Mary Allen
In order for your new cat to settle in quickly, the arrival should be calm and planned. Read here what you need to watch out for.
Before a cat moves in with you, you should already have bought and set up all the necessary cat accessories as well as food and litter for the first few days. Prepare a cozy space without too many places to hide. Everything the cat needs is accommodated in this room:
- scratch tree
- feeding place
- water bowl
- toy
- litter boxes
At first, please only use the usual food and bedding as well as the type of toilet that the cat is already familiar with. Moving is already stressful enough, you postpone any changes you would like to make until after you have settled in. When you arrive home with your new cat, bring the transport box into the prepared room and close the door.
Let the Cat Out of the Carrier
Now open the door of the transport container and wait. Depending on the individual personality, the cat will either want to come out of the transport box immediately or remain in a protected hiding place for the time being. Important: Resist the temptation to pull the cat out of its box. Instead, do the following:
- Talk to the cat in a calming voice. Keep your distance and wait for the cat to leave the container on its own.
- If the animal still doesn’t want to come out after an hour, you can try to lure it out with a toy, such as a cat rod. A particularly tasty, fragrant piece of food can also help.
- If the cat still prefers to stay hidden, it is probably very frightening. In this case, leave the room and wait a few hours before going back inside.
How Long Does it Take for Cats to Get Used to it?
It usually takes cats two to four weeks to settle into their new home. It can sometimes take months for difficult adult cats to break the ice before they let themselves be handled. Even young cats, which grew up as “wildlings” without human contact, often need longer until they become trusting. Be patient and give your cat time, it will definitely pay off.
The First Meal in the New Home
Once the cat has finally left the transport container on its own, it will begin to carefully explore the room. Perhaps she is already doing urgent business or has discovered the feeding bowl. Many cats are so excited after the move that they initially refuse to eat. This is perfectly fine as long as the cat is drinking.
With a young animal, you can definitely wait 24 hours before going to the vet. Also, two days in a well-fed adult cat if she appears alert, drinks, visits the toilet and has normal bowel movements. After this period of time at the latest, however, a veterinarian should be consulted if the cat is still not eating.
Acclimatization of Brave and Trusting Cats
If your new cat is the bold type that immediately marches out of the transport box and takes possession of its new domain, you can start showing the cat other rooms of the house early on.
If you already have cats at home, however, to be on the safe side, you should leave every new addition in the quarantine room until it has been clarified whether the cat is really healthy. A visit to the veterinarian, who will thoroughly examine the new cat again, is always a good idea. The time in quarantine also has the advantage that the new cat has already taken on the “house smell” when it meets the other cats. It no longer smells foreign and is more likely to be accepted.
When the cat is so far that it eats without any problems, visits the toilet, and trusts the human a little, the remaining rooms of the house or apartment are gradually explored.
Anxious Cats Need More Time to Adjust
The shy, anxious, or even anxious aggressive cat has significantly more difficulties in getting used to it than the brash, curious type. Here are some rules to keep in mind if your new cat is shy:
- If the cat keeps its distance from humans, you should lure it with games, but not pressure it.
- New people are only allowed into the room if the cat trusts at least one person.
- Children, in particular, are very happy about the new addition and will certainly be whining. But don’t let her go to the new cat just yet. Finally, when you introduce the cat to the children, ask it to be quiet and quiet. Playing with the feather or the cat rod is fun for both children and cats.
It makes it easier to get used to it if you first give the animal the rest it needs to find its way around in the new environment.
This Way the Cat Will Get Used to it Even Faster
Especially with the difficult cat types, it has proven to be beneficial to simply spend time with the animal without paying too much attention to the cat. Sit in an armchair and comfortably read a book. Since the cat is naturally curious, it will surely want to sniff out the new human at some point. One behaves completely passively but speaks enticingly and softly with the animal when it seeks contact. If it rubs its head against a person’s leg or hand, a great battle has already been fought.
In very problematic cases, it can also be an advantage to simply spend the night with the cat. Sleeping people seem much less dangerous, and many anxious cats finally dare to jump onto the warm blanket and curl up comfortably with the person they were afraid of during the day.
Pick Up the Cat for the First Time
The cat is picked up at the earliest when it can already be stroked without any problems. If she doesn’t tolerate being picked up, she’ll be let down again if she’s quiet for a moment. There are cats that don’t like being picked up at all and don’t want to be carried. But they like to come onto the sofa and either lie on their laps or next to people. One should be able to accept that.
How Long Does a New Cat Have to Stay Indoors?
If your new cat is going to be an outdoor cat, don’t let her out of the house until she feels completely at home and trusts you. Even if the cat quickly becomes trusting, you should wait at least three to four weeks. Before the first release, it must also be ensured that:
- the cat is adequately vaccinated
- the cat is neutered
- the cat is chipped