Settling an Adopted Cat Into a New Home: A Happy Cat Expert Explains!

When adopting a cat, the first days, weeks, and months are crucial for both you and your new companion to adapt to each other. But before offering tips on bringing a new cat home, we invite you to consider how the change of environment can affect newly adopted cats. This transition can be very impactful for them, so it’s important to make introductions to your new cat as gradual as possible.

What to Consider When Adopting a Cat

For some cats, the environment they’ve come from may be similar to the one you offer, but for many others, it may not. It may even be the first time they live indoors or have an affectionate relationship with humans. During the adoption process, your new companion will need a few days to get to know the spaces, routines, and even the different family members in their new home.

Your new cat’s behaviour may change from when they first arrive home to when they’re fully settled in and adapted to their new environment. For example, they may be reluctant to be touched or unsure about where to toilet to begin with.

Before bringing a new cat home, you might be told that they have never lived in a home before or may do things we don’t expect from an adult cat, such as scratching the sofa or curtains, taking food from the table, or getting on kitchen surfaces. In these cases, it’s important to have patience and use positive reinforcement to help your cat learn desired behaviours over time.

Ways to Help a Cat Settle into Their New Home

When bringing a new cat home, it’s important to make the experience as positive as possible, making sure they feel comfortable in their new environment. Once your cat starts to feel more settled, you can begin building a strong bond.

By following some of these tips, you can help your newly adopted cat adjust more easily to their new home:

• Give them time and space—Let them approach you on their own and never force interaction. If you want to pet them or call them, position yourself a couple of metres away, squat down, and call them with a calm, gentle voice. If they don’t come, give them some time and try again later.
• Show them your home—Gradually introducing a new cat to their environment can help to build their confidence. Make sure they know where their water, food, and resting areas are. During the first weeks, it’s recommended to set up a room with everything they need, giving them constant access so they can settle into their new environment.
• Use FELIWAY Optimum—Placing this in the space where your cat is settling can help them feel more comfortable. If their favourite space moves to another area later, you can always relocate the diffuser. The pheromones released from the FELIWAY Optimum diffuser help to reassure cats, making them feel more secure in their environment.
• Guide them with treats—If you need your cat to move, like getting them off the sofa or furniture, do so by guiding them with a treat. A delicious treat can be a gentle way to encourage them to move.
• Limit visitors—Keeping the number of visits low, especially for small children, helps create a calm environment during the first few days. When your cat is ready to meet guests, make sure they know the best way to interact with your cat!
• Set boundaries—Everyone in the family should agree on the rules for your cat, such as where they can go, where you will play with them, how they will be fed and who’s responsible for their water and litter tray. Having clear rules from the beginning will help your cat adjust.
• Stick to a familiar routine—Try to keep the same routine your cat is already used to, like feeding times, at least for the first days they settle in. Once they’re more comfortable, you can gradually change the routine to better suit your family.

When to Introduce a New Cat to the Outdoors

After adopting a cat that will have outdoor access, it’s recommended to wait at least 10 – 15 days before allowing them outside. During this time, it’s important for your new cat to bond with you and recognize their new house as their territory. If they encounter a threat outside, they need to know that the home is their safe zone where they can seek security.

Here are some tips for introducing your new cat to the outdoors:

• Offer outdoor access gradually—Start with quieter times, such as at night when there are fewer people or less traffic. Even if the area is secluded, remember that cats can travel great distances when allowed outside.
• Increase outdoor time slowly—It’s recommended to install a cat flap so your cat can enter and exit freely, giving them the option to come back inside when they choose. Microchip controlled cat flaps are especially useful, as you can set times when your cat goes outdoors as well as prevent neighbourhood cats from entering your house!

If your cat won’t have unrestricted outdoor access but will have a catio or cat enclosure, you can let them begin exploring once they’ve settled into their indoor space.

Using Positive Reinforcement to Shape Behaviour

After settling your cat into their new home, they will get to know you just as you will get to know them, and you will adapt to each other over time. To speed up this process, it’s important to understand their expressions. I recommend reading further articles on feline communication to help you better connect with your cat.

You can also teach your cat how you prefer them to behave by praising them when they act appropriately. Part of building your relationship with your cat is the discovery of what rewards work for them. It might be a delicious treat, playtime with a toy, or simply petting them. Rewarding your new cat when you see calm and wanted behaviours is an effective strategy to build you bond as well as help your cat understand about what is normal and expected. Avoid scolding them for inappropriate behaviour, as this can be distressing for them and impact how you bond.

If you encounter any difficulties after adopting a cat, seek help from a suitable professional. The sooner you address any issues, the easier it will be to establish good habits and correct inappropriate behaviours.

For more fascinating insights from Elena and all our Happy Cat Experts, keep exploring our articles online! You can also sign up for our newsletter to receive all the latest updates straight into your inbox.