Place a cardboard box on its side with a thick fleecy blanket inside so that the kitten has somewhere to hide if it feels a little shy or insecure. Position a padded washable cat bed in a quiet area away from the food, water and litter tray areas.
A secure and comfortable room like the laundry is ideal, or you might even want to consider a pen or large crate so that you can control your kitten's movements at night. Kittens love to be nice and cosy, so make sure there are lots of blankets, and that the bed has reasonably high sides to provide extra warmth.
To set everyone up for success, ideally the new cat is kept in a room that the resident cat doesn't spend all that much time in. (This may not be possible in a small apartment.) For example, if your resident cat enjoys sleeping in your bedroom, ideally the new cat is kept in a room other than your bedroom.
The First Night
The truth is, kittens are full of energy, and they don't always understand the whole “sleep at night” thing. If the kitten room happens to be your bedroom, then you just may end up with a kitten curled against you in the night. But don't feel bad about leaving them in their room to go sleep in yours.
On average, a new cat may stay in the Bonding Room for 2 - 7 days, but generally the cat will let you know when he is ready for the next step. He will come to you when you enter the room and will be comfortable in your presence, and when he is ready, may try to follow you out.
The initial twenty-four hours should be a calm period of adjustment so it's probably best for any children in the household to understand that the kitten should be left alone for a while. The kitten room should be prepared in advance to enable the new arrival to settle in comfortably with minimum disturbance.
Letting your kitten roam freely around the entire house right away is a recipe for disaster. It's better to have a confined and controlled space for them to move around until they get completely settled in.
Give Your Cat Space
Make sure they have easily accessible food and water in the room that they decide is their new safe space. You can build trust and help them settle in by spending some time just sitting quietly near that area and letting them approach you on their own time.
Your new cat will need to be in their safe room for at least three days, but some may need longer. Once you feel your cat is comfortable and confident in their room, it's time to open the door and let them explore the rest of the home. We suggest doing this one room at a time.
Some cats may develop emotional problems like depression if they're crated nightly. Other cats are largely nocturnal and may spend the night attempting to escape. Only you and your vet know what's best for your cat, and some cats find being crated more upsetting than calming.
Introducing too quickly with little preparation will often lead to cats feeling threatened and scared, which increases the chance of aggressive behaviour being shown. Once cats feel this way about each other, it can be extremely difficult to change their minds.
Some cats are ready to get to know you immediately while other kitties may take several weeks to initiate any kind of interaction. Here are some signs your cat is ready to start bonding: Kneading. Bunting (rubbing you with their forehead)
When a new cat is hiding away, it's important to give them time to adjust to their surroundings. If your new pet wants to hide, let them, and give them some space! Never force them to come out, and always leave them alone to explore in their own time.
If your new kitty wants to hide, let them hide. Don't force them to come out. Don't crouch on the floor, reaching under the sofa in an effort to drag them out. This will only make them withdraw tighter into that corner.
Since she is new to the household, she may not remember where the litter box is if it's located in an area she seldom frequents. Your cat may be startled while using the litter box if an appliance suddenly turns on, and that may be the last time she'll risk such a frightening experience!
Cats are very territorial and may be reluctant to accept a new environment as their home. If a previous home is nearby, cats may wander back and try to take up residence with the new people! If the move is further away, they may attempt to return home and get lost along the way.
Like all babies, young cats need frequent meals and careful supervision. A neighbour or friend could pop in to feed your kitten if you're at work, for example. By the time they're a year old and fully grown, a healthy cat should be fine if left overnight – but as Nicky suggests, never leave them for more than 24 hours.
Whether a kitten is in the shelter system or born into a feral colony, their experience during this stage will play a huge role in how long it takes to trust new humans or environments. Depending on their upbringing, it may take days, weeks, or months for a newly-befriended cat to trust you.