Essential Gear for Indoor Cats

For anybody who is considering getting indoor cats, my recommendation is to visit the pet store and stock up on a few basic cat supplies before going to the shelter or other center - no matter if you plan on "just looking" at the kitties. Why? Because odds are good that all those cute little faces will be too hard to walk away from and voila! You'll have a cat, but no provisions. It's best to be prepared.

I learned this the hard way when I got my cat, Cody. Before going to the humane society in my city, I had just picked up a kennel, which was barely large enough, and a semi-automatic litter box that I chose to return after I'd had a chance to read up on it. Therefore, I was scurrying around trying to find food and a regular litter box while someone else tended to my new pet.

My desire is to save you from that fuss and headache! To ease your cat’s transition home, here is a list of basic items I recommend you have on hand.

Food
It'd be smart to buy an assortment of foods and flavors, including both canned and hard varieties. It's well known that cats are fussy eaters so you’ll want to improve the likelihood of providing your cat with something he'll eat, especially during that traumatic first week or so of becoming familiar with his new environment.

Pick out high quality cat food with high levels of protein: at least 30-40% for dry food and 10% for canned. Steer clear of foods that contain corn (also written as "maize"), wheat, soy, and rice, especially if these are indicated as the first ingredients.

Keep in mind that grain-free, canned food is recommended for top feline health, due to its protein and water content. Canned food most closely resembles the make-up of a cat's natural diet, mice and birds.

Also, it’s recommended to feed your cat more poultry-based foods than fish, which should preferably only be given once or twice per week.

Suggested Canned Food:

Evo
Freshpet Select
Innova
Nature’s Variety Instinct
Simply Nourish by PetSmart*
Wellness (grain free), especially the chicken formula
Weruva*

Suggested Dry Food:

Nature’s Balance Ultra Premium Dry
Nature’s Variety Instinct
Wellness CORE

*Cody's favorites

Please note that even though the above varieties are more expensive than grocer's brands, your cats will not need to eat as much on account of the quality of nutrients. I had some cat food that contained rice; my cat easily consumed double the amount compared to a grain-free product.

Dishes
You may choose to wait on these and begin by using your own, but if you decide to buy them in advance, find bowls which are heavy or rubber-edged to minimize slippage. Stainless-steel is highly recommended. Plastic and ceramic bowls can scratch, causing crevices where bacteria and germs can grow.

Bowls that have a nice curve or slope on the inside are preferable for wet food, which tends to get stuck in the corners of the bowl as your cat eats.

Litter box & Scoop
A regular, unhooded litter box with tall sides is recommended, compared with hooded boxes that retain odors. These boxes are very affordable, available in large sizes, and are a great starting point.

If you plan on buying an adult cat, be certain the litter box is big enough for the cat to maneuver without stepping in his waste.

If you're thinking of getting a kitten, you should make sure that at least one of the ends is not too high for a kitten to go in.

Rubbermaid makes a great litter box which has tall sides along with a lowered entry point that even bigger kittens could use.

If you're planning on buying multiple indoor cats, buy at the very least one box per cat to get started. Understand that the general guideline is one box for every cat plus one.

And make sure to get a litter scoop to clean out the litter box! Avoid scoops with very wide slats. Keeping the box spic and span is the best thing you can do to make sure your cat develops and keeps good litter box habits! Clean the litter box at least once, if not twice, daily!

Cat litter
Most cats like unscented cat litter, and litter that clumps is the most effective at keeping the litter odor free. My favorite is Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat., which clumps extremely well. ScoopAway’s unscented clumping litter is also quite good.

Toys
Playing with your cat is a great way to bond!

Most cats love to bat at feathery things on a string, so that would be a good toy to start with.

You could also purchase a laser pointer toy for roughly five bucks. My cat goes crazy going after that little dot on the floor!

And catnip is a wonderful ice breaker!

Scratching Post
Cats love to scratch! And they need to scratch. It’s essential that indoor cats are provided with a scratching post or pad as a suitable outlet for this activity.

There are several choices available. To begin with, just be certain that what you get is sturdy and won’t tip over when a cat puts his or her weight on it. If all else fails, a bit of firewood or carpet sample will work just fine.

Cody absolutely adores his SmartyKat "ScratchScroll" that I bought at Target for roughly $20, (unfortunately, it's not shown on their web site). PetSmart carries a nearly identical one, the Dream Curl Curved Scratcher, for $29.

Crate/Travel Accessories

Select a crate that’s big enough to enable an adult cat to turn around.

If you will be traveling more than an hour to bring your cat home, I suggest you buy a bottle of Feliway to relax your cat for the ride home. This item mimics the cat’s pheromones and has a relaxing effect. Just spray it into the crate before you put your cat in. Using this product at home may also help relax your cat as he adjusts to his new environment.

Now you're ready to begin the exciting part: finding and choosing your new cat or kitten!

For tips and advice on selecting a new cat, please visit Indoor Cats HQ. Indoor Cats HQ is a site dedicated to helping humans better understand and care for their cats. Learn all about indoor cats now!