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The First 24 Hours: What to Expect with a New Cat

The First 24 Hours: What to Expect with a New Cat

Updated On October 2nd, 2019

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Reviewed By Petco's Animal Care, Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Every year, approximately 2.1 million[DB1]  cats are adopted in the United States, according to data from the ASPCA. That’s quite a few felines finding their forever homes.

If you’re one of the cat lovers planning to add a feline companion to your family this year, you should know that it’s not all catnip and rainbows. The transition from the shelter to your home could prove challenging—especially during the first day.

“Cats are naturally nervous creatures, and changes in their environment can be very frightening,” says Dr. Joanna Woodnutt, a veterinarian based in the British Channel Islands. “Most cats, on being introduced to a new home, will prefer to hide away for hours or even days.”

To help you navigate the first 24 hours with your new cat, we’ve asked veterinarians to share their tips and advice.

New Cat Behavior: What’s Normal?

An adopted cat or kitten may take some time to adjust to her new environment and may display behaviors that seem strange or antisocial. But these behaviors are instinctual, says Woodnutt, and are a cat’s way of protecting herself in unfamiliar territory.

“As a prey species, instinct tells cats to be frightened of new environments,” she says. “Predators could be anywhere.”

Here are some common behaviors new cats may display in the first 24 hours of being adopted:

Hiding. It’s not uncommon for new cats to dart off to find a hiding spot in your home, especially during your first few days together. “Most cats prefer to retreat to a small, enclosed or high-up space and get used to the sounds and sights before venturing out,” says Woodnutt.

Sleeping. If your new cat seems to be snoozing extra hard during your first day together, don’t stress. Transitioning to a new environment may cause cats to sleep more than normal, says Dr. Sara Ochoa, a veterinarian at Whitehouse Veterinary Hospital in Whitehouse, Texas.

“During the first 24 hours, your cat will be exploring her new environment, and sleeping a lot,” she says. “Most cats will play and explore and eat, then take long naps and start the whole process over again.”

Hissing. If your new cat hisses in the first 24 hours with you, don’t take it personally. The stress of transitioning to a new home may have her on edge. Newly adopted cats experience a lot of changes very quickly. They may be separated from siblings; they are put in a carrier; they endure a car ride; and then they wind up in a strange, new home.

“This can all be very scary at first,” says Ochoa. “Your cat may hiss but give them a few days and they will learn that you are not so bad.”

Not eating. Most cats will eat within the first 24 hours, but if a feline is feeling extra nervous, she may avoid food. “Sometimes the car ride and new adventure will stress cats a little, and they will not eat,” says Woodnutt. “Wet food will help entice them to eat.”

Woodnut advises asking the shelter what food your new cat has been eating, and then sticking with that diet for the first few days to help ease the transition. Even if your new cat turns its nose up at food, it is critically important to make sure that they have access to water and are drinking to help prevent dehydration.

How to Help Your Cat Acclimate

Although general anxiety, shyness, and agitation is normal for cats within the first 24 hours of being brought home, there are some things pet parents can do to help ease the transition.

Consider these tips to help make your cat’s first day as stress-free as possible:

Show her the litter box. If cats have been living in a shelter—even for a short period of time—they should be familiar with using a litter box. But pet parents may have to guide the cat to the litter box location and introduce the space and environment to the cat. “The best thing to do is to take your cat to the litter box a few times after you get home and they will know exactly what to do,” says Ochoa. Remember, as a general rule, you should have one litter box per cat in your home, plus one additional litter box. Be sure to show your cat all litter box locations and take action if your cat seems hesitant to enter the litter box.  Some cats may be afraid to initially go into a litter box with a door, so you may need to remove the door or place the cat in the litter box and allow them to exit at will.

Create safe hiding spots in your home. Since new cats will likely want to hide, you can create safe options within your home. “Providing lots of hiding places so that your new cat can explore without feeling exposed is a great way to help them settle in,” says Woodnutt. “You can drape scarves over chairs to make tunnels and clear space from shelves to allow them to be high up.”

Give your cat space. Don’t force your cat to interact with you and your family or other pets if she’s not ready. Let her explore her new environment and provide a spot in the house where she can retreat and get away as needed. When ready, follow guidelines on introducing your cat to other pets and family members to ensure a safe and positive first interaction. [DB2]

“When you first bring your cat home, make sure that the place they are going to be staying in is set up for them,” says Ochoa. “Make sure that their bed, water, food bowl and litter box are all ready. This helps them transition into their new life easier.”

Create familiarity. When adopting a cat, ask if you can bring home a blanket or toy that your cat used in the shelter to create a sense of familiarity. “If you can bring a piece of fabric or a towel from the cat’s old home to yours, the familiarity may make them feel more secure,” says Woodnut.

Need to update this information.  A number of sources say 2.6M, but ASPCA says 2.1- if that is who we still want to quote. [DB1]

We have articles on introducing cats to other cats, dogs, etc.  Not sure if you want to link those here. [DB2]

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