Welcoming a new cat or kitten into your home is an exciting experience and can be the beginning of a wonderful companionship. Adopting a cat also comes with a lot of change for both of you. Our guide on planning for your new cat will help you make the transition as smooth as possible.

How to plan and prepare for your new cat

Once you’ve decided to give a cat a home, it’s time to get your home ready and prepare for a cat. You’ll need to make sure you leave enough time to make adequate preparations, as well as to go shopping for everything they need.

The most important thing your cat needs is a quiet, comfortable and secluded space of their or her own. It could be a spare bedroom or a cosy space in the corner of your living room. This will make sure your cat becomes familiar with one space before exploring the rest of your home.

Shopping for your cat

Perhaps you're thinking about what to buy for your cat? Watch our video for top tips on essential cat products for your new arrival. You can buy cat products online in our shop, where you'll find everything from cosy beds to toys and feeding mats.

Watch our video for top tips

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Keeping your new cat safe and healthy

Before you bring your cat home, you’ll need to think about getting them prepared for the outside world. All cats adopted from Cats Protection will have received a mandatory level of veterinary care, including:

• a health check carried out by a veterinary surgeon
• treatment against fleas and worms
• at least one vaccination against cat flu and feline enteritis
• neutering, if old enough
• a microchip for all cats over 12 weeks of age
• a period of pet insurance (each cat rehomed by Cats Protection will include the option of four weeks’ free Petplan insurance)

If you’ve adopted your cat from elsewhere, these are all things you’ll need to think about. Vaccinations, microchipping and neutering are particularly important.  

Neutering

Neutering is an important operation to prevent female cats from getting pregnant and male cats from making females pregnant. You will need to ensure your cat is neutered to avoid unwanted kittens. There are also plenty of health benefits, including the reduced chance of developing some cancers and other illnesses.

Cats Protection recommends that kittens are neutered at four months old or younger, although they can be neutered at any age.

Vaccinations

If your cat or kitten hasn’t been vaccinated, you’ll need to take them to a vet to receive them.

When should my cat be vaccinated?

The first vaccinations should be given to kittens around eight to nine weeks of age. Timing is important – too early and the vaccine may not work properly, too late and they may be susceptible to infection. Two vaccines are usually needed, at three to four weeks apart. Cats will need a booster vaccine to keep immunity levels high.

Microchipping

Microchipping is the easiest and safest way to identify a lost cat, keeping your cat safe if they go wandering. Keep your details up to date and you’ll increase the likelihood of a happy reunion.

You can book in to get your cat microchipped by your vet or by a trained and insured member of an animal welfare organisation. Cats Protection often offer microchipping as part of a service. The procedure is simple and doesn’t cause harm to your cat.

Pet insurance for your cat

Organising pet insurance for your new cat is as important as settling them in. Designed to help protect you against unexpected costs related to your cat, you may need it to cover veterinary bills in the future. It is important to check your policy thoroughly to ensure it meets your needs.

Along with vet care, some policies also cover the following:

• loss and theft of your pet. Although a member of the family can never be replaced, some policies will offer cover to replace your cat if they are not found
• treatment for behavioural issues, carried out by a professional organisation or vet
• death by illness or injury
• cattery fees if you need to go into hospital for more than four days in a row