Getting a Cat? Here is What You Need

Did the Furry Fairy bite you while you were sleeping?  As for me, it bit me many years ago and I began to dream about having cats.  My mom, however, was entirely opposed to the idea and so my kitty-dreams remained just dreams until after my husband was an instrument to bring them into reality.  That was four years ago.  And now three cats later, I have learned quite a bit on the maintenance and behavioral aspects of our furry friends.  If you are planning for a cat or are biding your time (just as I did), the following is the comprehensive list of all of the products and methods I use to make our home a home for not only humans, but also for our feline friends.  My priority was to keep things simple, minimal, and effective.  After some trial and errors, I have found my “Kitty Peace” and I hope this helps you to plan and prepare for yours.  Oh and feel free to click the photo for a direct link to the product.  See, mom? It isn’t that hard after all.

1. LITTER

The most important product you are going to need is good litter that keeps your indoor-kitty messes contained and organized.  I purchased some brands that blew dust every time I scooped it out making me cough and inevitably hurting the kitty lungs, that failed to perform their purpose of containing the excrements and resulted in an offensively smelly home, and also those that failed to do their one job of being easy to clean.  This brand is my love for about three years and as long as they maintain their quality, I am not switching.  You can find Dr. Elsey’s Cat Litter in Petco or Petsmart, however, I prefer to buy it online at Chewy.com (click the photo for direct link) where it can be shipped automatically and eliminate the struggle of little ol’ me lugging a 40-lb bag of litter around town.  Amazon.com also carries it but their prices fluctuate drastically.

I should add that there is literature which suggests that cats have different litter needs.  Some may not like this type of litter or may prefer another one, as there are different materials out there in the market. My preference is this one because it works for me.  If you do not know, look at the litter being used where you adopted your cat from and mimic that experience.  And if you still do not know, then get a small bag and experiment to see which one your kitty prefers.

You will need to be prepared to sweep or vacuum the floor periodically as the cat(s) will inevitably track some outside the litter box.  Munchy, our second cat, has these episodes where she imagines her prey is hiding in the litter boxes and must be chased back and forth from one to the other.  It is fun for Munchy. It is not fun for me.

2.  LITTER SCOOPER

With what do you scoop the litter? Any litter scooper will do, to be honest.  My preference side with the cheap plastic ones less environmentally friendly ones that can be discarded when there is just too much gunk. I don’t know about anyone else, but it has been nearly impossible for me to keep these guys clean for long periods of time.  I normally find them tucked in the Pet isles of the grocery store but I have linked a similar, inexpensive one for you on the photo.  If you would like to go for a more environmentally conscious choice, then the metal ones would be a great option.

Mine sits inside a trash can from Ikea that looks remarkably like the one I purchased in my broke, college years. It worked then and it works now.  Isn’t that all we want for things to do in life?

3.  TRASH CAN

In the beginning of marital bliss and my lack of cooking skills, I thought a small trash can would be a perfect thing for our kitchen.  Boy, was I wrong.  But it ended up being a perfect receptacle to carry the (quite disgusting, actually) “gems” that our kitties leave for us in the litter box. I keep it lined with a grocery bag and “collect” the prizes inside.  As it fills, it is chucked out in the trash.

The key to having an odor-free home is not to purchase specially formulated trash bags or litters or any other gimmicks, but to scoop out the litter box every day.  Yes, every day. Okay, you may miss a day in between if it is one one of those days. But every day, otherwise! You will have happy cats and a happy nose.

4. LITTER BOX

I can not share this litter box enough!  This Catit Jumbo Litter Box came into my life this past year and I have cried many tears to find the perfect one that suits my methods.  What I love about it is that a part of the “roof” also lifts up making it very easy to get your hand in there to be able to scoop perfectly.  Why didn’t I find this before?  I now have two of these and I have never looked back.

Although it is a bit bulky, it is fairly neutral in color unlike the first blue one I got because I was at a specific phase in my life. Don’t ask.  One of our cats likes to think she will one day reach China as she digs in the litter box, so I knew that I needed something large enough and covered to catch the aftermath. My most important reason, however,  for getting this one was because it suited the way that I maintain cleanliness of the entire “littering” experience.  And that is helped by the following item on the list.

5.  Disposable Litter Trays

It is recommended to thoroughly clean your plastic litter boxes with bleach and soap once a month. And if there are a lot of scratches from the cats in the plastic, then they should be replaced.  Does that sound like a hassle to you? Well, it sure did to me.  And I knew that it was not a sustainable solution for my lazy efficient self.  The next best solution was having disposable litter trays that are changed monthly.

The wonderful thing about using the litter box above is that it houses these jumbo trays perfectly.  So much so that it seems to me that this was a planned effort. My method is the following:

1. Scoop some litter on the bottom of the plastic litter box to contain any accidents that inevitably find their way outside of the litter tray.  This will happen whether you like it or not!  Yes. They are such animals.
2. Fill these babies up to just a little less than half with litter.
3. Plop the disposable tray on top of the layer of litter in Step 1, place and snap the lid shut and you are gold.

As part of my monthly maintenance, I discard the old tray and its contents, wipe the litter boxes clean with disinfectant wipes (I keep the litter on the bottom of the box as is and scoop out any accidents).  This is also a great opportunity to wipe clean all other items associated with this venture, namely scooper and the trash can.  This is an easy, fool-proof method to have a clean and hygienic litter box for the new furry friends.

