So you’re finally ready to adopt a cat and can’t wait to experience what it’s like having this wonderful companion around your home; congratulations! You constantly imagine all the fun and excitement while counting down to your appointment date. Truly, cats are amazing creatures. They are low maintenance, lovely to the touch, and can help us relieve stress from a hectic day at work.
Even when spending the whole day indoors is all you crave, your adopted feline friend will be right there to curl up with you and keep your day bright. However, adopting a feline doesn’t come without its challenges. One of the major challenges is getting your new companion used to your home– an entirely new environment.
Cats are naturally not very good at dealing with change. You want to ensure that you make all the necessary preparations to help your cat feel at home. This includes playing with her in her current home for a while and purchasing all essential cat supplies before bringing her into the new home.
Besides making transitioning easier, having your cat essentials makes your kitty adapt to the new environment even quicker. If you’re wondering what the items you should cross off your cat essentials checklist are, here’s our suggestion.
1. Food and water bowls
Before leaving home to pick your kitty up, you should have food and water waiting for her in a bowl. Your kitty’s food and water bowls are one of the most crucial essentials to have. Why? Because it directly affects her health. For instance, unsafe bowls may likely contain germs and bacteria that can lead to illness when your feline feeds in them.
Besides holding its content, the ideal water bowl for your feline should be able to filter the water content. The filter helps to eliminate impurities, thereby making your cat live healthier and happier. Be careful not to place the bowls anywhere near the litter box. Cats generally do not like to eat and do their business in the same place. Consider purchasing easy-to-clean bowls since you will need to clean them every day. If your cat doesn’t like to have her food and water next to each other, you may need to separate them. Otherwise, serving them beside each other will be better.
2. Cat carrier
How do you take your feline friend home after adoption? With a carrier! Ensure that your preferred carrier is safe and offers your little friend plenty of ventilation. Insufficient ventilation can make your kitty feel very tired and stressed after the ride home. Plus, your carrier should allow you to plop in and take out your kitty without stress.
Your cat carrier will also come in handy whenever you’re traveling to different locations. Whether it’s a long ride away from home or just a few blocks down the neighborhood, it’s important to keep your kitty safe and secure in her carrier. It’s worth mentioning that driving with your feline exposed can make her feel anxious and uneasy. You should consider the carrier’s size and ease of maintenance before deciding which one will be best.
Overly big carriers will make your cat slide around, leading to stress and anxiety. High-maintenance carriers can be daunting to clean, especially since you have to do it regularly.
3. Cat Litter
Well, we all need somewhere to do our business, stay and enjoy privacy. For your kitty, a tofu cat litter can be such a place. Litters come in various sizes and designs, depending on your preferences. Your preferred feline litter should be about 1.5 times longer than your cat as that would enable them to turn around without having to worry about restrictions.
Some litters are self-cleaning and can offer huge relief, especially if cleaning them regularly seems like a tough nut to crack. Nonetheless, these self-cleaning litters often make certain sounds as they operate, causing your feline to panic and feel uncomfortable. Plus, they can be quite expensive, so you may consider going manual if you’re within a restricted budget.
The ideal cat litter should quickly soak up and not create another mess. Most importantly, it should effectively hide or neutralize strong odor as smelly cat litter can make staying in the entire building uncomfortable. You could keep the litter in a quiet place as cats love privacy when they pee and poo.
4. Bed
Your kitty needs somewhere soft and warm to rest or take her nap. Although cats can typically fall asleep anywhere and everywhere, they need a place to call their own. Cats are naturally territorial and would feel more comfortable relaxing in the same area within a building. Buying a perfectly sized bed for your lovely companion will make her feel more at home. Plus, she tends to enjoy a deeper and more comfortable sleep in her private space. As a result, she feels energized in the morning and enjoys an improved mood all round the clock.
5. Scratching Posts
If it doesn’t scratch, then it’s not a cat. Scratching is an innate behavior of cats. From furniture to carpets, cats can let out their urge to scratch on anything, which can be a big thing to worry about. You don’t want to come home after a long day to find out that your cat has scratched your furniture, hence the need for a scratching post.
Scratching posts can save you a lot of headaches while helping your cat live healthier and happier. When cats scratch, it helps to keep their claws in good shape and serves as a form of exercise. Also, the feelings of stress and anxiety are released when they scratch, helping them achieve a more balanced emotional and mental health.
6. Toys
There’s no way your feline will feel at home when there are no toys around her. If you have a sad cat, it’s probably because she’s not getting enough play. Provide her with a wide array of safe toys and see how her mood jumps from zero to hero. If your cat has certain toys from her previous home, try to buy more of something similar. This will greatly help her adapt to the new environment and feel at home.
These cat essentials will dramatically help to make your little companion feel happy and at ease. Remember to play with your friend at least once every day to make her more comfortable around you.
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