First cat checklist: helping a new cat settle in safely

Quick checklist before your cat arrives

• Choose one quiet starter room away from busy household areas.
• Add food, water, litter tray, hiding places, scratching surface and a comfortable bed.
• Remove hazards such as cleaning products, loose wires, fragile objects and unsafe plants.
• Keep windows, doors, chimneys and cat flaps secure at first.
• Register with a vet and check vaccination, flea, worming and neutering advice.
• Check microchip requirements and make sure the details are up to date.
• Think about pet insurance before any health issue becomes a pre-existing condition.
• Prepare a shortlist of names, but allow yourself time to see the cat’s personality.

Set up a calm starter room

Cats Protection recommends giving a new cat a quiet room away from busy areas of the house, with the essentials already in place. This gives the cat a smaller, safer territory before it explores the rest of the home.

Keep dogs, visitors and excited children out of the room at first. Let the cat leave the carrier in its own time. Some cats walk out quickly; others hide for hours. Hiding is not failure — it is often how a cat feels safe while it learns the sounds and smells of a new home.

Use separate areas for food, water and litter if the room allows. Many cats prefer not to eat next to their litter tray, and some prefer water away from food. A cardboard box, covered bed or high hiding place can help a nervous cat feel less exposed.

Microchipping and vet checks

GOV.UK says cats in England must be microchipped and registered by the time they are 20 weeks old, including cats that usually stay indoors. Rules differ elsewhere in the UK, so check the requirements where you live.

Even indoor cats can escape, especially during the first few days in a new home. Keep doors and windows secure, update microchip contact details, and ask your vet about vaccinations, neutering, flea and worming treatment.

Food, litter and routine

Keep food familiar at first if you know what the cat has been eating. Sudden changes can upset digestion, and a new home is already enough change. If you want to switch food, do it gradually.

Use a litter type the cat recognises if possible. Place the tray somewhere quiet and accessible, not next to a noisy washing machine or busy doorway. Clean it regularly and watch for changes in toileting, appetite or behaviour, as these can be signs that the cat is stressed or unwell.

Choosing a cat name

Cat names can be soft, funny, elegant or unusual. Unlike a dog name, you may not need to call it across a field, so there is more room for a name with personality. Still, the name should be easy to say and comfortable to use at the vet.

Look at expression, markings and behaviour. A serious-looking cat may suit a dignified name; a chaotic kitten may suit something playful. If you are not sure, use a temporary shortlist for a day or two before committing.

Use the free AI name generator or read more cat name ideas.