Adopting an Adult cat
Getting your adult cat settled into their new home
Set Realistic Expectations!
You can expect that it will take your cat some time to get used to the new routines and environment. The ‘Rule of Three’ means that you can gauge the time it might take for your cat to fully acclimate to their home in threes: three days, three weeks, and three months.
Three Days: Be Patient!
The first 3 days are the initial “detox period” as the cat transitions from our home to your home. Your home is new and exciting, with more stimulating activity, space, and freedom your cat might not have experienced before. It can be overwhelming for many cats, especially those who have been part of our breeding program for years and used to our routines. To help keep from overwhelming your new cat and help make their transition as low-stress as possible, we recommend confining your cat to one room for the first few days to weeks, depending on how quickly your cat acclimates. Having only one room, such as a bathroom or bedroom, to get used to at first minimizes stress for your cat and allows you to monitor how well they are eating, drinking, and using their litter box. It also allows you access to them for important bonding and socializing time. These first few days require an immense amount of patience on your part. Your cat may be very nervous and hide for the first couple of days. Be patient and allow your cat to adjust at their own pace. If your cat is outgoing and seems well settled, remember that keeping them confined for a few days will help them learn their surroundings and get used to their litter box and scratching post, making them more likely to use them!
Three Weeks: Expanding Horizons!
During the first 3 weeks, your cat is probably getting used to your comings and goings, learning the daily routine, and starting to figure out when the next meal is coming. They may have acclimated enough to have full run of the house, or they may just be starting to venture out of their room. Providing them with scratching posts, litter boxes, and blankets/beds in their own room at first allows you to then place these objects in other areas of the home, giving them familiar scents and sights to help them get used to a new place. For Persian cats, keep in mind some eye drainage and associated sneezing is normal. Part of the normal grooming process for Persian cats is to clean around their eyes (every 1-3 days for most) with a warm, moistened washcloth. Since Persian cats have large eyes, they often produce more tears to keep their eyes lubricated and clean. This, in turn, can lead to more sinus drainage and generally clear (or tea colored) drainage.
Three Months: Likely Settled In!
At 3 months, most cats know they are “home.” It’s a process to get there, but with patience and a sense of humor, the two of you can scale the mountain together and enjoy the journey toward a great relationship. Keep in mind that settling into a new environment can be a lengthy endeavor, but well worth the effort for you and your new family member
(This is adapted from documents used by many rescues/shelters)
Set Realistic Expectations!
You can expect that it will take your cat some time to get used to the new routines and environment. The ‘Rule of Three’ means that you can gauge the time it might take for your cat to fully acclimate to their home in threes: three days, three weeks, and three months.
Three Days: Be Patient!
The first 3 days are the initial “detox period” as the cat transitions from our home to your home. Your home is new and exciting, with more stimulating activity, space, and freedom your cat might not have experienced before. It can be overwhelming for many cats, especially those who have been part of our breeding program for years and used to our routines. To help keep from overwhelming your new cat and help make their transition as low-stress as possible, we recommend confining your cat to one room for the first few days to weeks, depending on how quickly your cat acclimates. Having only one room, such as a bathroom or bedroom, to get used to at first minimizes stress for your cat and allows you to monitor how well they are eating, drinking, and using their litter box. It also allows you access to them for important bonding and socializing time. These first few days require an immense amount of patience on your part. Your cat may be very nervous and hide for the first couple of days. Be patient and allow your cat to adjust at their own pace. If your cat is outgoing and seems well settled, remember that keeping them confined for a few days will help them learn their surroundings and get used to their litter box and scratching post, making them more likely to use them!
Three Weeks: Expanding Horizons!
During the first 3 weeks, your cat is probably getting used to your comings and goings, learning the daily routine, and starting to figure out when the next meal is coming. They may have acclimated enough to have full run of the house, or they may just be starting to venture out of their room. Providing them with scratching posts, litter boxes, and blankets/beds in their own room at first allows you to then place these objects in other areas of the home, giving them familiar scents and sights to help them get used to a new place. For Persian cats, keep in mind some eye drainage and associated sneezing is normal. Part of the normal grooming process for Persian cats is to clean around their eyes (every 1-3 days for most) with a warm, moistened washcloth. Since Persian cats have large eyes, they often produce more tears to keep their eyes lubricated and clean. This, in turn, can lead to more sinus drainage and generally clear (or tea colored) drainage.
Three Months: Likely Settled In!
At 3 months, most cats know they are “home.” It’s a process to get there, but with patience and a sense of humor, the two of you can scale the mountain together and enjoy the journey toward a great relationship. Keep in mind that settling into a new environment can be a lengthy endeavor, but well worth the effort for you and your new family member
(This is adapted from documents used by many rescues/shelters)
