The Shopping List
Before your new cat arrives, have the basics ready: a litter box with the litter type the cat already knows, food matching exactly what it ate before (sudden changes upset kitten stomachs), food and water bowls placed apart from the litter box, a sturdy scratching post, a safe hideout like a covered bed or a box on its side, and a few varied toys. A carrier and a brush belong on the list too. If you later want to change food, do it gradually over a week or more by mixing increasing amounts of the new food into the old, and watch that appetite and stools stay normal.
Prepare the Home and the First Days
Kitten-proof before arrival: secure or hide electrical cords, remove houseplants that are toxic to cats, close windows and balconies or fit them with netting, put away rubber bands, threads, needles and small swallowable objects, and keep washing machine and tumble dryer doors shut. Let the newcomer start in one quiet room with everything it needs, rather than the whole home at once. Sit on the floor, let the cat come to you, and let curiosity set the tempo. When the cat moves confidently around its room, open up the rest of the home gradually, one area at a time.
Vet Check and Practical Musts
Book a veterinary check soon after arrival, even if the cat seems healthy. Bring any paperwork from the breeder or shelter, and go through vaccinations and deworming with your veterinarian, who will set up the schedule that fits your cat's age and history. Make sure the cat is microchipped and, importantly, that the chip is registered in your name in the relevant ownership registry, since an unregistered chip cannot bring a lost cat home. Discuss neutering timing if it is not already done, and consider insurance while the cat is young and healthy, before any conditions appear in its record.
Adopting an Adult or Rehomed Cat
An adult rescue or rehomed cat follows the same checklist but needs one extra ingredient above all: patience. The cat has lost its familiar world, and it is very common for a rehomed cat to need weeks to months before its true personality emerges. Let the cat set the pace entirely: do not force contact, keep routines predictable, feed at set times, and reward brave moments with calm praise or treats. Hiding, cautious appetite and night activity are normal at first. If the cat still is not eating, or hides constantly after the first days, contact your veterinarian to rule out illness.