The Ultimate Cat Supply Checklist for New Cat Parents

Bringing a new fur baby into your home is an incredible experience. First-time pet parents will have a lot on their plates, though, and will need to gather all of the supplies necessary to make sure they have as good a time as possible.

To help make sure you have the smoothest adoption experience possible, I put together this list of everything you want to have on hand for your new furry child. Whether they're a months-old kitten or an older cat you're rescuing from a shelter, you want them to have the best possible life, so make sure you follow this list.

Cat Supplies Checklist: Cat Furniture

Some of your biggest and bulkiest purchases are going to be the furniture that gives your cat a place to hang out and enjoy their time, even when they aren't hanging out with you.

Cat Bed

Most cat parents get at least one cat bed for their fur baby to lounge on.

Placing this bed somewhere near where you spend time, preferably in a place where they can enjoy a sunbeam from a window or the heat from a radiator or vent, will make it their go-to dozing spot when they want a cozy nap.

Cat Cave

A cat cave is like a cat bed but with walls and a ceiling.

Many cats like to have some enclosed space they can go to when they want to be left alone or nap in a place where they can feel more secure. A cat cave gives them this hideout, rather than having them stake a claim to a kitchen cupboard, under your bed, or somewhere in the crawlspace you can't reach. I offer a couple of cat cave options you can have customized in my store!

Cat Tree

Cat trees range from multi-tiered elaborate structures to simple towers to architectural dreamscapes. Something somewhere in the middle is ideal for most cats.

You want to look for a cat tree that meets their needs:

• Something with at least two places they can perch on to watch, whether it's out the window or just what you're up to all day.

• Something with a surface they can scratch, possibly with replaceable sisal wraps.

• Something with a sturdy base so your cat jumping on or off it won't tip it over.

Other options, like enclosed caves on the tree or dangling toys, are optional but can be fun for some cats.

Cat Scratchers

Sometimes, your cat tree will serve this purpose, but other times, you'll want more than one surface for your new cat to scratch. Because they will scratch, it's just a matter of whether they're scratching your couch, your door frames, your bed, or something you bought for them to scratch.

There are a lot of options for scratchers, from wooden scratching posts to sisal-wrapped poles to cardboard structures you let them scratch until they wear out and can be discarded. I also recommend reading my post on cat scratching to train them how to scratch only what you want them to scratch.

Cat Litter Boxes

The litter box is a fundamental piece of cat gear, and I can – and have – written entire posts just about them.

Any litter box you get should be durable and easy to clean. Anything beyond that is up to you.

• Should you get an automatic or "robot" litter box? Maybe. They can be convenient, but they're also expensive, potentially loud and disruptive, and can scare some cats. In rare cases, they can even be dangerous, so make sure you're not getting one that was recalled.

• Should you get an enclosure to hide the litter box? Also up to you. I find it unnecessary, but if you're in a relatively small space, an enclosure can help give you a surface to store other cat supplies on and otherwise make multi-purpose.

• Should you train your cat to use the toilet? You guessed it; it's up to you. It can be convenient, especially for the squeamish, but it has some serious drawbacks you should know ahead of time. I wrote in detail about this here.

Generally speaking, you want one general litter box plus one for each cat in the household in case they get territorial. If you only have one cat, you might get away with just one, but be prepared to set up a second if you need to.

Cat Food and Water Dishes

Food and water dishes are easy to find, but you want to get one that doesn't present a challenge. Food dishes generally should be steel so they don't collect bacteria and grime. You also want one that is wide and shallow; something too narrow that might brush your kitty's whiskers can make them less inclined to eat and can stress them out.

Water bowls, meanwhile, should be a little deeper to hold water and have a non-skid bottom so they don't slide around, tip, or spill. Some cats are messy drinkers, others are dainty, but you want to minimize spillage either way.

You can also get a water fountain. I recommend them, though they do require power and more space than your average water dish. The benefits are worth it.

Cat Supplies Checklist: Consumables

While the initial expenses of the furniture can be pretty high, most of them are one-time purchases or will last for years before they need to be replaced. Consumables, on the other hand, will need to be purchased frequently. They're part of pet parenting, though, so you can't really avoid them.

Cat Food

Food is required, of course. There are a million different cat foods on the market, and the ideal food for your kitty depends on their stage of life and any health issues they may have. I'm not going to recommend any one brand right now, but that might be worth a discussion in the future, so let me know in the comments if you want that post.

You might also ask: wet food or dry food? My answer: both. Wet food is good for hydration and for the experience, while dry food lasts longer and can provide nutrients the wet food lacks. This can also vary depending on your cat's health, so talk to your vet about it.

