Instructions
Find out what sort of food and litter your new cat is accustomed to before you bring the cat home. Buy the food and set up a litter box with its brands in preparation for your new arrival. Try to bring something with a smell the cat is used to from its old home, such as a blanket it enjoys sleeping on.
Put all the cat's food, toys and litter box in a room before you bring it home. Choose a quiet place where you can keep the cat contained for a few days. Spraying a product that helps reduce anxiety in cats is another option to ease the transition.
Allow the cat time to explore its new room before exposing it to rest of the house. Leave its case or carrier in the center of the room and allow the cat to go in and out on its own. Let the cat come to you rather than picking it up or forcing it to interact. Spend time in the room with the cat so it will accustom to you.
Introduce the cat to other family members slowly. Take introductions especially slow with children. Wait for the cat to feel comfortable, and supervise kids when they interact with the cat. Ask children to refrain from making loud noise when around the new arrival.
Have the cat examined by a veterinarian before exposing it to your other cats. Let the cats interact with the door between them. Lock your other cats in the new cat's room after a few days, and let the new cat explore the house on its own.
Feed the cats together with a door separating them, so they begin to associate each others' scents with the good association of food. Finally, let the cats interact, but supervise the interaction. Be aware that some hissing is normal, but keep a towel or box on hand to separate cats in the event a fight ensues. Do not put your bare hands between two fighting cats.
How to Make Adult Cats Comfortable in a New Home and Family
Bringing an adult cat into your home will involve time and adjustment for both you and your new feline friend. The adjustment period will vary from cat to cat, as some will make the change quickly and others may be traumatized by the transition. Cats are territorial by nature, so bringing them from an established territory to a new one will require patience and some compromise, but there are ways to make the transition smoother for everyone.