How to Prepare Your Home to Adopt an Adult Cat: Complete Guide 2025
Kani and Jace
Did you know that adult cats have a 30% lower adoption rate than kittens, despite being equally loving companions?
If you are considering giving an older fur kiddo a chance at happiness, you are making an incredible choice. Preparing your home for your furry friend is exciting and highly recommended for ensuring a smooth transition. Unlike kittens, adult cats come with established personalities, preferences and sometimes negative emotions from their previous experiences.
The good news? With proper preparation, most cats adapt beautifully to their new home within a few weeks. I will walk you through everything you need to know to help you decide how YOU would like to create a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment that will help your new furry friend feel at home from day one.
Supplies
Food and water bowls
Cat food (We will talk about how to pick food for your cat in a different post)
Litterboxes (1.5 litterboxes per cat is the bare minimum request. Most people do 2 litterboxes per cat)
Clean up supplies (there will more likely be accidents)
Cat carrier (Veterinary staff love carriers that clip off the top lid)
2 scratching posts (minimal) per cat (it is recommended to get more if you do not want your carpet or furniture scratched consistently)
Interactive toys
Cat tree or climbing structure(s)
Grooming tools if you would rather not go to a groomer (cat shampoo and conditioner, brushes, nail trimmers, *de-matting tools for long hair)
Collar with ID tags (good if you plan to bring your cat everywhere with you)
Setting Up the Perfect Transition Room
Why would you need to set up a transition room? Cats tend to be more nervous to change. Cats love routine even more than most dogs. A transition room helps provide a smaller safe space for your new kiddo until they feel comfortable to explore more of your home
Coming from a shelter can be stressful to any pet due to all the noise, people they meet and animals they see. Being transported in an unfamiliar home can be very stressful. Having a smaller space to decompress helps your cat not get more overwhelmed than they already are. Note you may have to adjust these tips to fit yours and your new kiddo’s lifestyle and personality.
Choose a quiet, medium- sized room that is not overly active in foot traffic. Bring in food bowl, water bowl, litterbox, bed, and toys. If you would like to take the extra step, cats like hiding spots in cardboard boxes, caves or furniture to retreat under.
Feliway is a good option to help your cat adjust, especially, if they are very stressed. Please be warned Feliway does not smell the best, but it does normally work. Feliway can be purchased at pet stores, Amazon or your local vet office.
Creating a Safe Environment In Your Home
You cannot 100% prevent your cat from getting sick or getting hurt, but taking extra measures can help especially while they are adjusting to their new home. Remove toxic plants or move them to a secluded room (be aware cats will still sneak in the room if they really want to). My boys do not like it when they do not have access to a room.
Remove or secure toxic substances. Cats like to smell everything and pick up small things with their mouths. Better to be safe than sorry. Secure breakable items. It is better to have all, if not most, breakable decorations in a decorative cabinet or glass shelf. My youngest boy is not graceful while walking around things and my oldest boy likes to knock small things over on purpose when he is feeling sassy.
Install window screens. This is good for your cat to be able to enjoy fresh air without them getting hurt, scaping or any animals getting in. Test and check all potential hiding spots. You want to check to see if there are potentially dangerous items or hiding spots so they can be moved or blocked off. When my youngest boy, Jace, was a kitten, he would hide under the dishwasher when he was scared, so we stuffed a towel in there, so the dishwasher was not running while he was under there.
Secure electrical cords. This is also very important to not just save your electronics, but for the safety of your new cat. Some will chew on cords, so it is best to keep them hidden.
Preparing your home for your new cat’s safety does not prevent all accidents, but it helps relieve some stress from both you and your furry friend.
Understanding Possible Behavior and Adjustments Expectations
When you bring your new furry kiddo home, they will either be nervous and curious or very nervous and upset or mix of it all. I was lucky to bring home two nervous, but curious kiddos. They bonded immediately and played for at least 4 hours straight. No all cats are like that though, especially, female cats.
