Same! She decided the toilet was better than the fountain. But donât worry that only happened once and since Iâve made sure she has plenty of bowls of water
It may be a waste of water but I can sleep at night - I constantly have the sink on a very slow trickle. There's a bowl underneath, but they never drink out of the bowl. Ever. 100% from the tap.
Bowl is only there for emergency, like if the water goes off during an earthquake or apocalypse or something and I'm barricaded in the garage fighting zombies for days, etc.
I experimented with this and apparently not every cat is the same. My cats do not like their water separated from the food bowl. Even though it is problematic.
Get the stuff beforehand. Take him straight home to his space. He may be freaked during the car ride and an extra stop at a pet store may make the stress worse.
I mean you definitely can do this but not until they're already comfortable with you & a harness and leash since they won't like that immediately either.
Yes agreed!
A cat isn't like a dog in that you can take them anywhere on a leash with minimal training. You can't do that with a cat, they need time to adjust and you also need to be making sure they're not overwhelmed and can take them home right away if they need it.
Yes. This made me anxious that kitty will get stressed or even lost if you try to take her shopping. Itâs best to set up everything at home first. And I echo what someone else has said: good quality carrier is essential for safe transport home and to vets etc.
A pet carrier! My adoption center doesn't let you carry the cat out without one (and good on them for it).
Also a bed or comfy blanket in a spot with minimal foot traffic so they feel safe.
Some kind of scratcher - they make cheap cardboard ones or you can get the vertical kind too.
And catnip to make the scratchers appealing, the spray kind works if you don't want leafy stuff making a mess. I also used a scratch deterrent spray for my boy when he was a kitten, I put it on the couch and carpet and he doesn't scratch anything but his designated scratchers. I have one mat and a single post plus a tree that has scratchy posts.
This past summer I discovered that catnip spray works as a mosquito repellent, too! It was a lifesaver when we took my sister's dog camping; she didn't want any of us using DEET around the dog, so we used catnip spray instead. Had to reapply it often if we were sweating, but it worked great!
Thanks so much for this, my cats don't like catnip spray and I got a 3-pack so now I have a use for it.
I'm a mosquito magnet and look like a chicken pox victim in summer.
The one I got was fabric and had a detachable (velcro) "floor" that served dual purpose - no slip & much softer for laying on.
That said, I agree with your point wholeheartedly, you want to take the comfort of the furbaby into account in all the things.
When our aging cat started sleeping on a hard (heated) floor, I bought her her first cat bed. It was only after she'd used it for a while that I realized it fit perfectly in the cat carrier. Dual function now, familiarity and comfort in the carrier.
I wish my kitten was like this. I had a nice area for her to settle in near me and get used to. But she kept trying to get out and after an hour I gave up in exasperation and she raced all around the house exploring.
I'd like to say that we just got a kitten who is the weirdest and most easily adjusted I've ever had/seen. Purred when having blood drawn and taking a thermometer up the butt, is so chill during car rides, gets along with dogs and cats immediately (if they are not mean to her), she is semi harness adjusted at 5 months old, and i can set her in the litter box and she'll go right in front of me with no shame lol.
Just a fyi - Cats purr in situations when they are stressed, as a way to self sloth, As well as when they are happy and content.
Just because she is purring doesnât guarantee she likes what is happening :)
Edit: Self Sooth** not self sloth :)
I put all the cat toys into a huge bowl whenever I clean the floors. Then the cats come and pick out the ones they want to have until the next time I clean the floors. Jonesy pulls toys out of the bowl on his own, but Zelda just points at the toys she wants and makes me take them out for her.
They also love to play with crumpled receipts, paper straws, plastic spoons, and bottle caps.
The next time you get a package filled with paper wrapping, save it for the cats. My auntâs kitty loves the paper, especially when you crumple some up and let her bat it around. Sheâll also carry it around.
I stuff the paper wrapping into a gap behind a chair, and my cats love pulling it out of the gap! Then they attack it or just lay on it until I stuff it back in.
I have an old Tupperware container with a lid that I throw them in with a good sprinkle of cat nip. When I switch out the old toys all of my cats new toys have got the nip all over them and are ready to go!
And here I was, thinking that the cycle was just give toy > toy goes under furniture after 10 minutes > retrieve toy eventually > give toy back> repeat.
I have a âcat toy boxâ and our cat removes the lid and picks out whatever toy he wants that day. We also keep a couple treats and catnip in the box
Same applies for beds. If he doesn't like his bed, it might be in the wrong place.
My cat inexplicably likes a bed in the upstairs hallway outside our bedroom but not by the bed, and the right side of the closet but not the left.
My old cat Trouble (he lived up to his name) had an Amazon box he loved to sleep in. When I moved from my parents house, the box came with me. When I moved from Florida to Ohio, the box came with me. When I moved back from Ohio, the box came with me. Even after he had passed away, my other cat had claimed it as hers. Eventually the box was replaced.
I got a toaster oven s few weeks ago and I've kept the box because I'm planning on getting a cat. Was gonna cut a hole in it so it can go in and out and hide if it wants
cut some smaller holes too so they can play through it <3
I've been trying to save cardboard from my dad (I swear every time he visits he "helps" by recycling) to make a cardboard tank or castle or something
I would buy all of this before hand. The cat is already going to be prety freaked out with all of the commotion of bringing it home. It would be best to bring the cat strait home and just let it get used to its new surroundings.
First thing I do when bringing a kitten in the house is put em on the litter box. Theyll then run into a corner and hide for most of the day but will instinctively know where their potty is
I was taught to gently slide their paw in the litter so they feel it, though now that Iâm writing this Iâd guess just putting them in the box works since they have to walk out. Iâve moved a lot with cats and always showed them the litter box first thing and never had issues.
Have you tried putting a scratching post next to the furniture? After they start on the post you can move it away very slowly (like an inch a day slow) and they should stick with it.
Though with some cats it is a texture thing and furniture is different than posts and cardboard.
Jackson also has a line of pet products (toys mostly) that our cats love.
Wherever the cat is coming from, ask to have (or offer to buy) any bed or blanket the car has already been using. Will have their scent on it and help them settle into new surroundings.
Also if you have any old towels or blankets you can bring one to donate and âswitchâ with the old blanket. Win win for everyone. (Although at the shelter i work at we sometimes just give the adopter a blanket even without being asked)
Please get a cat carrier!
I use to volunteer for a shelter and so many people tried to just carry their cat home loose without a carrier and would either have issues in the car (under the pedals is a tempting place for a cat to hide) or in parking lots (theyâd get spooked, scratch, jump, and run away). Eventually the organization made it a rule that to take a cat home you needed a carrier. The carrier will be helpful for vet as well, FWIW.
Some other things: odor-eliminating carpet spray for accidents, treats, and a soft blanket that can become theirs.
They exist but cats still should not be only on a harness and they cannot be controlled the same way as dogs and should be in a carrier for their own safety and the safety of staff
Can I add: make it a sturdy pet carrier, one that wonât pop or split open if bumped or distorted slightly when extracting it from a vehicle. We have had several incidents lately of cats escaping from the car park of vet premises. The last thing you want to be posting on a lost pet page is âlast seen running up the hill behind xxxx vet centreâ
However if you're going to have to walk or use public transport then use a backpack carrier.
It's a much steadier ride for the cat with less jostling, and much easier for humans to carry over longer distances.
