Bringing cats home

Newbeginning

My OH and I are currently trying to adopt two kittens/cats from an animal shelter, and we will be bringing some home this weekend if we are approved as suitable parents!

I am hoping for some advice on essentials for things we need to buy before the cats arrive.

Currently winging its way to us from zooplus is:

Fleece blanket and fleece “cuddle bag” – I bought these instead of a bed as I have read that buying a proper cat bed may turn out to be pointless. Planning to adapt a cardboard box and see how it goes.
Toys
Cat tree
3 ceramic bowls for food and water
Scratching mat
Pet carrier

Still to buy:

Litter trays – any recommendations for minimal smells– open, closed, flushing cat toilet (joke, although it does sound good)? Thinking of getting one of these from Argos and an open one in case it takes them a while to get used to it
Litter – should this be the same as they are using at the shelter or am I getting confused with food? What’s the best litter in terms of minimal smell, ease of cleaning and it not being distributed freely around the house?
Food – need to find out what they are being fed at the shelter
Claw clippers
Comb/brush

Is there anything I have overlooked?

Are there are any sprays we should be buying to discourage them from messing in a certain area again if they have an accident? Or anything to stop them chewing on wires? Double-sided tape?

Should we buy some Feliway to help them settle in over the first few weeks?

Are there any other things that aren’t strictly essential but which as cat owners you wouldn’t be without?

Would really appreciate any help and/or advice.

cte1111

One thing I wouldn't be without - cat flap! If you are able to put one of these in your property it can mean that once they are settled in, you can manage without a litter tray.

Litter - I used to use Tesco value cat litter, seemed to do the job but others might have other recommendations.

Newbeginning

cte1111 wrote: »

One thing I wouldn't be without - cat flap! If you are able to put one of these in your property it can mean that once they are settled in, you can manage without a litter tray.

Litter - I used to use Tesco value cat litter, seemed to do the job but others might have other recommendations.

Thanks for your prompt reply, forgot to mention cat flap! OH will be putting one in in the near future.

UKTigerlily

At first get them whatever litter they already use, then if you want to change it later - not yet as they need to settle without thousands of changes right away - then gradually mix the new litter with the old & phase the old out, much like food. I can't say which is best as mine always used whichever I picked up & now goes out instead. One essential is a good camera as not only will you want photos but we all will too!

Maybe a second water bowl as they may need two, one each. I think it's recommended to have 2 of everything & 1 tray each + 1 spare. None of mine have ever chewed wires but if you see them try then i'd get the stuff to go over them, should be ok there. A Your Cat subscription for Xmas, it's a fab & useful mag!

McKneff

Please dont buy claw clippers, they dont need them, they have a mat and a tree, they will do it themselves, naturally.
Horrible, horrible things.

Badger_Lady

Newbeginning wrote: »

flushing cat toilet (joke, although it does sound good)?

You joke but actually my sister has had a lot of luck with this:
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/litter-kwitter-toilet-training-kit-for-cats-with-dvd-by-doogie-s-15206

The Litter Kwitter Toilet Training Kit for Cats with DVD by Doogie's is the original cat toilet training system.

Learn to train your cat to use your normal toilet in three simple steps, using the easy to follow red, amber, green system; gradually converting your cat from its conventional litter tray to your own toilet.

You need to start while they're young and some will just never take to it, but bonus if they do My sister's cat uses her en-suite bathroom, and our old cat used to use an outdoor drain.

Of course my preferred method is the catflap - any indoor litter tray will always leave that 'cat smell' in the air. The enclosed ones seem to be slightly better if your cats are happy to use it (my old boy wasn't).

Newbeginning

McKneff wrote: »

Please dont buy claw clippers, they dont need them, they have a mat and a tree, they will do it themselves, naturally.
Horrible, horrible things.

Oh great, that's one thing I can cross off the list then. It's hard to know exactly what 's needed as there is so much conflicting advice.

Thanks everyone for your help so far! If everything goes to plan at the weekend I will gladly bore you all with pics.

georgiesmum

All you need at first is cat litter and trays (2)i find aldi's is great, no need for expensive stuff, food,water, bowls and a blanket to call their own. Then lots of love and attention. Play can be something on a piece of string. Brushes and things are not really necessary yet, but start them early and they will love being groomed. you definitely don't need feliway.
A scratching post is good. get the best you can afford. I have had mine for 9 years and it's still going strong

McKneff

You'll have hours of fun, its nice that you are getting two so they are company for each other as they are in fact only babies.

UKTigerlily

Claw clippers are only needed with old cats like mine who despite having & using a tree/fences/trees outside don't wear them down naturally. I don't see what's so horrible about them though, it's only like clipping our nails & doesn't hurt or distress them if done properly (& long claws do cause problems for mine)

Newbeginning

Badger_Lady wrote: »

You joke but actually my sister has had a lot of luck with this:
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/litter-kwitter-toilet-training-kit-for-cats-with-dvd-by-doogie-s-15206

That's fantastic! Think I would always worry about the cat falling down the toilet while I'm out though.

This is the one I saw on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CatGenie-120-Self-Washing-Self-Flushing-Cat/dp/B002KRAQXM

Some of the reviews make it sound very entertaining!