Congratulations! You are thinking about adopting a cat/kitten or maybe you just rescued a kitty from the street and now you have no idea what you need. Don’t worry I gotcha covered!

As a cat mom to 2 wonderful cats- Baby (9 months old) and Mr. Munchkin (2 months old), I’ve compiled a list of my top must-haves for any new cat parent no matter what age. Just a heads up this is a long one!

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Cat Basics

Litter Box

There are so many litter boxes out there today it can be confusing when trying to pick one, trust me I’ve been there. There are fancy automatic cleaning litter boxes down to small short boxes, but how do we pick the right one? Well, I’m going to tell you that it depends a great deal on your lifestyle.

I like to say keep it as simple as possible in the beginning- remembering that your cat isn’t going to be expecting some robot litter box contraption thing- they have probably been doing their business in the woods or a shared small litter box. They will be happy with just about anything that you offer because it will be their special throne! The cat experts recommend a tall-sided open litterbox which in my experience is the best option. It’s easy to clean plus cats don’t require privacy to do their business. 

Food

This is going to be a subject you need to do your research on and even consult with your vet if you need assistance. I chose the Wellness Brand of cat food for both of my cats. It’s important to have both soft and hard food in their diet. Soft food for water intake and hard food for the health of their teeth. The most important ingredients to look at are the first 5 listed as those make up the majority of the food.

Litter

Again, this one is going to be a preference. The thing to look for in litter is to make sure it’s fragrance-free, other than that it might take a couple of tries to find the one you like and one your cats like. This is the one I use but keep in mind you might not like it and that’s okay, there are so many litters out there to choose from, also dont forget a scoop!

Litter Mat

This is something I didn’t buy at first but wish I had! I originally put a towel down but quickly realized it didn’t do the best job at collecting the litter, especially my girl cat, she likes to burrow down in the litter when she’s done and pounce out of it leaving a mess of litter behind. The litter mat helped in keeping the mess contained from her pouncing adventures.

Food Bowls/Water Fountain

When it comes to food bowls there are so many options and Amazon has the cutest bowls! I’ll link a couple of my favorites. Something to consider for your kitty is a water fountain. Cats tend to favor running water and some cats aren’t the best drinkers so maybe start with a water bowl at first to see how your kitty is at drinking water. Both of my cats are great drinkers and will drink water from a bowl or fountain, so if you want to save your money at first then start with a bowl and go from there.

Cat Carrier

This is a necessity to bring your kitty home! Also for vet visits, groomer visits, road trips, etc. You can either get a soft bag or a hard kennel. I like the soft carrier and my kitties love it! Pro tip: Leave the carrier out and open so your cat can become comfortable around it and feel safe in it. I do this and my cats have no problem going in there for me and even seem to enjoy it. I keep a blanket in there for them as well.

Pet Brush

Both of my cats turn into purring machines when I whip out the pet brush. It’s their favorite part of our nightly routine! I like the push button one because it’s so easy to clean!

Collar

Collars are important for when you go anywhere with your cat but it’s especially important to get a breakaway collar for safety if they were to ever get caught on something.

Cat Bed

This is important to have for your kitty when you bring them home, they will probably spend the majority of their time here in the beginning so make sure to get a comfy one for them!

Nail Trimmer

There are many options out there but this one is great for beginners. Again we want simple here and it’s great to have these on hand as soon as possible to get your kitty used to nail trims! Start getting your cat comfortable with it’s paws being touched then gradually move to pushing on their paw to reveal their nails. Once they are comfortable with that then test out clipping one nail (best to do it when they are sleepy)

Toothpaste/Toothbrush

It’s recommended to brush your cat’s teeth every day but I have to admit this doesn’t happen in my house. I strive to brush my kitty’s teeth at least 3 times a week but I’m working toward getting into a daily routine of this. It’s so important for their gums.

Blanket

I love to have a couple of blankets that are specifically for my kitties. There are so many choices and different sizes to choose from. But it’s a nice way to help your kitty settle into their new place.

Pet Wipes

I wipe my cat’s butts every time they go number two and it’s also good for wiping their little faces and ears.

Litter Box Bags

Trust me you are going to want these to contain the smell! I go through so many of them.

Fun Stuff

Toys

So many toys out there and each cat is different. But I’d say most cats LOVE the wand toy. You could never go wrong with some pouncing toys and a laser pointer (that one is for your enjoyment too- it’s so funny to watch them chase it). Here are 4 toys to get you started and you can always add to your collection!

Cat Cave

Cats love to hide. Well, most of them do. It’s important to have a couple of places that your kitty can go to when they feel stressed, overstimulated, or just want a dark place to nap. This one is neat because it doubles as a bed! It’s great especially if you don’t have a lot of space for cat stuff.

Cat Trees

I love cat trees. It’s great to put in front of a window- my cats will sit in front of the window in their cat tree for hours watching outside. Plus, cats love to perch up high to feel safe. I recommend buying them from Amazon, they are so much cheaper on Amazon than at a pet store. I have 2 in my house- one in my living room and one in my bedroom. These are the two that I have. It’s a good investment because it’ll bring so much joy to your kitty’s life.

Scratching Post/Pad

Cats need to scratch it’s in their nature. So to save your furniture have a couple of things for them to scratch on around the house. They aren’t too expensive and it’ll save the fabric on your couch!

Toy Basket

Any basket will do, trust me you will accumulate toys and you are going to want a place to put them! This one is adorable but anything will do.

Cat Treats

I like to keep churus on hand for my cats, they love them and the ingredients are great! I also like to keep dry treats (one of my cats thinks that these are toys and will push them around the floor and pounce on them- it usually takes her a good ten minutes before she eats it. My little guy on the other hand will scarf it down right out of my hand!)

In Conclusion

I know I’m probably forgetting something but this is a great place to start. If you are on a tight budget then get the necessary things. You can gradually add the fun stuff as time goes on. The most important thing is making this transition for your cats as easy as possible for them and giving them a chance at a great life full of love!

Thank you so much for reading! Leave a comment telling me about your new furry friend, I’d love to know their story!

XOXO

McKenzie 🙂