You’ve unpacked the boxes, found your new favorite coffee shop, and maybe even hung the art, but if your cat still hasn’t settled in, you’re not alone. Moving can be disorienting for cats, who rely on familiarity to feel safe. When everything looks, smells, and sounds different, it can take time for them to trust that this new place is home.
If your cat is hiding under the bed, skipping meals, or pacing around uncertainly, these are normal signs of transition. The good news? With a few small adjustments and the right environment, your cat can start to feel secure, curious, and comfortable again.
Here’s how to help your cat feel at home after a move, while making your new space feel more like your home too.
1. Start with One Safe Space
Cats need a sense of control in unfamiliar territory. Before giving them access to the entire home, create one cozy, contained room where they can settle in. Include their litter box, food and water bowls, favorite toys, and anything that smells like the old space, like a worn blanket or your sweater.
Let this room be their base camp. As they build confidence, they’ll naturally want to explore more of their new home.
2. Anchor Familiar Routines
Cats thrive on rhythm. Even if your schedule is still shifting, try to keep meals, playtime, and cuddles on a familiar timeline. Use your cat’s favorite wand toy or treat puzzle to initiate daily interactions that feel normal, even in a brand-new setting.
These repeated experiences signal that yes, this new place is safe, and it still belongs to them.
3. Create Comfort with Intentional Design
A new home is the perfect opportunity to thoughtfully set up your cat’s world in a way that’s both functional and beautiful.
Instead of tucking away old carpeted towers or bulky beds, integrate modern pieces that elevate your space while offering comfort and enrichment for your cat. At Catenary Home, our pieces are designed to help cats feel grounded and curious, while blending seamlessly into contemporary interiors.
From sculptural scratchers that become part of your decor to bowls that are gentle on whiskers and easy on the eyes, creating cat-friendly corners doesn’t have to compromise your space. It can enhance it.
4. Use Scent and Familiarity to Build Confidence
Cats rely heavily on scent to understand their environment. You can help your cat feel more secure by gently rubbing a soft cloth around their cheeks and then placing it on furniture legs or corners at cat height. This helps them "claim" the space with their scent and builds familiarity.
You can also bring in their scratcher early, especially one they’ve used before. Scratching is one of the main ways cats mark their territory and feel at ease.
5. Give It Time, But Not Isolation
Even the most confident cats need a little time to adjust. Let them come out on their terms, but stay near. Talk to them in a calm voice, read in the same room, or nap nearby to offer reassuring presence. It’s not about forcing affection, it’s about creating quiet, shared experiences that rebuild trust in the space.
Helping Them Feel at Home Helps You Feel at Home
Watching your cat settle in can be one of the most heartwarming signs that you’ve arrived, too. There’s something grounding about seeing them nap in a new favorite corner or follow a sunbeam across unfamiliar floors.
When you create space for your cat to feel calm, curious, and cared for, you’re doing more than helping them adjust, you’re building a home that works for both of you.
If you’re setting up your new space and want pieces that make life better for your cat and look beautiful in your home, explore Catenary Home’s collection of modern essentials made just for cat families.
