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Bringing a cat into your home is an exciting adventure that comes with a lot of responsibility. To ensure your new furry companion has a happy and healthy life, it's crucial to have the necessary supplies in place before their arrival. Here's a comprehensive list of cat supplies you'll need to get started:
1. Food and Water Bowls
Choose bowls made of stainless steel or ceramic, which are easy to clean and won't harbor bacteria. Position them in a quiet, easily accessible area where your cat feels comfortable eating and drinking.
Peaches enjoyed playing in her ceramic water bowl, she pushed it around until all the water was gone and then pushed it some more. So her parents got her pet food mat with raised edges. That didn't stop her.
Peaches was soooo excited to play with that mat! She pushed it around daily!
Needless to say, Peaches has a new water bowl. One that's heavy enough that she won't be pushing it around. She uses a gravity fed bowl. This model from Etna has a stainless steel bowl and holds 3 liters.
2. Food Basics
Select a high-quality cat food that meets your feline's specific needs, such as age, health condition, and activity level. Avoid feeding table scraps or human food, as they can be harmful. This crunchy food has added vitamins and minerals.
Peaches' recommendation for an all around tasty meal to supplement her dry kibble is her Purina Friskies Wet Cat Food Oceans of Delight Flaked & Prime Filets
3. Litter Box and Litter For A New Cat
Provide at least one litter box per cat, plus one extra. Scoop the litter daily and change it completely every week or two. Choose a litter that suits your cat's preferences and provides good odor control.
A standard litter box is pretty easy and quick to get from the department store, not to mention, you've probably already got one of those since its a "can't do without" item as soon as you welcome your cat or kitten in the house so I won't bother you with those. I do however have some recommendations for large litter boxes that you can find on a separate blog.
And of course Peaches' preferred litter:
4. Cat Bed
Cats love cozy places to sleep. Choose a bed that is soft, comfortable, and large enough for your cat to stretch out. Place the bed in a quiet, warm area.
5. Get Your New Kitten the Right Carrier
A cat carrier is one of the basics to get your new cat or kitten to and from the vet, as well as for traveling. Choose a carrier that is large enough for your cat to stand up and turn around in, and that has ventilation holes. This model offers top open so you don't have to "dump" your cat out. Soft sided units like this also fit better in more places that a rigid crate.
6. Get The New Kitten or Cat Their Grooming Supply Basics
Regular grooming helps keep your cat's fur healthy and free of mats. Comb your cat weekly using a comb. Also, keep nail clippers on hand to trim your cat's nails as needed. Please note this article does not mention a brush for your cat. The National Cat Groomers Institute guidance is to comb. As a Certified Feline Master Groomer I can attest to that.
The 9" comb helps your cat get used to combing and prepares the hair for a thorough grooming.
The 5" comb actually grooms your cat and has teeth that are a smaller circumference that penetrates through the fine hair of a cat to remove shedding and tangles.
Additional Considerations:
 Scratching post: Cats need to scratch to maintain their claws and mark their territory. Provide a scratching post to prevent your cat from scratching furniture.
 Window perch: Cats love to watch the world go by. A window perch gives them a safe and comfortable place to observe their surroundings.
I'll leave you with the thought that Peaches has more than a couple climbing towers to help keep her entertained and exercised. Here's a couple top picks from our affiliates:
Amazon has a really budget friendly version of a 54 inch tower. At the time of this article it's listed at $19.98
If you want to cat tree with removable pads so you can wash them, I like the size of the platforms on this one and the dual bases to provide a little extra stability. This model would also be a good option for going in a corner.
