Initial cat equipment: What you need

Soon your velvet-pawed family member will move in and you probably already have an idea how to renovate your apartment. species-appropriate for your cat or decorate and design your cats. Perhaps you are already thinking about what size and colour to choose the scratching post in and whether to match the cuddly cat bed to your interior? But what do you need anyway so that the little tiger is curious ,his new home and quickly feels at home with you?

We'll tell you what shouldn't be missing from the initial equipment and what you can offer a kitten, house tiger or outdoor cat so that you can meet the individual needs of the velvet paws in the best possible way.

Basic equipment: Checklist for initial equipment for cats

Surely you are already looking forward to picking up your cat soon and getting him used to his new home. Take advantage of this exciting time and furnish your apartment cat-friendly. We will show you the best way to prepare with our checklist for initial equipment for indoor cats:

• Bowls: Buy a water bowl and a food bowl or use a practical double bowl consisting of two bowls. If you want to offer your kitty dry food and wet food, you prefer to use two food bowls directly. Cat bowls with a non-slip underside are ideal: If your kitten is very hungry, this will prevent the bowl from slipping through the kitchen in the heat of the moment. A bowl mat can also provide valuable services here.

• Cat food: It is best to think about what food you want to offer your cat before you move in. In addition to commercial foods such as dry and wet food, you can also choose soft moist food, BARF or swing the wooden spoon yourself.

• Litter box: Not only the location of the toilet is important for many cats - some velvet paws prefer to do their business undisturbed under a lid and behind a closed flap. And then there are the freedom-loving tigers, who like to enter the open toilet from all sides, without any obstacle. Since you don't know your cat's preferences, we recommend a litter box with a loosely hung flap and a removable lid.

• Cat litter: Here you can choose between different options. Whether clumping litter, plant fibre such as corn or litter with baby powder scent - try a few alternatives. Your cat will show you what they are comfortable with.

• Transport box: You should not only buy a secure box for the first transport of your kitten, but also for a visit to the vet, it is best to store it in a secure box or transport basket.

• Cat baskets: Cats need their retreats to recover - especially animals from the animal shelter. Therefore, offer your cat enough resting and sleeping places. For example, how about a combination of a soft cat cave and a cozy cat bed?

• Scratching furniture: Here you can let off steam creatively. If you prefer fixed scratching posts, you have many colors and sizes to choose from. Does your apartment have little space? Then individual wall elements, consisting of lying plates, caves and steps, are just right so that your furry friend can romp around to his heart's content. As an alternative to the cat scratching post, you can also use scratching walls, which you can attach to the wall to save space.

• Cat toys: To keep your little tiger from getting bored, provide him with a few different cat toys. A small cuddly toy or a cat fishing rod awakens the hunting instinct, a fiddling board promotes dexterity and intelligence.

• Care items: With cat brushes and curry combs you support the grooming of your pet. A massage comb and brush are a must-have in your cat's kit to pamper your kitten while keeping their coat shiny and healthy.

• Safety accessories (optional): If you want to share your balcony with your cat, a cat net prevents possible falls or unwanted outdoor access. If you also mount special protective wedges on tilted windows, your roommate will not be able to climb out and you will prevent him from getting stuck in the window frame during the attempt.

Kittens: Special equipment for kittens

Basically, you need the same basic equipment for your kitten as for an adult cat. However, these 3 small but fine details make all the difference:

1. Food: Your kitten needs special kitten food whose composition is highly digestible and tailored to the specific needs of the kitten. If you have any questions about the right food, you can contact your breeder or veterinarian.
2. Scratching furniture: On a small scratching post or a scratching stem, your kitten learns to sharpen its claws. In addition, it can let off steam to its heart's content on a flat scratching post (max. 120 cm high) and carefully try climbing.
3. Sleeping place: Fluffy, round pillows (donuts) with raised edges or cuddly caves offer your kitten special nest warmth and protection. So it can slumber peacefully.

Outdoor cats: Starter package for outdoor cats

If you want to house an outdoor cat, you can also include the following cat accessories in your considerations to offer your cat enough freedom:

• Tracker: Cat trackers send signals to an associated app on your phone via GPS. So you always know where your kitty is exploring the area and can follow her quickly in an emergency.

• Cat flap: If you want to give your little hunter a lot of freedom, mount a practical cat flap. So your four-legged friend can decide for himself when he wants to enjoy fresh air. Special systems even allow you to program your tiger's chip or tracker - this prevents foreign animals from entering. You can also conveniently activate and lock controllable cat flaps via your mobile phone if you don't want your cat to leave the house in the evening.

• Cat harness: Cats are tied to a place - so get your feline paw used to their new environment for the time being. During joint forays with cat harness and leash, she can curiously explore the neighborhood.

• Collar: If you're planning to equip your cat with a tracker or address tag, you'll need to attach it to a collar. When choosing the collar, make sure that it fits well on the neck, but that it can be easily removed over the head in an emergency if your four-legged friend gets caught in the undergrowth. A collar with a "panic closure" is particularly practical, which opens automatically in the event of strong resistance.

• Address tag: If your cat ever gets lost in someone else's house or property, its finder can find your address with the help of an address sleeve on the collar and quickly bring it back to you.

Checklist for initial cat equipment

Have you thought of everything? Here you can see everything you need at a glance: