Cat supplies

There are several products on the market, designed for cats, at different prices. Look for it in supermarkets and animals' stores.

You should have the following basic supplies on hand to provide your cat with complete and proper care:

Food Bowls

Must have at least one fork and one spoon to handle and to prepare your animal's food. You should have at least two bowls, one for the food and the other one for water. But the ideal is 3 bowls. One for water, one for dry food and the other one for fresh food.

You must keep everything clean, washing everything daily with dish detergent. Do not use disinfectants as some can be dangerous for cats.

Litter box

You should have a tray designed to serve as a toilet for the kitty. It is a container filled with 3-4 cm height of an absorbent material.

There are two types of containers: with and without a lid. The lid will close the pan like a box. If the cat is timid he will enjoy this. A toilet closed like a box can also be an advantage if your cat urinate standing, it prevents urine from going outside the board. The bottom of the tray (before placing the absorbent product) must be lined with newspapers or with appropriate fittings.

Absorbent product types:

• Reusable - you can wash it and is not absorbent
• Clay - is a natural absorbent clay
• Lightweight - its main advantage is to be able to be transported
• Wood-based - are excellent absorbent for liquids

Even if the cat walk freely outside of your home, it is good habit to have a specific place for toilet. Your neighbors who have a garden, can react badly if the animal choose the flowerbed or lettuce as his toilet.

Grooming

Buy a collection of combs and brushes to keep your cat's coat in excellent condition. Short-haired cats only need to be brushed at the time of the change of hair. Long-haired cats, however, need regular grooming care, to avoid the hair to become intertwined and so turning the brushing a torture to the cat.

Toys

Keep your cat entertained. Buy a collection of toys. Toys are especially important for cats in apartments because they can not fulfill their natural impulse to chase and play with a prey. Balls with or without jingle bells, mouse and bones, are some of the toys that can be found in animal shops.

An economical solution is to use balls of yarn, empty spools of thread, balls of paper, corks, etc..

Bed

Must have a comfortable bed to sleep well. Can be purchased or you can easily do one with a cardboard box. If your cat prefers to sleep outside his bed, in a pillow or in a couch, it can be an almost impossible task to deter your cat from doing so. Try to understand the independent nature, the tendency of cats to follow their own path.

Carrier

It is essential to have a carrier where the cat can be carried safely. It should be large enough to allow your cat to stand up and turn around comfortably. Should be well ventilated and easy to clean.
Can be used for travel or for going to the veterinarian.

Collar with the cat ID

Your cat should always wear a safety collar in the event that he/she escapes outdoors. There are also other more reliable identification options that you can discuss with your veterinarian, such as micro-chipping.