Creating a Warm Home for Your New Cat: Tips and Tricks

Our team wants to make it easier for you to welcome a new cat into your house in honor of Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, which in our opinion ought to be observed every month. A new location can be upsetting for cats because they are sensitive beings, especially if other animals already have claimed the territory.

These suggestions from our team can help you make a new cat—or two—or three—feel at home.

#1: Create a secure environment for your new cat.

Your new cat may need a few days to get used to you, and if you have other animals in the house, it may take much longer for them to adjust. By giving your cat its own collection of resources, you can aid their sense of security in their new surroundings. So your cat companion doesn’t have to fight for necessities, keep them segregated in a sizable room with their own litter box, food, water, scratching post, and bedding. Allow your new cat to explore on their own without interruption but spend a lot of time playing, petting, and connecting with them to help them get used to you.

#2: Continue to follow the same diet.

By continuing to feed your cat the same food they were eating, you can reduce the stress that relocating to a new environment can have on a cat’s sensitive digestive system. Give them a few days to get used to their existing diet before gradually substituting new foods for the old over the course of a week if you wish to transition them to a new diet.

#3: Give your new kitty time to adjust.

Save the meet-and-greets with family and friends until your pet is at ease with you and their surroundings. A cat can take a week or two to get used to their new home. However, to make sure your new cat is healthy and up to date on preventive treatment, make an appointment with your normal veterinarian for a meet-and-greet. Your cat may feel anxious if they take another trip so soon after the one to get to your house, so give them another week to unwind before making any more introductions.

We’re happy to see the new cat in your household! Give us a call to set up your new pet’s wellness appointment; our staff is eager to meet them.