Essentials for Your Cat: Cat Supplies, Cat Toys and Cat Furniture
There are a large number of cat supplies, toys and furniture being marketed as essential for your cat’s health and well being. The following items are recommended as necessary for your new cat.
Cat Supplies
1. Cat grooming equipment such as a bristle brush and wide-toothed comb for longhaired cats and a fine-toothed comb for shorthaired cats. Nail clippers and a cat toothbrush round out our initial requirements.
2. Cat litter boxes and a plastic scoop are essential for indoor cats. Cat priorities are cleanliness (clean daily), location (not too near food and water), a good depth of litter and ease of escape. Boxes can be open or covered but covered boxes should have very high ceilings and shouldn’t be dark or smelly. Most cats prefer an open box with high sides but kittens need low sides. There should be one litter box per cat plus one extra if you have a multi-floor dwelling. Don’t buy plastic liners as your cat will soon shred them.
3. Cat litter can be difficult to choose as there are dozens of types. The best litter is the one your cat likes – so you may want to try out several. The most popular litter is the unscented absorbent type of clay that clumps when wet and is easy to remove from the box. Some litter is too dusty and some too highly perfumed that even your cat will avoid it.
4. Cat food and water bowls should be easily washed, difficult to tip over and have non-slip bases. They should be out all day as cats need fresh water and many small meals. They should be located in a place where the cat can relax and not worry about the dog or a toddler disturbing him.
5. The best cat food is difficult to determine as there are so many choices. Your cat gets most of its required moisture from its food (canned or semi-moist) but always supplement with water. Your cat cannot survive on a completely vegetarian diet as it is a carnivore and needs nutrients that are found only in animal tissue. Kittens eat little and often – as much as six meals per day. If you are away during the day, then you could supplement with dry food that doesn’t dry out liked canned food. Cat food manufacturers have formulated special diets for kittens, adult cats, senior cats and overweight cats. Kittens and cats do not need cows’ milk and as soon as they are weaned they lose the ability to digest the lactose in milk.
6. Cat collar (break away design to prevent injuries) with ID tag for an outdoor cat, and a bell to alert birds. Microchip embedded ID can be injected into your cat below the skin right behind the shoulders (scruff of the neck). This is relatively painless, not too expensive, and most cats tolerate this well. Most shelter cats that are adopted now have microchip ID.
7. Cat leashes and harnesses provide your indoor cat with opportunities to safely explore the outside world. Remember, unlike walking a dog, your cat will be walking you. Introduce your cat to the outdoors gradually and walk or saunter at your cats pace – which may include a snooze part way through the walk.
Cat Toys
Cats enjoy playing with toys if their owner is there to play with them. Don’t put out all their toys at once. Certain breeds of cats can be taught to retrieve balls and toys just like a dog. However all cats like to chase and play with ping pong or rubber balls. Catnip toys such as catnip flavored mice toys or sacks filled with dried catnip are very popular. Feathers or a light mouse toy on a string can provide the owner and her cat with lots of fun and exercise.
Cat Furniture
1. Cat beds or cat baskets are useful and popular. Some cats prefer high sides and some low but most love a cozy place in which to curl up. However, your cat may prefer to sleep on your bed.
2. Cat carriers made of sturdy wire, wicker or plastic are essential for bringing your kitten/cat home, visits to the vet and car travel.
3. Cat scratching posts made from a tree or wound with heavy hemp rope are essential to saving your furniture. Carpeted scratching posts don’t seem to work as well.
4. Cat trees may not look so good in your living room but cats love to be up high and a climbing apparatus with perches will go over well with your cat(s).
5. Cat hammocks are also a popular place for your cat to snooze.
6. Indoor cats require a window seat so they can watch the world outside and they really appreciate a bird feeder outside their window to entertain them during the day.
