Cats will eat 2-7 days after arriving in a new home. Cats will have varying degrees of stress reactions after entering a new home. They will appear fearful, avoidant, and not eating. The owner will eat the food that the cat likes to eat. Prepare it, set it aside, and wait until the cat is hungry and he will come out to eat on his own. It takes a certain amount of time for a cat to adapt to a new home, and owners should avoid frightening the cat.