'He's scared. How do I get him to trust me?': 14 nuggets of expurrt advice to appropriately acclimate your cat to their furrever home from your online feline family

Firstly, congratulations on your new cat! We're so happy you've joined our little family of feline fans. Adopting a new cat is not only exciting, but slightly overwhelming. You have to kitten-proof your home, get a bunch of supplies for your new pet, and on top of that, acclimate them to your house. Now, cats are different from doggos in many ways. Cats take time to get used to new situations, much slower than puppies or adult dogs. They may hide for a few minutes, hours, or even days. Don't take it purrsonally, they just need time to adjust.

You may see your new cat hiding and think you're doing a bad job because all you want to do is love them and make them feel safe. It can be a confusing and frustrating time. But luckily, our feline fam has taken over the internet and is full of expurrt advice to help you and your new kitty feel safe and form a wholesome bond quickly. We just have one word to tell you in the meantime: patience.

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Treats definitely help! Imagine if some giant monkey took you from your safe space and put you in a new home where everything is foreign…you would hide for a bit too. You can share your love with them, but still respect their boundaries. Throw them some solid treats as you walk by so they learn that your presence means tasty things come. Sit with your back and even ignore them! It sounds counterintuitive, but it definitely works.
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In general, cats follow the 3-3-3 rule. The first three days they need their time and space to decompress. They will likely hide during this time. The first 3 weeks is the adjustment period, they should feel a little more confident during this time and they'll start understanding their new routine. The first 3 months is about confidence-boosting and bonding. After three months, your kitty should be more or less adjusted to their new lifestyle.
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