Bringing a Cat Home: A Day-by-Day First Week Plan
A practical first-week schedule covering setup, feeding, and health observation so a new cat settles in with minimal stress.
Step-by-step checklist
- 01 Set up a separate quiet room
- 02 Provide hiding spots and secured windows
- 03 Keep old food and litter for 3+ days
- 04 Log eating, drinking, and toileting daily
- 05 Book a vet exam in week one
- 06 Seek care if no food for 24 hours
Overview
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Before arrival, prepare one quiet room with a litter box, water, food, and at least two hiding spots, and secure all windows. Open the carrier and let the cat exit on its own; avoid visitors for the first three days.
Days 1-3: keep the previous food and litter to limit simultaneous changes. Enter quietly at fixed times to feed and scoop, and track food intake, water intake, and elimination. Days 4-7: if eating and toileting are normal, gradually open the rest of the home.
Book a basic vet exam within the first week to check parasites and vaccine status. If the cat refuses food for 24 hours, has persistent diarrhea, or seems markedly lethargic, see a vet rather than waiting it out.
Related products
Orijen's flagship grain-free cat kibble built around chicken, turkey and wild-caught fish, delivering a high-meat, biologically appropriate
pidan Tofu Cat LitterA plant-based tofu litter with fast clumping and low dust, light to carry and suitable for apartments and multi-cat homes.
pidan Open Litter BoxA high-sided open box with good visibility and easy entry for cats that dislike enclosed spaces.
PETKIT Ceramic Double BowlA ceramic double bowl for food and water, easy to clean and resistant to lingering odours.
Owner questions
The cat hides under the bed and won't come out. What now?
This is a normal stress response. Place food, water, and the litter box near the hiding spot, keep things quiet, and feed on schedule. Most cats explore within 3-7 days; not eating at all for 24 hours warrants a vet visit.