The New Cat Checklist · Shopping List
Everything from the guide, in one place
These are all the products we have personally bought for Thelma and Louis and loved through the years. If you are bringing home a kitty just make sure the product is age appropriate for them and that you always supervise cats with toys.
Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Every purr-chase helps keep two very demanding cats in treats. Thank you!
Before your cat comes home
MASKEYON soft-sided expandable carrier
The carrier we still use. Opens from the front and the top, airline-approved, and holds up.
Tidy Cats Breeze litter system (starter kit)
The pellet-and-pad system we switched to and recommend. This is the XL all-in-one.
Feline Pine original litter
The budget pick. We used it for our first six months. If you opt for this one, pair it with any big open litter box and a plastic liner.
REScue veterinary disinfectant wipes (160 count)
The cleanup staple nobody tells you to buy. We use them to this day.
Petdream stainless steel cat bowls
Whisker-friendly, wide and shallow, with a non-slip silicone base.
Whisker-friendly silicone bowl set
The colorful non-slip set, if you want something lighter than steel.
Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain & Odor Eliminator
What we use for accidents on fabric, like when one of the cats overeats and throws up on the carpet. (Monthly, in our house.) Buy it before you need it.
Nature’s Miracle Litter Box Cleaner Foam
For deep-cleaning the box itself between litter changes.
Nature’s Miracle Litter Box Scrubbing Wipes
Quick wipe-downs without hauling the box to the tub.
Treats
ACANA Lickables
Our everyday lickable treat, and the one that works for Thelma, who’s allergic to the churu-style ones.
PureBites freeze-dried chicken
Single ingredient, and the one human-adjacent food both our cats actually want.
WholeHearted turkey liver freeze-dried treats
The ones they lose their MINDS for. Petco’s house brand, so you’ll find it at Petco rather than Amazon.
Comfort and play
Bedsure calming donut bed
Our exact bed (the Gavenia) comes and goes from Amazon, so here’s the same washable donut style you can buy today.
Fluffy fleece cat blankets (3 pack)
Soft layers for couches, carriers, and chairs. (See: the blanket story in the guide.)
Leo’s Paw bird simulation set
The suction-cup birds. Big hit here, but supervised play only. Don’t leave string toys out.
Alicedreamsky 3-way cat tunnel
The tubes. One of the few toys ours have never gotten sick of.
umosis rechargeable interactive toy
The one automated toy we trust enough to leave on.
Potaroma fluttering butterfly toy
The butterfly toy Thelma went crazy over. Ours kept breaking and we kept rebuying it, which tells you everything.
YVE LIFE automatic laser
A rechargeable laser with random patterns, for the laser-obsessed cat. End sessions with a real toy they can catch.
TBTeek rechargeable interactive toy
Multiple light and movement modes for solo chase sessions.
Cat Dancer
The classic wire-and-cardboard toy. Cheap, simple, and cats have loved it for forty years.
JJYPET rainbow ribbon wands (3 pack)
Ribbon charmer wands for interactive play. Put them away after, like all string toys.
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post
The tall sisal post we have now, sturdy enough that a full-grown cat can lean into it. Pair it with a flat cardboard scratcher.
Worth adding once you know your cat
PETLIBRO cordless water fountain (2.5L)
We keep two fountains out and the cats use them daily.
PetSafe Seaside stainless steel fountain
The all-stainless pick if your cat turns their nose up at plastic.
Trixie Cat Activity Fun Board XXL
One of Louis’s three puzzle feeders. He figures them out fast, so we rotate.
SureFeed microchip feeder
The feeder that only opens for the right cat. We have one for Thelma, or else Louis would eat all her food.
Cat Mate C500 automatic feeder
The automatic feeder we use for Louis’s scheduled meals.
Mau Ivy 4 cat tree
The tree that looks like furniture. Both cats use it. Sold by Mau Pets directly, not on Amazon.
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