The slight silver lining of the current isolation is that more families are ready to welcome a new member into their lives - a pet companion to pass the quarantine with. More importantly - new cat owners have the time to slowly introduce their new family member to their home.

Every cat is different - some adjust quickly to a new home, while others take a long time. However, the best way to help a new furry friend is by going slowly, and letting them determine their own pace. Start with giving a new cat their own safe sanctuary - a room for themselves, where they have everything they need - food, water, litter box, beds, toys, scratchers, and hiding holes - and let them settle in before introducing them to the rest of the house. You’ll know your cat is ready for the next step when they feel comfortable in their space, they are relaxed, and coming to you when you come in to visit instead of hiding. Let them make the first move when interacting with you and other family members, and give them the time they need to build trust.

You can find helpful tips for bringing home a new cat on this list.

If your cat needs to be introduced to other pets (another cat, or even a dog), there are additional steps that need to be taken, but you would still need to start with a sanctuary room in which your cat is isolated from other pets.