What to know before the cat arrives
Cats dislike change. Preparing the room matters as much as buying equipment - and escape prevention comes first: the very first day is when most cats bolt (see Escape Prevention & Pet-Proofing).
Indoor-only keeping is today's standard in Japan; plan the room on that assumption. For the money side, try the Initial Cost Simulator.
Timeline to welcome day
- 2 weeks beforeAgree on care duties, shortlist a vet, and - if renting - confirm cats are allowed in writing.
- 1 week beforeBuy the equipment, set up the litter box and a hiding spot. Use the food the cat already eats.
- The day beforeSeal the escape routes (entrance, windows, screens, balcony) and remove string, rubber bands and dangerous plants - lilies are toxic to cats.
- Welcome dayCarry the cat home in a carrier and open it in a quiet room. Hiding all day is normal; provide water and a litter box and wait.
The New Pet Preparation Checklist builds your shopping list from three questions.
Basic equipment to have ready
| Item | How to choose |
|---|---|
| Litter box & litter | Ideally one more box than you have cats. Mineral litter is a safe first choice, but preferences vary Find litter boxes Find litter |
| Food & bowls | Keep the current food brand at first; pick wide, shallow bowls that spare the whiskers Find bowls |
| Carrier | Essential for vet trips and evacuation; top-opening models are easiest at the clinic Find carriers |
| Scratcher | Vertical or horizontal - cats have strong preferences, so start with both Find scratchers |
| Cat tree | Vertical movement is the core of indoor exercise; a window view is a bonus Find cat trees |
| Cage | Not mandatory, but useful for the first days, disasters and pre-vet capture Find cages |
| Brush | Rubber brush for short coats, daily combing for long coats Find brushes |
| Toys | Wand toys build trust through play; watch out for swallowed strings Find toys |
Setting up a room a cat can relax in
- Vertical space: cat trees and shelves matter more than floor area
- Hiding places: at least one enclosed refuge - a cardboard box is fine
- Quiet litter box location: away from traffic and from food
- Sealed escape routes: door dashes, torn screens and balcony falls are the three classic accidents - see Escape Prevention & Pet-Proofing for the equipment
- No hazards: lilies, strings and rubber bands, power cables, essential oils
Welcoming a cat when you live alone / in a flat
- Nights away are hard on kittens even with an automatic feeder - keep travel light for the first months Find auto feeders
- Line up a backup carer (sitter, hotel, family) before you need one
- Check the fine print of "pets allowed": number, weight limits, rules for shared spaces
Introducing a new cat to a resident cat
Never start with a face-to-face meeting. Go step by step over days or weeks: separate rooms, scent swapping, meetings through a cage, then short supervised encounters - and always serve the resident cat first.
A newcomer that hides for the first week is fine, as long as it eats and uses the litter box.
Related pages
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Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum equipment for welcoming a cat?
A litter box with litter, food and bowls, water, a carrier, a scratcher and a hiding place cover day one. A cat tree and a cage can come later.
How much does it cost to get started?
Excluding the price or adoption fee of the cat itself, plan roughly 40,000-80,000 yen for equipment and vaccinations. The Initial Cost Simulator gives an itemised estimate.
My new cat hides and won't come out. Is that normal?
Completely normal. Leave water and a litter box available and let the cat set the pace; most come out within a few days. If it neither eats nor uses the box for several days, call a vet.
Isn't indoor-only keeping cruel?
Indoor keeping is the current standard: it avoids traffic accidents, infections and getting lost. With vertical space and daily play, an indoor cat lives a full, healthy life.
Do cats need vaccinations?
There is no legal obligation as with dogs, but the core 3-in-1 vaccine is recommended even for indoor cats. See our Vet Visits & Vaccinations page.
Are males or females easier to keep?
Individual character matters more. Neutered males tend to be affectionate, females more independent - after neutering the practical difference is small.