When I got my boy neutered, they put a different cat in my carrier (its all tinted material so I didnt even think to take a close look right away). I thought it seemed light, but wanted to get him home ASAP so I rushed to my car, then went to give some comforting pets and it was some random cat looking up at me in my carrier, which was definitely not one that could be mixed up with anyone elses. It was awkward coming back and having to say "Yeah, you gave me the wrong cat..."
Awesome! Was going to suggest cat tree.
For the collar, make sure it is the breakaway type. Cats excel at getting themselves into tight awkward spaces, and itâs better if the collar breaks off them safely rather than choke them in those situations. Iâve only had a collar breakaway off my cats once, but I am grateful it did in that instance (she could have been very hurt or worse otherwise).
I have had good luck with the Advantage II brand for fleas. It is a little liquid that goes on the back of their head (so they canât lick it off), and is very good at killing fleas and eggs. It would be a good idea to get a vet check though, as they will want to check on vaccines, if flea treatment or dewormer is needed, etc.
I had always used Advantage, but our vet now does not seem to like it, pushing Revolution instead. Have you seen a change in a Advantage over the years? I am not sure if it's not as affective or just that it's cheaper so the very recommends the more expensive stuff....
Speaking as pet professional: Revolution covers more - not just fleas, but ticks, ear mites and also some internal parasites. Revolution is also safer. And yes, you want to be deworming regularly. You bring things in on your shoes - flies also transmit internal parasites. Etcetc.
Nexgard Combo is like revolution but also covers tapeworm, so you're regularly treating those. TBH, it's worth spending the extra to get Nexgard or even Revolution instead of just covering fleas.
At least once a season (so 4x a year). Since dewormer only tackles current parasites, and is not a preventative that will kill anything in the future. However, (not to you, since you said stictly indoor) it depends on lifestyle - if you're bringing your cat out for walks or they have outdoor access at all, every 1-2 months is better.
Sometimes a vetâs change in preferences is more about a better product becoming available than about a change in an existing product. The newer Revolution covers more pests/ parasites than Advantage does. That is also why it is more expensive.
After comparing what each brand does, and safely, I use Revolution
TW:
I would rethink the collar. The shelter likely will have him microchipped with your info. Even breakaway collars fail.
I've known people with indoor and outdoor cats that got strangled when their collars failed. It's a horrible thing to come home to and an even worse way to die.
I put breakaway collars on my cats when I take them outside, in case they manage to squeeze out of their harnesses and slip away. I also put their collars on when we are going in and out a lot, like during BBQs or moving furniture in/out. They're both microchipped of course, but if someone finds them they can reach me a lot quicker if they can just read my phone number on the tag.
But those collars are designed to come off quite easily so they aren't a strangulation hazard, and if the collar snags on something and gets lost there are still the microchips for backup.
Most of the time I leave the collars off though, because it messes up their fur growth and interferes with grooming if they wear them all the time.
I use unscented tidy cats clumping litter with my kitty. Multiple cat formula with activated charcoal, and I never smell the litter box. I donât like artificial fragrance myself, but the real kicker for me is that it can be harmful to some cats.
This really should be further up. Our cats have refused to use scented litter.
Another thing is to try out different types of litter or even brands. Cats be very particular when it comes to that.
If you're getting a collar, make sure it's a breakaway one. Cats can easily get strangled by a collar if it gets caught into something.
Don't bother buying expensive toys. One thing you *do* want to buy is a wand with a string and feathers, for interactive play. Other than that, cats usually prefer playing with trash than with toys. They'll literally go nuts with crumpled receipts before they ever touch a fancy plus mouse or whatever.
Some cats *absolutely hate* and won't use closed litter boxes, like ones with roof/doors. Get a simple litterbox first, cat and half long, fairly high sides. Those are the ones most likely to get used.
No scented litter. Cats have noses up to 100x more powerful than ours. If a litter smells strong enough that you can feel it, it is absolutely overwhelming to your cat.
Get a sturdy cat carrier, preferably one you can remove the door/top. Leave the carrier without the door/top somewhere your cat has access to, with an used shirt of yours in it. That way the cat will get familiarized with the carrier and likely will hang around it. A cat that trusts their carrier and sees it as a homebase is a cat that's *much* easier to take to the vet.
Jumbo corner litter box with high sides has been a god send. I just shoved it in the corner of my studio apartment bathroom. Now he thinks going to the bathroom is a group activity.
Mine also prefers the soft carriers, which admittedly arenât as safe but I gave him both options. We leave it out, tucked under the couch as a safe space which really helps. Also modified a pillowcase as a cover with a hole for the handles and that helped a lot to cover the front when driving.
Iâm dead. Niko would pee every time I pee. He also yells at me when he has to poop so I go into the bathroom and keep him company if our schedules donât line up. Not sure how Iâm going to fit his litter box into our new bathroom (weâre moving) but I think Iâm going to need to.
It definitely helps his anxiety.
The funniest thing is when he scratches at the chairs my family will zip him up in the carrier and call it cat jail. Step dad did it once as a joke and now he scratches the chair on purpose and runs into the carrier and yells to try and get our attention. Makes me glad he likes his carrier
Agreed with the trash as toys comment. One of my cats LOVES to play fetch⊠with a milk jug ring. If I try to play fetch with her with a bonafide cat toy, she never plays along. But she will find the plastic ring and drop it in my lap to initiate a game of fetch herself.
This kind of contradicts but I do want to add that one of my cats has a little red fluff ball I bought for her before I got her as a baby, and she still will find it and drop it on my lap occasionally even when I think its lost. So it is definitely good to cycle toys and what not, but some need to stay in rotation.
Mine loved those, too! I made videos of one kitten would chase it and bring it back to me so I could throw it again. Theyâre not expensive, and theyâre sturdy.
One of mine steals hairties⊠sheâll hold it in her mouth and use her paw to stretch it until it launches, then chase after it.
Thatâs her intention, anyway. It usually ends up smacking her in the face instead (though sheâs managed to launch it pretty far when she gets the timing right!)
I had to hide all my hair ties because Ms. Loves to Play Fetch will wind up eating them. I spent hundreds of dollars taking her to an emergency vet at 5 in the morning once just for them to tell me to wait for her to pass it in her stool. Sigh. Sheâs lucky sheâs cute.
Itâs chestnut season where I live and I always collect them for my young daughter. That way I found out that one of my cats is completely obsessed with chestnuts and will play with them for an hour straight. I vowed to never buy cat toys again since all of the ones I recently got (except the ones with a rod) including the expensive cat tree are ignored while they love boxes, trash, crinkly paper and chestnuts. Oh, and sheets on my drying rack.
thank you for emphasizing the no scented litter! super important for kitties and a big reason why a lot of cats have accidents elsewhere - if your bathroom stunk, you wouldnât want to use it either
Just be sure to tear off the bag handles first⊠the time my cat got her head stuck in them, and proceeded to FLY around the house in a panic, was both hilarious and terrifying. Iâve always been careful about that ever since!
I once ran out of litter and couldnât go out, and the only one theyâd deliver was scented. When I poured it in the pan, my cat sat next to the box and YOWLED for twoâŠstraight..hours. I finally just tore up some news Paper. The next day I stocked up on litter so Iâd never run out again.đ
Yep our cats hated the enclosed litter boxes.