My oldest boy, Kani, has always loved people and been curious about everything until he broke his leg and now hates leaving the apartment. Jace was a little nervous until he met me and especially met Kani. Kani brought him out of his shell and now he is a little too brave, sometimes.
Some cats may need a long adjustment period; some will make themselves right at home. This can be an adjustment period not just for your cat, but for you, as well. You have to get to know your cat and their boundaries, just like when you make a new friend or start dating someone.
It is normal that your new furry friend hides at first. Some cats are just nervous for the new environment and may warm up fairly quickly. Some cats had previous negative experiences with people, other cats or animals. Some cats may not want to be touched at first.
It is best to respect their boundaries than force them in these beginning stages. They usually end up warming up to you. You just have to be consistent and patient. You can visit them every day, multiple times a day. Let them smell you and get used to your presence. You can provide them food or treats, but note some cats to not eat when stressed.
Kani in his first month of being adopted
Territorial instincts can be stronger in adult cats. They may mark (spray or urinate) on things outside of their litterbox. They do this to let other cats and animals know that certain things belong to them.
Jace was only a tiny kitten when we got him. We could not, honestly, tell if he was marking or just lazy. He would urinate or poop right outside of the litterbox. Urinate on our blanket then cuddle up while on the bed right after. We resolved this habit with Feliway. We only had to spray the items he tends to urinate on a couple of times within a couple of weeks. Then it stopped. Feliway also helped with Jace scratching the carpet. This method could work for your kiddo, but I cannot guarantee because there are different personalities out there.
To go into more detail about Feliway, it is a liquid that contains a similar copy of a cat’s natural facial pheromone. This signifies safety and comfort and can help reduce stress and anxiety, therefore, can reduce stress triggered behaviors like marking and scratching. I am not sponsored by Feliway. I am sharing my experience with the product, and I hope it helps someone.
It is good to note that when it comes to giving your new cat attention, some cats will prefer to be left alone while others enjoy more affection and attention. Both of my boys started off very cuddly the first few months they were home. They were very happy and grateful. They eventually learned that they like their space at times too and they now know they can come to us for any attention whenever they would like. They learned their preferences and placed boundaries, and it was up to my boyfriend and I to respect them.
Lastly, health issues can impact behavior. Older cats may have health problems like arthritis, teeth problems, kidney disease, etc. Issues like these can make a cat more defensive because they feel more vulnerable due to not feeling well.
Health and Veterinary Considerations
Gather medical records from the shelter. You can read the medical records if you would like, I personally did not understand those records until I worked in the field, now I know what to look for. This will help a veterinarian know what vaccines they have had, if your kiddo has any pre-existing conditions and if they were spayed or neutered.
Be sure to research and contact local veterinarians and schedule an initial wellness exam within the first two to three weeks of brining your kiddo home. This is especially important if your kiddo has pre-existing conditions, on medication, or a vaccine is due. You will be able to get a second opinion on their medication and issues. Getting a second opinion also sees if the shelter or previous owners missed any existing conditions.
Budget for immediate health needs. This includes parasite treatment, chronic conditions or potential dental work. If you did not plan enough for the cost, you can ALWAYS ask your veterinarian for an itemized receipt with prices for treatment and consult with them on what is important now and what can wait.
This is not required, but it helps to prepare, especially if the shelter helps you be aware of your new kiddos pre-existing conditions before you take them home. Understand common adult cat health concerns. This includes, but is not limited to kidney disease, periodontal disease (teeth issues), anxiety that needs medication, arthritis, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc.
You, usually, do not need these items immediately (I do not want to promise anything), but it is good to eventually prepare- stock on basic first aid supplies. This can be important if you live on land or plan to take your kiddo outdoors a lot (hiking, camping, etc.). It has been more common for cat owners to bring their cats with them everywhere. This includes bandages (not commonly needed for cats, but good to have on hand), antiseptic, thermometer (for ear or rectal- rectal is most accurate, but most uncomfortable for the kiddo), lubricant if using rectal thermometer, and prepare emergency contacts.
