Dear Critter Corner: I recently met an 11-month-old bonded pair of cats that I fell in love with and have committed to adopt from a local rescue. The rescue staff mentioned that they are on the shy side and will require some patience before they come out of their shell. I am currently working on preparing my apartment to cat-proof some of the rooms and would like some suggestions of how best to set up for their arrival.
Any time you bring home a new animal, it is very important to remember that they will need time to decompress and acclimate to their new surroundings. I would suggest setting up a room designated as your kitties’ safe space that will serve as their home base. This home base should include places to hide or perch (cat trees, boxes, etc.), scratch posts, food, water, litterboxes, and anything else you might have to make them more comfortable. You should move any furniture or items that you would not like scratched into another room or cover them appropriately, so they aren’t damaged. It would be ideal to also block off areas that are difficult for you to access, such as beneath bed, and to provide covered hiding spots for your new cats. Cover any exposed wires or make them inaccessible to prevent them from being chewed accidentally! One litter box per cat is recommended so having two in their home base should work just fine, but once you open more areas of your house, it would be ideal to add one more litter box at another location in the house.
Once your new kitties are home, I would establish scheduled feeding times to build a consistent routine throughout the day. During the first days, your cats might still be decompressing from the journey from the rescue to their new home, and it is important to go slowly and at their pace. If they are too nervous to come out at first, I would suggest entering the room and sitting quietly with them throughout the day and offering food. Let them come to you. It is important to remember that each cat is different and might need a little more time to warm up than others.