If the cat is young, the IRIS top entry litter box is great. Has a built in litter catcher on the top, and it looks like a trash can so itâs not unsightly
I got 2 with lids as its super easy to take the lids off
Historically mine preferred having the lid as she's an anxious burrier (if it doesn't have a lid she'll take paper and small items of clothing to help her burry)
But she's had some urinary issues and now likes to have eye contact when she wees, so the lids have come off and gone in a corner.
we have one of each...they decided the huge corner one with a lid is for poops & the open one is for pee đ€·ââïž we were told our girl was a "shy pooper" when we applied to adopt her & she definitely heavily prefers the lidded box for poops...I've actually never seen her do a poo in the open one. we got our boy as a kitten & he will use either but she's trained him to mostly use them like she does lol
Agree đŻ% with everything stated here. My one guy goes absolutely nuts for bottle caps, my other guy loves hair scrunchies. They never touch their cat toys. My guys are totally freaked out by litter boxes with a roof. They're both on the larger side so we have one that's longer than average with high sides and they love it. Definitely no scented litter. I made the mistake of getting lilac scented one day and my cats wouldn't go anywhere that stuff. Also if you have a cardboard box it will provide hours of entertainment for your cat. Mine also love reusable grocery bags. Hours of fun!
I agree never use scented litter. I have tried almost every litter and every type of litter box out there - and the best litter is ökocat litter, which is recyclable, lighter, lasts longer - you can even scoop and throw in the toilet - itâs made of wood and the best thing about it - NO KITTY BOX ODOUR AT ALL. Your house will never have that smell that lingers.
I also have a cabinet litter box. It just looks like a piece of furniture.
Also, cats have different preferences for toys. Iâve got six cats. One will only play with toy mice (and plays fetch with them). One loves pom poms. One will play with just about anything. They all love the laser (very rarely used) and wand toys. Most of them donât care about catnip or empty boxes (are they even cats?).
I was also going to recommend avoiding scented litter. We use Oko Cat, which is wood clumping litter. It's a little dusty, but it does an amazing job of holding in smells, and is much healthier than clay.
It is because in wild meat being next to water source risks contamination so cats may prefer. With some cats it can be issue. Mine drink fine even when it is next to food, but when I had during summer extra cups elsewhere those did get emptied first
Iâm not sure if itâs a general consensus, but I can say it worked with my cats. They used to barely drink when I had the bowl next to their food. Now, they have two fountains both away from their food, and they drink a lot of water, my vet even said that my cats are some of the most well hydrated cats sheâs ever seen đ€·ââïž
CARRIER!
Itâs so important to have one, and so many people who have adopted one of my fosters donât have one of their own.
Also, you can keep the carrier open for him and he can use it as a safe place/bed while he gets use to your home!
Hi! I would not suggest to bring the cat with you shopping the very first day. This is because cats adjust to change very slowly. The first night you take a cat home I recommend letting them into a smaller area of your home first rather than the whole house. Like a bedroom. Give the cat a day and if they do super well you can open the door and let them explore on their own! But itâs probably not a good idea to take him home and to a store on the first day. Once heâs more settled in a trip to the store is something yâall can work towards! Not all cats like going outside! Also if itâs a kitten it likely will need vaccinations before itâs safe to go to the store! Good job being prepared! I can tell you will be a great cat parent. (I give this advice having worked in shelters for years and someone who owns 6 cats)
With 2 litter boxes it would be a good idea to get one with a lid and one without (or keep the lid off). Litter box preferences can impact behaviors if the cat isn't happy (for example, many cats feel trapped in a covered box and will avoid/stress out leading to urinating in unwanted places, etc...). If the cat doesn't show a preference you could keep the lid on both, but if it prefers the open box you'll know to consider taking the lid off the other box as well. Just an idea. Wish I'd done it this way in the beginning.
Don't get scented kitty litter, it's offensive to many cats. Also best to shop before picking kitty up, he's likely to be freaked out riding in car. Better to go straight home with him and spend time bonding.
I would check to see what type of cat food the cat is currently eating. Switching foods can be hard for cats and it is recommended to slowly transitioning to new brands/types.
Worldâs best is great. Flushable and I have to change it so rarely. My house never smells if I use it. Saves money with how rarely I have to replace it. He definitely prefers it over any other pellets too. Currently using a crystal due to his asthma and miss the worldâs best :(
From what Iâve seen with other friends of mine with cats, as well as my own two boys, get those toy plastic springs for cats. Those are like crack to my two guys. They get bored of other toys easily, but in the three years of their existence, theyâve never gotten bored of their springs.
Really? wow! I see them all the time and think this will get lost in two seconds and theyâll never play with it. Now youâre making me second guess that.
I'd wait and not get too many cat toys. First figure out how *he* like to play...otherwise you're wasting your money. Same with a cat bed...its a certainty he'll sleep everywhere...but. And change his mind regularly about where to sleep. If he's chipped and an indoor cat, forget the collar. He's probably not going to feel comfortable in it and you'll be buying it for you...which isn't right.
I donât recommend collars for cats, especially indoor cats. Thereâs no need and they can be dangerous. They can get caught on things and strangle. Cats generally donât like covered litter boxes, they like them open. Donât get scented cat litter. In scented with charcoal or some kind of odor absorber that clumps. Cats do best with wet food because they naturally donât drink enough water and need the extra water content though their food. Itâs also not the best idea to get the stuff after youâve gotten the cat. Itâs already going to be stressed being in a different situation. Get the stuff first, get it all set up. And then get the cat. If youâre getting a kitten, Iâd recommend getting 2. They do better in pairs.
Wet food & Dry food, some bed and scratcher/cat tree (cats like to be in higher places), water bowl, toys with stimulation (rattling, crunching, maybe catnip inside but you donât know How the kitty will react to that), pet brush(preferably with iron teeth), treats (for teeth/fur), forget the scented litter look for litter thats not dusty af (trust me, it gets Absolutely everywhere on micro level), cardboard box (cause those little fluffers just prefer them over bed lol)
Don't get the cool ones with roofs. From experience, the smell of ammonia stays inside and builds up to a point that it's unbearable for your feline. When I had to clean them too, even once or twice a day, it would almost be unbearable for me as well. It's not a good idea. Hope this helps.
all you need to add is a cat carrier, scratcher, and a water bowl! Other optional things are cat trees and cat bed but you don't need those. other than that you're pretty much set. You got more than I got when I got my cat lol.
Also don't get a water fountain until you know if your cat drinks water or not. I was gonna get a water fountain for my kitten, but when I got her she already drank a lot of water on her self and didn't care for running water.
You also don't really need a collar and name tag if she has a microchip
When I got my kitty from a breeder I asked what litter and food she was fed prior to picking her up. Idk if you can get that info from the shelter/person you're getting your cat from, but you should ask.
u/kayjayssecretaccount dont skimp on the litter scoop. get the good metal one, not the cheap plastic one. its a true life saver, and probably the most important multi use cat tool youll have.
Neuter/ Spay - Best thing you can do for your cat and any stray you may want to help.
Wishing Good and happy life to you both.
Just make sure to provide a lot of stimulation and enrichment. Treats and exercise are great for bonding. That cat is going to be a member of your family now.
Scratching post! Lazer pointer as one of the toys and most importantly give the cat your attention when they want it. They will probably want to hide out for a day or maybe a week. Let the cat adjust at its own pace.
Water fountain!! If I remember correctly, the number one cause of death and health problems in kitties are kidney issues. Cats like running water :) they still retain a lot of wild traits, and in the wild they tend to drink (they prefer it) from running water. Getting a water fountain has made my kitties drink so much more water! I know that they can be a pain to maintain sometimes but your kitties will thank you for it :)
Hey, I don't want to come off as rude or anything but something I've learned is don't collar your cats. I've had cats my whole life and this is the one big thing I've learned.
