You’ve brought your cat home at last, and you’re ready for all that cozy lap time and purring to begin! But your new feline friend seems more inclined hide under the sofa, rather than relax on it with you. You knew it would take time for them to settle in, but days are turning into weeks, and your new kitty is still a ball of anxiety. What is going on?
Moving house is hard for cats, whether they are a senior or a kitten. Cats don’t like change, and going to a new home usually feels very stressful for them. But there are steps you can take to give them a smoother, more peaceful introduction to their new surroundings. We’ve got some ‘settling in’ tips for you and your cat, to help start your relationship off on the right paw.
Tip 1: Set up a sanctuary room
Humans and dogs both evolved to live in social groups for survival. Being with friends and getting reassurance from those around us makes us feel secure. Cats on the other hand, are solitary creatures. Their sense of safety comes from knowing their territory inside out. They feel comfortable when they know exactly where they are, with their own familiar smells and objects around them. They thrive on routine and familiarity.
It makes sense then, to start them off with a small space to ease them into their new home
Ideally, this will be a small quiet room that you can easily close off from the rest of the house. The way you set up the sanctuary room can also make a big difference in reducing the time it takes for your cat to settle in.
First, you’ll need to remove any hazardous items. Tidy away any wires or cables and make sure windows are kept tightly shut. Items such as plant pots and expensive ornaments may be best put elsewhere. There may be other hazards to consider, and you can read more about household dangers for cats here.
The room should include an area for food and a separate one for water. They will need at least one litter tray tucked away in a private area of the room. Be sure to place the tray as far away as possible from their food and water. They will also need a scratching post, and a few cat toys to allow them to play.
They will need a suitable place to hide, and to sleep. A cardboard box can do this job wonderfully.
When cats are frightened or stressed, they will often choose to climb to a high spot. If you can, give them the opportunity to access a cat perch or a sturdy shelf within their sanctuary room. Adding something to hide in while they are up there (another cardboard box perhaps) will make them feel all the more reassured.
Tip 2: Pay attention to smell
Cats live in a very different sensory world to humans. Smell plays a big role in their day-to-day life. The sooner your house starts to smell familiar to them, the sooner they will start to relax.
Whether you are bringing home a brand-new kitten or adult cat, they’ll appreciate you taking some of their old bedding home with them. A familiar blanket that still holds their scent will help them feel more comfortable and secure.
They might also benefit from a calming feline pheromone diffuser. These plug in to an electrical socket and emit a synthetic version of a pheromone that cats produce naturally from scent glands in their cheeks. Installing one of these in your cat’s sanctuary room will help reduce their stress and help them to relax. If you can, plug this in the day before they arrive, or as soon as you are able.
It’s a good idea to give the sanctuary room a quick clean before your new cat moves in but remember to use unscented cleaning products and to avoid perfumes and air fresheners. These chemical scents can often create an unpleasant experience for your cat and may mask the smell of their own familiar pheromones.
Tip 3: Stay patient
It’s worth remembering the rule of three when you bring your new cat or kitten home. It can take three days for their stress levels to begin to fall, three weeks for them to start exploring, and three months for them to feel like they are at home. That’s quite some time when you think about it, so it’s important to manage your expectations accordingly and not to rush them.
When you first bring your cat home, place their cat carrier in their sanctuary room and let them come out of the carrier in their own time. Don’t take them out yourself. They may come out right away, or they may need a bit of time to pluck up the courage. Leave them alone in the room and close the door, so they can explore by themselves. It can be tempting to want to stay with them and reassure them. Your presence can be another thing they need to get used to however, and it’s best to give them space. Try to keep quiet around the house while you get on with your day, and avoid having visitors over to meet them until they’ve settled in.
After they’ve been alone for an hour or so, you can then pop into the room to check on them. Enter quietly and calmy. Try to get down on their level so you are not towering over them. Don’t approach them yet. Instead, wait until they approach you. Hold out your hand so they can have a sniff and get used to your smell!
What if…
If you can hear your cat meowing or being vocal, double check that they have access to everything they need. Are they able to find their litter tray for example? For older cats, it can be worth checking what sort of food and cat litter they preferred in their previous home and making sure you’re offering them the things they are familiar with.
If your cat still seems upset when they are alone, see if they approach you for a fuss. Some cats prefer company and will want to be where you are. There is no problem in allowing them to spend the night with you in your room – but be warned that this might become a habit!
Some cats will meow because they feel unsettled, and this is totally normal when they are in unfamiliar surroundings. Keep to a calm, quiet routine and ensure they have everything that they need, and they’ll soon start to feel happier.
Tip 4: Stick to the routine
Don’t be tempted to let your new cat or kitten leave the sanctuary room before they are ready. While each will settle at their own pace, it’s a good idea to wait until you are certain your cat is comfortable before you allow them to explore the rest of the house. For particularly shy cats, it could take several days or even weeks for them to feel ready to leave the sanctuary room.
Giving them a predictable, reliable routine will help them settle in faster. Try to stick to set mealtimes, and times when you will clean up their litter tray and sit with them in their room for a while. Don’t introduce them to any visitors just yet.
When you feel your cat is ready, you can let them venture out of the sanctuary room in their own time. Introducing them to one room at a time may help avoid them feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Keep the next room closed off until they’ve got used to the previous one. Don’t move things around in their sanctuary room just yet – keep it set up with everything they need and allow them to go back when they want to. Once they are comfortable exploring the whole house, you can then start moving their essential items to more convenient locations if you want to. So that your cat doesn’t feel stressed about it, make sure you move each item one at a time and not all at once.
Each cat and kitten will adapt to their new home in their own time and in their own way
Some cats will feel comfortable within hours. For others, settling in can take weeks. Allow them to go at their own pace, and don’t rush them into exploring the whole house or meeting lots of new people until they are ready. Taking things slowly will help them feel that they can depend on you not to frighten them. In the end, your patience should be rewarded by a happy cat and with luck, a cat who loves those purring sofa cuddles we all enjoy so much!
Further reading:
Rescue cats: settling them into their forever home – Vet Help Direct
Bringing home baby: How to help your cat cope with the new arrival – Vet Help Direct
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