Complete Buying Guide for New Cat Owners

If you’ve been planning to adopt or get a new kitten or cat for the first time, you most likely already know or have the basics such as a litter box, cat litter, and some food and water dishes – however, there are more steps involved that every new cat owner should consider and put down on their checklist. After the exhausting and exciting search for your new addition, it can be easy to accidentally overlook a few things. 

Our article below highlights important items and factors you should be sure to have before or after your new friends arrives. Proper cat food, water, enrichment such as toys, beds, and other things such as these can help your new addition feel more comfortable and secure quickly, so you can focus on playing with them and giving them the best life. 

Be sure to include these products below as you’re making your new owner checklist to ensure the least stress, no time wasted rushing to get something, and you can spend all the time with your new best friend while they get adjusted and understand what’s theirs and what’s yours around the home. 

While some adoption centers or owners will hand your new furry friend in a temporary cardboard box, it is essential to get a good cat carrier that can accommodate them whenever they need to head to the vet or in an emergency they can be scooped up and safely be carried wherever you need to be. 

The best carriers we suggest are either a hard-shell type or a softer carrier that collapses/can be folded down when not in use. If your pet is accustomed to their carrier and associates it with good things such as treats and a safe place to sleep, the easier it will be to get them in to be whisked off to a vet appointment or while flying. 

The importance of cat litter is an obvious seeming thing, but there are an incredible number of different ones and figuring out what’s good to use, what your cat likes, and what works best for both of you can be tough. We’re here to help! 

Most litter is made from clay, though there are other types around and may be worth trying if your cat is picky or has respiratory issues. One thing to be careful of is that if you’re using pine litter to be sure the brand you’re using has all the phenol removed by drying process and has no harmful additives as that is toxic to cats.

When looking for a litter box, you don’t need anything fancy – just if it’s large enough for your cat and if you have multiple cats always be sure to get one litter box for each cat, plus one. Whether it has a top, is open, or is a litter robot – get what works best for you and what your cat will use. 

Food and water dishes are of course important, but they don’t have to be the most expensive things. Flatter wider bowls are great because if they’re too small or deep, cat whiskers can get in the way, and they’ll have a harder time eating. 

Water fountains are a great choice for a water supply, as it’s constantly moving, and you don’t have to change their water out as often as still water in bowls. Another quick note is to keep their food and water areas separate, as cats don’t like to eat and drink in the same locations, generally. 

Treats of course are a staple in all pet owning households since they’re great for spoiling our furry best friends, teaching them tricks, and praising them for doing something good so they know what to expect in the future. There are many types of cat treats available on the market and depending on the personality of your cat, they might have a particular fondness for certain flavours, textures, and types. 

Try out a few and see what they like – they might even like a bit of everything! 

While most pet owners don’t brush their animals’ teeth, it is a good thing to get started if you can when they’re young. Just like humans, they do need to take care of their teeth and gum disease / other tooth issues can build up rather quickly in cats. 

Brushing your cats’ teeth may sound like a herculean impossible task, but generally once they get used to you touching their teeth and having the toothpaste there, it’s a quick 30 seconds to help your furry friend live their best and healthiest life. 

It is worth mentioning to NOT use human toothpaste for your cats, as it is not designed for them to swallow or digest, and they can get very sick. Please use cat formulated toothpaste and brushes. 

It seems to be a common comment online that some people think you don’t need to brush or trim your cats’ nails. If they have longer fur and are indoor cats – they will absolutely need to be brushed and have their nails trimmed, because even with scratching posts, most cats can’t wear down their claws enough and once they grow can get stuck in things and they’ll injure themselves, or yourself even. 

Cats can get matted fur quickly if they have medium length hair and it does need to be addressed. Most cats will even come to love grooming time if you’re patient, go slow, and give them lots of treats and praise while it’s happening. Worst case – you can always contact your vet and they can trim their claws for a small fee – as I have done with one of my cats as she can be quite spicy when you touch her paws. 

Toys and enrichment to mentally and physically blow off steam with your cat during the days and evenings is paramount to their health and well-being. Cats need to hunt and if they’re not played with or have toys to interact with and ‘hunt’ – then that’s where you’ll run into troubles of destroyed furniture and breaking things around the house. 

All cats are different, and they don’t like the same toys, much as we don’t like the same things always either. Some prefer fishing rod style toys, others like crinkle catnip toys, electronic toys that move by themselves, or even random junk they’ve found such as a plastic take-out fork that is suddenly their new favourite. Experiment and see what your cat prefers! 

Places where your cat can rest are very important, as they sleep for many hours out of the day. Cats all prefer different things and what one may like, the other might not. A plush bed might be perfect for one and a sturdy cardboard box might work best for another – it’s all trial and error, and even then, they might decide in the future they like something they previously didn’t. 

Scratching posts and cat trees are almost a necessity and are worth the costs. Even if you start with cheaper scratching pads/posts and smaller cat trees – that’s perfectly acceptable. They just need somewhere to stretch and scratch, and if there is nowhere for them to specifically do so – then it will be your furniture and other things you don’t want destroyed. 

If you’ve adopted your cat from a shelter or from a non-profit organization such as a rescue, they most likely have already done the microchipping, spay or neuter, deworming, and initial vaccine shots for you that went into the fee when you adopted. 