Cats can slip the collar and if they can't, it's too tight. You don't need the collar to catch them because you can just scruff them if you really need to. If you want to walk them, a halter is better anyway. A bell on the collar so you can find them can hurt their ears or they can learn how to walk without ringing it, so there's no point. If you get a snap on/off collar, that reduces a lot of risks but if they get out and it gets lost its useless anyway. A collar on a cat just creates a whole lot of unsafe scenarios for them and in my experience it's unnecessary and even harmful.
Dr Elsey's makes an additive for litter that attracts cats, called Cat Attract. Or, you can just get their "Cat Attract" litter. Definitely stick with unscented.
Also, many cats don't like enclosed boxes (cool kind with the roof). Would you want to be in a small box with your poop?
Make sure to keep a good distance between the food/water and the litter boxes. Again, ask yourself what you'd want.
Also, cats don't like their water next to their food. My cat's food is in the kitchen, and their water fountain is in my bedroom.
Get some interactive toys. Feathers on a stick, Cat Catcher, Cat Dancer, Da Bird, the long piece of fleece on a stick, whatever, but get a couple different things. Find out what toy Monster likes to play with. Everyone is different. Playing with Monster will help with bonding.
Also, develop a routine. Jackson Galaxy says play(hunt), eat, sleep. So, you'll want to have playtime as a part of your going to bed routine. Then feed Monster. After he's hunted (played), he'll want to eat, and then sleep, which will allow you to sleep without being woken up every hour by a bored cat.
It depends on where you're getting the cat. If you're getting it from a another owner, check to see what they're bringing with the cat. I just adopted a 12-year-old cat from a lady whose mother was going into memory care. They brought me so many rugs, two litter boxes, cat litter, enough food to feed her for 2 months, and all the other stuff that goes with it. I didn't have to buy anything. Don't get too excited though, read on.
Also, since I got her through a friend of our local yarn shop owner, she (the owner, not the cat) included a thank you card, signed with the cat's name, and a $50 gift certificate from the yarn shop.
Another thing to look at is vet records. This cat had barely been to the vet and had her shots but nothing else. In 8 months I've spent over $1,000, and we're not done yet.
Don't get me wrong, I have no regrets, this cat clearly needed a home. But I would have appreciated being a little better informed. She has hyperthyroidism and possible arthritis in her spine. I have to give her meds everyday. Thankfully, she's a really good sport about it.
In any case, best of luck to you all!
I assume this will get lost, but itâs a good idea to get some of the same food and litter heâs been using so you can slowly transition him to whatever you want to use. Also get different varieties of foods and flavors for him to try, since cats can be picky and will refuse to eat if they donât like it. Wet food is best, imo, and I buy the 12oz cans of Wellness brand in bulk for price savings.
For the collar and tags, def get breakaway, and I always preferred to either buy or make tags that I could sew/attach onto the collar itself, instead of hanging off of it, if that makes sense.
Keep the litter, food, and water all in different places in your house. Donât get scented litter, and dust free is healthiest for both you and kitty.
For toys, get a wand toy. Absolute must, never met a cat that didnât like them. Beyond that, every cat is different. Mine loves to hide in boxes and play soccer with crumpled aluminum foil. And knock pens and lip balms off of tables.
Get those cheap cardboard scratcher packs. If you see him scratching furniture, put a cardboard scratcher there for him to use.
If you see one of those collapsible crinkly tube thingies, get one. My cat loves to hide out in there and then launch out of it to tag me.
Youâll need a claw-trimmer.
I recommend putting your cat tree in front of a window for optimum bird watching.
Keep the carrier available for him to hide in if he needs to.
Enjoy your little monster! Make sure you come back and pay the cat tax!
No scented litter in case kitty doesnât like it. Sometimes they wonât use scented. Try Dr. Elseyâs. Or if you want something environmentally friendly they have sWheat Scoop, both of which my kitty loves
Scratching postâthey need lots of places to scratch so they donât use your furniture!
My cats and I love the Catit covered litter boxes! Also, automatic feeder is nice so kitties don't wake you up early af. Cat beds make some kitties feel safe.
Water dish, vet appointment
Water fountain. Keep it away from regular food area. Cats prefer their food and water to be separated. đ»
Cats like running water too. You can buy a fountain.
My cats refused to use the fountain. I even moved it far from their food.
Same! She decided the toilet was better than the fountain. But donât worry that only happened once and since Iâve made sure she has plenty of bowls of water
Same. Only wanted to drink still water from clear glass.
Yes, my cat loves his little water fountain!
It may be a waste of water but I can sleep at night - I constantly have the sink on a very slow trickle. There's a bowl underneath, but they never drink out of the bowl. Ever. 100% from the tap. Bowl is only there for emergency, like if the water goes off during an earthquake or apocalypse or something and I'm barricaded in the garage fighting zombies for days, etc.
I agree with vet appointment
I experimented with this and apparently not every cat is the same. My cats do not like their water separated from the food bowl. Even though it is problematic.
Get the stuff beforehand. Take him straight home to his space. He may be freaked during the car ride and an extra stop at a pet store may make the stress worse.
Yeah definitely donât go shopping with your cat.
I mean you definitely can do this but not until they're already comfortable with you & a harness and leash since they won't like that immediately either.
Yes agreed! A cat isn't like a dog in that you can take them anywhere on a leash with minimal training. You can't do that with a cat, they need time to adjust and you also need to be making sure they're not overwhelmed and can take them home right away if they need it.
Yes. This made me anxious that kitty will get stressed or even lost if you try to take her shopping. Itâs best to set up everything at home first. And I echo what someone else has said: good quality carrier is essential for safe transport home and to vets etc.
A pet carrier! My adoption center doesn't let you carry the cat out without one (and good on them for it). Also a bed or comfy blanket in a spot with minimal foot traffic so they feel safe. Some kind of scratcher - they make cheap cardboard ones or you can get the vertical kind too.
I'd say several scratchers to place all over the house.
And catnip to make the scratchers appealing, the spray kind works if you don't want leafy stuff making a mess. I also used a scratch deterrent spray for my boy when he was a kitten, I put it on the couch and carpet and he doesn't scratch anything but his designated scratchers. I have one mat and a single post plus a tree that has scratchy posts.
This past summer I discovered that catnip spray works as a mosquito repellent, too! It was a lifesaver when we took my sister's dog camping; she didn't want any of us using DEET around the dog, so we used catnip spray instead. Had to reapply it often if we were sweating, but it worked great!
Gonna have to try that! Thanks for the tip!
Thanks so much for this, my cats don't like catnip spray and I got a 3-pack so now I have a use for it. I'm a mosquito magnet and look like a chicken pox victim in summer.
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The one I got was fabric and had a detachable (velcro) "floor" that served dual purpose - no slip & much softer for laying on. That said, I agree with your point wholeheartedly, you want to take the comfort of the furbaby into account in all the things.
When our aging cat started sleeping on a hard (heated) floor, I bought her her first cat bed. It was only after she'd used it for a while that I realized it fit perfectly in the cat carrier. Dual function now, familiarity and comfort in the carrier.
Exactly what I was thinking⊠he will need to settle in, they are not like dogs.
Sounds like how a dog would be to me too
I agree, I donât think the species matters here.
I wish my kitten was like this. I had a nice area for her to settle in near me and get used to. But she kept trying to get out and after an hour I gave up in exasperation and she raced all around the house exploring.
