If you’re looking to get indoor cats or kittens, it would be a good idea to visit the pet store and grab a few basic cat supplies before you go to the animal shelter.  Why? Because even if you’re convinced you’ll only just look at the cats and kittens, chances are good that those sweet little faces will be too much to resist!  You’ll be walking out with a brand new cat before you know it.  So get ready!

I learned this the hard way when I adopted my new cat, Cody. Before going to the humane society in my home town, I had only picked up a kennel, which was barely roomy enough, and a self-cleaning  litter box that I opted to get rid of once I’d had the time to read up on it. Consequently, I was frantically running around to shop for cat food and a decent litter box while a friend sat with my new pet.

I’m hoping to save you from that frustration!  Below is a list of essentials that will make bringing your brand new kitty home go way more smoothly.

Food

Try to buy an assortment of foods and flavors, including both wet and hard varieties. It’s common knowledge that cats are fussy eaters so you’ll want to boost your chance of providing your new cat with something he’ll eat. This is more important than ever during those demanding initial days or weeks while he is adjusting to his new home.

Select high quality cat food that contains at least 30% protein for dry food and 10% for canned. Note that grain-free, canned food is generally recommended as the best food for long-term feline health.

In terms of formula, lean more towards fowl- or poultry-based foods versus fish.

Stay away from foods that have corn (or “maize” as it’s sometimes called) wheat, soy, and rice, especially if they are shown as the initial ingredients.

Best Canned Food:

  • Evo
  • Freshpet Select
  • Innova
  • Nature’s Variety Instinct
  • Simply Nourish by PetSmart*
  • Wellness (grain free), especially the chicken formula
  • Weruva*

Best Dry Food:

  • Nature’s Balance Ultra Premium Dry
  • Nature’s Variety Instinct
  • Wellness CORE

*Cody’s favorites

Please keep in mind that while the above products cost more than store brands, your cat probably won’t consume quite as much of them, thanks to the high quality of nutrients. For example, I had a can of food that had rice in it; my cat easily ate twice as much as compared to a Wellness grain-free item.

Dishes

You may choose to wait on these and use your own, but if you decide to purchase them at this point, opt for bowls that are heavier or rubber-edged to minimize sliding. Stainless-steel is recommended. Plastic and porcelain bowls can scratch, leaving cracks where bacteria and germs can accumulate.

Dishes that have a nice contour or slope on the inside work best for canned food, which tends to get stuck in the corners of the bowl as a cat feeds.

Litter Box

A conventional, uncovered litter box with high sides is highly recommended, rather than covered boxes which trap odors. These are inexpensive, available in large styles, and are a smart starting point.

If you’re getting a young or adult cat, ensure the box is roomy enough to permit your cat to easily move about without walking in his business. If you plan on getting a kitten, be certain that one of the edges is low enough for a kitten to get into the box.

Rubbermaid sells a nice, large litter box with high sides along with low entryway which even older kittens would be able to use.

If you intend on having multiple indoor cats, buy not less than one box per cat to get started. Be aware that the guideline is one box for every cat plus one.

And don’t forget a scoop to clean the cat litter box! Narrow slats are recommended to catch all debris. To ensure good litter box habits, make sure first and foremost that you keep the box as clean as possible! Scoop at least once every day!

Cat litter

Cats are sensitive to smell, so many prefer scent-free cat litter, and clumping litter is recommended. The best cat litter I’ve tried is Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat. This brand clumps quite well, which goes a long way toward keeping the litter box odor-free and clean. ScoopAway’s unscented clumping cat litter is a fine choice as well.

Toys

Playing with your cat will help you bond! And it’s a lot of fun!

Most cats love to bat at feathery things on a string, so that would be a good toy to start with.

Also, you could grab a laser pointer toy for roughly a few bucks. My cat goes insane trying to catch that little darting light.

And a little catnip never hurts!

Scratching Post

Cats love and need to scratch! It’s essential that indoor cats are provided with a suitable outlet for this activity.

There are many options to consider. To get started, just make sure that what you purchase is stable and won’t tip over when a cat puts his or her weight on it. If all else fails, a piece of firewood or carpet sample will do just fine.

Cody absolutely loves his SmartyKat “ScratchScroll” that I picked up at Target for roughly $20, (unfortunately, it’s not listed on their web site). PetSmart carries something similar, the Dream Curl Curved Scratcher, for $29.

Crate

Go with a crate that’s is roomy enough so that your cat can easily turn around inside.

If you will be driving greater than an hour to bring your cat home, I suggest that you pick up a bottle of Feliway to relax your cat for the ride home. This item imitates the cat’s pheromones and has a comforting effect. Merely spray it into the crate prior to loading up your cat. This may also help calm down your cat as he adapts to his new home.

Now that you’ve got all the necessary supplies for indoor cats, you’re ready to begin the really fun part: choosing your new cat or kitten!