Mary Allen
If you want to keep a cat, you need a certain basic set of accessories right from the start, which are decisive for the proper keeping of the animal. Read what you need here.
Keeping a cat is not possible without basic accessories, such as a litter box or a suitable place to sleep. Although there are some differences in terms of the accessories required for outdoor cats and house tigers, every cat needs essential things such as food and the like. You can find out everything that goes into a cat starter set here.
Healthy Cat Food and Water
It has to be tried out whether the cat prefers to eat dry food or wet food. The food preferences are different for every cat. In the beginning, you should stick with the food that the cat already knows and likes to help it get used to it.
It is important that the cat owner always pays close attention to the nutritional information and dosage recommendations and does not exceed the recommended daily amount of cat food. Because cats tend to become overweight relatively quickly if they are fed poor, high-fat food.
Equally important are enough food and water bowls. While a cat will need at least two food bowls that can be changed as needed, it doesn’t hurt to have several water bowls around the home for drinking. The bowls should be stable and dishwasher safe.
The Litter Box
Regardless of whether your cat is an outdoor cat or an indoor cat, every cat needs its own litter box. These are available in very different variants and designs: whether open, with a lid, square or round – the choice depends on the personal taste of the cat owner and of course primarily on the cat. If several cats move in, there should always be one more toilet than there are cats.
The type of litter should be determined from the start so that the cat can get used to it at an early stage. While some cats prefer a clumping litter, other cats prefer a non-clumping liner. Ideally, a cat has two litter boxes placed in different rooms.
Scratching Post and Toys for Employment
Every cat has a pronounced hunting and play instinct, which cats should definitely live out. It is understandable that outdoor cats have a larger selection of exciting discoveries and hunting objects than indoor cats. Therefore, cat owners should provide their animals with a particularly wide range of cat toys. This can include a stuffed mouse or balls of wool and catfishing rods. There is a limitless selection of cat toys in the specialist trade for pet supplies, although you do not necessarily have to spend money on them. Many cats are also happy about pine cones from the garden or small pieces of wood.
When it comes to keeping cats busy, there is another must-have for cats: the scratching post. This should be available especially for indoor cats so that they can scratch the tree to care for their claws. In addition, a scratching post is also a climbing frame, retreat, and place to sleep. With the right instructions, you can also make a scratching post yourself.
The Ideal Sleeping Place for Cats
Although most cats love to sleep in bed with their master or mistress, if this is not possible, a comfortable sleeping place should be set up for the four-legged friend. As with so many things, cat owners should pay close attention to where the cat prefers to sleep. These can be simple larger boxes with “cave character”, but also standard sleeping boxes for cats. A small blanket for the ground increases the comfort factor and ensures that the cat likes to go into the “basket”. It is important that the sleeping place for the cat is always in the same place so that it can identify with it better.
Treats and Cat Grass
Just about every cat has a sweet tooth and nibbles on everything it can get its paws on. In order to quickly establish a positive bond with the cat, it is advisable to give the cat a treat from time to time – be it as a reward or just to give the cat a little pleasure. As long as this is done in moderation and the cat is not overweight, there is nothing to be said against it.
It is also important that the cat has digestive aids in the form of cat grass. While outdoor cats eat the grass during their rounds in order to be able to better digest the hair they pick up when cleaning, house cats need certain cat grass from specialist shops.