She is not tame-but-homeless; she is learning a new way of life
A former stray who has never lived indoors has survived by her own rules: food was hunted or scavenged, shelter was chosen nightly, and people were large, unpredictable creatures to watch from a distance. Bringing her home does not switch that off. Enclosed rooms, a ceiling, the television, the washing machine's spin cycle, and even a litter tray are all foreign, and her first instinct under stress may be to bolt for a door or wedge herself somewhere unreachable. Adopting her means signing up for a gradual domestication project measured in weeks and months, not a weekend of settling in.
One room, sealed tight, is her whole world at first
Begin with a single quiet room and treat escape-proofing as seriously as the rescue did: windows latched or fitted with secure screens, doors that every household member closes without thinking, and no visitors reaching for her. Inside that room put everything she needs — tray, water well away from food, a scratching post, and hiding places she can use without being cornered, like a box with a blanket. Sit in there daily doing ordinary quiet things, let her watch you, and offer food on a predictable schedule, because regular meals are the clearest argument that this strange indoor territory provides.
Litter, food, and hands all need translating
A cat who has always toileted outdoors may ignore a tray or choose a plant pot, so place the tray in a quiet corner, keep it clean, and praise proximity rather than punishing misses; many strays take to an unscented, soil-like litter more readily than pellets. Feed little and often at first, and resist stroking her while she eats — for a stray, a hand arriving during a meal can read as competition. Let contact start with her rubbing against you, keep early strokes brief and on the cheek or chin, and stop before she has to tell you to.
The escape risk is highest exactly when she seems calmer
Former strays often make their break not on day one but once they know the house's rhythms — which door opens to the outside, when it opens, and who is careless with it. Brief everyone, fit a routine of checking where she is before doors open, and keep her indoors even once she seems settled, unless a vet or the rescue advises otherwise for her case. If she does get out, speed matters more than searching widely on your own: neighbours watching and reporting sightings are how roaming cats come home.
Patience is the adoption, not a prelude to it
Some former strays become devoted lap cats; others remain affectionate on their own terms, present but not cuddly, for life. Both outcomes are successes. What she needs from you is consistency: the same feeding times, the same calm voice, the same respect for a flinch. Keep the rescue's advice line open, because they know her history on the street better than anyone. And as a safety net for those early weeks, post her through KinsLe's Lost Pet Alert System if she slips out: it costs nothing from her profile, searchers can see the alert where they check the map, and whoever spots her can send you a direct message through KinsLe.