Basic Buys for a new Cat

[BaconAndAvocado]

Hopefully getting a rescue cat soon.

What are the essentials we need to buy for the new arrival?

If indoor cat then a litter tray! You might need to try out different sorts of litters, some cats have preferences.
Bowls for food and water ,and a feeding mat saves some mess.
Somewhere warm to sleep, you will find the cat will prefer to find its own place.
A good vet.
Spaying or neutering, injections,insurance,microchip.
Scratching post , chasing toys
Good quality food (read the labels)
Dreamies.
Carrying basket.

By sleeping place I mean sleeping places.........

Wet/dry food. Bowls. Bed. Brushes. Litter tray/litter. Make sure it’s chipped, injected, vet checked. Patience, love and possibly a cat flap.

A litter tray and a good quality litter (catsan absorbs the smell) as I'm guessing cat will be staying in, even a little bit to get used to where s/he is.
Cat carrier
Scratch post (we were told cats should have a proper one where they can stretch up to it - like their whole body length not a tiddly one)

Dcat likes the £4.99 one from Home Bargains. And toys big enough to wrestle with, like a kickeroo.

Sorry, scratching post from Home Bargains, I mean...

Next time you go food shopping pick up a couple of the cardboard boxes they have at the end of the tills for packing.

Seriously, cats love a cardboard box or two... or three... good for sleeping in, good for scratching.

Find out in advance what food the cat is currently eating, as sudden changes in diet can have unfortunate consequences on the stomach . You can slowly wean them onto something else after a while, but it will be something familiar which will help them settle as well.

A new cat should always be kept in for a few weeks so it knows where it's home is, so you'll definitely need a litter tray right from the start. Again check what it's currently using as some cats are fussy about what litter they use. TBH it's now recommended that most cats are kept in overnight, so a litter tray will be a long term thing anyway.

See if you can take a towel or something to the rescue centre to put in with the cat before you get them home, so there's something that smells familiar that can come home with it.

And of course all the suggestions by pp above!

Go and search Cozietootsie's posts about Newboy. You will find that new cats require lightly heated throws, teepees, amazing cat castles, radiator beds and copious amounts of lightly warmed roast chicken. Just saying :)

Don't forget lint rollers. I 'rollered' the sofa at the weekend, threw out at least 6 pieces of sticky paper from the roller, all covered in cat hair.

Luckily both mine are mostly black, as are my clothes, so not a lot shows on me.

Like a pp said, do find out what type of litter (and of possible the brand as well) and get that initially, some cats are a bit funny about changing litter types so best to stay with what kitty is used to for a while.

We have a scratching post on each floor of the house, nice tall ones are good!

Wouldn't bother with a cat bed, we just got cheap fleecy pet blankets and used them to protect whichever pieces of furniture the cat chose as it's sleeping space!