Bringing a new cat home goes best when the cat starts in one quiet room of its own, with food, water, a litter tray, a bed and somewhere to hide, and decides for itself when to come out. International Cat Care, Cats Protection and the RSPCA all advise this. From that base, the house opens up a room or two at a time.
Most of the first two weeks is spent waiting. Some cats are exploring within hours, while a shy cat can hide for days and take several weeks to feel safe, according to International Cat Care. Treat the timeline below as a rough guide, since the cat sets the pace. In the early days, eating and using the litter tray are the signs that matter most.
What should a new cat's safe room have?
A new cat's safe room needs a door that closes, food and water bowls set apart from the litter tray, a tray with the litter the cat used before, a bed, a hiding place and somewhere high to perch. Hazards such as cords, lilies and medicines are put away. The checklist below lists each item.
Safe room checklist
- A quiet room with a door that closes and windows kept shut, so the cat cannot slip out (RSPCA, International Cat Care)
- A litter tray in a quiet, discreet corner, filled with the same litter the cat used before (International Cat Care, RSPCA, ASPCA)
- Separate food and water bowls, set apart from the tray and the bed (RSPCA)
- The same food the cat has been eating, for the first week or two (International Cat Care, RSPCA)
- A hiding place, such as a cardboard box on its side with a blanket inside, away from the door (International Cat Care, RSPCA)
- Somewhere to get up high, like a sturdy chair or cat tree by the window (RSPCA)
- A comfortable bed in a quiet spot, plus a scratching post tall and sturdy enough for the cat to stretch up fully (RSPCA)
- Something that smells familiar, such as bedding from the shelter or previous home (RSPCA, International Cat Care)
- No hazards: electrical cords, toxic plants such as lilies, medicines, cleaning products and breakable things put away (AAFP, RSPCA)
- A few toys, with no dangling strings left out (AAFP)
What happens day by day in a new cat's first two weeks?
A new cat's first two weeks run from a quiet first day in one room, through short calm visits and close watching of eating and litter tray use, to opening up a couple of rooms in week two. The cat sets the pace, so treat the timeline below as a rough guide.
New cat timeline: day 1 to week 2
Before arrival: get the room and the vet ready
Set the room up a day or two ahead, using the checklist above. The RSPCA suggests plugging in a pheromone diffuser in the room at least 24 hours before the cat comes home, and Cats Protection suggests spraying the carrier at least 15 minutes before use. Put a familiar-smelling blanket in the carrier and cover it lightly for the journey.
Find a vet now rather than later. The AAFP's Cat Friendly Homes advice is to have a new cat seen by a vet before it comes into a home that already has cats, and to take a new kitten for its first check, ideally within the first week.
Day 1: open the carrier and step back
Carry the cat straight to its room and close the door behind you. Set the carrier down next to the hiding place, open it and let the cat come out in its own time; never tip or pull it out (RSPCA, International Cat Care). If nothing happens, Cats Protection suggests leaving the room for an hour or two. Keep the first day quiet: hold off on visitors, and don't bring the whole household in to look.
Days 2 to 3: short, calm visits
Visit often but briefly. Sit on the floor, read or talk softly so the cat gets used to your voice, and let it come to you (RSPCA, International Cat Care). Offer a hand to sniff, or put a treat on the floor and move away. If the cat backs off or hides, keep the visit short and try again later.
Start a routine now. The RSPCA advises feeding and playing at roughly the same times each day. Cats Protection says play helps build a bond and suggests dawn and dusk, when cats are naturally more active.
Days 3 to 7: watch eating and the litter tray
Eating and using the litter tray are the signs Cats Protection says to look for. A nervous cat may eat and use its tray only overnight at first, which Cats Protection lists as a sign it is still settling, and a very anxious cat may do neither for the first 24 hours, according to International Cat Care. Keep putting down fresh food and checking the tray; if that carries on beyond a day, speak to your vet.
Week 2: open up the house, a few rooms at a time
When the cat greets you, seems relaxed and is reliably eating and using its tray, it is ready to see more of the house. The RSPCA says to expect this to take a few days. Prop the door open, let the cat wander out on its own, and open a couple of rooms at a time, keeping outside doors and windows shut (RSPCA, Cats Protection).
Leave the safe room set up so the cat can always go back. Introduce family members one at a time, and let children meet the cat calmly and under supervision, letting the cat approach them (Cats Protection, RSPCA). Keep a new cat apart from other pets for now, since those introductions need their own slow process.
