- 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.
My Personal Choices of Cat Carriers - 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 kittens nails early, it will make the task much easier when she is grown. - 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.Recommended Reading:
- Litter Box & Litter
This is an all-important purchase, and is an absolute must for both indoor and indoor-outdoor cats. Look for a sizable box with high sides for grown cats, as they tend to throw the litter around quite a bit. These can also be as simple or as extravagant as your pocketbook allows, but let's start with a basic plastic litterbox for now. Kittens will need a box that's low enough for them to enter easily. I've read of one person who buys a clear plastic box such as the kind you store shirts and sweaters in, then cuts down an opening on one side for kitty to enter. (Smooth the cut edges a bit with sandpaper to eliminate any roughness.)There are various kinds of litter, and the plant-based kind seems to be the safest. Clumping clay litter contains an ingredient that can harm cats if ingested, and all clay litters tend to stir up dust, which is not healthy to breathe, either for you or your cat.
Consider a mat under the box to catch 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.
Recommended Reading:
- A Bed (Optional, but Recommended)
Since this is your first cat, he or she may likely sleep on your own bed, however it's still a good idea to provide kitty with her own special, cozy place for napping. The bed should be comfortable, easily washable and spacious enough for an adult cat to curl up comfortably, but not so vast that she'll feel exposed and vulnerable.Recommended Reading:
- Bitter Apple Spray
You'll learn more about this essential purchase in the Cat-Proofing lesson. - Make Appointment for a Vet Visit
This is not exactly an item for a shopping list, but unless your cat comes with papers showing a recent veterinary visit, proof of vaccinations, and negative test results for various diseases and medical conditions, your first stop before even bringing her home, should be at your local veterinary clinic. So make the appointment now, while you're thinking about it.
Next in the series, we'll talk about preparing a "safe room" for your cat to make his arrival at his new home as stress-free as possible. Are you getting excited? You ain't seen nothin' yet!
The Series:
