Congratulations on your new kitty! If you are a first-time cat parent, here’s a list of things that should get you started off on the right paw!

Food — For kittens, we recommend kitten food (it’s higher in protein and has the nutrients for a growing kitten) until at least 6 months of age. A small bag of the dry food that they are used to eating here and a few cans of the wet will be given to you on adoption day. If you are transitioning your kitten or any cat to a new dry food, please make sure that you do it slowly, over a period of about a week, gradually increasing the new diet every 2-3 days (1/4 new: 3/4 old; 1/2 and 1/2 and 1/4 old to 3/4 new). Abrupt changes can cause stomach upset and diarrhea or vomiting. Canned food is important for your new friend (and less fattening than the dry!) so be sure to pick up some when you go shopping.

Bowls - Ceramic or stainless steel are best. Plastic bowls can irritate the chin and may be associated with chin acne. Please make sure the bowls are wide enough to avoid whisker fatigue and raised bowls can be easier on the neck and help with kitties that regurgitate. For those cats that like to eat their dry food fast (and then wind up regurgitating), we like to use food puzzles as a way of slowing them down.

Litter Box - Most cats prefer open litter boxes (without the top) so buy a large one that they can grow into. Make sure that you place it in an area that is easily accessible and without a lot of noise. Placing it next to a boiler or the washing machine may cause the cat to be afraid to use it (i.e., if the boiler suddenly turns on or the washing machine changes cycles while they are using the box, it may create a bad association with the litter box). How many litter boxes should you guy? The rule of thumb is number of cat(s) plus one (i.e., one cat: two boxes, two cats: three boxes). You might get away with just having one box, but if you have issues another box is recommended.

Litter - There are so many types of litter out there, it can be hard to pick one. Dr. Susan and her cats likes Pretty Litter which can be purchased from Pretty Litter or Chewy. If you choose Pretty Litter, she recommends putting a solid liner in the pan before you pour in the Pretty Litter. With Pretty Litter, you just scoop the feces (you can flush it right in the toilet bowl) and stir the urine. It is a desiccant so it dries up the waste and the smell along with it. It lasts about a month and at the end of the month you just take out the liner with the old litter and throw it away and start over again. Pretty Litter is also good for senior citizens as it weighs only a few pounds compared to the 20 pounds of traditional litter.

Of course, some cats will prefer clumping litter - for finicky ones we recommend Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract but there are many brands that you can choose from.

Scratching Posts - It is absolutely normal and n necessary for cats to scratch, so you will need to provide them with scratching posts. For the vertical type, make sure they are at least 3 feet tall so that when the cat is standing on his/her hind limbs, they can stretch up to scratch. Horizontal scratchers are also good. Turbo Scratcher is a round inexpensive scratcher that comes with a ball in the outer rim and replaceable cardboard in the center. It’s always a hit! I recommend both a horizontal and a vertical scratcher to start. Sisal or corrugated cardboard scratchers are usually a hit. Our friends at Fundamentally Feline have a few options of scratchers that you can order on their website.

Toys - Interactive toys are always great - just make sure that you don’t leave them lying around the house unsupervised. String can be very dangerous (even fatal!) to a cat if swallowed and they can easily get dangerously tangled in it. Cats love to bat around mice and small toys so make sure you have plenty of those around. Recycling toys is a way you can keep your kitty interested in them, so switch it up. Cats love when their humans play with toys and it’s a great way to give your house panther some exercise and form a strong bond.

Catnip - Not all cats have the catnip gene. When your kitty is old enough (6 months and up) try it! You’ll know soon enough if yours has the gene or not and most appreciate a little “nip” now and then.

Nail Clippers - It’s best to get your kitty started young to get used to nail clipping. Kittens need their nails trimmed a little more often than adults. Every two weeks is usually sufficient. Make sure that you give your new cat/kitten treats when you’re trimming their nails, to make it a pleasant experience.

Brushes - Some cats love to be brushed and others can live without it! Buy one and try it out. It can be a great bonding experience with your new kitty.

This should be enough to get you on your way to becoming a responsible cat owner. Thank you for adopting from us and please feel free to email us or call with any questions that you might have.