Must-Have Cat Essentials for Cat Parents
Are you thinking about what to buy for a new cat? Your first cat? Well, you’re in the right place. Before committing to caring for your new cat, it’s important to run a quick checklist to ensure you have everything on hand for your feline’s needs. Our Cat Essentials checklist will allow your cat to feel welcomed in his/her new home! Let’s help you get ready. We’ve gathered 13 cat essentials that will make sure that you have everything you need when the time comes for your new cat to come home!
Here are all the things you need as a first time cat owner to make sure you can keep your cat healthy and happy:
1. Cat Food
In a perfect world, we would all love nothing more than to afford the best cat food available in the market to ensure you are feeding your cat healthy food. In today’s economy, budgeting is very important for many Americans. When people talk about cat food you’ll hear them recommending $60-$100 bags of cat food. Don’t get discouraged! It’s not 100% necessary if money is tight.
After speaking with different veterinarians, the best care is what you’re able to provide your cat. Even the most affordable options are good enough for your cat. Most vets we spoke to recommended the Purina brand. While vets agree that other brands offer healthier ingredients, this brand will still provide good benefits for a tighter budget!
As people say, if an ingredient is hard to pronounce, it probably shouldn’t be there! The same idea applies here. If we’re shopping for affordable brands, it’ll be hard to avoid fillers such as corn. However, some brands are inexpensive offering better ingredients. Sheba is our favorite brand that uses healthy ingredients. They are individually packaged making serving time easier on you!
Usually, wet food is considered much better for your cat. Higher prices mean healthy ingredients. I’ve spoken to many vets over the years and even they agree, all cats should be fed wet food. Don’t get discouraged again!
Since wet food is considered more expensive, a mix of dry/wet food is totally acceptable! Here is how you can improve their water intake. Grab their food bowls to pour dry food, add about an ounce of water, and top it off with food toppers such as Solid Gold SeaMeal. Food toppers such as the SeaMeal help with your cat’s skin & coat, gut, and immune support. Also, providing multiple water bowls around your home will provide your cat with more areas for hydration.
Why is wet food better than dry? To emphasize, wet food is made up of 75-80% water while dry food only contains 6-10% of water. Drinking water helps your cat with digestion, temperature regulation, detoxification of kidneys, and joint lubrication. A healthy cat should be properly hydrated.
2. Cat Bowls
Let’s talk food bowls for a second.
Every cat is different so if your cat is a fast eater, there is a solution! A slow feeder is necessary. Our cat had this problem where he would swallow his food and vomit later. A slow feeder was our solution and now he eats at a slower pace. We highly recommend this slow feeder as his eating habits have improved.
Quick tip:
You can find great deals at Marshalls, HomeGoods, or TJ Maxx. Slow feeders for dogs work just as great for cats too! Just make sure to get one for small dogs so that it can be just as effective.
Now, let’s move on to water bowls!
Most people, including ourselves, will consider purchasing a normal water bowl. While it’s completely passable to have only water bowls, you should consider water fountains. If your cat doesn’t drink enough water throughout the day, a water fountain might interesting for cats as the water moves through the fountain. Our cats always get entertained by the sound of the water fountain. Sounds just like an indoor waterfall!
Providing a mix of water fountains and water bowls is recommended! If you’re ever without electricity, water bowls can provide your cat with the hydration they need.
3. Cat Scratching Posts
Scratching is a natural behavior cats do every day. Therefore, part of your cats needs is to provide them with areas around your home where scratching is encouraged. If you don’t provide scratching posts, your furniture can quickly become a scratching area for them.
To avoid this, provide them with different options to scratch. Redirect their natural scratching behavior to appropriate areas such as scratching posts or cat scratchers. We use affordable options such as cardboard cat scratchers. Multiple cat trees or hammocks also provide scratching posts that cats may use. One of our favorite cat trees offers entertainment and places to rest, we highly recommend this one. To clarify, not all cats will use these scratching posts initially, so we always recommend using cardboard cat scratchers first!
4. Cat Toys
There are so many cat toys available, which one do you get? Making a choice is not easy and will depend on your cat’s preference. Sometimes, starting with cheaper toys is a great option until you know their favorites. I recommend getting a cat toy mouse as they’re perfect for kittens.
Our girl tabby cat loves to play with these cat toy balls! They’re 20 pom pom balls for $7! The point is that introducing them into a toy doesn’t have to be super expensive. You will often find that they would even lie down inside a cardboard box.
5. Cat Litter Boxes
Cats require a litter box. 1 litter box is typically recommended per cat. Most cats will be able to go to their litter box without training even as kittens as it is their natural instinct. Choosing the right litter box for your situation matters.
Now, let’s cover 3 different types that you should consider before making your purchase!
Hooded cat litter boxes also known as enclosed cat litter boxes are excellent litter boxes for a few reasons that help both their cat parents and cats.
Benefits:
- Odor Control
- Less mess
- Keeps waste out of sight
- Offer privacy to your cat
Self-cleaning litter boxes are literally what they sound like. A litter box that cleans itself! With convenience, always comes higher price tags. Now, you may ask yourself why you would want that when you can quickly scoop it out. Well, these litter boxes are highly ideal for people who are constantly busy and want to spend less time with litter box maintenance.
