Teesside's ONLY independent Cat Charity covering Stockton, Yarm, M'bro & beyond
First time owners
First-time Cat-Owner?
The following list gives you a good idea of what you might need when you first take your cat home. Try not to over-buy; you will get a much better idea of what your cat likes over the coming weeks.
Of course, give it a few months and you might find it simpler just hand your kitty their own credit card, to save time!
Food
Cat Biscuits (kibble)
We leave dry food out all the time for our cats - ceramic, wide-open bowls are perfect for dry biscuits.
Wet Cat Food (tins/pouches)
We view wet cat food as 'pudding' for most adult cats - it doesn't give them much nutritionally and they don't really need it, but it tastes great and life would be boring without it!
A round plate or large saucer makes it much easier for your cat to eat wet food than a bowl with raised sides does.
Water
A wide-access, ceramic water bowl is perfect. Make sure you clean it twice a day.
Water fountains can be enjoyable for your cat, but make sure you regularly change the filters and clean them inside and out
Treats
It's great to have extras for training, snacks and treats! Scrumbles Krunchies are a fantastic alternative to Dreamies; the cats love them, they provide vital probiotics and are very well-priced.
Toileting
Litter Tray
Buy litter trays that are as large as possible, to make them more comfortable for your cat. Our cats generally prefer open-topped trays (not enclosed or with door flaps). Line your trays with newspaper/wallpaper to make cleaning easier.
Wooden Litter Pellets
Wood (or straw) litter pellets are absorbent, environmentally friendly (check for the FSC mark) and good value. Available from most pet retailers.
Clay Litter
Clumping clay litter is also a good choice; buy litter that has the finest grain possible - it goes much further than cheaper, large grained litter, meaning it works out to be more cost-effective in the long run.
What Else?
Cat Carrier
For vet visits. Buy a good quality carrier that will keep them safe.
DO NOT buy fabric cat carriers or plastic carriers that also have a plastic door- most are unreliable and unsafe. Look for ones with a metal door and ideally also a top-opening option.
Beds and Scratchposts
A basic donut style bed is a great place to start (the squishier the better), alongside a good-sized scratching post and/or cat tree to keep their claws in shape.
Toys
Keep it simple! Ping-pong balls and sticks with a feather/ribbon attached are absolutely perfect.
Collars
With the introduction of mandatory microchipping, collars are now largely unnecessary.
The most dangerous collars are those with a buckle fastening, but even those with a safety clip often malfunction, leading to serious injuries and fatal consequences for cats.
If you do decide to use one, make sure it has a weight-adjustable safety clip, such as those made by Rogz Collars.
General Safety
Cleaning Products
Many cleaning products are very harmful to cats - even the ones that say they are pet-safe. We prefer Anigene (Amazon) or a basic washing-up liquid to clean everything - remember, the more highly scented a product is, the greater the chance it may harm your cat.
Air Fresheners & Sprays
Most air fresheners (plug-ins, scent sprays, 'freshening sprays', candles, reed diffusers, oil/wax burners) are toxic to cats - and they're more dangerous than you might think. Even those that claim to be 'pet safe' or 'natural' can be just as dangerous (some essential oils are lethal for cats).
Best case: Don't use ANY of them
If you must: lightly mist with a spray bottle containing a couple of drops of an essential oil that is SAFE for cats.
Read more: Air Fresheners & Pet Health
House Plants
Your beloved Peace Lily? Toxic to cats.
Lots of people enjoy having house plants around the home, but many of them can be toxic or even fatally poisonous for cats.
After researching, move ones that you can't bear to part with to the bathroom and keep the door shut; give the rest away as gifts to people without cats. You can easily research individual plants in your homes (use a reliable website), and the links below give you a place to start.