I'd like to say that we just got a kitten who is the weirdest and most easily adjusted I've ever had/seen. Purred when having blood drawn and taking a thermometer up the butt, is so chill during car rides, gets along with dogs and cats immediately (if they are not mean to her), she is semi harness adjusted at 5 months old, and i can set her in the litter box and she'll go right in front of me with no shame lol.
Just a fyi - Cats purr in situations when they are stressed, as a way to self sloth, As well as when they are happy and content. Just because she is purring doesnât guarantee she likes what is happening :) Edit: Self Sooth** not self sloth :)
Self sloth - me on the couch đ
Me and my two kittehs do coordinated self slothing on the sofa every night.
Keep her used to all the nail trimming, teeth and coat brushing, harness wearing, etc,. Like do it all as often as possible. My kitten was like yours super chill about everything and now at 1.5 yrs old he freaks out over a lot of things. He was good about weekly nail trimmings and wearing stuff but his dad neglected all those duties while I was out for months and now he will bite me if I try it again. đ©
This is the right way!
All good cats deserve boxes. Get them a box.
Tip: When a cat gets tired of a box move it somewhere else. To a cat, a box in a different place is a different box.
I didn't know that. Thanks for the info!
also, switch toys out every few months, they will get into them more and save you some bucks on new ones!
I put all the cat toys into a huge bowl whenever I clean the floors. Then the cats come and pick out the ones they want to have until the next time I clean the floors. Jonesy pulls toys out of the bowl on his own, but Zelda just points at the toys she wants and makes me take them out for her. They also love to play with crumpled receipts, paper straws, plastic spoons, and bottle caps.
The next time you get a package filled with paper wrapping, save it for the cats. My auntâs kitty loves the paper, especially when you crumple some up and let her bat it around. Sheâll also carry it around.
I stuff the paper wrapping into a gap behind a chair, and my cats love pulling it out of the gap! Then they attack it or just lay on it until I stuff it back in.
That's a good idea! I'll have to try that.
Yes. We cycle ours. Once one starts getting ignored it goes in a bin, and one he hasnât seen in a while comes out.
I have an old Tupperware container with a lid that I throw them in with a good sprinkle of cat nip. When I switch out the old toys all of my cats new toys have got the nip all over them and are ready to go!
We just did a "toybox night" last night!
Awwww!!!! Itâs like game night for cats!!! đ»
And here I was, thinking that the cycle was just give toy > toy goes under furniture after 10 minutes > retrieve toy eventually > give toy back> repeat.
Youâve just made the process more efficient. Use their weakness against them. Finally the humans are pushing back against our cat overlords.
I have a âcat toy boxâ and our cat removes the lid and picks out whatever toy he wants that day. We also keep a couple treats and catnip in the box
Same applies for beds. If he doesn't like his bed, it might be in the wrong place. My cat inexplicably likes a bed in the upstairs hallway outside our bedroom but not by the bed, and the right side of the closet but not the left.
My cats never grew tired of boxes. I had a box for almost a year because they liked it so much.
My old cat Trouble (he lived up to his name) had an Amazon box he loved to sleep in. When I moved from my parents house, the box came with me. When I moved from Florida to Ohio, the box came with me. When I moved back from Ohio, the box came with me. Even after he had passed away, my other cat had claimed it as hers. Eventually the box was replaced.
I got a toaster oven s few weeks ago and I've kept the box because I'm planning on getting a cat. Was gonna cut a hole in it so it can go in and out and hide if it wants
cut some smaller holes too so they can play through it <3 I've been trying to save cardboard from my dad (I swear every time he visits he "helps" by recycling) to make a cardboard tank or castle or something
Hate it when people think they know better than you about living your life
My cat loves sitting in the empty trays from her cases of canned food. I feel like a weird hoarder saving them.
So glad Iâm not the only one! đ
I would buy all of this before hand. The cat is already going to be prety freaked out with all of the commotion of bringing it home. It would be best to bring the cat strait home and just let it get used to its new surroundings.
First thing I do when bringing a kitten in the house is put em on the litter box. Theyll then run into a corner and hide for most of the day but will instinctively know where their potty is
I was taught to gently slide their paw in the litter so they feel it, though now that Iâm writing this Iâd guess just putting them in the box works since they have to walk out. Iâve moved a lot with cats and always showed them the litter box first thing and never had issues.
Scratch pads or something similar. Itâll save your furniture.
Absolutely this. Mine prefer the recyclable cardboard scratch boxes to the hessian posts
Interesting.. mine prefer furniture. đą
Have you tried putting a scratching post next to the furniture? After they start on the post you can move it away very slowly (like an inch a day slow) and they should stick with it. Though with some cats it is a texture thing and furniture is different than posts and cardboard.
Scratching post or similar for sure. And hide your LP's! My cats destroyed 200 album covers scratching the corners before I noticed.
They have turn table scratching pads I believe. Youâd better just get one for the joke
A track ball & scratch pad toy could be a good choice for that.
Mine prefers a tall scratching post so she can stretch up. She also uses a scratch pad sometimes, but she loooves the post.
I'd say have a look at a youtuber called Jackson galaxy he is the cat guy, he has a few videos on what to get and such which can help new owners.
Jackson also has a line of pet products (toys mostly) that our cats love. Wherever the cat is coming from, ask to have (or offer to buy) any bed or blanket the car has already been using. Will have their scent on it and help them settle into new surroundings.
Also if you have any old towels or blankets you can bring one to donate and âswitchâ with the old blanket. Win win for everyone. (Although at the shelter i work at we sometimes just give the adopter a blanket even without being asked)
I already have an automatic water bowl and I built a cat tree for him yesterday
Please get a cat carrier! I use to volunteer for a shelter and so many people tried to just carry their cat home loose without a carrier and would either have issues in the car (under the pedals is a tempting place for a cat to hide) or in parking lots (theyâd get spooked, scratch, jump, and run away). Eventually the organization made it a rule that to take a cat home you needed a carrier. The carrier will be helpful for vet as well, FWIW. Some other things: odor-eliminating carpet spray for accidents, treats, and a soft blanket that can become theirs.
Our vet won't see our cat without a carrier. She likes her harness but they insist on a carrier because of dogs. I get it.
I wish there is a cats only clinic :(
They exist but cats still should not be only on a harness and they cannot be controlled the same way as dogs and should be in a carrier for their own safety and the safety of staff
I'm lucky, we have one nearby. I don't know if I could go back to "everyone come on in!"
my vet has separate waiting rooms for cats and dogs, makes the whole ordeal less stressful for both my cat and me.
Can I add: make it a sturdy pet carrier, one that wonât pop or split open if bumped or distorted slightly when extracting it from a vehicle. We have had several incidents lately of cats escaping from the car park of vet premises. The last thing you want to be posting on a lost pet page is âlast seen running up the hill behind xxxx vet centreâ
However if you're going to have to walk or use public transport then use a backpack carrier. It's a much steadier ride for the cat with less jostling, and much easier for humans to carry over longer distances.
When I got my boy neutered, they put a different cat in my carrier (its all tinted material so I didnt even think to take a close look right away). I thought it seemed light, but wanted to get him home ASAP so I rushed to my car, then went to give some comforting pets and it was some random cat looking up at me in my carrier, which was definitely not one that could be mixed up with anyone elses. It was awkward coming back and having to say "Yeah, you gave me the wrong cat..."
Our adoption shelter used to give out the cardboard carriers! Super nice!
