Should I block off tight hiding spots before the cat arrives?

Blocking off every tight spot right away is a mistake. Cats need a small, dark hideout to feel safe when they first come home-it's their security blanket. Leave a few low-key spots like under a couch or a cardboard box accessible, but close off dangerous ones like behind appliances or inside walls. Let the cat settle in first, then gradually close off the hiding spots you don't want long-term after a week or two.

No, leaving a couple of small, safe hiding spots is actually better for a city apartment transition. Think of it like their panic room-just make sure you can reach them easily, like under a low dresser or in a closet you leave slightly open. Block off anything behind the fridge, washer, or inside the sofa frame where you'd have to dismantle furniture to get them out.

Blocking off every tight spot is a waste of time and could actually slow down the cat's adjustment. From a practical standpoint, leave one or two accessible hideouts-like a cat cave or a cardboard box-so the cat feels secure enough to explore the rest of the space faster. You'll save yourself hassle by only securing dangerous areas, not all the cozy nooks.

Leaving some tight hiding spots open is actually part of a good preparation strategy-but only the ones you can supervise. From my experience, the key is to block off anything that leads to inaccessible areas like behind heavy furniture, inside box springs, or under low appliances where the cat could get stuck and you can't reach them without moving the whole thing. Let the cat have a designated safe zone, like a covered cat bed or a cardboard box with a small entrance, so it feels secure enough to start exploring the rest of the home. You can always close those off later once the cat is comfortable, but you don't want to deal with a panicked kitten stuck behind the fridge on day one.

Blocking off every tight spot will only make the cat more stressed and harder to settle in. I always recommend leaving a couple of safe hideouts like a box under a desk or a low shelf because that gives the cat confidence to explore the rest of the place on its own terms. Just make sure those spots are accessible to you, so you can check in without forcing the cat out.

Blocking off all tight spots is a bad return on investment, because you will spend more time and energy chasing a stressed cat under the couch than the few seconds it takes to leave a low-cost cardboard box in a corner. Instead, identify which spots are high-risk-like behind the fridge or inside the sofa frame where removal costs a repair bill-and seal only those. Let the cat have one or two budget-friendly hideouts, because that cheap shelter pays off in faster trust and lower stress for both of you.