Things that are needed before taking on a cat or kitten

Preparing your home for a feline family member is an important part of responsible cat care, so I thought a basic list would be a helpful thing to put together as a reference point.

There are recognised behaviours and instincts that need to be taken into account before a cat becomes a part of your family. So, it’s not just as simple as food and water.

The following list will hopefully prove useful when welcoming a new cat into the home:

Food bowls (Ideally ceramic or metal. Plastic can cause or exacerbate feline acne.)

Food (Dry and wet is preferable. They both serve different purposes, both dietary and in other health aspects.)
Water bowls (Plural. Cats like to drink in a different location to the one they eat. They also prefer the water to be in a non metallic bowl as it can taint the taste of the water to them. Remember their sense of taste is infinitely stronger than yours.)

Litter trays. (Again, plural. This is so the cat can choose the place they feel most comfortable toileting, and also if they want to “scent mark” with ones and two’s they can do it in places they deem correct.)

Litter (There are many different types…find one your cat seems happiest with. Some do not like the clay based type as it feels too rough.)
Scratch posts (Plural. Best placed near points of access and exit, which is where a cat is most likely to want to scent mark in that way.)

Toys (Interactive and non interactive. So the cat can receive mental stimulation from lone play and play time with you.)

Beds (If you feel you would rather try and teach them about their space and yours….but that may not be productive.)

Pet Behave Spray (To “scent mark” places you’d rather they not try and scent mark themselves.)
Pet Remedy diffuser (To ensure there are calming scents within the home on their initial transition. An alternative to this is Feliway. Pet Remedy is a herbal compound as opposed to Feliway which is a synthetic pheromone.)

Parasite treatment (Ensuring the type and dosage is correct for the feline newcomer.)

Never let a cat out unneutered and unchipped. When a cat or kitten moves to a new home, keep them in for around 6-8 weeks to ensure a “grounding” period for them to recognise the home as their core territory.

Be prepared for your new arrival with all the essentials and settling in will be infinitely easier…..for everyone!