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Litter and food: get the basics right on day one

Ask the shelter or previous carer about familiar food, feeding routine and litter. Choose a complete diet for the cat's life stage with veterinary advice; make food changes gradually rather than withholding familiar food. Keep feeding and drinking areas away from the litter tray, and provide separated resources so one cat cannot block another. Cornell recommends one litter box per cat plus one. Keep boxes clean and accessible; low sides may help cats with limited mobility. Watch what is actually eaten and passed rather than assuming a new setup explains changes.

Prepare a quiet, secure room with food, fresh water, a litter tray away from both, a bed, hiding places and a suitable scratching surface. Check windows, cords, plants and small objects for hazards. Bring the closed carrier into the room before opening it, and let the cat come out voluntarily. Do not pull the cat out of a hiding place.

A new home can be stressful, but stress does not rule out illness. Contact a veterinarian promptly if your cat eats less or stops eating, vomits repeatedly, has diarrhea, seems unwell, or changes litter habits. Trouble breathing or repeated straining with little or no urine needs immediate veterinary help. Do not wait for a checklist day or a settling-in deadline.