Bringing Home a New Cat: First Week Guide & Checklist

🏷️ Guides  ·  📅 Updated November 11, 2026  ·  ✍️ By Riley Fox  ·  ⏱ 10 min read

A new cat doesn't need a big welcome. It needs a small, quiet room and a little patience.

Before your new cat comes home, set up one quiet room with a litter box, food and water, a scratching post, a bed, and a place to hide. Start your cat in that small space for the first few days, let them hide if they want to, and let them come to you at their own pace (Best Friends Animal Society). Book a vet visit as soon as possible, and keep a new cat separated from your other cats until the vet has examined them (Cornell Feline Health Center).

I share my home with three cats, Mindinha, Kuku, and Lelinho, and every one of them took a different amount of time to settle in. This guide covers what to buy, how to set up a safe room, a day-by-day plan for the first week, vet care, litter box rules, introductions to other pets, and, of course, choosing a name. Every health recommendation is linked to its source; always follow your own veterinarian's advice.

🛒 What to buy before your cat comes home

🚪 Set up a safe room

Cats are territorial, and a whole new house can feel overwhelming. Best Friends Animal Society recommends starting your cat in a small, quiet room, like a bedroom or home office, with everything they need, before giving them access to the rest of the home (Best Friends).

• Put the litter box away from food and water. Cats don't like to eat near where they go to the bathroom.
• Add hiding spots. Hiding is normal and healthy. A box on its side or a covered bed helps your cat feel secure.
• Cat-proof the room. Tie up blind cords, close windows, and remove anything breakable or toxic.
• Keep it quiet. Limit visitors and loud noise for the first few days.

📅 Your first-week plan

Every cat is different. A confident kitten may be ready to explore on day two, while a shy adult may need a couple of weeks. Let your cat set the pace.

🩺 Vet visit and vaccines

Cornell Feline Health Center advises having a vet examine a new cat as soon as possible after they come home, and testing cats with an unknown health history for FeLV and FIV (Cornell). For kittens, the American Association of Feline Practitioners lists the core vaccines as panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus, and calicivirus (given as a combination vaccine), plus rabies. The combination vaccine can start as early as 6 weeks and is repeated every 3–4 weeks until 16 weeks of age (AAFP).

Your vet will tailor the plan to your cat's age, history, and lifestyle, including whether they'll go outdoors.

🚽 Litter box rules that actually matter

Litter box problems are one of the most common issues with new cats, and most are easy to prevent. The AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines recommend (AAHA/AAFP):

🐈 Introducing your cat to other pets

Keep your new cat separate from resident cats until the vet has checked them (Cornell). Then introduce them slowly: swap bedding so they get used to each other's scent, feed them on opposite sides of a closed door, and let them see each other through a baby gate before any face-to-face meeting. Cats compete over food, water, resting spots, and litter boxes, so give each cat their own (Cornell).

🏷️ Choosing a name, and teaching it

Cats really can learn their names. In a 2019 study published in Scientific Reports, researchers in Japan found that cats could tell their own names apart from similar-sounding words (National Geographic). To help your new cat learn theirs:

• Choose a short name with one or two syllables.
• Say it in a soft, happy voice right before something good: food, treats, play, or petting.
• Never use the name to scold. You want it to mean "good things are coming."
• Avoid names that sound like your other pets' names.

Need ideas? Read our guide to choosing a cat name, browse orange cat names, black cat names, or Japanese cat names, and see how long it takes a pet to learn its name.

🎲 Still choosing a name?

Our free Pet Name Generator gives you a shortlist in seconds. Choose Cat, pick a gender, and add a trait like Independent, Playful, or Calm. Adopting from a shelter? Our rescue pet naming guide covers whether to keep or change a cat's name. Bringing home a dog instead? See our new puppy checklist.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What do I need before bringing home a new cat?

You need food (ideally the same food the cat already eats), food and water bowls, a litter box for each cat plus one extra, unscented litter, a scratching post, a bed, a hiding spot, a carrier, and a breakaway collar with an ID tag.

How long does it take a new cat to adjust?

It varies. Some cats explore within a day or two, while shy cats can take a couple of weeks. Start in one quiet room and let the cat set the pace.

Is it normal for a new cat to hide?

Yes. Hiding is normal and helps a new cat feel safe. Give them hiding spots and don't pull them out. Contact a vet if your cat also stops eating, seems lethargic, or shows signs of illness.

How many litter boxes does a cat need?

The AAHA/AAFP guidelines recommend one litter box per cat, plus one extra, each at least 1.5 times the cat's length and scooped daily.

When should a new cat see the vet?

As soon as possible after coming home. Cornell Feline Health Center also advises testing cats with an unknown history for FeLV and FIV and keeping them apart from other cats until the exam.