How Long Should You Keep A New Cat In One Room?

Bringing a new cat or kitten into your home is an exciting time for any pet parent. You look forward to a fun-filled life with your new friend. You cannot wait to make memories with your kitty and create a huge bond together.

Unfortunately, being in a new environment can be confusing for the little guy. Granted, some cats blend right in. In a day or two, she will be sitting on your lap purring and ready to mingle. Others need to spend time in their own room for some time before coming out of their shells.

To help your kitty blend faster, we’ll shed more light on one of the most common concerns among cat parents: how long to keep a new cat in one room.

Why Keep a New Cat in One Room

The experience of being adopted in a new home can be daunting for just about any cat. Just think about it—you’d feel the exact same way if you are shipped to a strange home with strange people. The kitten or kitty will have feelings of trauma, especially if they’ve just been ripped away from their mother and littermates. Keeping him in one room for sometime helps him to adjust to the new environment in a gradual manner. This is because he has very little to have to deal with as opposed to seeing everything and everyone in the entire room.

The arrangement also helps with toilet training as it keeps the mess contained in one place. When it’s time to clean, you won’t have to look for the poo or pee all over the house. Plus, the smell will remain in the cat’s room only.

How Long Should A New Cat Be Kept In One Room?

There are many schools of thought on this topic. Some sources insist on having a new cat spend the first two or so days in his own room. Others claim that it should be the first few weeks. On average, let the cat have his own room for the first week after bringing him home.

Essentially, your kitty will tell you whether it is time to get him out or not. If he’s really shy, he will hide in one corner of the room as soon as you place him there. Over the next few hours or days, he may slowly feel comfortable in his environment and will send signals of being ready to be let out.

Watch out for all the signals before making the decision. If after a day or two he feels safe enough to sit on your lap or be petted, he is certainly ready to join the family in the living room. In this case, consider opening his door and letting him roam the house a little. However, if he is still hiding from you after a week of being there, give him a little more time before removing him from the room.

Make sure that the kitty is comfortable in his new abode. Most people set up a quiet bedroom or bathroom for this purpose. Whichever one you chose, ensure it is quiet and warm. You want to prepare the room before the cat arrives. Place enough food and water in there along with a litter box, scratching post, bed, and plenty of toys.

Check the room for hazards such as poisonous plants and fireplaces. Ensure the cupboards (if any) are out of bounds for him. Get rid of any breakable object from windowsills and shelves and keep all the windows securely fastened.

Final Thoughts

How long to keep a new cat in one room depends on the individual cat. The average period is one week but that is directly proportional to the behavior of the cat. Some only need to stay in the new room for a day or two while others may require a week or so. Practice patience until your kitty is ready to interact with everyone else.