Adopting a new kitten or cat can be an exciting experience.
Preparing your home for this new friend can also be very exciting, though it can be stressful if you are unsure of what supplies to purchase and what precautions to take around the home.
The tips below should help you to make an informed decision about what items you should have ready for your new kitty.
Food Dish and Food When choosing a food dish for your kitty, look for something large enough for a cat to fit his whole head in, whiskers included.
You also want to make sure that the food dish is heavy so that your kitty cannot knock it over.
As well, look for a ceramic or stainless steel dish because they are easy to clean, and the materials do not irritate a cat's skin (plastic is notorious for causing cats to have an allergic reaction).
Although food is an obvious purchase to make for your new feline friend, choosing the type of food can be tough since there are so many options available from cat food suppliers.
Usually the shelter or foster home that you have adopted from will supply you with information about what type of food your cat is used to eating.
If you have not been given any of this information, don't fret, you can always try out different types of food to see what your kitty prefers eating.
Kittens often do well with cans of soft food, and adult cats will be happy eating both canned food and dry food.
Litter and a Litter Tray Before you choose a brand of litter, you should decide if you want to purchase clumping or non-clumping cat litter.
Litter that clumps can be cleaned every day by simply scooping out the litter that has been used by your cat.
You only have to change the litter in the box about once every 2 to 3 weeks.
Non-clumping litter will absorb cat urine, and the litter has to be changed about once a week.
After you have decided which type of litter suits your lifestyle the best, you can then test out different brands of litter to see which one your kitty prefers.
When looking for a litter tray, look for a style that is appealing to your cat.
The two main styles of cat litter trays are covered and uncovered boxes.
Cats can be very picky about having a covered or an uncovered box.
If you are unsure which type your cat prefers, you can always test out each option by purchasing a litter tray that has a removable lid.
You will also want to pay attention to the depth of the litter tray.
If you are bringing home a kitten, you will want a smaller, shallow box; if you are bringing home an adult cat, you can purchase a larger, deeper tray.
Scratching Post A cat scratch pole is a must if you are concerned about your furniture being torn to shreds.
Cardboard scratchers are a good option for first time cat owners because they are a low cost option, are very appealing to cats, and they do not take up very much space in the home.
Once your cat is used to having a scratching post, you can consider purchasing a cat tree house or larger cat scratch furniture.
Safety Precautions You will want to keep kitty out of trouble when you are not around.
Make sure you keep any electrical cords organized and out of sight if possible.
A cat can easily mistake these cords for a toy, which could result in a tragic incident for your kitty.
In addition to cords, remove small items from the floor that a cat might eat or swallow.
Dangerous items can include twist ties, rubber bands, and paper clips.
Now that you have the basic information about preparing your home for the new feline, you can rest assured that all your kitty needs now is your love and attention.
Preparing your home for this new friend can also be very exciting, though it can be stressful if you are unsure of what supplies to purchase and what precautions to take around the home.
The tips below should help you to make an informed decision about what items you should have ready for your new kitty.
Food Dish and Food When choosing a food dish for your kitty, look for something large enough for a cat to fit his whole head in, whiskers included.
You also want to make sure that the food dish is heavy so that your kitty cannot knock it over.
As well, look for a ceramic or stainless steel dish because they are easy to clean, and the materials do not irritate a cat's skin (plastic is notorious for causing cats to have an allergic reaction).
Although food is an obvious purchase to make for your new feline friend, choosing the type of food can be tough since there are so many options available from cat food suppliers.
Usually the shelter or foster home that you have adopted from will supply you with information about what type of food your cat is used to eating.
If you have not been given any of this information, don't fret, you can always try out different types of food to see what your kitty prefers eating.
Kittens often do well with cans of soft food, and adult cats will be happy eating both canned food and dry food.
Litter and a Litter Tray Before you choose a brand of litter, you should decide if you want to purchase clumping or non-clumping cat litter.
Litter that clumps can be cleaned every day by simply scooping out the litter that has been used by your cat.
You only have to change the litter in the box about once every 2 to 3 weeks.
Non-clumping litter will absorb cat urine, and the litter has to be changed about once a week.
After you have decided which type of litter suits your lifestyle the best, you can then test out different brands of litter to see which one your kitty prefers.
When looking for a litter tray, look for a style that is appealing to your cat.
The two main styles of cat litter trays are covered and uncovered boxes.
Cats can be very picky about having a covered or an uncovered box.
If you are unsure which type your cat prefers, you can always test out each option by purchasing a litter tray that has a removable lid.
You will also want to pay attention to the depth of the litter tray.
If you are bringing home a kitten, you will want a smaller, shallow box; if you are bringing home an adult cat, you can purchase a larger, deeper tray.
Scratching Post A cat scratch pole is a must if you are concerned about your furniture being torn to shreds.
Cardboard scratchers are a good option for first time cat owners because they are a low cost option, are very appealing to cats, and they do not take up very much space in the home.
Once your cat is used to having a scratching post, you can consider purchasing a cat tree house or larger cat scratch furniture.
Safety Precautions You will want to keep kitty out of trouble when you are not around.
Make sure you keep any electrical cords organized and out of sight if possible.
A cat can easily mistake these cords for a toy, which could result in a tragic incident for your kitty.
In addition to cords, remove small items from the floor that a cat might eat or swallow.
Dangerous items can include twist ties, rubber bands, and paper clips.
Now that you have the basic information about preparing your home for the new feline, you can rest assured that all your kitty needs now is your love and attention.
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