Cat treats are also good to have on hand, but since they're basically just high-value food, I'm not making a separate entry just for treats.

Cat Litter

You need some kind of cat litter, but which kind? There are a bunch of options, from crystals and clay to pellets and shredded paper. I go through and discuss over a dozen different kinds of cat litter in this post, so give that a read.

Remember, too, that your cat might just not like the scent or feeling of certain litters, so you may need to experiment with different kinds through trial and error.

Cat Toys

You might not think of cat toys as consumables, but the way most cats tear through things, they're surprisingly a common purchase. There are a ton of different kinds of toys, and every cat will have their own preferences.

Explore your options, and don't be afraid to toss out or replace toys they don't use.

• Fake mice and other prey with dangly strings or feathers.

• Balls to bat and chase around.

• Springs that can go flying in unexpected directions when played with.

• Feather wands and other "fishing" toys for you to play with your cat.

• Toys with pouches to hold catnip for special fun.

• Puzzle toys that can double as slow feeders and keep your cat engaged.

• Boxes and tunnels for more adventurous play.

• Automatic toys that can keep your cat engaged when you're not home.

Generally speaking, there are a few things you want to avoid in cat toys. Avoid anything with long strings or strands that can come loose because they can cause constriction and other problems if your cat swallows them. Avoid anything with sharp edges or bits that can be harmful. Avoid toys with harmful fillings in case your cat rips them open.

Some of these conflict with my list above. Toys with dangerous elements can still be used, as long as you only use them when supervised, so if something comes loose or breaks, you can take it away before your cat gets hurt. Never leave those kinds of toys unsupervised.

Cat Supplies Checklist: Grooming and Care

Taking care of your fur baby is obviously important. Depending on the breed of cat you get and their overall health, they may have unique grooming or care needs I didn't cover here. Make sure you have close contact with your vet in any case.

Cat Grooming Tools

Cats do a lot of grooming themselves, but you still play a role in making sure they're happy and healthy. Plus, collaborative grooming is part of the bonding experience and makes your cat feel closer to you!

Generally speaking, you'll want at least two cat brushes. A slicker brush helps detangle mats and brush through thicker coats and longer fur. A rake-style brush helps remove loose fur without pulling too much and can help cut back on those nasty hairballs.

You might also need some kind of clippers for hair and nail trimmers if they aren't keeping their nails with scratching surfaces.

Cat Collar

Even if you don't plan to let your cat roam – and you shouldn't, outdoor cats have drastically lower lifespans and are dangerous to the ecosystem – a cat collar is a good idea. They can slip out through a door when you bring in the groceries, escape when you're heading to the vet, or just get lost, and a collar helps a lot.

Make sure the collar has an ID tag that your cat can't easily pull off and lose.

Cat Harness

When you're taking your cat to the vet, keeping control of them is important, and a harness can help a lot. It can also be a good thing to have on hand if you want to bring them outside for a little supervised yard time.

There's nothing wrong with letting your cat explore the yard, as long as you have a close eye on them and can keep them from getting into things they shouldn't!

Cat Carrier

A good carrier is essential. Soft-shelled but durable carriers tend to be the best, but there are a million options out there, and a lot can depend on what kind of experiences your cat has had with carriers in the past. If previous parents or people have tried to shove a resistant cat into a soft carrier, they might never want to come near it, and you'll need something different enough they don't have the same association.

Speaking of, I have a guide on how to train your cat to get into their carrier, which you can read here.

Cat Supplies Checklist: Other Cat Supplies

Anything that doesn't fall into one of the other categories nicely is here.

Cleaning Supplies

Even the most well-trained cat can get sick, and cats are animals and will be inherently a little messy and gross at times.

Get cleaning supplies like surface cleaners, scrub brushes, and the like ahead of time. I also recommend an enzymatic cleaner to help deal with cat urine stains and smells.

Pheromones and Feliway

Other chemicals can either attract or repel a cat, and having both on hand for specific kinds of training purposes can be an essential part of your arsenal in training your cat to behave themselves.

A Vet

Yes, you need a vet. No matter how independent you think cats are, they need regular checkups, exams, medications, and treatment. I recommend having a regular vet, as well as contact information for a local emergency vet as well.

Don't forget to get your cat chipped! Even if you don't intend to let them outside, if they slip out, you want them to be identifiable.

There you have it: my ultimate cat supplies list for adopting a new furball. Is there anything I forgot? If so, let me know in the comments so I can add it to the list!