Have a room or large crate, litter box, food, water, & a hooded bed ready! Otherwise you may end up with "house ferals" hiding in corners of the room and almost impossible to catch.

How the first days are spent by your new cat or kitten in your home decides whether or not the adoption will be a success or a failure. The first thing to remember is that cats ARE NOT DOGS. Generally speaking, cats don't trust you just because you feed them. They aren't eagerly following you around the house right away. Cats are instinctual animals. Their instincts tell them to hide because they think of themselves as possible prey, and they will hide if you open your cat carrier and carelessly let them out. Cats are highly aware and in tune with their senses. During their first few days in your home, they need time to absorb their new surroundings. They will startle at loud noises or abrupt movements until they feel at home. Cats literally need eased into a new environment.

Socializing a New Cat or Kitten

1. Get them shots and other basic vet care, such as spaying. Start to accustom them to your being there.
2. Sit near them quietly. Stay in the room when you feed them. Only give them food when a human being is near.
3. Do not make sudden movements or hover over them. Start easy, and slowly increase your activities and after a while, the cat or kitten won't startle over everything.
4. Play with the kittens. A toy with some reach is best, so you can play without coming in reach of little sharp claws. Interactive toys are best, as the kitten will begin to associate you with the arrival of the toy. Cat Dancer original is a great interactive toy. Cats also love pole toys and foil balls. Make the toy act like a mouse and run along the base of a couch and disappear etc. This appeals to their hunting instincts. Be patient.
5. Be very, very patient. Wait for the cats and kittens to approach you. If you approach, touch, or pick them up before they are ready, you are likely to be severely bitten and scratched. Gently reach toward the cat from the side of it's face or below it, and allow the cat to smell you. After while the cat will lean his head toward your outreached hand. Also, do not expect a new cat or kitten to arrive 'ready to be your lap cat.'
6. A cat or kitten is not so different from a human in that it has feelings. Like you'd be if you went to live with strangers, he is timid and nervous.
7. Continue to be patient. Let the cats or kittens come and sniff and touch, take a bit of food from your hand, or explore a toy. Just stay still--no picking up yet. A little gentle petting may be permitted. Do not place time tables on your new cat or kitten. Some take no time to adjust, and some take several months.
8. When the kitten is near you, try massaging the skin on top of their shoulders and the back of their necks. This is thought to release endorphins and make them think that when you are near, happy and relaxed feelings go with. This is the way mom cats carry their little babies. This is similar to scruffing a cat and it also thought to block pain. This also works with adult cats.
9. Accustom the cat or kitten first to petting, then to being gently held, picked up, and finally to being brushed and having nails trimmed.
10. One step at a time.

If you have other pets and are bringing a new cat home, it is very important to allow all of the pets to sniff each other out in a safe controlled environment. A new cat or kitten should be started off in a kennel, as shown above, or a small room. It can take months for your other pets accept the new, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN OVER NIGHT! Dogs are much easier and less territorial when it comes to a new pet moving in. Cats on the other hand, usually aren't amused and display this by hissing and swatting.

TIPS!
PLEASE READ BEFORE
CONSIDERING ADOPTION!

It's imperative to provide a safe & small room for your new cat or kitten the first few days.
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Make sure their food, water, and cat litter is nearby. Do not place the food and water near the cat litter. Visit your new cat or kitten every few hours and sit with him while he eats.

DO NOT FORCE PETTING OR HANDLING until the cat is comfortable. LET THE CAT COME TO YOU.

They NEED a soft and covered place to sleep first and foremost. Hooded litter boxes, with a fleece blanket, or a warming pad inside are the most effective.

Fancy pillowed/cloth cat beds tend to crumble when the cat climbs in and out. The need to feel safe and secure, which the converted hooded kitty litter box bed provides.