What are some good cat supplies?
Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at
10:14 pm
I might get a cat so I won’t to be ready. What are some approved cat supplies, that will make the cat feel good?
Filed under: Cat Supplies
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A good food — I feed my guys Evo and it’s working well
A cat bed
Toys — if it’s a kitten (or an adult who likes to chew) you’ll need chew toys as well as some just for play
Treats
A cat box
A good non-clay litter
A litter scoop
A brush
Claw clippers (the small scissor-like ones are easy to use have your vet teach you how to clip safely) and styptic powder (just in case)
catnip
A collar
cat toothbrush and toothpaste (so far they all seem to enjoy it once they get used to the notion)
Some things to consider:
When to spay/neuter
microchipping
vaccinations and checkups
information on emergency care just in case.
You’ll also want to cat/kitten "proof" your home… much like doing so for a toddler actually…. cats can open the lower cabinets in your kitchen and bathroom… so make sure all bottled of anything toxic are shut tightly or put child guards on them.
Some cats like to chew electrical cords… and yes, that can kill them (one of mine came close but recovered… after a $500 vet bill and a $150 cord replacement for some computer equipment)… split loom cable covers and attaching cords to the wall wherever possible so that they can’t be chewed is a good idea.
Also, any furniture that has the possibility of tipping over if the cat jumps on it needs to be attached to the wall, or at least the heaviest items be put on the lowest shelves so that the cats weight won’t make it tippy and top-heavy.
Small breakables need to be behind doors…. or they may turn into many, much smaller and sharper… cat toys.
There’s no such thing as a shelf that’s "too high" for a cat…. if they want to find their way up there, they will.
Another thing to be prepared for…. fun…. cats love to play and interact with their humans…. they also usually love to sleep with us and snuggle …. which overall outweighs all the preparation for having them in your life….
Good luck!
This depends on how old the cat is. If you get a kitten i would say first u need kitten chow. a kitten is any cat under 1 year of age. then a couple of toys a vitamin supplement and a litterbox with litter. you dont need to go fancy just go to walmart and buy him or her the things u like or think that they will like. now toys can be expensive best toy in the world is a piece of yarn or a brown paper bag left open or a cardboard box left on the floor. another favorite is a piece of aluminum foil balled up or the top to a 1 liter bottle of soda (I use mountain dew ones cuz they are bigger)
Get premium grade food, it costs more but they eat less and poop less and it’s healthier for them. Ask a store associate in the pet store to show you which are premium grade. The one I buy is called Blue Spa Select.
Toys- teasers (feather or on string), ball, catnip
A brush if you have a long haired cat
A scratch post and deep or hooded litter box if you plan for it to be an indoor cat
Those are the basics and really all you need
The musts for sure are a litter box, scratching post, food, and food and water bowls. (I suggest using ceramic or metal. Chemicals in plastic can slowly seep out into the food or water and do all kinds of stuff to the cat’s health. my cat got chin acne from her plastic water bowl.)
Try to get the same food the cat has been eating before you get it, because sometimes cats don’t take very well to switching of food.
After the basics, you can move on to other stuff if you like. You can buy little toys filled with catnip which seems to be a favorite with any cat, and a cat teaser for sure. Maybe get a bed or even a little cat hide out spot like one of those fold able cubes.
Other then that, your cat should be good. Just make sure that when you first bring your cat home, don’t force it out of it’s carrier. Just set the carrier down in a closed room and open the carrier up for the cat and let the cat come out on its own. It is very normal for a cat to jump out of the carrier and find an even better hiding spot like underneath bed or chair.
matches, vitamins, pain killers, fishing line, hooks, flashlight, compass, are all great supplies and thers lots more goto the local sporting goods store and ask what are good supplies that will make your cat feel good.
Kitty or adult cat food depending on the age.
Litter box.
Electric sheep shears (If your cat will need it, for example if you get one from some place like http://www.adoptapet.com/ and you need to groom it for health reasons and you’re experienced, and you don’t NEED a groomer
Kitty balls (no. Not literal kitty balls, balls for them to play with that jingle and what not)
A cat palace, something cool like this: http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/b861/
Kitty litter
Dewormer medicine
Flea medicine
Some luxury kitty food (the canned kind to spoil them with)
For food (wet & dry) go for the company Wellness =]
If you get a kitten, buy the wet food, from Wellness that says "Kitten Formula" on it, if it’s an adult cat, the regular one.
Buy both dry food, and wet food.
The cat/kitten should always have access to fresh water, and dry food. As for the amount of wet food you should feed, read what it says on the can, or ask a vet.
Have cat toys =) Maybe a scartch post too.
Warm blankets for the cat/kitten to sleep on.
A litter box, and kitty litter – you need to clean the cat’s litter out daily.
Hope this helps!
Get a cat tree. You can get one from wal mart for $25. It had 3 perched and attatches to the ceiling without harming it. The cats can jump, play, fight, and scratch it!