Bringing home a new cat? Start calm.
The short versionNew cats settle fastest with a small start: one quiet room, a predictable routine, gradual introductions, and patience with the timeline. These guides walk you through the first month, step by step - from pickup day to a cat who owns the sofa.
First-week setupThe safe room, the first day, and the first night - set up before pickup.
Litter and foodBox placement, the one-plus-one rule of thumb, and a feeding routine that settles nerves.
Introducing resident petsScent-first, gradual introductions to the cat or dog already at home.
Bonding timelineWhat trust looks like week by week, and how to help without forcing it.
Vet and microchipThe first checkup, the records to bring, and getting the chip registered to you.
First-month issuesHiding, skipped meals, litter misses, night energy - normal vs. call-the-vet.
The checklistInteractive and printable: everything for week one, in order, saved on your device.
New here? Read these first
If pickup day is close, start with first-week setup and print the checklist. If the cat is already home and hiding under the bed, common first-month issues is the page you want.
Questions about your new cat?PawLine gives research-based answers tailored to your cat's breed, age, history and the situation you're seeing at home.Ask PawLine