Being a new cat owner can be very exciting, but quite intimidating specially when is your first time. In my case (crazy cat mamma novice) I knew how to care for dogs, after all, I had dogs my entire life. So how different could this really be, right? Well now that the new mamma stage has been completed and TomTom had survived in good health and thriving for over a year now, I think is my time to pay it forward and help a new cat parent to a good start. Please be aware that all information shared has been by personal experience, I am not a cat expert or anything like that, just a cat owner with many things learned during the past year.
1. Cat food - this one is kind of a given; you need to feed your new cat. I would recommend taking your time researching for which cat food would be the best not only for the health of your cat, but also for your budget. Would recommend staying away from switching from brand to brand unless is completely necessary. Some would recommend a wet food option, because of the higher water content (problem many cats appear to have), while some prefer dry food. However, in occasions this might not even be your choice at all, and you will need to go with what your new family member prefers.
2. Litter box & Cat litter - pretty much any litter box will do the trick, however; I had found needed for the litter box to be either closed or with tall walls. The reason for this recommendation is that when most kittens/cats are moving the sand/litter around they can create a huge mess, some might be neater then others but with the recommended setup will help prevent unwanted litter all over the floor. Cat litter is a different topic, I would say is a matter of preference, personally I have not found myself buying pretty litter just yet, so I would not be the best person to talk about how expensive should your cat litter be. I would recommend getting some type of mat for under the litter box to stop tracking of the litter. I have tried a few different brands over the past year and for most will still get some type of tracking, for some more than others.
3. Bedding - is very important for the new kitty/cat to feel they have a space of their own, and a bed is the best place to start. Is key to remember that not all cats would want to sleep with you at the bed or lay by you or on you, all cats personalities are different. This does not mean they will necessarily use the bed either but is good for them to have the option and start developing the habit.
4. Toys – keeping your little one engaged and active is a must, multiply this by 10 if you are planning to maintain your furry one indoors. However, do not go too over the board expending on cat toys. Do a test first and get an idea of what your new fur baby would enjoy. Try a set of assorted cat toys and observe which toys will be the most entertaining for them, they might like them all or they might just be interested in the box they arrived. Hey, if fits they sit!
5. Water and food plates - for the food plate I would recommend getting a small stainless steel plate. The small plate will allow a better control of food portions, this is very important to help maintain a healthy body weight. Stainless steel plates will facilitate the cleaning process, reduce the harbor of bacteria, and last a lifetime if care for properly. But food plate is the easy part, water is the one you need to make sure to get right. Cats are well known for being predisposed to develop kidney issues after lack of proper hydrating habits. This becomes extremely important if the prefer is a dry diet. I had found that for TomTom works better to have a drinking fountain, the moving water keep it aerated, appealing for him and the filter will keep the water clean for longer. Because the water fountain I have will hold 2.5 liters of water it would not run out while I'm at work.
6. Collar - If you have the intent of your feline buddy to be an outdoor cat, make sure to training them early to use a collar. If you wait until they are older you might have a harder chance for them to wear it without trying to take it off.
7. Brush - short hair or long hair they all shed like crazy. Brushing your cat will not only removes dirt, grease, and dead hair from your cat coat, but it helps to remove skin flakes and stimulates blood circulation, improving the overall condition of their skin.
8. Nail clipper - keeping your furry companion nails properly trimmed will help not only prevent them from redesigning your furniture and textiles with a more "distress" look, but it will also prevent painful broken claws when their sharp tips get caught in the carpet. Not even to mention how much of your skin could be potentially safe from your maybe not so gentle wrestling matches. One thing is very important to mention, make sure they are the right type of clippers, you don't want to use straight clippers on a rounded nail, the use of the incorrect tools could cause damage to the nail.
9. Vitamins/Supplements & treats - just like hoomans, even with a balance diet the probability of consuming all the needed nutrients on daily basis could be a challenge, especially for an indoor cat. Because of this I would recommend considering having a talk with your veterinarian and find out the types of supplements that would be the most beneficial for your furry one. Treats are a magnificent way to reinforce their good behavior. For example, after a nail trim, a brushing session or just for being awesome; just be careful not to abuse the treats they are just for special occasions.
10. Find a Vet - finally, find a good local vet. This is fundamental, veterinary visits are a very important part of keeping you kitten/cat health. Be observant of the office when you visit are other pet owners happy? is pet friendly? I will always recommend asking around to friends and neighbors with pets for recommendations. For example, I was not too crazy about our first vet, they will not allow me to stay with him in the process (this will make him very stressed) and, they were very expensive. So, I went to my neighborhood Facebook group and asked for recommendations, best decision of my life.
Bonus: Social Media (SM) - do not forget to create a social media account dedicated for your new little influencer and here are just a few reasons why:
your personal SM followers might not be interested in knowing your every furry adventure, but they are millions of others that might be. Why not shared them?
you will find other pets’ enthusiast to share your stories and ask for advice if needed.
we would all love how cute your fury baby is
My recommendation for pet’s lover SM it would be Instagram (IG). If you do and are interested in following TomTom make sure to follow us @thecattomtom
If you have read all the way here, Thank you! If you would like for me to expand in any of these topics let me know in the comments below and I will like always to do my best to provide you with my most honest opinion. I am part of Amazon Affiliates and I will receive a small compensation if you buy from the links provided; however, all links provided are of products that I had used and enjoy.
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