Top 10 accessories for your new furry friend

As a new cat owner, you might be stressed about providing the basics for your kitty. One way to eliminate this stress is by creating a checklist of accessories for your cat.

Here’s a checklist of items that supports your cat’s needs:

Cat Litter

With so many cat litter brands, it might be difficult to find the purrfect one. Buying a natural litter brand such as Chandler Cat Litter is environmentally friendly, which means you can reuse your old litter in your backyard as compost.

2. Food and water bowl

The safest material to use for your kitty’s food and water bowl is stainless steel. It is dishwasher safe and does not cause any allergic reactions.

3. Appropriate bedding

A cat needs a warm and comfortable bed that they can call their own. Having an elevated furry bed reminds your furry friend of when they were born, cuddling up to their mother.

4. Collar and tag with your contact details

It is vital to buy a collar that has your kitty’s their name engraved on the front and your contact details on the back. This prevents them from sneaking away and getting lost in the big human world.

5. Secure transport cage OR padded crate

When transporting your cat to the vet or even on a holiday, it is important to have a transport cage. This is to keep them from being injured inside your vehicle.

When purchasing, look for one that is double the size of them so they have plenty of breathing and moving space. If you are on a long drive somewhere, try to encourage them with treats to get inside the transport cage.

Your companion may be a little anxious when inside, so try spraying the cage with chamomile or lavender prior to your journey, this will keep them relaxed. Place their favourite blanket inside the cage for maximum comfort.

If your little one is fussy and refuses to use their crate, try changing to a padded crate that is slightly more comfortable than the plastic cage. The crate has mesh windows all around so they can see outside and breathe easier.

6. Cat/Kitten food

A cat’s diet says a lot about their overall health. Having a balanced diet for your companion is vital for them to grow up healthy and maintain a soft coat.

Supplying wet and dry food is ideal for a balanced diet. You can even offer natural human foods such as raw beef bones to your cat as a variety.

For kittens, feeding them dry food that contains 45% protein and 23% fat to meet their daily intake. When feeding them their main meal, it should be 10% protein and have 5% fat but 78% moisture [1]. Providing cats with moisture in their food prevents them from getting urine infections or diabetes.

Try sticking to one brand that meets their protein and calcium requirements. If you have any questions, it is best to speak to your vet.

7. Toys

Just like humans, cats benefit mentally and physically from keeping busy. Having a few toys for them to play with is ideal. When buying a toy for your little kitty, some tips would be:

Avoid buying toys that are small and swallowable. A cat is like a baby, they will put things in their mouth thinking it is food. Try buying a toy that does not have any loose parts.
Buy toys that let you interact with them, like soft tennis balls. This helps you build a strong relationship with them.
Some good toys to purchase could be:
Noise makers – such as a rattle
Little cotton mice that they can chase around the house