What should I expect when getting my first pet cat?
Bringing home a first cat without meeting them in person beforehand naturally causes nervousness and uncertainty about what to expect. New owners worry about practical details, such as where the cat should sleep in a multi-story house relative to the litter box. Without guidance, this inexperience makes it difficult to settle the new pet into the home smoothly.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Buying a lot of supplies and toys ahead of time
- 2Figuring out routines and complying with the cat's demands as they arise
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’ve never had a pet cat before and I’m kind of nervous but she looks adorable and was very very friendly.”source ↗
“I’m getting this gorgeous baby home on Sunday, but what should I expect?”source ↗
“I could need some advice, we live in a 2 storey house, and the litter will be downstairs, but should I take him upstairs for when we are going to bed, or should he be downstairs.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 42Why does my anxious cat scream and panic over closed doors?
- 8Feeling guilty about getting a new pet too soon
- 94Why is my new high-energy puppy so overwhelming?
- 5How to trap and transport an unfamiliar stray cat to the vet
- 34How to help a terrified rescue cat adjust to a new home
- 2Why do I feel so guilty taking my pet to the vet?