Essential Items For Your Kitten
Preparing for the arrival of your new kitten is a fun and exciting time but sometimes we worry if we have thought of everything that we’ll need. We’re here to help you out! Here is a list of essential items you will need. Happy shopping!
Cat Carrier
Your new baby will need a cat carrier to travel home in. There is a lot of different options to choose from but you want to make sure it’s sturdy, not cardboard or soft-sided. A strong plastic one or even a sturdy collapsible carrier works well as they take up less storage space. We do no recommend the soft bag types. You want to make sure it is nice and roomy as your British baby can grow to be quite heavy. Ones that have multiple access points make vet trips easier for getting a nervous kitty out of their carrier. We like the ones with top and/or side access such as these https://www.mishcats.com.au/shop/pet-designz-pet-carrier/
Kitten Food
You will need good quality food that is suitable for kittens that is complete and balanced. We recommend canned food options such as Ziwi Peak, Feline Natural, and Thrive Kitten Food. and raw food such as Feline Natural Freeze Dried Food and Meow Freeze Dried Food all available here at Mishcats. Other raw foods we recommend are the products suitable for kittens available at raw meow.com.au.
It is best to keep them on the food they are currently eating until they settle in to your home. Once settled you can slowly transition them onto new food by adding a little of the new food (start with a teaspoon size amount) next to their regular food then slowly increase the amount of new food and decrease the old. Transitioning to new food too quickly can cause gastrointestinal upset.
It is also handy to have treats on hand for training.
Cat Bowls
Small bowls can cause what is called whisker fatigue, an unpleasant sensation caused when a cats’ whiskers touch the sides of the bowl constantly when eating or drinking. To avoid this, for eating, we recommend wide shallow bowls, small plates (ceramic or stainless steel) or LickiMats. We have searched high and low for the perfect feeding bowl, check out the ones we recommend here
Not essential, but you also may want a food mat underneath for those messy eaters. If you plan on leaving food out for them to snack on during the day we recommend the Ants Off Elevated Table to prevent ants from getting into the food.
We do not recommend plastic bowls as it can cause them to develop a skin condition on their chins resembling acne. Second, plastic tends to nick and scratch, this can become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. For drinking, we recommend a larger ceramic bowl that’s not easy for them to tip over. Drinking fountains are a fantastic way to encourage them to drink as they are drawn to fresh running water.
Kitty Litter and Tray
You will need a kitty tray and kitty litter. It’s best to continue using the same litter that the kitten has been using. If you wish to change it’s best to transition only once your kitten is settled and comfortable in your home.
Our favourite style of litter is the tofu, corn, bamboo clumping litters, there are so many to choose from and they all work similar to the clay/bentonite clumping litters but safer for your kitty, better for the environment and softer on your kitty’s paws. Not all clumping litters are equal when it comes to the clumping and odour control. We have tried quite a few now and these are our picks. We only sell what we are happy to use ourselves! Another one we recommend is a company called Kitty Fresh. If you subscribe to Kitty fresh they will deliver a recyclable litter box with litter (choice of tofu or bamboo) to your door every month. If you subscribe and add a scoop to your cart enter the code MISHCATS at checkout to receive the scoop valued at $8.95 for free.
We also like and use the pine pellet kitty litter system. This requires a two tray system, the top tray being used as a sieve. When the pine pellets get wet, they break down into sawdust which then falls through into the bottom tray when shaken. You will only need one or two scoops a week to top up so even though the initial outlay may seem expensive, it’s cheaper in the long run. The bottom tray will fill with the sawdust and can be scattered in the garden or thrown in your rubbish. Solid waste will need to be scooped out and disposed of.
You can purchase the kitty trays needed for this system here. There are a few different brands of pine pellets you can use which can be purchased from your local pet store. We recommend the Cat Mate brand of pellets as we found some of the other brands clog the holes of the sieve.
At times the sawdust may get kicked out the tray as your kitten tries to bury their waste so you may also like a kitty litter mat to catch any of this.
If your budget stretches to it the Petree Smart Automatic Cat Litter Box is my all time favourite as it scoops out the waste for you and deposits it into a bin in the bottom which you periodically empty. It is designed to work with clumping kitty litters such a tofu or bamboo. See the ones we recommend here.
Grooming Tools
Grooming Tools – Cats need regular brushing, it helps to prevent hairballs and is great bonding time for you and your cat. When it comes to brushing we again have tried several types of brushes and combs and have found the best for long hair cats or cats with a thick double coat such as the British Shorthair to be the small Magic Pet Rake or the larger Magic Pet Rake. For those kitties with short, sleek coats we recommend a soft slicker brush.
You will also need to regularly trim those claws so you will also need a pair of pet nail clippers.
Cat Scratching Tree/Pole
Cat scratching trees or poles are absolutely essential! Cats have a natural desire to scratch and it’s part of their instinctive scent marking. If we don’t provide appealing places for them to do this they will find their own, usually our furniture! We recommend having several throughout the home, at least one scratching pole/tree that they can stretch up to scratch and a horizontal option like this Madison board as most cats like to stretch this way as well, usually on our carpet or rugs.
Considering the placement of the scratching areas is important too. Most cats will often scratch the nearest object upon waking so it’s a good idea to place one near where they sleep. They will also like to mark where they smell you the most, such as the bed or couch, places where we spend a lot of time, so we recommend placing one nearby. When it comes to cat scratchers there are a lot of options, some cheap, some expensive, we have tried a lot over the years and what we have learned is you get what you pay for! The cheap ones are not as sturdy, will leave little bits of carpet everywhere and don’t last. So it well worth purchasing a few well made pieces. This doesn’t mean you have to fill your home with huge, bulky, ugly cat trees. Check out our range for some appealing stylish options that cats love!
Keep in mind cats won’t like it if it wobbles so you’ll need one that is sturdy, otherwise, you might be disappointed when you purchase or make a cat tree/post only to have them not touch it!
Toys – Lots of Toys
Cats like to play! If your kitten is not sleeping or eating then it’s going to be playing! It allows them to use up the energy they would normally use for hunting. If we don’t provide an outlet for them they will find their own outlet, usually in ways we don’t like. Providing plenty of stimulation will help alleviate any boredom and strengthens the bond between you and your cat. Check out our great range. We recommend a variety of different styles of toys, toys that allow them to use their hunting/stalking instincts and that keep your hands as far away as possible during playtime so they don’t develop any nasty biting, swatting habits. (Check out this article on how to play with your cat). Toys like wand toys are fantastic for this and cats love them! You can swap out and rotate the attachments to keep it interesting for your cat.
Second on our list are tunnels. They are another favorite as they provide stimulation by allowing them to hide and sneak up on their ‘prey’.
Small balls or mice type toys that you can roll/throw are also a hit.
Lastly, toys that they can play with when you are not around are also important. Soft toys like a stuffed teddy or fish can be used for their famous but painful bunny kicks…better the toy than you! Puzzle style games are also good as they simulate normal feline hunting and eating, which includes searching for their food and promotes both mental and physical stimulation for your cat.
Bedding
It’s good to have a nice cozy bed where they can catchup on some zzz’s after all that playing! Or a nice blanket they can knead and make those biscuits! Some cats like somewhere they can feel a bit hidden away in like our Cattitude Scratch Post Playbox or the All For Paws Lam 2 in 1 Cat Castle.
