Getting a cat

Before bringing a new cat or kitten into your home, there are many things you can do to help them settle in, including a list of items you will definitely need:

• Cat carrier
• Litter tray and litter
• Food and water bowls
• Food (including treats)
• Bedding
• Toys and scratching posts
• Grooming tools

Create a welcoming environment

• Cats and kittens usually settle in better when they are confined to one room at first.
• Choose a quiet room where they will be disturbed as little as possible. This can be any room in your house including the kitchen.
• Make sure windows and outside doors are closed so they can’t escape.
• Set up separate areas of the room for eating, drinking, resting and using the litter tray.
• Make sure food and water are readily available.
• Cats often need a safe hiding place they can retreat to if they feel overwhelmed. This could be an enclosed bed, a high shelf or their cat carrier.
• Make sure there are no nooks and crannies your cat could get stuck in such as open vents, chimneys or gaps in flooring.
• Remove anything that could cause injury and any items that could be damaged such as ornaments.
• You may also wish to cover furniture or move it to another room to prevent any damage from scratching.
• Make sure you have no work planned on your house and limit the number of visitors until your cat is settled.

Travelling home

• Make sure that your cat is in a safe and secure carrier with a soft lining inside. Ideally, line the carrier with a blanket the cat has been using. This can be secured in your car using a seat belt. Some cats become stressed when travelling and can be very vocal or agitated. To help keep your cat calm, stay calm yourself and avoid talking to them. We’d also recommend covering the carrier with a blanket or towel so that they’re in darkness.
• Never attempt to open the carrier to stroke or calm your new pet as they could escape and this would be distracting and unsafe.
• You may find it effective to spray the carrier or blanket with a calming pheromone spray. Our Centres often give nervous cats a blanket they’ve been using as a comfort.
• Take your cat straight home with no unnecessary stops.

Settling your cat into their new home

Bringing a cat into a new home can be very unsettling for them, especially if they have been used to the cattery environment. Many of the animals we rehome have also been removed from distressing situations so may need some extra support to make them feel even safer. It’s important to know what to expect when settling your cat into it’s new home so that you can make them feel at ease. Trigger stacking is where a cat is exposed to multiple experiences, positive or negative, without time to relax in between. These build up and contribute to a more significant and obvious stress reaction and knowing what to do makes it all the more important.

Feeling Secure

When you first arrive home, there will be lots of unusual sights, smells and noises for your cat to get used to. This can be overwhelming for them so it’s best to open the carrier in the room you have selected and set up for them. Allow your cat to come out in their own time.

If you already have a cat flap, make sure it is locked shut. Some cats will want to explore right away but others may stay in their carrier or cower in a corner. Give your cat plenty of space and make sure they have somewhere they can hide if they want to. After a while, sit in the room quietly to see if your cat feels comfortable moving around the room. Never force interaction as this will increase stress levels.

If your cat seems uneasy, avoid talking to them, petting them or trying to get them to play until they are more relaxed. Familiar items like a blanket from their previous home or the same brand of food and litter can provide a sense of comfort.

Signs that your cat is stressed or scared

• Here is a list of signs that your cat is stressed or scared so you know when you need to give them extra attention to make them feel safe.
• Hiding
• Tail tense or swishing from side to side
• Tense, hunched posture – hiding, cowering or crouched low to the ground
• Ears back or pressed flat against their head
• Wide eyes with large, dilated pupils
• Excessive grooming
• Hissing, growling or swiping
• Increased swallowing and licking their lips
• Toileting around the house and not in the litter tray, spraying indoors, or other changes to their toileting habits

Signs that your cat is happy and relaxed

• Slow blinking at you, or at another cat
• Tail is upright with a curved ‘hook’ at the end, or in a neutral position
• Resting on their side with their tummy exposed (although this doesn’t mean they want you to touch it!)
• Ears up, forwards and relaxed
• Relaxed or half closed eyes, small pupils
• Relaxed whiskers
• Purring, rubbing against you or ‘kneading’ with their paws
• No obvious tension in their body

Litter training

Even cats or kittens who are fully litter trained may not use their litter tray to begin with. We advise using the same type of litter they’ve already been using as the familiarity will make them feel more comfortable.

Small kittens should not be given clumping litter. Kittens learn by chewing and may ingest some of their litter. Clumping litter could clump in their stomach, causing them to become ill. 

Allow your cat to scratch around in their clean litter tray to get used to the scent and feeling on their paws. Mixing a small amount of used litter from their previous home may encourage them to use their new litter tray.

Find out more.

Litter Training

Introducing a cat to existing pets

Introducing a new pet to your home can be stressful for all animals involved. Therefore, it’s vital that introductions are done gradually. Cats are very territorial so an unfamiliar animal coming into their space can be stressful and cause them to scratch, bite or hiss.

Set aside one room for your new cat where they can remain separate from other pets until they are both comfortable. Ensure this is not a room your existing pet spends a lot of time in. Pheromone diffusers may help to reduce stress.

Don’t force your pets to be close to each other. Give them plenty of space, and in time, they should come around to the idea of sharing their home. Also, make sure each cat has their own resources, for example, provide one litter tray per cat plus an extra one and make sure they each have their own bed and bowls. Be mindful of differing dietary requirements. If one pet is on a special diet, or gets medicine administered in their food, feed them in separate rooms and don’t leave any leftovers out.

Registering with a vet

We recommend registering your cat or kitten with a vet as soon as possible after collecting them.

When choosing a vet, do your homework into local practices. There are many different services and plans on offer so it’s important to ensure they can meet the needs of you and your pet.

When adopting a cat from one of our centres, you will be provided with a record of your pet’s full veterinary history to take to your vet. If the animal has a pre-existing condition, our team will send the vet paperwork prior to visiting so you can discuss it with your own vet. Breeders should be able to provide you with proof of any treatment your cat or kitten has had to date.

Your vet will be able to discuss any remaining vaccinations and regular treatments for fleas, ticks and worms. They will also be able to advise when to neuter your cat.

Arranging insurance cover

We would highly recommend insuring your cat to avoid unexpected costly vet bills. It can be more expensive or harder to find policies which will cover older cats or cats with pre-existing conditions, therefore it’s important to make sure your policy offers the right level of cover for you. Your insurer is likely to ask for vet details so you must register with a vet first.

When rehoming from us, you will receive four weeks of free insurance cover from PetPlan which can be extended into lifetime cover.

Many pet insurers also cover the cost of an accredited animal behaviourist should you ever need support with your pet’s behaviour.