Give her one room first
Cats are territorial. International Cat Care’s advice is that a new cat’s first priority is to understand her territory before she can feel safe enough to eat, drink, rest or use the litter tray, and that the smaller and safer the space, the more secure she’ll feel. So start with one quiet room: a litter tray, food and water kept apart from it, bedding, a few toys and at least one hiding place.
Hiding is normal
“Many newly adopted cats hide for the first few days, sometimes the whole first week. This is not a bad sign. It is a cat doing exactly what a cat should do. Let her.”— Doctor Agatha
Sit quietly in the room and let her choose when to come out. Short, calm visits on the floor, no forced handling.
If you already have a cat
Keep the newcomer fully separate until your vet has examined her, especially if her history is unknown. Then go slowly. The American Association of Feline Practitioners is clear that introductions “can take a few days to a few months, and sometimes longer”, and that you don’t move on to the next step until both cats are calm at the current one.
- Scent swap first: exchange bedding or toys daily until neither cat reacts to the other’s scent
- Bring the new cat home in a covered carrier to her own room, so the cats don’t see each other yet
- Feed them on opposite sides of a door or gate once both stay relaxed
- Then short visual introductions through a cracked door or gate, longer only while both stay calm
And an honest note: even with the greatest care, some cats simply don’t want to live with other cats. That’s not a failure on your part.
Ask for the paperwork
Any cat adopted through a shelter should already have been screened for FeLV and FIV. Ask to see the record directly: don’t assume your new vet can pull shelter records automatically, because often they can’t. Book the first vet visit within the first week and bring it along.