Hi all,

This is my first post, (apologies for the length) i'm hoping it's ok to have posted the question here.
Basically i'm looking for any advice and tips from anyone/all to help me smooth the transition of my new baby coming home in a week's time.

Quick background:
I live by myself in a large unit and have already a small pet dog and I work full time hours.
I decided to adopt a cat about 6 months ago and have been just searching around and visiting various shelters etc.
Initially I made the decision to donate money to a few shelters rather than straight up adopt but then my local vet (who doubles as a shelter) had a cat who came in pregnant under some awful circumstances, I'll spare you all the details suffice to say that her litter desperately needed homes or directly faced none too pretty a fate.

In preperation i've read pretty much everything I could get my hands on and spoken to many friends who are cat owners about the transitional phase I have ahead of me. In a pinch I am pretty decently clued in and I think I have all the information I need to be ready for her arrival except to just jump in the deep end and go for it.
Just hoping to list out my plans below in a basic form to see if you experienced owners can give me a tip or two or possibly reassure a very nervous first time owner

- Coming home day:
Ahead of time I will have organised at least 4 days off work, including a weekend to make it 6.
First night I will board my dog with the vet and take him with me to pick up my kitty to give us some quiet time for her homecoming.

My apartment only has an en suite attached to the main bedroom then it's pretty much open (the rest of the place). So I will have setup a fresh litter in the bathroom (It's infront of a washing machine which is not ideal but it's the only place it can go as it's a small room).
And I will have a food bowl at the other end of the bathroom (thoughts?). The main bathroom door will be closed permanently until she's ready for the rest of the house and the door to my bedroom I will put a baby fence that is high enough for her to get under but not my dog.

In my bedroom I will put a cat tree/scratching post, safe toys and a bed in one corner of the room that's close to the bathroom door where the litter and food will be.

I will bring her home in a crate and put her in this section of the room with the door open, quietly leave her be and read a book on my bed not rushing her.
(I have a feeling she will adjust to the house very quickly as she's been cruising around the vet's office where people are coming and going and it's loud and noisy)

I will keep my actions all low key only making sure she knows where the litter and food is talking softly to her and generally leaving her alone, rewarding her if she uses the litter etc, etc.

Day 2:
I will pick up my dog and bring him back to the main section of the house with kitty still in my bedroom/bathroom.
I will pay him extra special attention (he's an attention seeker and might feel left out) while letting him know by sight and smell that kitty is home without letting him too close to her.

Over the coming days I will make sure everything is calm and gently start small "visits" with the two of them with pup on a lead and keeping him very still. I will monitor this very carefully until I feel that she is confident enough to be alone with him (I'm aware this could take a while, possibly not until she's much bigger EG months).
Pup is very sweet and extremely gentle, but he is boystrous and could want to sniff/play with kitty... best intentions and all that I want to be sure she's safe.

Other than kitty proofing my house and making sure only safe toys are around the only other concern I really have is I will be going away at the end of december for 5 days and boarding pup for those 5.
I'm slightly anxious about this as kitty will have only been home for 4 weeks and I'm terrified she'll get stressed by being boarded for 5 days.....worst case FORGET ME or undo some of the bonding I hope to establish in those 4 weeks.
I am totally aware that cats are very unlike dogs and don't bond in the same way, however it's really important to me that I do my very best to create a strong loving bond between the 3 of us, of course not "forcing" anything.

Again apologies for the lengthy post, I'm sure i've left a lot out..
I would really appreciate any kindness/assistance in this exciting but very new stage in my life!

Thank you