Plan for potential behavioral issues. Usually, shelter can be good at catching obvious behaviors, sometimes certain behaviors do not show until they are in a more settled state. Behavioral issues take time, consistent training, positive reinforcement and experiences and even can require professional help. Do your research and talk with your veterinarian for a second opinion.
Lastly, plan for a quarantine period, if needed. This usually happens if the kiddo was diagnosed with a contagious condition that the staff had to treat. This is usually an infection (parasitic, viral or bacterial). Whether you have pets or not, they will you ask to keep your kiddo indoors, possibly a single room for 1-2 weeks to make sure the infection is cleared and so you have a smaller area to disinfect. Then they will recommend you to follow up with a veterinarian, either their own for no cost or your own local vet.
Kani on his first day coming home
It can also be good to discuss spay and neutering (we will go over this and the pros and cons in a different article), if they have not been already. It is also good to get their teeth checked because, like humans, cats can gain loose, damaged and rotting teeth. When it comes to a microchip, I will leave that opinion to you. A microchip can be beneficial if your cat runs away or accidentally gets out, but you would need to keep your information updated. It can be a lot if you do not remember your login information (this happens to almost all pet owners including me).
Introductions to Other Pets and People
Just like gradually introducing your home to your new kitty, you should always gradually introduce your pets days to weeks later. You will have to read both pets in this situation. Your new kiddo could be fine, but your kiddo you have had for 1+ years could be very unhappy or vice versa.
Female cats, usually, have a more difficult time adjusting to other animals especially cats. Two boy kitties can be easier, but this also depends on one or both personalities.
My boyfriend and I were very lucky. Kani has been bored at home when I started working full-time after being home for a while. When we brought Jace home, we took Jace straight to his set up in the bathroom. He was a bit nervous. Kani sat outside the door a bit upset that we were all in the bathroom without him.
I was going to wait at least a day or two to introduce them. Jace was already walking around very curious about the room. Kani would stick his paw under the door and Jace was even more curious. So, we cracked the door so they could see and sniff each other. Jace got very excited and so did Kani.
We decided to fully open the door (I know most people may be against this because it was the first day, but Jace seemed more nervous with just Jacob and I and felt more comfortable with Kani since he was so tiny). Kani and Jace played immediately after Jace explored the rest of the apartment and they played for four hours straight.
Not everyone is as lucky as my boyfriend and I. Jace soon started feeling much more comfortable with us once he saw Kani was cuddling and playing with us. Now, this leads to the second part of adjusting. As happy as Kani and Jace were to have each other, Kani eventually started getting bothered that we were paying more attention to Jace than him. We were also a bit more protective of Jace in the beginning because Kani was much bigger and would get a bit too rough and persistent.
Jace was only 8 weeks when we got him and Kani was 3 years old by that time. We did have to end up helping Jace more. With that, I realized Kani was getting upset and decided to have pure Kani play time. I did this by putting Jace aside gently and in front of Kani whenever Jace would try to interfere with Kani’s play time. This did help Kani feel more loved and show that I still loved him very much and valued his time and attention. Things mellowed out between them from there.
Even though things started out good, there was still an adjustment period that was necessary. Whether your situation is like mine or not use your own discretion of your situation.
The best cuddle buddy
Not all pets adjust the same, therefore, it is important to follow these main guidelines and read both of your furry kiddos.
Start with separate spaces. Not allowing them to see each other but be able to sniff each other from under the door.
Try the scent swopping technique. You can allow each pet to sniff each other’s toys, blanket, bed, etc. and see how they react. (I highly recommend this first if one or both pets are upset or still very nervous). Then you can lock your other pets away to allow your new cat to explore once they seem more curious to visit more of the home. This will allow them to smell your other pets and allow their scent to fill the room so your other pets can smell them once they are back out. Do not allow your other pets into your new cat’s environment just yet.
Feeding on opposite sides of the door. This creates a positive experience during meal times.