If not, be sure to take your new feline friend to the vet to get them their first vaccinations, deworming, microchip, etc. – as it’s incredibly important. If they’re still a very young kitten then be sure to get them spayed or neutered as soon as you’re allowed to as it’s an important procedure to get done. 

It goes without saying that finding a good vet is important for your new furry friend and establishing that early on is good for both you and them. If an emergency comes up it’s also a good idea to investigate getting some form of pet insurance that can help with costs depending on the situations, as we all know that pet bills aren’t cheap – even if it’s for something small. 

 Vet Strategy can help look for vets around your area across Canada and can give you an idea of what to look for as well – especially if you’re new to having cats or other types of pets. They even have listings for exotics and other specialized care clinics. 

This is important, though depending on the personality and level of chaos your new cat has – cat-proofing can be as simple as keeping the bathroom door closed and making sure you don’t have toxic plants in your living room. For others it could include needing to use magnetic baby-proof locks on your cabinets because they know how to open them and get into trouble.
 

• A good start is to tie or cut any dangling loop cords such as the ones that come with blinds if you have them, as cats can easily get tangled or injured. 
• Cover up any electrical cords or wires, especially if you have a kitten that’s just learning and wants to chew and play with everything. 
• Candles and essential oils should be used either in separate rooms closed off from your cats or forgo them altogether. Some oils can be extremely toxic and harmful to your cats and scents can be incredibly overwhelming for them. 
• Poisonous plants and flowers should be researched first or make sure that you’re keeping ones that are pet friendly. Lilies are a notoriously toxic plant for cats, and you don’t want to go through the heartbreak of accidentally losing your new friend due to something easily preventable. 
• Keep medications and other such things away in drawers or cupboards where they can’t reach or eat them accidentally. You’d be surprised what cats can get into. Same goes for garbage cans and recycling bins. 
• Rock salt and other ice melters can be terrible for cat paws, and there are pet friendly alternatives around if you need to use them and if your cats go outside where they would be used. 
• If they’re out on the balcony, it might be a good idea to first have them on a harness and leash just in case they decide they want to jump off or chase a bird. The predator instinct to chase is always there, so just be cautious. 

It’s especially important to keep your new cat indoors. A walk on a leash or a small adventure outside in a bubble backpack is a great idea, but for the most part cats should be kept inside so that they stay safe and secure from other animals, disease, and even unfortunately other people – as they can be taken and sold in shady deals, especially if your cat is an expensive breed. 

Some owners have made ‘catios’ for their cats so that they can safely enjoy the outside without any fear of predators or disease from catching rodents. Hellas Custom Catios is one example of a Canadian company that will work with you to build a custom one if you’re inclined – including ones that work on balconies if you live in an apartment or condo. 

If you do take your cat (or cats) out on adventures with pet backpacks or on a harness, be certain they have their collar and identification on and that they’re all caught up on their shots against worms, ticks, and fleas. 

How long does it take for a cat to adjust to a new owner? 

The time it takes for a new cat will depend entirely on their personality, past, whether they’re kittens or older cats – and how you spend time with them and let them adjust as well. It can take no time at all, or it can take years, if ever. 

Give it take, patience, and a whole lot of love. Be sure that when you adopt a cat or get a kitten that their personality matches with yours to make adjusting for both of you easier and much less stressful. 

What are some signs your new cat is adjusting?  

Signs that your new cat is adjusting well to you and its new home are: 

• Grooming itself around you / laying down nearby and relaxed postures in your presence. 
• Vocal cues! Not all cats are chatty or meow often but when they are adjusting well, they do tend to be happier and meow at you without any hissing. 
• A good appetite and litter box use. 
• Playful behaviour 

• Healthy fur and keeping themselves clean is a good sign 

 How to make a cat feel comfortable in a new home?  

While you may want to play with your new cat right away, be sure to isolate them in a separate room at first so that they aren’t overwhelmed. A bathroom or spare bedroom is a great spot to let them decompress and adjust. Leave them alone for a bit and make sure they have food, water, a safe place to sleep/hide, and a litter box. 

Not all cats (especially if they’re kittens) will need to be kept separate for long as they’re usually raring to go explore. If you already have an older pet in the house, especially another cat, be sure to keep them totally separated and introduce them SLOWLY – Cats are territory animals and don’t tend to associate a new intruder with anything good at first. 

 What are the most common first-time cat owner mistakes? 

• Feeding your cat too much and not giving them scheduled feeding times. 
• Not having enough scratching posts or places for them to hide and play in/around such as tunnels or cat trees. (This will save your furniture!) 
• Not enough mentally enriching toys – not all cats like all types of toys and may get bored or even depressed if they don’t get played with – cats need to exert their energy or else they get destructive or even can lash out. Experiment with what kinds of toys your new cat likes! 

 It doesn’t even need to be expensive – The author of this article has two cats, one of which has a plastic fork from food take-out she carries around and plays with every single day. You never know! 

• Keeping their food and water dishes close to each other – be sure to place them in different spots, such as food in the kitchen and their water in a dining area or living room. Not far away but enough that it isn’t so close by.