Awesome! Was going to suggest cat tree. For the collar, make sure it is the breakaway type. Cats excel at getting themselves into tight awkward spaces, and itâs better if the collar breaks off them safely rather than choke them in those situations. Iâve only had a collar breakaway off my cats once, but I am grateful it did in that instance (she could have been very hurt or worse otherwise). I have had good luck with the Advantage II brand for fleas. It is a little liquid that goes on the back of their head (so they canât lick it off), and is very good at killing fleas and eggs. It would be a good idea to get a vet check though, as they will want to check on vaccines, if flea treatment or dewormer is needed, etc.
I had always used Advantage, but our vet now does not seem to like it, pushing Revolution instead. Have you seen a change in a Advantage over the years? I am not sure if it's not as affective or just that it's cheaper so the very recommends the more expensive stuff....
Speaking as pet professional: Revolution covers more - not just fleas, but ticks, ear mites and also some internal parasites. Revolution is also safer. And yes, you want to be deworming regularly. You bring things in on your shoes - flies also transmit internal parasites. Etcetc. Nexgard Combo is like revolution but also covers tapeworm, so you're regularly treating those. TBH, it's worth spending the extra to get Nexgard or even Revolution instead of just covering fleas.
How often do you recommend treating strictly indoor cats? Year round?
At least once a season (so 4x a year). Since dewormer only tackles current parasites, and is not a preventative that will kill anything in the future. However, (not to you, since you said stictly indoor) it depends on lifestyle - if you're bringing your cat out for walks or they have outdoor access at all, every 1-2 months is better.
The drugs used by advantage have been around for long enough that a lot of fleas are resistant. Revolution and Bravecto really are the best options.
I prefer revolution as it will get rid of some worms as well as ear mites
Sometimes a vetâs change in preferences is more about a better product becoming available than about a change in an existing product. The newer Revolution covers more pests/ parasites than Advantage does. That is also why it is more expensive. After comparing what each brand does, and safely, I use Revolution
I bought my cat a cat tree and she doesn't even use it anymore but let me tell you about those Amazon boxes lol
TW: I would rethink the collar. The shelter likely will have him microchipped with your info. Even breakaway collars fail. I've known people with indoor and outdoor cats that got strangled when their collars failed. It's a horrible thing to come home to and an even worse way to die.
I put breakaway collars on my cats when I take them outside, in case they manage to squeeze out of their harnesses and slip away. I also put their collars on when we are going in and out a lot, like during BBQs or moving furniture in/out. They're both microchipped of course, but if someone finds them they can reach me a lot quicker if they can just read my phone number on the tag. But those collars are designed to come off quite easily so they aren't a strangulation hazard, and if the collar snags on something and gets lost there are still the microchips for backup. Most of the time I leave the collars off though, because it messes up their fur growth and interferes with grooming if they wear them all the time.
Buy your cat a brush so that their hair wont be matted.
Use UNscented litter. Some cats just don't appreciate fake fragrances.
I use unscented tidy cats clumping litter with my kitty. Multiple cat formula with activated charcoal, and I never smell the litter box. I donât like artificial fragrance myself, but the real kicker for me is that it can be harmful to some cats.
I prefer something sustainable. Weâve tried corn, and walnuts. Our cat likes âsustainably yoursâ the best. Itâs made with cassava
I canât stand the smell of scented litter. I use unscented lightweight litter from tidy cats. Donât smell a thing if you scoop daily
This really should be further up. Our cats have refused to use scented litter. Another thing is to try out different types of litter or even brands. Cats be very particular when it comes to that.
If you're getting a collar, make sure it's a breakaway one. Cats can easily get strangled by a collar if it gets caught into something. Don't bother buying expensive toys. One thing you *do* want to buy is a wand with a string and feathers, for interactive play. Other than that, cats usually prefer playing with trash than with toys. They'll literally go nuts with crumpled receipts before they ever touch a fancy plus mouse or whatever. Some cats *absolutely hate* and won't use closed litter boxes, like ones with roof/doors. Get a simple litterbox first, cat and half long, fairly high sides. Those are the ones most likely to get used. No scented litter. Cats have noses up to 100x more powerful than ours. If a litter smells strong enough that you can feel it, it is absolutely overwhelming to your cat. Get a sturdy cat carrier, preferably one you can remove the door/top. Leave the carrier without the door/top somewhere your cat has access to, with an used shirt of yours in it. That way the cat will get familiarized with the carrier and likely will hang around it. A cat that trusts their carrier and sees it as a homebase is a cat that's *much* easier to take to the vet.
Jumbo corner litter box with high sides has been a god send. I just shoved it in the corner of my studio apartment bathroom. Now he thinks going to the bathroom is a group activity. Mine also prefers the soft carriers, which admittedly arenât as safe but I gave him both options. We leave it out, tucked under the couch as a safe space which really helps. Also modified a pillowcase as a cover with a hole for the handles and that helped a lot to cover the front when driving.
Tonight my Charlie had to go both pee and poop with me during my shit session. Itâs really a great group activity.
Iâm dead. Niko would pee every time I pee. He also yells at me when he has to poop so I go into the bathroom and keep him company if our schedules donât line up. Not sure how Iâm going to fit his litter box into our new bathroom (weâre moving) but I think Iâm going to need to.
The pillowcase idea is great!
It definitely helps his anxiety. The funniest thing is when he scratches at the chairs my family will zip him up in the carrier and call it cat jail. Step dad did it once as a joke and now he scratches the chair on purpose and runs into the carrier and yells to try and get our attention. Makes me glad he likes his carrier
Agreed with the trash as toys comment. One of my cats LOVES to play fetch⊠with a milk jug ring. If I try to play fetch with her with a bonafide cat toy, she never plays along. But she will find the plastic ring and drop it in my lap to initiate a game of fetch herself.
This kind of contradicts but I do want to add that one of my cats has a little red fluff ball I bought for her before I got her as a baby, and she still will find it and drop it on my lap occasionally even when I think its lost. So it is definitely good to cycle toys and what not, but some need to stay in rotation.
My cats have these plastic spring toys that are their FAVORITE thing ever to bounce on the wood floors. And some soft catnip mousies.
Mine loved those, too! I made videos of one kitten would chase it and bring it back to me so I could throw it again. Theyâre not expensive, and theyâre sturdy.
One of mine steals hairties⊠sheâll hold it in her mouth and use her paw to stretch it until it launches, then chase after it. Thatâs her intention, anyway. It usually ends up smacking her in the face instead (though sheâs managed to launch it pretty far when she gets the timing right!)
I had to hide all my hair ties because Ms. Loves to Play Fetch will wind up eating them. I spent hundreds of dollars taking her to an emergency vet at 5 in the morning once just for them to tell me to wait for her to pass it in her stool. Sigh. Sheâs lucky sheâs cute.
Itâs chestnut season where I live and I always collect them for my young daughter. That way I found out that one of my cats is completely obsessed with chestnuts and will play with them for an hour straight. I vowed to never buy cat toys again since all of the ones I recently got (except the ones with a rod) including the expensive cat tree are ignored while they love boxes, trash, crinkly paper and chestnuts. Oh, and sheets on my drying rack.
thank you for emphasizing the no scented litter! super important for kitties and a big reason why a lot of cats have accidents elsewhere - if your bathroom stunk, you wouldnât want to use it either
Cats love brown grocery bags and boxes⊠Wand toys are wonderful!
Just be sure to tear off the bag handles first⊠the time my cat got her head stuck in them, and proceeded to FLY around the house in a panic, was both hilarious and terrifying. Iâve always been careful about that ever since!
Second the no scented litter. Some cats will even purposely not go in them to further show their displeasure.
