subject: Identifying the Most Important Pet Supplies You Need When Adopting a Cat [print this page] Identifying the Most Important Pet Supplies You Need When Adopting a Cat
The right pet supplies can make a great difference in your feline's health and happiness. Cats love their humans but can be rather persnickety about their food, toys, bedding and even their litter box. If you lay in a supply of essentials before you adopt a kitten or cat, you would be building a solid foundation for responsible cat ownership.
Important Supplies Needed for Kittens and Adult Cats
The bare necessities for owning a cat or kitten include the right food, water and food dishes, a litter box, kitty litter and an identification collar. Your veterinarian will know whether canned, dry or moist food (or a combination) is best. However, unless your cat or kitten has special health needs, the litter box and type of litter for toilet incidences are solely at your discretion. Charcoal granules, wood pellets and non-toxic biodegradable silica pellets are just a few of many choices to consider. An identification collar with your name, address and telephone number is a necessity should your pet feline get lost.
A bed can be an important item to have for your cat or kitten so they have a designated sleep area. Toys, especially those filled with catnip are important to channel their curiosity into more constructive pursuits. A carrier would allow for easier transportation of your cat or kitten, should you have to travel or visit the veterinarian.
Optional but Essential Supplies to Stock Up On
While having the basic bare necessities is important for cat ownership, there are some pet supplies that might be deemed essential for optimal care. Talk with your veterinarian about any vitamin and mineral supplements that may be necessary to ensure a properly balanced diet. Good grooming habits are important for a cat's health so look to the right brush or comb to maintain that feline fur. Short-haired cats may require a bristle brush and fine tooth comb whereas long-haired cats may need a wide tooth comb and a slicker brush made of wire.
Just like humans, good oral health is important to a cat or kitten's longetivity. Therefore, you should invest in a toothbrush and pet toothpaste to keep your pet's teeth clean as possible. Nail clippers for cats is important but a good scratching post may also keep your cat's nails naturally trimmed as well. And while walking a cat is not typical, it is important to keep a harness and leash handy for those times when you want to take your cat out for a walk or a visit to a friend's home.
While cats may seem aloof, independent creatures, they thrive on the care meted out by their human masters. As long as you have the right pet supplies for cat or kitten ownership on hand before you adopt them, you will be on the right path for ownership responsibility.