6. Spray Bottle

This one is for discipling the cats.  Yes, I know, that sounds harsh.  But have you seen what a cat can do when left alone to her own devices?  Just leave an untrained kitten with a jumble of cords and see the damage.  This little magical bottle carries one thing, and one thing only:  Water.  If you have those rare few breeds that love water, then I can only wish you the best of luck. For all the rest of us:  this baby is perfect and it shoots far.

The entire idea is to spray the cat as soon as she starts to think about doing something that she should not do without the kitty knowing where the water is coming from and, most importantly, who is using the bottle.  As far as they are concerned, the water is coming from above to “guide” them to do the “right thing.” Yes, I laughed.  But you will too, with tears, if you don’t discipline your babies! Our cats – as far as we know – do not jump on the countertops, on the table when we are having dinner, or venture into cabinets where food and electronics are kept.  I know they explore the counter top when we are not home or sleeping.  Honestly, as long as they are not walking all over food as I prep meals, I am okay with that. A spray bottle is a cat-owner’s friend and this specific spray bottle is the best friend.

Another tip is to “hiss” at your cat when she is doing something wrong.  So a loud, demanding, and threatening “ssss” sound will let her know that the human is not happy with what is going on and she will most likely, for the lack of better words, scram.

Trust me, I love our cats.  All of them.  They are well behaved, loving, and perfectly happy kitties.  A little discipline that does not cause any harm is worth the beginning effort.

7.  Cat Toys

Cats will play with the least suspected thing.  A little paper clip on the ground can become a great entertainment while your new specialty catnip-filled-mouse can lay untouched for days.  One thing that all of them seem to love is that little feather attached to a rod.  We have had this specific one for two years and it is holding up like a champ against three cats.

Playing with your cat is essential not only to help keep their mind sharp and engaged but also to form a bond between you and your furry partner in crime.  Just pretend that the feather is a pesky little fly which you are unable to catch every time you get close it (you know the one I’m talking about!) Bounce it around, making a trail for the cats to chase, and you are off to a great fun-filled adventure.

8. Scratching Post

Cats love to scratch and they are going to scratch whatever is in their view unless you give them something else to draw their attention to.  I was unable to find the exact scratching post that has held up for many years with us, but it has proven to be a useful tool throughout.  If for instance the cat is interested in scratching that corner of the sofa, place a scratching post of their preference instead and redirect their attention.  (That spray bottle does come in handy here!).

Your kitty may prefer the sisal rope, or the carpet, or the cardboard scratcher.  Find the one that works for you and stick to it.  You may have to guide them to scratch the post physically in the beginning and a little cat nip sprinkled on top will attract them to it quite easily.

9.  Cat Nail Clippers

Cats are animals and animals have claws.  That is the circle of life around these parts.  If you don’t trim the nails, then the nails will be trimming you. And it will hurt which is not only painful, but also potentially harmful.  Trimming nail is essential and the earlier you can get started with that, the better.  As soon as you get the cat (if it’s a kitten), then start working on trimming those nails.  There are lots of how-to videos available on YouTube.  Two of my cats hate it, and one enjoys the process.  Either way, they know who’s the boss and who gets the final word.  In short, in just few minutes, the nails are clipped and the furniture (and my skin) is saved.

In the beginning, I fell in the expensive trap of purchasing the nail-caps for the cats.  It works well until they figured out how to remove them and then I felt my dollar bills going down the drain.  Or specifically in my case, chewed and ruthlessly discarded.  I find that keeping the claws trimmed is a perfect, cost effective solution.  De-clawing is a big no-no in my opinion and I would suggest you to read more about the process and consider whether it is even a halal practice (if you are one of my Muslim readers, that is).

These are not the exact nail clippers I have purchased.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find the ones I own but these have similar shape.  I only purchased this once and it has lasted so far without any issue.  I know the process of trimming nails can seem intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes routine. Don’t be afraid, just educate yourself and if you have cats like mine, you will be done with it no time.

10.  Cat food

Finally, we have come to the most debated subject among the cat owners – and arguably, cats themselves.  Which one is the best cat food?  The only thing I am certain of is that the Friskie et. al. cat foods are just not healthy for them as per their ingredients.  After doing my research, I am convinced that wet food is better for them than dry food.  Before I knew any better, I did purchase the Friskies et. al. food for them and they are still very much addicted to it. After eating that Allah-knows-what food, my cats refuse to eat anything else.  My personal favorite (by ingredients, dear reader, of course by ingredients only) is Paw Lickin’ Chicken by Weruva.  I love it but that does not mean that my cats love it too.

To resolve the obvious relationship-breaking-red-flag, I mix a little bit of Friskies in it for them every time so that they can have the flavor they love and not leave the food untouched for days.  Yes, I speak with experience.  In short, this is the food I prefer.  I would invite you to do your own research and arrive at your own conclusion that satisfies your conscience. Again, I prefer Chewy.com to purchase this as well as it adds on to the auto-ship and relieves me of my duties of ordering their food every month. Don’t forget to get a bowl of food and water, and you are on your way to a happy, healthy kitty.

See? Only 10 essential items and you will set the ground work to having a peaceful, cat-friendly household.  These are my personal preferences that I have found to work over the years and I am so intensely satisfied with them, that I see myself sharing the same list a decade down the line.

The only big investment that is needed is the initial preparations, after which a small monthly budget will cover common household cats expenses.  Just a little attention every day results in the greatest reward that I have experienced:  A cat’s trust and companionship.  It makes my heart flutter every time.  Yes, I’m a cat lady, a Muslim Cat Lady and the title is well deserved.

-S