Bringing Home a New Cat

Getting Family Members Ready

If you share your home with other people, you should get them ready as well. First explain the special situation kitty will be in and the need for patience. Excited family members will have to give the cat some time to adjust to the new environment before they can handle her, and this could take a while, particularly with older cats.

Don't forget to tell everyone about new house rules, such as making sure doors and windows are shut during kitty's settling in period, not leaving food on tables and kitchen counters, and double checking before turning on the washer and drier.

The rules the cat will have to live by, such as not getting table scraps or not jumping onto certain places, are best reinforced when everyone in the house sticks to them, so make sure these are clear and agreed upon.

The Sanctuary Room

Allowing the cat access to the whole house from Day One may be too overwhelming and create stress. For the at least the first few days, the cat is best off confined to one area or space.

Set aside one room that will serve as the "sanctuary room" before you bring kitty home. The room should be a quiet one with little or no human traffic. Make sure that the door can be locked, to avoid accidental intrusions or escapes and that all windows are well shut, so that your cat won't climb her way out.

Place the cat's feeding and water bowls In one corner of the room and a litter box some distance away. This is important because cats do not like to use a litter box in close proximity to their sleeping or eating places, and they may choose to use another place in the room for elimination purposes to keep their feeding area uncontaminated.

Add some cat toys and make sure that kitty has several safe hiding places. Under the bed is a good spot, but a cat carrier with its door removed or a cardboard box turned on its side can give your new friend an added sense of safety, especially if you put a warm blanket inside. (Don't forget that cats are fastidious creatures and like their bedding changed frequently.)

Bringing Kitty Home

Always bring a kitten or cat in a secure cat carrier. Never let the cat loose in the car or carry her in your arms into your home. Even the most docile cat can suddenly become frightened and claw her way out of your arms. The carrier makes kitty feel more secure - she can look at the outside world while being protected from it.

As you enter your home, avoid having excited family members greet the newcomer with loud voices and attempts to touch or hold it. Introductions can be made later on when the cat is more relaxed. This is especially true if you have other pets. Ignore their curiosity and walk with the carrier straight into the sanctuary room.

Once at the room, put the carrier down in a corner and open its hatch. Then get out of the room and let the cat get out of the carrier in her own time and explore the room. The cat's first priority is getting to know the new territory. Only after she's comfortable in the room, will she be able to meet and positively interact with people and other animal inhabitants of her new place.

Check on her every few hours to see how she is doing. Some cats will walk out of the carrier and make themselves at home within minutes. Others will take a few hours or even days before they feel comfortable enough to welcome you when you come. As long as the cat is eating, drinking, and using the litter box, you're doing fine.