this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2024
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Hello brain trust, back with some more catto questions. First, super exciting news, we're going on Saturday to the shelter to meet the cat we've selected woohooo!
The amazing cat lady has sent over a shopping list, and after some of my own research, I have made a list of items that I might need and I need some recs / suggestions for these as I don't know where to start.
Here we go:
I have found this window lounger which I kinda like https://www.petbarn.com.au/all-day-window-lounger-cat-furniture-grey thots?
You’ll want a bottle of Urine Off or Nature’s Miracle in case of pee accidents. You can also spray trays with it. Window lounger is great. Do you intend to harness train for walks? Some cats are Up cats, some Down. Up will appreciate the tallest cat tree you can fit, a Down might want a dome style bed. Get a natural fibre for the blanket. Feliway stress spray might help with the move in. You can get plug in diffusers but $$. Might want a little first aid book so not internet dependent. Hide all the aspirin well and never buy flowers that include lilies. Bowls are fine for water, but fountains exist. If you have unreliable work hours or go out lots consider an auto feeder. don’t get the triangular collapsing carrier, they suck.
I’d also avoid the bubble backpack carrier until you know the cat better. The $2 shop can have good pet stuff on occasion.
Scratching tower is not optional. Although you might want to wait to see your catto prefers scratching vertically, or horizontally on the carpet. If your catto is a horizontal scratcher by preference, then you might want to swap the tower for floor level scratch pads. Tower is still useful for your cat to rest on out of the way of nuisancy hoomans underfoot. And a great launch pad for ambushes and zoomies. I would also add a box of cat grass if catto is to be an inside only catto. I think you've covered all bases for a start. You can always add more toys etc. later when you know what your catto likes. EDIT: forgot to mention hairbrush for grooming. Great way to get your cat used to being handled/cuddled, and reduces the amount of cat fur around.
Awesome! Any recs for scratching tower / food / litter or is that all personal to the catto? Where do you get a nice quality tower? Don't mind spending a bit more if it means the quality is much higher
Any personal experience is long out of date and food/litter depends a lot on the cat. Some are fussy, some aren't. Ours wasn't - she would eat anything from day 1 and didn't care what sort of litter was provided. The place you're getting the cat from will tell you what the cat is used to for food & litter. Start with that, and make gradual changes if you want. For a tower, I'd start at Petbarn or similar or Kmart for the basics. Even Temple & Webster stock towers. Some go from floor to ceiling and look quite stable and don't take up much floor space.
You might want to wait a bit to see what your catto's personality is like - they might enjoy a view out the window later on as they get used to their new home. To start with, they'll probably be pretty cautious as they get accustomed, and will be looking for security over stimulation. Once they get confident, they'll use the tower more and more I reckon. So this might not be an immediate purchase but a later one. Even a stack of sturdy cardboard boxes taped together would do to begin with. Jackson Galaxy has excellent videos on youtube about how to introduce a cat to a new home - worth looking up.
Can recommend Jackson Galaxy's videos, they're good.
Any food that is grain free is a good start. Both it and litter are cheaper the bigger quantity you buy, think about storage.
Try to go for a tall one where your cat can comfortably reach / stretch up and scratch on it. A bed on top of it would make a great viewing point for a cat that likes to be elevated or as high as possible.
You can place this in front of a scratch prone couch to try encourage the cat to use the post instead of the couch.
As for horizontal scratching, those cardboard scratching boxes are great for this. You can chuck em anywhere in their walkway and they'll use it as they go about their day. Makes for a good alternative bed if the cat is feeling like it.
Seconding the cat grass. You can also grow Nip if Cato happens to be susceptible to it. Brush type will depend on coat length.
If you're enviro conscious try some corn based litter. Compostable and very absorbent! The pee literally clumps them up into a soggy ball.
I tried some World's Best Cat Litter from Coles one day and absolutely loved it, but it was very expensive to buy in bulk from them. Ended up getting more from Rufus & Coco online.
Not sure when or if it’s been recommendedbut stuff for fleas and worming?
Unless you’re getting that sorted later.
What do I need?
Trust the vet for now, it’s very age and weight variable.
On which note: call your chosen vet and pre register your cat. It’s easier to get an appointment if you’re already in the system
I haven’t had to look after a cat in a long while. Someone else would be able to advise you.
My most recent pet was a dog and I got some flea and worming cheese things from the Vet when I did a checkup there.
Mind you this was some years ago so I wouldn’t have a clue at the moment.
Looks pretty good. We have a similar lounger (3 actually!) And they are well used. Look on Amazon for toys, springs are a hit and feather chasers are too. I don't use wipes on our boxes, once a week they get hosed off outside and soaked in homebrand napisan for a bit and dried in the sun. Some cats prefer running water so a fountain might be an option too.
I live in a carpeted apartment so I will need to clean a bit more regularly (which is ok!) so I can't wash outside unfortunately! Although I could wash indoors and let dry in the balc.
About the lounger, do you just stick it on a window?
Yep to the lounger. It can take a few days for it to find the happy spot where it suddenly doesn't come unstuck and send the resident cat on an unplanned descent, but it really is that simple.
Letting dry on the balcony will do, especially if its in the sun. The aim is to disinfect, not just clean.
I just hose mine off, use household disinfectant as per instructions and rinse off. If I'm in a rush I'll dry with a rag but leave it out in the sun if i can.
Regarding litterboxes, I have heard metal is easier to keep clean as the plastic ones will get scratches, which will harbour the bacteria. Personally haven't had any issues yet as long as I clean it properly, and it's also not easy to find in stores except online. So what you get will do just fine.
You probably have bowls for water, but it's pretty important.
Of course but will pick some up from Kmart