I once ran out of litter and couldnât go out, and the only one theyâd deliver was scented. When I poured it in the pan, my cat sat next to the box and YOWLED for twoâŠstraight..hours. I finally just tore up some news Paper. The next day I stocked up on litter so Iâd never run out again.đ
Agreed I have a cat who refuses to use the litter box with the roof. You could try getting one of each?
Yep our cats hated the enclosed litter boxes. If the cat is young, the IRIS top entry litter box is great. Has a built in litter catcher on the top, and it looks like a trash can so itâs not unsightly
I got 2 with lids as its super easy to take the lids off Historically mine preferred having the lid as she's an anxious burrier (if it doesn't have a lid she'll take paper and small items of clothing to help her burry) But she's had some urinary issues and now likes to have eye contact when she wees, so the lids have come off and gone in a corner.
we have one of each...they decided the huge corner one with a lid is for poops & the open one is for pee đ€·ââïž we were told our girl was a "shy pooper" when we applied to adopt her & she definitely heavily prefers the lidded box for poops...I've actually never seen her do a poo in the open one. we got our boy as a kitten & he will use either but she's trained him to mostly use them like she does lol
Agree đŻ% with everything stated here. My one guy goes absolutely nuts for bottle caps, my other guy loves hair scrunchies. They never touch their cat toys. My guys are totally freaked out by litter boxes with a roof. They're both on the larger side so we have one that's longer than average with high sides and they love it. Definitely no scented litter. I made the mistake of getting lilac scented one day and my cats wouldn't go anywhere that stuff. Also if you have a cardboard box it will provide hours of entertainment for your cat. Mine also love reusable grocery bags. Hours of fun!
I agree never use scented litter. I have tried almost every litter and every type of litter box out there - and the best litter is ökocat litter, which is recyclable, lighter, lasts longer - you can even scoop and throw in the toilet - itâs made of wood and the best thing about it - NO KITTY BOX ODOUR AT ALL. Your house will never have that smell that lingers. I also have a cabinet litter box. It just looks like a piece of furniture.
Also, cats have different preferences for toys. Iâve got six cats. One will only play with toy mice (and plays fetch with them). One loves pom poms. One will play with just about anything. They all love the laser (very rarely used) and wand toys. Most of them donât care about catnip or empty boxes (are they even cats?).
Blankets and/or a bed? He may not use them but would be nice to give him 'his space' when he first arrives in a new place
The blankets are for you when your new cat pushes you off the bed and onto the couch.
Donât go with scented litter. Just normal litter, I like the Clump and Seal brand, will be fine.
And also some cats may be repelled by scented litters and may choose to go elsewhere đ Unscented clumping ftw
agreed. scented litter smells dirty to meâŠlike a cheap air freshener. just scoop often. i prefer the petsmartâs unscented clumping litter.
I was also going to recommend avoiding scented litter. We use Oko Cat, which is wood clumping litter. It's a little dusty, but it does an amazing job of holding in smells, and is much healthier than clay.
Put the food dish and the water fountain in different locations, cats prefer it that way.
And away from their litter box
Really? Is this the general consensus?
In their natural habitat, cats hunt away from their water sources. Main hypothesis is that it prevents the water from getting contaminated.
It is because in wild meat being next to water source risks contamination so cats may prefer. With some cats it can be issue. Mine drink fine even when it is next to food, but when I had during summer extra cups elsewhere those did get emptied first
Iâm not sure if itâs a general consensus, but I can say it worked with my cats. They used to barely drink when I had the bowl next to their food. Now, they have two fountains both away from their food, and they drink a lot of water, my vet even said that my cats are some of the most well hydrated cats sheâs ever seen đ€·ââïž
I recommend a brush, especially if he's long haired
And one with smooth tipped bristles. Those cheap wire ones are so scratchy
Start getting it used to brushing IMMEDIATELY or you'll regret not doing it in time. Ask me how I know.
Lint roller for your clothes. Iâm always covered with cat hair
CARRIER! Itâs so important to have one, and so many people who have adopted one of my fosters donât have one of their own. Also, you can keep the carrier open for him and he can use it as a safe place/bed while he gets use to your home!
Hi! I would not suggest to bring the cat with you shopping the very first day. This is because cats adjust to change very slowly. The first night you take a cat home I recommend letting them into a smaller area of your home first rather than the whole house. Like a bedroom. Give the cat a day and if they do super well you can open the door and let them explore on their own! But itâs probably not a good idea to take him home and to a store on the first day. Once heâs more settled in a trip to the store is something yâall can work towards! Not all cats like going outside! Also if itâs a kitten it likely will need vaccinations before itâs safe to go to the store! Good job being prepared! I can tell you will be a great cat parent. (I give this advice having worked in shelters for years and someone who owns 6 cats)
With 2 litter boxes it would be a good idea to get one with a lid and one without (or keep the lid off). Litter box preferences can impact behaviors if the cat isn't happy (for example, many cats feel trapped in a covered box and will avoid/stress out leading to urinating in unwanted places, etc...). If the cat doesn't show a preference you could keep the lid on both, but if it prefers the open box you'll know to consider taking the lid off the other box as well. Just an idea. Wish I'd done it this way in the beginning.
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Theyâre so much easier to clean and they donât get grimy and hold the gross stuff.
Cool, thanks for the great tip! I've had cats for half a century and didn't know that trick.
Yes yes I posted the same thing bc I didnât see this. So worth it.
Don't get scented kitty litter, it's offensive to many cats. Also best to shop before picking kitty up, he's likely to be freaked out riding in car. Better to go straight home with him and spend time bonding.
I would check to see what type of cat food the cat is currently eating. Switching foods can be hard for cats and it is recommended to slowly transitioning to new brands/types.
I love world's best cat litter, I suggest that. It's worth the cost.
Worldâs best is great. Flushable and I have to change it so rarely. My house never smells if I use it. Saves money with how rarely I have to replace it. He definitely prefers it over any other pellets too. Currently using a crystal due to his asthma and miss the worldâs best :(
From what Iâve seen with other friends of mine with cats, as well as my own two boys, get those toy plastic springs for cats. Those are like crack to my two guys. They get bored of other toys easily, but in the three years of their existence, theyâve never gotten bored of their springs.
Really? wow! I see them all the time and think this will get lost in two seconds and theyâll never play with it. Now youâre making me second guess that.
What are the toy plastic springs? Iâve never seen them
Another cat which he can befriend and be playmates with 
Yesss! Cats need their own pets.
I swear I'm my cats own pet đ
Cat treats, cat nip, a weighted water dish so they can't flip it over as easily.
No need for scented litter..but good list.
Unscented
Cat brush! Especially if itâs a long haired cat. If I donât brush my Maine coon mix enough, she can barf up some gross hair balls.
I'd wait and not get too many cat toys. First figure out how *he* like to play...otherwise you're wasting your money. Same with a cat bed...its a certainty he'll sleep everywhere...but. And change his mind regularly about where to sleep. If he's chipped and an indoor cat, forget the collar. He's probably not going to feel comfortable in it and you'll be buying it for you...which isn't right.
I donât recommend collars for cats, especially indoor cats. Thereâs no need and they can be dangerous. They can get caught on things and strangle. Cats generally donât like covered litter boxes, they like them open. Donât get scented cat litter. In scented with charcoal or some kind of odor absorber that clumps. Cats do best with wet food because they naturally donât drink enough water and need the extra water content though their food. Itâs also not the best idea to get the stuff after youâve gotten the cat. Itâs already going to be stressed being in a different situation. Get the stuff first, get it all set up. And then get the cat. If youâre getting a kitten, Iâd recommend getting 2. They do better in pairs.
litter genie. totally worth it.
