How to Introduce a Cat to a New Home (Vet Answer)
By Dr. Paola Cuevas, MVZ (Vet)
Updated on
Bringing a cat home for the first time can be an exciting experience, but it can also be stressful. It is never a good idea to just throw a cat into a new household, whether there are other pets present or not. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to maximize the chance that your new cat will quickly find your household comfortable and safe. Here are five steps that every new cat parent should take when introducing their feline friend to their new home.
How to Introduce a Cat to a New Home (A Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Prepare Your House for the New Arrival
The first thing that you should do before bringing your new cat home for the first time is to prepare your home for the new arrival. First, make sure there is a safe place for your cat to arrive and get used to during the first week or so. The room should be cat-proofed and free from any potential danger, such as cables, windows, chemicals, or anything that might hurt your cat. The room should also be free of clutter or small pieces that your cat might ingest.
This room should have an area where the cat can hide. It doesn’t have to be fancy; a cardboard box can do, but you could also use a kennel, bed, or box converted into a “cave.” A blanket with your smell could help the cat get used to you while providing a soft surface to sleep, and if you have purchased a cat bed, place it in the room as well. You should also provide food and water bowls slightly separated from each other and a litter box on the opposite side of the room. Remember to provide some form of enrichment with a toy or two. Keep the lights low, and make sure no other animals are in the vicinity. If possible, avoid any low and unexpected noises.
2. Transport and Introduce Your Cat to Their New Home
It is important to make your new kitty feel as safe and secure as possible while transporting them to their new home. First, get a secure plastic kennel with a metal door that will keep the kitty safely inside during transport. Second, outfit the kennel with a soft blanket and other soothing items, like a stuffed animal and a chew toy that will help keep the cat intrigued and stress free while they travel.
Bring the cat into your home while they are still inside their kennel carrier. Place the kennel in the designated prepared room and open the door. Let them hang out in the kennel for as long as they want so they can get used to the smells and sounds of this new place. Make sure any other pets are out of the house or in another room with the door closed. Once the cat seems calm, place some food in the food bowl (water must always be available).
3. Spend the First Couple of Days With Your Cat
It is important to make sure you can be home to spend the first couple of days with your new kitty and ensure that they settle into their new home safely and as stress-free as possible. You should be a quiet and calm presence offering support and company. Bring a book to the room and stay there quietly waiting for the cat to approach you. Try offering them some treats if they do.
At this point, the idea is to start building a relationship. Once the cat learns they can trust you, you can gradually help them navigate the different areas of the house and ensure that they have everything that they need at any given time, whether that’s food, water, a blanket, or cuddles.
Also, ensure that other household members act in a way that keeps the cat calm and feeling safe, and make sure nothing goes on in the house that could endanger the cat in any way.
4. Gradually Introduce Visitors and Other Pets to Your New Cat
Once your new kitty feels comfortable and safe in your home, it should be a good time to introduce them to any other pets that live in the household. Do this by first exchanging blankets or toys with each other’s smells and offering them treats. You can then proceed to introduce them in a neutral area where they can see and smell each other but without having physical contact, perhaps through a gate, for example.
Allow the animals to “introduce themselves” through the separating gate and see how they interact with each other. If the introductions go well, offer them treats to reinforce each other’s presence as a positive experience. Don’t rush things, and do this over a period before opening the door and allowing them to interact under your supervision. If the other pet is a dog, it is wise to have the cat explore that neutral room a few times and have access to a safe area, perhaps higher up where the dog can not reach.
If things don’t go well, separate the animals, and try introductions again in a day or two. As long as none of the animals are aggressive by nature, they should eventually start getting along. If you need it, ask for help from a second person. This also helps to prevent them from feeling they are competing for resources.
5. Keep an Eye on Your New Cat’s Behavior
It’s always important to keep an eye on how your new kitty behaves, but this is critical during the first weeks of being in the home. This will help ensure that you get to know them better and notice any signs of distress and anxiety so you can quickly address the problem before it becomes too serious or develops into a negative habit. It will also help ensure that you can catch behavioral issues early so they can be corrected, and your cat won’t become too challenging to manage. If you see any signs of problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to a veterinarian or a trainer for expert support and guidance.
Conclusion
Introducing a cat to a new home should be done very gradually so we build their trust and avoid it becoming a stressful experience for everyone involved. Hopefully, the steps outlined here will help make the process more enjoyable, especially for your new kitty.
Bringing a stray cat home is different from bringing an adopted cat home, so follow the advice of a veterinarian if you find a cat on the streets that you’d like to give a home to, especially if you already have other pets. Remember that even cute-looking animals in need can carry infectious diseases, so further steps should be taken to quarantine such animals and ensure they are healthy before mixing them with our own pets. It’s always wise to get the vet involved and protect everyone’s health.