look for high protein, limited ingredient diets. Reduce seafood based foods due to mercury. 
• A box or igloo bed that lets them hide when they want to. Sometimes just a plain old cardboard box will make them perfectly happy too!
• Food and water bowls or a water fountain *we recommend you use stainless steel bowls or ceramic bowls to prevent the development of chin acne
• 2 Litter Boxes = 1 cat! Cats prefer a large uncovered litter box with unscented litter that is changed at least twice every day! Remember the golden litter box rule of two boxes for each cat…if you cannot keep more than one box in your home, be sure to clean the box at least twice a day.
• A litter mat-  to catch litter around the litter box to prevent litter tracking in your home!
• Hard plastic carrier - These carriers are always safest and prevent your cat from escaping. We recommend that you leave the carrier out at all times and keep toys in the carrier so they are not running when you take the carrier out of the closet for a trip to the vet!
• Cat Nail clippers - f your cat is young enough you can get them used to having their nails clipped, use treats to make it a positive experience.
• Brush or comb (depends on your cat’s coat length and type)
• Non-toxic cleansers to clean their litter box, toys etc. *Bleach is toxic for cats and/or an Enzymatic odor neutralizer for accidents
• Variety of toys to keep them busy (laser light toys, cat nip, scratching posts, anything they can chase or hunt, large kitty sticks, wand toys, cardboard scratching boards,) 
• Tall cat trees to place near a window to watch outdoors especially when they’re home alone, and to keep their need to be up high so they avoid climbing on your furniture or on counter tops