Adopting a cat is a noble decision, but it’s also one that cannot be taken lightly. It is likely that adopting a cat will require more effort on your part than accepting a young kitten or a house-broken adolescent, so weigh the decision and discuss it with your local shelter before proceeding.

If you’ve made up your mind, that means you’ve decided to do something beautiful and to accept some love into your life. With that being said, here are some tips for accepting a rescued cat into your home.

Age matters: Kittens and mature cats are both good options, but each has their pros and cons. Mature cats are likely to already be housebroken, but they can also have learned behaviors, stress responses, and preferences that are incompatible with your home or lifestyle. Kittens are unlikely to have these issues, but they will require the same sort of work that any other kitten requires - housetraining.

Illnesses: Cats who’ve suffered from neglect or abuse may have a number of health issues that can make ownership more complicated. Every cat is viable for adoption, but please consult with your shelter and/or a vet to determine whether or not you will be capable of providing the cat with what it needs to live a healthy life. In addition to visible traumas, cats that’ve spent time in poor conditions/outdoors may have parasites or illnesses that they can bring home. These illnesses may affect you or other pets you already have, but most can be screened for by a vet.

Be sensitive: Every cat needs an adjustment period when moving into a new home, but this is especially the case for a shelter cat that may have come from an abusive situation. Give it a small part of your home to call its own and let it expand to other parts of your house on its own when it feels ready.

Set up ahead of time: Many cats will seek out a safe place out of sight as soon as you let them loose in their new home. Make sure that when they arrive, there’s already a full water and food bowl and prepped kitty litter waiting for them to see and investigate.

Give them space: Cats are cautious and territorial, so moving to a new home is a very stressful time for them. Keep in mind that you are probably quite new to them as well. It is totally normal if your cat spends several days hidden or extremely cautious as they get used to their new life. During this period, it’s important to give them space so they can observe you and your home from a place where they feel safe.

Provide a safe space: Many experts advise “quarantining” a small part of your home to become your cat’s first stepping stone to the rest of your home. Think of it as breaking down the work of acclimating to your home into more manageable, bite-sized pieces. Once they’re ready, they’ll ask to investigate other parts of your home by meowing or pawwing the door. This tactic is especially important for isolating your cat from other pets so they don’t disrupt the acclimatization process too much.

These are just a few key tips for managing the process. Make sure you remain in contact with your shelter and/or chosen veterinarian. This will make the process as stress-free as possible for both the cat and you. Once they’re ready, they’re likely to be a fluffy and affectionate friend for life!