Amanda Campion / Cats.com
Bringing a new cat into your home can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be a challenging period of adjustment for your feline companion.
Cats are creatures of habit and take great comfort in routine and predictability of their environment, this gives them security and a regular status quo. Consequently for a cat to adapt to a new environment takes time. On average, cats can take anything from a few weeks to six months to fully adjust to a new home depending on how confident the cat is. Kittens are much quicker at adapting to a new home as they have had less time to become habituated in their previous home.
During this period, it’s normal for cats to exhibit anxiety-triggered behaviors such as hiding, inappetence, vocalizing, along with being hesitant to explore. Understanding this adjustment period can take time and recognizing the signs of progress can help you support your new cat or kitten through this transition.
Signs Your Cat Is Adjusting to Their Environment
Amanda Campion / Cats.com
As a clinical cat behaviorist, I have helped many cat parents settle their cats into their new home as well as being able to observe the micro feline transitions and behavioral changes that take place. Consistently certain signs indicate that a cat is becoming more comfortable in their new surroundings. Here are some of those signals that I have observed that indicate your cat is adjusting to their environment:
1. Increased Exploration
One of the first signs that your cat is settling in is their willingness and curiosity to explore their new home. Initially, your cat may hide in one spot, and not venturing out even for food in extreme cases but as they become more comfortable, they will start to decompress and cautiously venture out.
You will notice them slinking around with a low belly to the ground investigating different rooms, sniffing around furniture, and generally showing curiosity about their new surroundings. This exploration is crucial for them to feel secure in their new territory and leave their pheromone deposits around the home, which add to their security and habituation to any new environment.
2. Regular Eating and Drinking
A cat’s eating and drinking habits can be a clear indicator of their comfort level. In the initial few days, a new cat might eat less or even skip meals due to stress. However, as they adjust, their appetite will normalize. Regular eating and drinking patterns suggest that your cat feels safe and less anxious.
Whilst they concentrate on eating and drinking, they are vulnerable to predators so until they understand your new home is safe don’t be too alarmed if this happens. However if this continues for more than a few days, seek veterinary advice.
Ensure that their food and water bowls are placed away from each other in a quiet, accessible location to encourage hydration and eating.
3. Normal Grooming Behavior
Cats are fastidious groomers, and their grooming habits are a good barometer of your cat’s stress levels. A new cat might groom excessively or, conversely, neglect grooming due to it’s anxiety. As your cat becomes more settled and confident, you will see a return to normal meticulous grooming behavior. Regular grooming indicates that your cat is feeling more at ease and in control of their environment.
4. Social Interaction
When a cat starts to seek out social interaction, it is a positive sign of adjustment. This can include approaching you for petting, rubbing against your legs, or even playing with you. Some cats may be more reserved, but any increase in social behavior indicates they are starting to trust you and feel secure in their new home. Always be cat-led in any interaction as approaching them in the early days may make them feel threatened.
5. Use of the Litter Box
Consistent use of the litter box is another critical sign that your cat is adjusting well. Stress can cause a cat to defecate or urinate outside of the litter box. And the more this happens, the more likely your cat is to believe this is perfectly acceptable and continue doing it. If your cat is using their litter box regularly, it means they are beginning to feel more comfortable and are establishing their routines and adapting to a new status quo.
6. Relaxed Body Language
Feline body language is a key indicator of their emotional state. Look for signs such as an upright stance, quizzical rhythmic tail swish (not tucked in between their back legs) relaxed ears, no muzzle tension and relaxed whiskers and eyes appearing alert and interested. Overall you will witness a general lack of tension in their body.
When a cat stretches out or lies on their back, exposing their belly, you know they feel comfortable in their surroundings. But do not take this as an invitation to rub their belly, this is known as the tummy-trap and you should only engage with your cat in this if you are sure this is the signal to do this.
How To Help Your New Cat Settle In
Amanda Campion / Cats.com
Helping your new cat settle into their new home requires patience, understanding, and a few practical steps. Here are some tips to make the transition smoother:
Create a safe space: Set up a decompression zone. A comfortable area where your cat can retreat and feel secure. This could be a small room or a corner with a bed, litter box, food, and water. Allow your cat to explore this space at their own pace. You may want to play soporific calming music for your cat and place synthetic pheromone plug-in devices in the room to assist this process. Placing the humble cardboard box in the room can reduce cat anxiety and stress dramatically, as studies have revealed
Gradual introduction: Introduce your cat to new areas of your home gradually. Starting with a single room and slowly allowing access to more spaces as they become more comfortable and confident. This helps prevent overwhelming them with too much new territory at once and prevents any litter tray mishaps as they may become disorientated and not know where to find their tray. Each cat is individual, this stage may take hours for one cat and months for another to start exploring.
Consistent routine: Cats thrive on predictability and routine. Keep feeding times, play sessions, and other daily activities consistent. This predictability helps your cat feel more secure and aids in their adjustment. Consistency is key to your cat’s happiness and adaptation.
The power of play: Engaging your cat in interactive play will help them release tension, expand energy and engage in their innate predatory behavior. The power of play helps build positive associations with their new environment. Use toys, such as feather wands to stimulate their natural hunting instincts using aerial or low-ground moves that mimic prey.
Positive reinforcement: Reward your cat with treats, affection, and praise for their exploratory behavior. Positive reinforcement encourages them to repeat these actions and helps them associate their new home with positive experiences.
Patience and understanding: Every cat adjusts at their own pace. Be ‘Cat-Led’ show your cat patience and avoid forcing interactions. Let your cat approach you on their terms and provide plenty of love and support throughout the process.
Monitor health: Keep an eye on your cat’s health and behavior. If they show signs of excessive stress or health issues, consult your veterinarian. Behavioral and underlying medical conditions can often co-exist.
Gradual socialization: Introduce other pets to your cat gradually and under controlled conditions. Allow them to get used to each other’s scent before any face-to-face meetings. Use barriers like baby gates to facilitate safe interactions. This applies to cat and dog interactions.
Provide vertical space: Cats feel safer when they have high perches or shelves to observe their environment from above. Providing cats with vertical spaces can help them feel more secure and reduce stress.
Adjusting to a new home is a significant change for a cat, but with patience and the right approach, you can help your new cat settle in comfortably. By recognizing both the negative and positive signs of adjustment and providing a supportive environment, you pave the way for a happy and harmonious relationship with your new cat. Remember, each cat is unique, and their adjustment period will vary, but with consistency, care and understanding, they will soon adapt in their new home.
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Ellis, S. L. H., Rodan, I., Carney, H. C., Heath, S., Rochlitz, I., Shearburn, L. D., Sundahl, E., & Westropp, J. L. (2013). AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 15(3), 219–230.