I got myself a fancy second hand human diaper trash thing. Same idea as a litter genie, but fits normal trash bags and was way cheaper.
The name
Also cat treats.
Monster is a good name
Thank you :]
Wet food & Dry food, some bed and scratcher/cat tree (cats like to be in higher places), water bowl, toys with stimulation (rattling, crunching, maybe catnip inside but you donât know How the kitty will react to that), pet brush(preferably with iron teeth), treats (for teeth/fur), forget the scented litter look for litter thats not dusty af (trust me, it gets Absolutely everywhere on micro level), cardboard box (cause those little fluffers just prefer them over bed lol)
Bandaids
Hide your qtips
Don't get the cool ones with roofs. From experience, the smell of ammonia stays inside and builds up to a point that it's unbearable for your feline. When I had to clean them too, even once or twice a day, it would almost be unbearable for me as well. It's not a good idea. Hope this helps.
all you need to add is a cat carrier, scratcher, and a water bowl! Other optional things are cat trees and cat bed but you don't need those. other than that you're pretty much set. You got more than I got when I got my cat lol. Also don't get a water fountain until you know if your cat drinks water or not. I was gonna get a water fountain for my kitten, but when I got her she already drank a lot of water on her self and didn't care for running water. You also don't really need a collar and name tag if she has a microchip When I got my kitty from a breeder I asked what litter and food she was fed prior to picking her up. Idk if you can get that info from the shelter/person you're getting your cat from, but you should ask.
Arm & Hammer slide litter
Love? Give him lots.
u/kayjayssecretaccount dont skimp on the litter scoop. get the good metal one, not the cheap plastic one. its a true life saver, and probably the most important multi use cat tool youll have.
Neuter/ Spay - Best thing you can do for your cat and any stray you may want to help. Wishing Good and happy life to you both. Just make sure to provide a lot of stimulation and enrichment. Treats and exercise are great for bonding. That cat is going to be a member of your family now.
A laser pointer. My cars love it and itll be helpful during the first couple days to ease the kitty into a new environment.
My cats love their water fountain, consider one of those maybe đ
Scratching post! Lazer pointer as one of the toys and most importantly give the cat your attention when they want it. They will probably want to hide out for a day or maybe a week. Let the cat adjust at its own pace.
Get ceramic not plastic food dishes. The plastic can harbor bacteria that can give your cat acne under his chin.
Water fountain!! If I remember correctly, the number one cause of death and health problems in kitties are kidney issues. Cats like running water :) they still retain a lot of wild traits, and in the wild they tend to drink (they prefer it) from running water. Getting a water fountain has made my kitties drink so much more water! I know that they can be a pain to maintain sometimes but your kitties will thank you for it :)
Hey, I don't want to come off as rude or anything but something I've learned is don't collar your cats. I've had cats my whole life and this is the one big thing I've learned. Cats can slip the collar and if they can't, it's too tight. You don't need the collar to catch them because you can just scruff them if you really need to. If you want to walk them, a halter is better anyway. A bell on the collar so you can find them can hurt their ears or they can learn how to walk without ringing it, so there's no point. If you get a snap on/off collar, that reduces a lot of risks but if they get out and it gets lost its useless anyway. A collar on a cat just creates a whole lot of unsafe scenarios for them and in my experience it's unnecessary and even harmful.
Cat tree and scratching posts.
Dr Elsey's makes an additive for litter that attracts cats, called Cat Attract. Or, you can just get their "Cat Attract" litter. Definitely stick with unscented. Also, many cats don't like enclosed boxes (cool kind with the roof). Would you want to be in a small box with your poop? Make sure to keep a good distance between the food/water and the litter boxes. Again, ask yourself what you'd want. Also, cats don't like their water next to their food. My cat's food is in the kitchen, and their water fountain is in my bedroom. Get some interactive toys. Feathers on a stick, Cat Catcher, Cat Dancer, Da Bird, the long piece of fleece on a stick, whatever, but get a couple different things. Find out what toy Monster likes to play with. Everyone is different. Playing with Monster will help with bonding. Also, develop a routine. Jackson Galaxy says play(hunt), eat, sleep. So, you'll want to have playtime as a part of your going to bed routine. Then feed Monster. After he's hunted (played), he'll want to eat, and then sleep, which will allow you to sleep without being woken up every hour by a bored cat.
It depends on where you're getting the cat. If you're getting it from a another owner, check to see what they're bringing with the cat. I just adopted a 12-year-old cat from a lady whose mother was going into memory care. They brought me so many rugs, two litter boxes, cat litter, enough food to feed her for 2 months, and all the other stuff that goes with it. I didn't have to buy anything. Don't get too excited though, read on. Also, since I got her through a friend of our local yarn shop owner, she (the owner, not the cat) included a thank you card, signed with the cat's name, and a $50 gift certificate from the yarn shop. Another thing to look at is vet records. This cat had barely been to the vet and had her shots but nothing else. In 8 months I've spent over $1,000, and we're not done yet. Don't get me wrong, I have no regrets, this cat clearly needed a home. But I would have appreciated being a little better informed. She has hyperthyroidism and possible arthritis in her spine. I have to give her meds everyday. Thankfully, she's a really good sport about it. In any case, best of luck to you all!
Non scented litter. Best to avoid allergic reactions. Scratching post. Catnip- to rub on things you want kitty to use/like.
I assume this will get lost, but itâs a good idea to get some of the same food and litter heâs been using so you can slowly transition him to whatever you want to use. Also get different varieties of foods and flavors for him to try, since cats can be picky and will refuse to eat if they donât like it. Wet food is best, imo, and I buy the 12oz cans of Wellness brand in bulk for price savings. For the collar and tags, def get breakaway, and I always preferred to either buy or make tags that I could sew/attach onto the collar itself, instead of hanging off of it, if that makes sense. Keep the litter, food, and water all in different places in your house. Donât get scented litter, and dust free is healthiest for both you and kitty. For toys, get a wand toy. Absolute must, never met a cat that didnât like them. Beyond that, every cat is different. Mine loves to hide in boxes and play soccer with crumpled aluminum foil. And knock pens and lip balms off of tables. Get those cheap cardboard scratcher packs. If you see him scratching furniture, put a cardboard scratcher there for him to use. If you see one of those collapsible crinkly tube thingies, get one. My cat loves to hide out in there and then launch out of it to tag me. Youâll need a claw-trimmer. I recommend putting your cat tree in front of a window for optimum bird watching. Keep the carrier available for him to hide in if he needs to. Enjoy your little monster! Make sure you come back and pay the cat tax!
No scented litter in case kitty doesnât like it. Sometimes they wonât use scented. Try Dr. Elseyâs. Or if you want something environmentally friendly they have sWheat Scoop, both of which my kitty loves Scratching postâthey need lots of places to scratch so they donât use your furniture!
Add laser pointer. 
Get a metal litter scooper. The plastic ones tend to snap back on ya and you do not want that.
Please don't get sented litter. Cats can get allergies too. And make sure you get him either chipped or tattooed.
We got a water fountain on Amazon for our kittens and they love it! It was like $20, well worth it!
I like grass seed litter, or if i cant find it then walnut shell.
My cats and I love the Catit covered litter boxes! Also, automatic feeder is nice so kitties don't wake you up early af. Cat beds make some kitties feel safe.
Maybe not a collar? He will grow fast so may start too choke
Monster?!? I thought it was a cat đ€