Once you feel both of your pets feeling more comfortable with the other’s scent and they both seem more curious of each other through the door or at least can tolerate each other, you can start visual introduction through the door, baby gate or crate. You can crack the door to allow them to see each other and see how they react. If they seem to want to play you can move on to the next step. If one or both pets seem spicy still, you can try again later.
Supervised meetings can be an exciting and nervous time because it can either start out great and go bad, start out bad and turn out great, or just be a great experience overall. This allows both pets and your family to explore the room together and get used to each other’s presence. I do not recommend this in the new pet’s room, so they still have a safe space to fall back to if they need more time to adjust.
Once fully open to each other, provide separate resources. This includes multiple food stations, litter boxes, and resting areas.
Be sure to be patient and take your time with introductions (unless you have my situation and your cat feels more comfortable with your current pet). The process can normally take a few days to a few weeks.
Long Term Success Strategies to Please Your New Cat
This can be considered the most important one. Be sure to maintain consistent routines. This is not easy especially if you work non- consistent hours, but it is important to try especially for older cats getting used to a new environment. Adult kitties thrive in predictability and structure.
Establish boundaries gently. Not everyone may agree with me, but this is how you start to earn your pet’s trust and respect. You do not know the previous environment they came from or what they have been through before. Using positive reinforcement like treats or pets can be beneficial. Some people have even used clicker training with kitties and have been successful. Please note it can take more time with adult cats since they have established personalities and habits.
Provide mental stimulation. This includes wands, puzzle feeders, battery operated toys and even you can interactively play with them. This gets their brain working since they are not out in the wild and can help them from getting bored.
Create vertical structures. This is wonderful for cats (I would create easier accessible structures for senior cats) because like dogs, cats can get zoomies. Since they are smaller than dogs and more flexible, they tend to love jumping and climbing. You can create a vertical structured environment by bringing in cat trees, building cat shelves for them to run along the walls of the room and perches. Cats tend to love being up high to oversee the overall activity of the room.
Monitor weight and nutrition as adult cats are more prone to weight gain and dietary issues. Senior cats tend to have more sensitive stomachs or are more picky eaters.
Groom regularly for most cats. Cats do groom themselves, but to maintain hairball vomit and shedding, it is good habit to at least brush your cats. Some cats need to be brushed weekly, some monthly and others seasonally. It can help to use cat sensitive wipes and waterless shampoo, but it is not necessary. You may have to bathe your long haired and fluffy cats to help prevent or get rid of mats. Some owners like to shave their cats down during summer.
This is where the “lion’s cut” is popular. I would note though, just like dogs, cats hate the groomers and usually dislike being bathed.
If you like to trim nails regularly (I only do this because we rent. I will let them have their nails when we get our own land and house), it is good to start as early as possible and bring treats! Teaching adult cats to get used to nail trimmings can go decent or horribly. Some may get unhappy but eventually tolerate you with some growls in between. Some cats get very spicy when held down and sometimes need a “sedated nail trim” at the vet.
If you are recommended your cat needs a sedated nail trim it may be best to just let them have their nails to prevent stress on both ends for yourself and your cat. It can be a bit costly to do sedated nail trims due to the cost of sedation itself. Please discern your own situation and needs when making this kind of decision.
Kani and Jace 8/2025
Preparing your home to adopt your new furry kiddo is one of the best money and time investments you will make in your pet parenting journey. These mature kiddos bring wisdom, established personalities and usually a grateful heart that makes the preparation process absolutely worthwhile! Remember every cat is unique - some may adjust within hours to days to weeks or even months to fully settle in.
The key to success lies in patience, preparation and understanding that you are not just gaining a pet; you are saving a life and gaining loyal companion. Your newly adopted adult kitty will thank you with years of purrs, head bumps and unconditional love.
Ready to open your heart and home to an adult furry kiddo in need? You now have these guidelines to guide you. You are ready, I promise. Otherwise, you would not be here. You got this!