3 Things To Buy When Adopting A Cat

You’ve decided to adopt a cat – congratulations! Cats are wonderful pets who can live long lives with proper care. Before you bring home your first cat, though, you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need in place. 

These are three essentials for the new cat owner – and also a handful of items many cat owners buy but don’t really need.

Litter Boxes And Cat Litter

Your cat will almost certainly be litter trained by the time they arrive in your home since most kittens learn to use a litter box when they’re just a few weeks old, so make sure you have a litter box set up and ready to go. 

In fact, if you’re getting one cat, you should get two litter boxes, as the recommended number of litter boxes for any home is “the number of cats + 1.” That means a single cat home should have two litter boxes, while a home with, for example, three cats should have four boxes spread throughout the house.

As for choosing a litter, some cats can be very fussy about the material. You may wish to ask the shelter what kind of litter your cat was using and try to switch materials a little later if you’re not happy with it.

Food And Water Bowls

Your cat will likely eat two meals a day, so make sure you’ve set up an area where you’ll feed them with food and water bowls, as well as a placemat if you so desire. When choosing food and water bowls for cats, remember that they don’t need to be too big and should be made from material that can be easily cleaned. Avoid bowls made from plastic as some cats develop an acne-like condition from these bowls; ceramic or metal bowls are a better choice. 

A Scratching Post

Scratching is a normal cat behavior, but that doesn’t mean that you want your cat to scratch up your furniture. Make sure you get a scratching post or other toy designed for scratching. You’ll find a variety of choices, including scratching posts in fun shapes and designs, along with everything else you need at your favorite one-stop pet supply center.

What You Don’t Need

It’s tempting to spoil your new cat, but rather than load up on things you don’t really need, save your money for your new furry friend’s medical costs. A few things you can delay or avoid buying altogether for your cat include:

• A pet bed: If your cat shows a clear preference for sleeping in a particular area, you can try putting a bed there, but the reality is that most cats never use them. Instead, they sit unused in a corner of your home. 
• Too many toys: Yes, your cat should have a few toys to check out when you bring them home, but you don’t need to have very many. As any seasoned cat owner can tell you, most cats gravitate towards items like the plastic ring from the milk container, a random scrunchie you set aside, or your child’s stuffed animal.
• A collar: This one is really up to you. If your cat is going to spend time outside, which experts typically recommend against, then a collar is a good idea. However, cats today are microchipped and your cat should be staying indoors, so having one is largely optional, and many cats hate them.

Other Preparations

Finally, as you prepare to bring your cat home, there are a few additional steps you should take. These include removing any toxic plants from your home, checking for breakable items your cat may knock down, and deciding if there are rooms or areas of your home that you don’t want your cat to enter. 

During the first few days or weeks, it’s wise to keep your cat in a smaller space so that they can adjust to their new environment and get to know you, but others will boldly set out to explore immediately. 

Just pay attention to your cat and their temperament and see what’s working. They’re opinionated creatures and sure to let you know what they want!