What have I forgotten for new cat?

[Greenandcabbagelooking]

My first cat arrives in two weeks. He’s a two year old boy, he’s been in foster care after being picked up as a stray.

I have bought:
food - same one he eats with the foster person
food and water bowls
toys
litter tray
cat tree
bed
litter
flea/tick collar

Is there anything else I need to source in the next two weeks? He has been sniped and chipped.

Congratulations on your new buddy! My only comment would be that flea collars in my experience don’t do much except annoy the cat (and some brands sold on a mainstream internet retailer are actually dangerous). For flea control I’d strongly suggest taking the advice of your vet but I have always used the monthly drops you put on the back of the cat’s neck, Frontline or Advocate are the best.

Other than that you don’t need much, assuming your cat tree has a scratching post of some kind?

Maybe consider a feliway spray or diffuser to help cat feel calm in first few days. But as soon as he decides yours is a nice place to be, he’ll be fine.

Maybe check you don’t have any cat toxins like lilies / essential oils / lavender lying around.

Dreamies?? Cat nip maybe. Litter bags.

Agree with PP, I wouldn’t have a cat wear a collar at all if they are chipped, and definitely not a chemical one.

Some cats prefer vertical scratching (the ones that rip your sofa up) and some horizontal and some do both so it’s good to have both options. Scratching is how they mark your house as territory and relax themselves so he’ll want to do a lot of that when he arrives.

Vertical scratch post should be tall enough for him to stand fully upright.

Exciting!

Insurance - PetPlan or Many Pets

Apart from the flea collar and the bed ( everywhere a cat chooses to sleep is officially theirs) you are ready.

Carpet cleaning stuff. Just in case 😉

A rubber mat with raised edges for under the food and water bowls. Stops them pushing the bowls across the floor and saves a mess on the floor around the bowls. Also a litter tray mat for under the front of the litter tray, catches stray bits of litter so it doesn't end up spread over the floor.

Feliway
Litter scoop and poo bags
Simple Solution for cleaning any accidents

Cardboard flat scratcher (not all cats like vertical scratching)
Install a cat flap if you don't have one already
Cardboard boxes for playing/hiding
Can of Indorex (domestic flea spray) for just in case

I wouldn't use a collar, talk to your vet about flea/tick/worm options.

I'd ditch the collar
Cardboard boxes for sleeping in

I’d avoid the collar too and have a chat with your vet about frontline+ or advocate. They’ll know what’s currently working best in your area.

If you can get a feliway plug in or two, they are best when installed a week or so before his arrival.

Some blankets to leave on sofa arms in case he’s a lap cat and a kneader! I’d also establish from early on if he’s allowed in bedrooms etc.

Thick plastic (rubble sacks?) and duct tape, if he starts scratching somewhere you don’t want him to, tape one of these down and because they don’t like the plastic they’ll stop and you can redirect his scratching.

Good luck! It’s so much fun being a cat slave owner

You must have lots of toys, not the type pet shops sell but paper bags ( ask anyone that shops at prinark to save the bags for your new over Lord) string , ribbon, if you have hard floors / short pile carpet nick the dcs fidget spinners, balls of paper / tin foil / cardboard boxes.

I agree with previous post saying go careful with flea callers, my old cat used to wear a flea collar before chiping was a thing, she didn't have any problems with them for years and then either we bought a different one or they change or chemical I can't remember and she ended up with a really bad reaction to it we thought she just aggravated wearing a new different coller ( it was a bit heavier) and that's why she scratching it but it turned out here that she had quite bad sores on underneath of her neck within a few days

Will he be delivered to your house? Or will you be picking him up? If it’s the latter you’ll need a cat carrier.

Felliway ( plug in and spray ) Jollies pet store do a brand which is half the price
Throws for sofas
Ditch the flea collar
Dreamies
Lick e licks
Cat brush
Thank you for adopting ❤️
Cat mom of 5 rescues here 😻

Webbox sauces and sticks, some toy with catnip. My rescues love those little felt/furry mice. Ping pong balls are good. Nice fluffy blankets are always in demand too.
congratulations on your new position as slave.

Cat carrier
Insurance with lifetime cover
Flea/tick treatment from a vet (I really wouldn't use a collar on a cat) - you'll probably need to book an appointment for this so they can check your cat over and weigh them though.
Dreamies
The same kind of litter and tray that the foster uses.
Several scratching posts
A brush if he's long haired

Cat flap - the one that you can programme to his microchip so only he will get in and out. Will save you a fortune in cat litter!

Thank you for adopting a rescue! There’s loads of good advice on here already, so I won’t add to the list. I would say don’t bother with the insurance though, just put £30 aside into an account each month as your emergency vet bill fund.

I’m sure the rescue have already said this, but don’t expect too much from him to start with, he’ll be terrified in his new home! Just start him in one room, with his food, litter, bed, feliway plug in etc in. He will need time and patience to start with, and don’t let him outside until you know for sure he’ll come home! My 2 spent their first week hiding under the sofa, but now we are 3 months in and they’ve take over the house 😂

From very very bitter experience check your windows are all secure. After many years of longing I adopted Kevin. A ‘fine-looking’ (that was in the notice) two-year-old black cat. Three days later he escaped out of a window never to be seen again. 😪😔😟😔😞

Despite all the advice not to have a flea collar, I'd put on an easy release cloth collar and a tag with your phone number on it and if your cat is neutered and chipped.
I have two cats and we put collars on as soon as we got them. I know cats have chips but that requires a trip to the vet - a collar allows people to immediately get in touch if they think your cat is lost. Mine are very active cats and the collars have stayed on. Side benefit is they jangle a bit so hope that means that any wildlife will not end up in their little claws!
Grooming brush.

I've heard horror stories of cat injuries from collars so mine have never had one

@Greenandcabbagelooking you know it's the mn law that you have to post a pic of your new overlord on here when you get him don't you. 😁

I agree re flea collars. They're not great. No collar at all is best.
A mat to put food bowl on.
A tunnel.

I’ve made a vet appointment for flea and tick prevention and will return the collar.

I’m fully aware he will likely ignore all the lovingly chosen toys and beds in favour of a bit of fluff and a cardboard box.

we’ve got mats for under food bowls, but I didn’t think about a mat for near the litter tray.

Do you have somewhere high up that your new Lord and master can access so he can get away from prying eyes and hands?

Mine has his own high cupboard on the landing and it's his go to place when he feels stressed.

All the above but don't use frontline for fleas. It's not dangerous or anything but fleas are beginning to develop a resistance to it.