After two weeks: more freedom, still no rush
Some cats are confident in the whole house by the end of the second week, and others need longer. International Cat Care says some cats take several weeks to feel safe. If your cat will go outdoors, keep it inside for at least two to three weeks first (International Cat Care, RSPCA); Cats Protection usually advises three to four weeks, until the cat has settled.
How long does it take a new cat to settle in?
A new cat can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks to settle in, and there is no fixed timetable. Cats Protection says some cats settle almost at once, while International Cat Care says some take several weeks to feel safe. Judge progress by how the cat behaves rather than by how many days have passed.
The signs of a settling cat, as Cats Protection lists them, are exploring and hiding less, seeking you out, eating well and playing, rubbing against you and the furniture, and grooming normally. Signs a cat is struggling include hiding or avoiding you, eating or toileting only overnight, over- or under-grooming, and spraying. Cats Protection advises calling your vet if stress goes on for a long time without improving.
What each source recommends
| Source | Starting room | When to open up the house | First vet visit | Before going outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Cat Care | Kittens in one quiet room for the first few weeks; adults may prefer one room, and need one if there is a resident cat | When the cat decides it is safe to explore | Not covered on this page | Adults indoors for at least two to three weeks |
| Cats Protection | A safe space set up before the cat arrives | Gradually, once the cat is comfortable in its space and if there are no other pets | Not covered on this page; call your vet if stress goes on without improving | Usually three to four weeks, until settled; neutered, vaccinated and microchipped first |
| RSPCA | A cat-friendly room of its own with tray, food, water, hiding place, high spot, bed, scratching post and a familiar item | Expect a few days; once relaxed with you and consistently using its tray and food, a couple of rooms at a time | Register with a local vet before the cat arrives; at least once a year for vaccination and a health check | Around two to three weeks indoors |
| AAFP (Cat Friendly Homes) | A quiet transition room that can be closed off, away from busy areas | Meeting resident cats goes step by step and can take a few days to a few months | Before the new cat enters a home with other cats; a kitten ideally within the first week | Not covered on these pages |
Should you change a new cat's food or litter straight away?
A new cat should keep the food and litter it already knows for its first week or two at home. International Cat Care advises feeding the same diet for the first one to two weeks, and the RSPCA warns that a sudden change in diet can cause a stomach upset. Ask the shelter or previous owner exactly what they used.
If you do want to switch, do it slowly by mixing the new food into the old. The RSPCA suggests five to seven days for a newly adopted cat, and International Cat Care suggests seven to 14 days for a kitten. The same goes for litter: offer the new kind in a second tray rather than swapping overnight, as the RSPCA suggests.
Gear for the safe room
Questions about bringing a new cat home
Should a new cat be kept in one room?
A new cat usually does best kept in one room at first, so it can learn a small space before facing the whole house. International Cat Care says kittens should start in one room and that it is necessary when a resident cat lives there. A confident adult with no other cats may cope with more space sooner.
Is it normal for a new cat to hide?
Hiding is normal for a new cat and is how cats cope with stress, according to the RSPCA. Do not pull the cat out. Sit quietly in the room, talk softly and let it come to you. Keep checking that it eats and uses its tray, and call your vet if it does neither for more than about a day.
Should a new cat sleep in my bedroom on the first night?
A new cat is better off spending its first nights in its own safe room, with its bed, food, water and tray nearby. The room is quieter, it smells familiar sooner, and the cat cannot slip out through an open door. Once the cat has settled and has the run of the house, it can choose where to sleep.
When can I let my new cat outside?
A new cat should stay indoors for at least two to three weeks before going outside, say International Cat Care and the RSPCA, and Cats Protection usually advises three to four weeks, until the cat has settled. Cats Protection adds that it should be neutered, vaccinated and microchipped first. Kittens need their first vaccinations and supervision outside.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for a new cat?
The 3-3-3 rule says a new pet needs three days to decompress, three weeks to learn the routine and three months to feel at home. It comes from shelter adoption advice, where it is mostly recommended for dogs, and shelters that use it call it a general rule of thumb rather than a schedule. The International Cat Care, Cats Protection and RSPCA guides used here do not mention it, so treat it as a reminder to be patient.
When should I introduce my new cat to my other cat?
A new cat should meet a resident cat only after both are calm and the newcomer has settled in its own room. The AAFP says it is vital not to rush the introductions, and advises a vet check for the new cat first and a litter box, food and water bowls, bed and scratching post for each cat, plus one extra.