Benefits:
- Self-cleans
- Box always clean
- Convenient
Cons:
- Expensive
- Some brands are faulty causing fatal injuries.
Please note that there has been few cases that have caused fatal injuries to cats. Read more here.
Top-entry litter boxes were created with cleanliness in mind. It helps to reduce the amount of litter that ends up on the floor by allowing them to jump out of the litter box knocking out the litter that gets stuck in between their paws. It also helps prevent any spills, maintaining your floors cleaner, for longer. Just like the hooded cat litter box, it provides your cat with a sense of security and privacy.
Benefits:
- Knocks off litter from paws
- Prevents spills
- Promotes cleaner floor
- Offer privacy to your cat
We hope these 3 litter boxes description make it easier for you. Over the years, we’ve preferred to use a hooded cat litter box as it covers the smell while providing them with a secure space for their needs. If these don’t work out, a cat pan is just as effective. Although, cleaning it more often is needed.
6. Cat Litter
Cat litter is super important for your cat so they can do their business. Let us help you decide what is the best litter. While there are many more types of litter, I’ve compiled a list of 4 litter types that are the easiest to find and preferred by many.
Clumping Clay Litter
Clumping litter is a popular cat litter due to its convenience and easy accessibility. Your nearest Walmart will have both clumping and non-clumping litter. Clumping litter forms a solid clump when it comes in contact with moisture allowing you to easily scoop it out. Clumping allows bad odors to be trapped within the clump as it traps liquid and waste. If your cat has respiratory issues, Stay away from this clumping litter as it can be dusty!
Non-Clumping Clay Litter
An affordable litter that does not clump when it comes in contact with moisture. While it doesn’t trap odors, it does control it. However, to make sure that bad odors linger and take over your home, maintenance of the litter box must be done frequently to ensure that your cat’s hygiene is good and to stop bad odors. This litter is the most budget-friendly!
Paper-Based Litter
This type of litter is an environmentally friendly option, however, while they can be affordable there are some other options with a better deal. Typically paper is recycled and formed into pellets. These paper pellets are extremely absorbent, dust-free (perfect for cats with respiratory issues), and provide a gentle touch to your cat’s paws. While it controls odors similarly to non-clumping litter, litter boxes must be cleaned frequently to avoid odors from lingering.
Pine Litter
Our personal favorite for odor control, an environmentally friendly option, and no added fragrances. Pine litter is low in dust! If you have a Tractor Supply Company nearby you, I highly recommend that you pick up a bag of pine litter as it is extremely affordable ($7) for a 40-pound bag!
7. Cat Litter Scooper
Make sure you don’t forget this essential tool to maintain your cat’s litter box clean. Remember that cleaning your cat’s litter box frequently is very important so your cat’s hygiene is good. While you may be tempted to buy the most affordable litter scooper, we highly recommend avoiding plastic scoopers as they can be too lightweight and flimsy. The best type of scooper that is affordable is this metal scooper that sifts waste out of your cat’s litter box.
8. Cat Nail Clipper
To maintain your cat’s health and comfort, a nail clipper is super important. This nail clipper is perfect for completing the job.
9. Cat Beds
Cat beds are super important to provide them with a place to hide, rest, sleep, and invite them to feel welcomed in a new place. If you scroll on TikTok or Reels on Instagram, you can tell that cats love to hide often inside boxes! This Cat Condo serves as a cat bed and provides your cat with a scratch pad, hideaway, and a small toy.
10. Metal Cat Comb
Cat combs are very helpful to reach their undercoat and loosen or remove any knots. They help improve your cat’s coat by distributing natural oils throughout your cat’s fur promoting a healthier and shinier coat. And best for last, it allows you to bond with your cat and provide your cat with a positive experience helping your cat adjust to you and help your cat be comfortable with you. Combing your cat’s hair is more of an opportunity to help your cat, have fun with them, and cherish every moment.
11. Cat Toothbrush
A cat toothbrush is very important to maintain your cat’s oral health, just like in humans, it’s important to prevent dental issues like plaque or tartar buildup that can lead to gingivitis or periodontal disease. Regularly brushing your cat’s teeth can help with bad breath. A toothbrush needs to have soft bristles and a small head, so that it’s appropriate for cats. Start brushing your cat’s teeth at a young age so as they grow older, it becomes a routine. Cat dental care kit comes with everything you need to get started with maintaining your cat’s oral health in good shape from the start.
12. Cat Collars & Tags
Aside from the beautiful collars that you can get your cat, collars, and tags can provide a person with a method of reaching you if your cat ever goes missing. One thing we’d like to emphasize is that a collar must be able to easily detach itself as normal belt-like collars can be a choking hazard. If your cat is running and its collar gets stuck on an object, your cat can choke. We highly recommend these types of cat collars: breakaway cat collars.
13. Microchip
We hope this never happens, but in case your cat ever gets lost 
, a microchip will allow vets and shelters to identify if the cat has an owner. Unlike tags and collars, microchips will not fall off as they’re implanted under the skin. If the cat is microchipped, it increases the likelihood that you will be reunited with your cat.
We hope our list of cat essentials has made welcoming your cat easier on you. These cat essentials allows your cat the comfort and basic needs to live a healthy and happy life. Congratulations on your cat!