1. Prepare the first room

1. Set up a quiet, secure room with a hiding place, bed, scratching surface, litter box, and separate food and water areas. Use a carrier for transport and allow gradual introductions.
2. Arrange the first vet visit, bringing vaccination and treatment records. Discuss identification, neutering, housing, and the health checks that fit the cat’s age and background.
3. Keep medicines, chemicals, and toxic plants out of reach. Lilies are particularly hazardous to cats. Never give a human medicine or another animal’s medicine unless the vet directs it.

2. Feed the cat you have

1. Choose complete, balanced cat food for the appropriate life stage. Cats have specific nutrient needs; dog food and an improvised meat-only menu are not substitutes for a complete cat diet.
2. Provide fresh water and measure meals according to the feeding plan. Ask before adding vitamins or supplements; more is not necessarily better.
3. Scoop the litter box daily and notice eating, drinking, urine, stool, grooming, and behavior. Record changes. Straining with little or no urine, breathing trouble, collapse, or suspected toxin exposure needs urgent veterinary attention.

3. Plan tests and prevention

1. Ask the vet about year-round parasite protection for this cat, including heartworm prevention. Indoor living reduces some risks but does not replace an individual assessment.
2. Use only the exact cat-labeled product the vet recommends. Species, age, weight, and health history matter.
3. Schedule the vet’s fecal tests and preventive dates. Kittens require a different plan from adults. Use the sample guide below and record the actual results and follow-ups.

Keep a useful record

Give each animal or group a clear name. Record the date, what you observed, feed changes, test results, treatments actually given, and the next instruction. Let another caregiver see the current plan.

How to arrange testing and collect a manure sample

Source links checked September 14, 2026. This guide provides general education. Your veterinarian determines tests and treatment for your animals; product labels and the vet’s instructions determine safe use and food withdrawal periods.