Kitty Preparation: Bringing Home a New Cat or Kitten
First, where are you getting your new kitty? Also, do you want a pure bred or a mixed breed cat? Lastly, do you want an adult cat or a kitten? Kitties can be obtained through ads run in your local newspaper, your local animal shelter, or through reputable breeders.
Now for some kitty preparation. There are many things you should obtain before you get your kitty. This includes collars, feeding and watering bowls, toys, cat litter, a litter box, a scratching post, a brush, food, and a crate to carry the kitty home in. You will also need a crate for veterinarian visits.
Your litter box can be either an enclosed or open litter box. Litter boxes are offered in different sizes, but I suggest buying the largest one available. Kittens may be able to use the smaller litter boxes while they are small, but once they grow up they may in fact “miss” because the litter box is too small. I recommend just purchasing the larger size box to eliminate this problem from occurring.
Cat litter is offered in a variety of styles and brands. I suggest a premium clumping brand cat litter. They may cost more, but in the end it will save you money. This is because it clumps and you don’t have to replace it often. It also smells much better than the non clumping brands!
You should purchase a variety of cat toys to keep your kitty occupied. Toy mice with feathers are always a favorite. Small kitty balls and teasers are great too. Just be sure that you get an assortment so your kitty doesn’t get bored.
A cat post is a necessity whether your kitty has claws or not. Kitties naturally have to scratch. If you don’t have a scratching post, you better get one or your kitty will make one! There are many sizes available. However, I do not recommend a small cat post because most kitties will not use them. This is because kitties like to stretch out their whole body when scratching. They cannot do this with a small cat post… so just save the frustration and get a large one. The bigger, the better.
Lastly, you need to get food for your cat. Do not waste your time purchasing a grocery cat food for your cat. These are not healthy. Go to a pet store and purchase a premium brand cat food. An associate at the pet store should be able to point you in the right direction. You can tell if a cat food is a premium brand and if it is actually healthy because the first ingredients will be meat, not a bi product or corn. Also, feeding your kitty some canned wet food once a day is a good idea. Kitties need moisture and this is a good way to get it. You should not feed your kitty just wet food, unless if it is medically necessary.
If you are not planning on breeding your kitty, please be sure to have it fixed. There are much too many animals that wander the streets starving or that sit in an animal shelter waiting to be put down! Please spay or neuter!
Hopefully you now have an idea of what you need to make your home ready for a new kitty. Take your time and have some fun shopping for your new pet!
