Settling a new cat

[Deadringer]

Hi all. I am hoping to get a cat in the next couple of days, the owner is re-homing it due to allergies, and i was hoping for some advice. I have had cats before, not for many years, and they were kittens when i got them. It is a mostly indoor cat, 15 months old, a spayed female, and very laid back according to the owner. I have read online that a new cat should be put in a quiet room of its own in the beginning, but we don't have a room that we don't use, we could stay out of the sitting room for a day or two, but any longer would be impractical. Any advice?

I'm sure the cat will find its own nook to hide in until she feels confident, put the litter tray in easy reach, hopefully she will be used to trays/people if previously owned. I think you will have to keep her in for 4-6 weeks.

I used to volunteer for a cat charity and the recommendation of starting off in one room is a very good one - it doesn't necessarily have to be a room you don't use. The sitting room is fine and you can spend time there too, just don't invite lots of guests. It is done so that you can see how the cat is settling - even the most confident cats can be initially very nervous and you don't really want them to go and hide behind the washing machine or something. It's also very, very helpful in preventing escapes in the early days as one of the biggest risks is having a cat go missing from a new home. Either way you need to keep windows closed for the first couple of weeks and ensure you're careful about going in and out of doors.

It's usually best to start off with the same food and litter the cat is used to having, and have some of their familiar things like bedding and toys around. Having them in one room helps with the litter tray as well - although don't panic if they don't eat or use the litter for the first 24-48 hours, this is totally normal! Some cats settle in right away and others take a few weeks.

If the cat seems confident and happy, you can then let them explore the rest of the house quite quickly but again, it really is worth being super careful to prevent escapes. (I've known about too many cats who got out in the first days and it's very hard to find them!)

Thanks so much for replies they are very helpful. I was talking to a lady from a rescue and she recommended using a crate for the first couple of weeks, with a bed and a litter in in, it seems cruel to me to keep a cat locked up for that long though. I have a porch that separates my kitchen and my bathroom, i thought if i put the crate there with the bed in it and left it open, so the cat can venture into the kitchen if it wants to, would that work? Or i can put it in my sitting room if thats better. She suggested covering the crate partially so the cat can hide which seems like a good idea. At this time of the year we are not going in and out of the garden much, and the downstairs windows can be kept closed. I am hoping she will come with some bedding, and i will ask for about the brand of litter and food.

That sounds wrong to me, 2 weeks in a crate for a cat? I imagine they would hate that.

I think your idea of putting her in the porch with the bed in it left open, maybe with a towel over the top for darkness sounds like a good idea, then after a couple of weeks maybe leave a door open and she can explore a room at a time.
I was also advised on letting a rescue out for the first time (after 4-6 weeks of keeping in the house), send them out first thing hungry so they have an incentive to return. They also told me to keep them in overnight but might not always be possible if they like to roam.

Thanks for the advice, very helpful. We are getting her this evening, fingers crossed she settles in well.

Now. You know the rules.

Pictures are obligatory.

I think the best thing is to let her be, let her find her safe space in your house and let her take her own time about venturing out and engaging with you.

Make sure that a litter tray, food and water are easy for her to find and don't require her to cross into a busy family area when she is still wary of you.

Definitely keep her in for a few weeks at least and don't have high expectations of cuddles initially. She needs to feels safe and learn to trust you first.

Hope it all goes well, I'm sure she will come to be a lap cat in no time as long as it's on her terms.

Meet Belle. She is remarkably chilled considering we just picked her up an hour ago.

Ahh! She is beautiful! Those lovely eyes! 💖

She’s gorgeous.

I’m sure the crate would be fine as a den, throw a blanket over the top and tie the door permanently open. You can close her in it if you need to but not for any length of time. I’d leave mine with the run if the kitchen over night. No poisonous plants in there, all cupboards shut, easy clean floors. Perfect. Then I’d let her have the run of the kitchen and whatever room I was in during the day ie living room or sitting room. Not any further though and not the bedroom til I knew she knew where the litter tray was located!

Cats like hidey holes. An old cardboard box in the sitting room or whatever would be a great den. They like to hide and watch stuff/snooze.

Ahhh she's very cute! Good luck with her 🙁

Another pic

She’s beautiful! My experience with cats is that they settle themselves. Some are very chilled, like your girl. Definitely get her a cat nip toy!

She is adorable. I love the white socks.

She's gorgeous and she looks like she's settled in very nicely

What a pretty, relaxed kitty.
I hope you have many years of mutual companionship together.

Thanks all, she is lovely, just discovered she is full of fleas though unfortunately. 🤮