Getting a new cat - what shall I buy?

cazs

Hi,

I'm getting a cat and hopefully you current cat owers can advise on what bits to get...

I've thought of the following... Have I missed anything and in the list below, are there brands/types you'd recommend?

Thanks

• Litter tray (one called Aristo from Pets @ Home looks good as has hood and filter)
• Litter - clumping? which brand?
• Litter scoop
• Litter tray liners
• 3 bowls - one for wet food, one for dry and one for water
• Mat to go under bowls
• Cat food fork/spoon
• Can opener
• Wet food - which is best?
• Dry food - ditto
• Scratching post
• Cat bed
• Toys
• Carrier
• Grooming brush
• Nail clippers??

The people I'm getting the cat from could only tell me that the wet food was 'classic' from green tins, and matching biscuits, Go Kat or Kitkat, they said, and about the litter said it was Sophisticat in a blue and white bag - soft rock kind, clumping. But I couldn't seem to find such a product. I've asked them twice but they're a bit vauge and I was trying to keep the products much the same as possible as I know changes of litter/feed can freak a cat out and cause nerves/tummy upsets...

gettingready

Skip the cat bed - they never sleep there, waste of money.

Most cat tinns have the "thingy" to pull and open.

Litter - the best and most economical with least tracking that I use for my 4 (and few other people on here tried and tested) are those 2:





Clicking on images will take you to zooplus website where those are sold....

But of course any second now someone will recommend Oko - did not work for me but some people swear by it.

[Deleted User]

Pet insurance.

Also, try and figure out the nearest vet to you (and their opening times), in case you need it in an emergency

Fire_Fox

:j :j :j Adult cat or kitten?

You don't need tray liners, just deep fill and nothing touches the bottom. No clay clumping litter if it is a kitten, chick crumb (baby chicken food!) or non-pellet wood OkoPlus are excellent litters. Most beds end up unused, radiator beds can go down well in winter.

You will need to start the cat or kitten on the same food as they have had at the rescue/ breeder to avoid upset tummies, then switch slowly. For wet foods the two most often recommended are probably Bozita tetrapacks (online, very high meat content) and Butchers Classic in ring pull tins (supermarkets, cheap as chips, no additives).

Dry food there is a lot of debate about if you run an advanced search - you don't actually need to feed dry at all. From my POV I would note that cats are obligate carnivores - they must eat meat and have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates/ grains/ cereals. Check the ingredients, most supermarket foods like Go Cat are very high cereal/ grain content and very low meat content, so represent poor value for money and are arguably poor nutritionally and for health. There are many brands online with a higher meat content, in general the more meat the more expensive. The cheapest grain free is Porta 21 Feline Sensible variant.

Scratching posts - you would be best with two in different parts of the house, be sure they are very sturdy/ don't wobble, are tall enough for the cat to stretch full height, get a full height climbing tree if you can afford it - attaches to ceiling or solid wood (many are cardboard under the string).

Toys look no further than Purrs shop, they really do have the best and all profits go to cat rescue. If you are on a budget just buy a knock off Da Bird/ Feather Frenzy and the attachments - Da Mousey, Da Sparkler particularly. Wands you can get in pet stores are really not the same, these will drive your cat insane! Other good toys include a laser pointer, anything with good quality catnip or valerian, mylar balls, soft play cubes or tunnels, Bergan Turbo Track and the flashing ball.

gettingready

IF THE CAT IS NOT INSURED BY THE BREEDER - GET THE INSURANCE EVEN BEFORE BRINGING THE CAT HOME.

Opsssssss, sorry for the caps

snozberry

Don't do what I did and spend a small fortune on toys. My furbabies turn their nose up at the dear ones and much prefer to play with shoelaces and screwed up chocolate wrappers! I also bring home cardboard boxes from work for them to play in.

You could do with buying a few blankets and scratching posts as well.

Toys that I have bought and they love include their tunnel, laser pens and a fishing rod which resembles a da bird (they have a mouse at the end of it instead)

snozberry

Domino9 wrote: »

Pet insurance.

Also, try and figure out the nearest vet to you (and their opening times), in case you need it in an emergency

going off personal experience it is best to have a policy with a provider that your vet deals directly with. If not, then you could end up with some eye wateringly high vet bills like I did.

spike7451

Litter tray (one called Aristo from Pets @ Home looks good as has hood and filter) Normal litter tray,the filters a waste of time,also get a cardboard or plastic box to put the litter tray in.
Litter - clumping? which brand? Asda sell a wood pellet cat litter in their basics range,£2.90 a bag,lasts Daisy over 2 weeks
Litter scoop Yup
Litter tray liners Waste of money,use hot soapy water
3 bowls - one for wet food, one for dry and one for water Minimum of six bowls,ceramic or metal NOT plastic
Mat to go under bowls I use a old tea tray
Cat food fork/spoon Use normal fork
Can opener Use normal one
Wet food - which is best? Butchers Classic
Dry food - ditto Purina One or Royal Canin
Scratching post Yup
Cat bed Waste of money,put a pillow in a cardboard box covered with a used jumper of yours so puss gets used to your smell
Toys Some small balls & Da Bird (from Purrs shop)
Carrier Yup
Grooming brush An old brush or plastic comb will do.
Nail clippers?? Bad idea,let the vet take the risk!

Fire_Fox

I just spend £40 at Purrsinourhearts!! :rotfl:

spike7451

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I just spend £40 at Purrsinourhearts!! :rotfl:

Leaving you £16.64 to last until the end of the month...:p:rotfl:

cazs

Thanks everyone very much for their carefully thought through suggestions.

Seems best not to bother with the cat bed...

The cat's 4, I'm taking it on from a lady who is giving it up as the other cats are 'bullying' it...

If I do get dry food - I've heard some say it's necessary as they say put out wet food morning and night, and leave dry for them to graze on when peckish during the day - is that right? - would it matter if I can't get the same brand? I've scoured the internet but cannot find this KiteKat dry food she's talking about so will it be okay to use a different dry food or is that a tummy risk...

Anyone else any thoughts?