Shopping List for Your New Cat- What should you have

 There are several items to gather or acquire before bringing your new cat or kitten home, so your cat will feel more like a member of the family than a guest. To reduce stress on the “big day,,” complete this a few days in advance. You don’t want to suddenly realize at 8 o’clock that you forgot to buy cat food since you were so excited to bring your cat home. The following are the bare minimal requirements for your cat:

Food
It’s probably best to feed your new pet whatever she’s used to eating if you can get in touch with the caregiver from the cat’s previous residence. Most frequently, a breeder’s contract may strongly advise or demand you to feed a specific kind of food if you buy a cat from them. Here are some suggestions for choosing what to feed cats and kittens with unknown backgrounds:Purchases for Kittens
Look for diets with “Complete and Balanced Nutrition” and the AAFCO animal feeding tested statement “for all life stages,” as these newborns require more fats and proteins than grown cats. Additionally, there are foods created especially for kitties. These are distinguishable bythe words “highly digestible, nutrient-dense and uniquely designed to meet kittens’ nutritional requirements.” Kittens from eight weeks upward can handle dry food quite well, although canned food is really better for them.

Purchases for Adult Cats
Although canned food is preferable for cats, your cat may only be accustomed to dry food. Dry food is ideal for grown cats, and any of the quality brands is suitable. In order to finally transition your cat to canned food solely, you need also supplement with canned food.

Food and Water Bowls

Although your new cat can be fed on any ceramic (non-lead-glazed) or stainless steel bowls you have in your kitchen, you may feel better with providing her with her very own dishes. It is not recommended to use plastic dishes for cats, as some cats develop a chin rash from plastic; also, softer plastic scratches, which provides a harbor from bacteria (possibly a case of cause-and-effect here.)There are a number of non-tip stainless steel bowls available for pets. If you prefer decorated ceramic dishes, make sure the glaze is lead-free. To be safe, purchase only products made in the U.S.

Automatic food and water servers are especially nice if the humans will be gone for long periods during the day, e.g., to a job or school. Most cats love the pure, fresh taste of running water, and automatic water dispensers ensure a constant supply of clean water.

 

Toys
All cats enjoy playing, so you two can start off your time together by playing with Kitty and her toys. For interactive play, the “fishing pole, dangling bait” type of toy is a huge favorite. Just make sure it is strong enough to prevent little kittens from ripping the feathers and other materials off the dangling part. The catnip mouse is a classic favorite. Simple cardboard constructions to custom-built “cat furniture” combinations costing several hundred dollars can be used to make cat towers and houses.

Grooming Tools

Grooming time is a fine time for bonding with your cat or new kitten. Look for a fine-toothed comb and a rubber-backed pin brush. A nail clipper designed for cats is a plus. If you start clipping your kitten’s nails early, it will make the task much easier when she is grown.

Cat Carrier

This is a must. Don’t ever try to transport a cat without one. A simple cardboard carrier (available from your vet) is fine for bringing a new cat or kitten home, but you’ll need to replace this eventually with a solid-bottomed fiberglass or tough plastic carrier with secure latch and a screened opening the cat can look through. A heavy-duty cloth airline-approved carrier is a good alternative if travel is in your future.

Scratching Post

Your cat is going to scratch, whether you approve or not. Start your relationship off right by investing in a scratching post. It can be as simple or fancy as you like; you can even assemble one yourself if you’re handy with tools. Some commercially-made scratching posts have catnip scent applied to attract your kitty. If your budget is limited, start with a cardboard scratcher, such as the Cosmic Alpine Scratcher.

Litter and Litter Box
Both indoor and indoor-outdoor cats require the best litter box, so make sure you get one for your pet. For mature cats, use a large box with high edges as they have a tendency to scatter their waste quite a bit. These can also be as plain or as opulent as your budget permits, but for the time being, start with a straightforward plastic litter box that is located right for your cat.A box that kittens can easily enter will be necessary. There are several types of litter, but the one made from plants seems to be the safest. All clay litters have a tendency to stir up dust, which is unhealthy, and clumping clay litter has a component that could hurt cats if consumed healthy to breathe, either for you or your cat.

Consider a mat under the box to catch the stray litter. You can buy mats for that purpose at a pet store, or buy a few inexpensive carpet or linoleum samples that can just be tossed and replaced when they get too grungy.

A Bed (Optional, but Recommended)
Since this is your first cat, it’s likely that he or she will sleep on your bed, but it’s still a good idea to provide kitty her own unique, comfy space to rest. The bed should be cozy, cleanable, and big enough for an adult cat to curl up securely without being too big to make her feel exposed and defenseless.

Make a veterinary appointment

Although it’s not exactly something you’d put on a shopping list, your cat should visit your local veterinary clinic before you even bring her home if she doesn’t have papers proving a recent veterinary visit, proof of vaccinations, and negative test results for a variety of illnesses and medical conditions. Set up the meeting right away, while you’re thinking about it.