Pet behavior blog › Cats · First-time owners
Bringing Home a New Cat: Your Complete First-Week Guide
- Cats are sensitive to new places, so prepare the essentials and a quiet space before your cat arrives.
- The first week is when your cat adjusts to its new home — don't force interaction.
- Set up a litter box, food and water bowls and a resting spot first, then let your cat explore the rest of the home slowly.
What to prepare before your cat arrives
Have the basics ready before your cat comes home: a litter box, food and water bowls, a cat bed or hiding place, and a scratcher. Decide on food in advance and, if you can, ask the shelter or previous owner what your cat has been eating.
Cat-proofing the home matters too. Put away electric cords, toxic plants and small objects your cat could reach. Check that windows and doors close properly, and look for narrow gaps where a cat could get stuck.
Day one: start in one quiet room
On the first day, don't let your cat roam the whole house. Choose a bedroom or small room as its 'safe room' and put the litter box, bowls and a hiding place there. Cats feel stress in unfamiliar places, so it is best to stay in this room at first.
Don't pick your cat up or try to pet it right away. Wait until it comes out of the carrier on its own and watch quietly until it approaches you. Giving it enough time alone is the key to settling in quickly.
The first week: watch quietly and wait
For the first few days your cat may hide or eat little. This is a normal stress reaction, so don't worry. Quietly watch how it uses the litter box, eats and drinks to learn its routine.
Avoid loud noises, visitors and sudden movements. Interact gently only when your cat approaches or responds first. After about a week, it will usually start to relax and explore.
Check litter box use and toilet habits
Cats instinctively look for a litter box. During the first week, make sure your cat is using it properly. Check the litter every day to keep it clean, and if your cat sniffs or digs near it, gently guide it to the box.
If your cat goes outside the box, clean the spot and try moving the litter box nearer to it. Praising your cat after it uses the box helps build a positive link.
Food and water: keep it healthy
Your cat may not eat much for the first few days, usually because of stress. Put the food bowl in a quiet spot and never force-feed. Always provide plenty of fresh water, and place the bowls away from the litter box.
If you plan to change food, wait at least a week and mix it in gradually. Changing too fast can upset digestion. If your cat isn't eating or drinking as usual or seems lethargic, talk to your veterinarian.
After a week: let your cat explore the home
Once your cat seems comfortable in its safe room after about a week, slowly widen the area it can explore. Open one or two rooms at a time and let it explore at its own pace. Keep things quiet and always leave the safe room open so it can go back.
Make sure the new areas also have a litter box, water, food and places to hide. The goal is a home where your cat can rest and use the toilet comfortably anywhere.
- On the first day, wait until your cat comes out of the carrier by itself — not pulling it out reduces stress.
- Put several beds or boxes in the safe room so your cat has plenty of places to hide.
- Place the food bowl, water bowl and litter box far apart, in a triangle — cats feel more at ease that way.
- Only when your cat approaches first, let it sniff your finger, then stroke it gently.
- Avoid visitors as much as possible during the first week and keep the home quiet.
Frequently asked questions
My cat only hides and won't come out. Is that okay?
It's a normal reaction for the first few days. Cats tend to hide when stressed in a new place. Provide enough food and water and wait quietly — in about a week it will start coming out little by little.
I need to change my cat's food. When can I start?
After your cat has settled in — at least one week later. Mix a little of the new food into the old food and switch slowly over 7–10 days.