Cat Adoption Checklist: Everything You Need Before Bringing Your New Feline Friend Home 1. Prepare Your Home for Safety Cat-proof your home: Move fragile items to safer locations. Secure loose wires and cords. Lock away toxic cleaning supplies, medications, and small objects that can be swallowed. Check for toxic plants: Remove any plants that are harmful to cats (like lilies, aloe, or philodendrons). Block off any small spaces where a cat could get stuck (behind furniture, appliances, etc.). 2. Create a Comforting Space (Base Camp) Cozy bed or cat tree: Soft, comfortable, and preferably in a quiet corner where your cat can relax and feel safe. Scratching posts or pads: To keep your cat’s claws busy and away from your furniture. Hiding spots: A cat house or even a simple cardboard box where they can retreat to if they feel shy or overwhelmed. 3. Essential Supplies Food: High-quality cat food appropriate for the age of your cat (kitten, adult, senior). Talk to your vet for specific recommendations. Water: Clean, fresh water in a shallow bowl or water fountain (cats love flowing water). Litter box: A large, uncovered box with unscented litter (avoid clumping litter for kittens). Litter scoop: Essential for daily cleaning. Food and water bowls: Preferably shallow and wide to avoid whisker fatigue. Interactive toys: Wand toys, balls, or puzzle feeders to keep your cat engaged and entertained. 4. Grooming & Health Tools Brush/comb: Regular brushing reduces shedding and hairballs. Nail clippers: Keep your cat's claws trimmed to avoid overgrowth or damage to furniture. Toothbrush & toothpaste: Vet-approved dental care for your cat’s oral health. Vet-recommended flea comb: Helps catch any fleas and maintain a healthy coat. Cat shampoo (optional): Only if necessary and approved by your vet. 5. Transportation Pet carrier: A sturdy, well-ventilated carrier for trips to the vet or for travel. Make sure it's large enough for your cat to sit, stand, and turn around comfortably. Start getting your cat familiar with it early on. 6. Veterinary Care Vet appointment: Schedule a vet visit within the first week of bringing your cat home. This will include: Health check-up. Vaccinations. Microchipping. Discussion of spaying or neutering, if not already done. Pet insurance: Look into options for covering unexpected health expenses. 7. Training & Enrichment Litter box training: Make sure the litter box is easily accessible and place your cat in it after meals to encourage use. Clicker or treats: Positive reinforcement tools for training good behavior (e.g., scratching posts, not furniture). Playtime schedule: Plan for at least 10-15 minutes of interactive play 2-3 times a day to satisfy their hunting instincts. 8. Bonus: Extra Fun Items Cat collar with ID tag: For safety, especially if you plan to let your cat explore outside. Consider adding an AirTag or GPS tracker. Cat harness: For leash training, if you want to take your cat on safe, supervised outdoor walks. Cat-safe plants: Some greenery like cat grass or spider plants can make your home more cat-friendly. 9. Support and Socialization Cat introduction plan: If you have other pets, introduce them slowly and in controlled, supervised steps. Join a cat community: Whether online or local, getting involved with other cat parents can provide invaluable support and advice as you navigate life with your new kitty.
My older kittie, Maia - big sister has never overturned water bowls, beeing chasing lose things, or electrical cords. Her kid brother, Simba has constant zoomies and loves to stirr things up, and knock things over, like the water bowls and thinks that electrical cords as toys. I was hoping that Maia would have trained him to stay away from doing these things.
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Cat Adoption Checklist:
Everything You Need Before Bringing Your New Feline Friend Home
1. Prepare Your Home for Safety
Cat-proof your home:
Move fragile items to safer locations.
Secure loose wires and cords.
Lock away toxic cleaning supplies, medications, and small objects that can be swallowed.
Check for toxic plants: Remove any plants that are harmful to cats (like lilies, aloe, or philodendrons).
Block off any small spaces where a cat could get stuck (behind furniture, appliances, etc.).
2. Create a Comforting Space (Base Camp)
Cozy bed or cat tree: Soft, comfortable, and preferably in a quiet corner where your cat can relax and feel safe.
Scratching posts or pads: To keep your cat’s claws busy and away from your furniture.
Hiding spots: A cat house or even a simple cardboard box where they can retreat to if they feel shy or overwhelmed.
3. Essential Supplies
Food: High-quality cat food appropriate for the age of your cat (kitten, adult, senior). Talk to your vet for specific recommendations.
Water: Clean, fresh water in a shallow bowl or water fountain (cats love flowing water).
Litter box: A large, uncovered box with unscented litter (avoid clumping litter for kittens).
Litter scoop: Essential for daily cleaning.
Food and water bowls: Preferably shallow and wide to avoid whisker fatigue.
Interactive toys: Wand toys, balls, or puzzle feeders to keep your cat engaged and entertained.
4. Grooming & Health Tools
Brush/comb: Regular brushing reduces shedding and hairballs.
Nail clippers: Keep your cat's claws trimmed to avoid overgrowth or damage to furniture.
Toothbrush & toothpaste: Vet-approved dental care for your cat’s oral health.
Vet-recommended flea comb: Helps catch any fleas and maintain a healthy coat.
Cat shampoo (optional): Only if necessary and approved by your vet.
5. Transportation
Pet carrier: A sturdy, well-ventilated carrier for trips to the vet or for travel. Make sure it's large enough for your cat to sit, stand, and turn around comfortably. Start getting your cat familiar with it early on.
6. Veterinary Care
Vet appointment: Schedule a vet visit within the first week of bringing your cat home. This will include:
Health check-up.
Vaccinations.
Microchipping.
Discussion of spaying or neutering, if not already done.
Pet insurance: Look into options for covering unexpected health expenses.
7. Training & Enrichment
Litter box training: Make sure the litter box is easily accessible and place your cat in it after meals to encourage use.
Clicker or treats: Positive reinforcement tools for training good behavior (e.g., scratching posts, not furniture).
Playtime schedule: Plan for at least 10-15 minutes of interactive play 2-3 times a day to satisfy their hunting instincts.
8. Bonus: Extra Fun Items
Cat collar with ID tag: For safety, especially if you plan to let your cat explore outside. Consider adding an AirTag or GPS tracker.
Cat harness: For leash training, if you want to take your cat on safe, supervised outdoor walks.
Cat-safe plants: Some greenery like cat grass or spider plants can make your home more cat-friendly.
9. Support and Socialization
Cat introduction plan: If you have other pets, introduce them slowly and in controlled, supervised steps.
Join a cat community: Whether online or local, getting involved with other cat parents can provide invaluable support and advice as you navigate life with your new kitty.
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My older kittie, Maia - big sister has never overturned water bowls, beeing chasing lose things, or electrical cords.
Her kid brother, Simba has constant zoomies and loves to stirr things up, and knock things over, like the water bowls and thinks that electrical cords as toys.
I was hoping that Maia would have trained him to stay away from doing these things.