A new cat may need time before the entire home feels safe. Begin with one quiet room containing food, water, a litter box, hiding options, a bed, and a scratching surface.
Let confidence set the pace
Spend calm time in the room without forcing interaction. Sit nearby, speak softly, and allow the cat to approach. Eating, grooming, playing, and exploring are useful signs that stress is beginning to decrease.
Use scent before face-to-face meetings
When other animals live in the home, exchange bedding or use a soft cloth to transfer scent between spaces. Feed animals on opposite sides of a closed door before arranging brief visual contact.
Expand territory gradually
Open access to another room only when the cat is using the litter box reliably and appears comfortable. Keep the original room available as a retreat.
Persistent refusal to eat, repeated vomiting, difficulty urinating, breathing changes, or severe lethargy require prompt veterinary guidance.