The first few days of having a new kitten are filled with lots of excitement and fun as your kitten continues to play and becomes more familiar with their new home. Here are 14 more items beyond the essential Kitten supplies to help you take even better care of your new kitten or cat in the coming days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Take a look through our list of additional ideas for your kitten and decide which items you will need to get. We suggest you get most of them within the next 2 to 3 days and the rest of them as soon as you are able.
Kitten Supplies Beyond the Essentials
1. KITTEN BRUSH
A good brush and or comb will help keep your kittens fur healthy and clean. One brushing a day will help reduce the amount of fur around your house.
Li’l Pals Slicker Brush for Kittens
Get a Cat Brush and comb that is suited to your Kittens type of fur. A wire slicker brush and a wide tooth comb is great for long hair kittens while a bristle brush and a fine tooth comb is good for short hair kittens.
Investing in a good brush and comb will work well and last a long time. Take a look around and find something that will work for you, your kitten and your budget.
2. CAT NAIL TRIMMER
Cat nail trimmers are best for indoor cats as an outdoor cat will need their claws kept sharp to defend themselves. Do not declaw your kitten. It’s cruel and unnecessary. Use a good set of trimmers to keep your kitten’s claws short with regular clippings.
Talk to your vet about the best trimmers to use, the proper way to clip your kitten’s claws and how often they should be trimmed.
Be sure to offer your kitten a treat as a reward after they have had their claws trimmed to make it more fun for them.
See More Cat Nail Trimmer Ideas
3. ANTI-SCRATCH SPRAY
If your kitten only uses the scratch post or cat tree and leaves your furniture alone then an anti-scratch spray may not be needed. If you start finding claw marks where they shouldn’t be then an anti-scratch spray may be the best way to train your kitten from scratching where it shouldn’t.
NaturVet No Scratch Spray for Cats
Keeping your kitten’s claws regularly clipped will also help to minimize any further damage while training them to keeping their scratching to their scratch post.
4. PET INSURANCE
The best time to get Pet Insurance is when you kitten is young and healthy. Pet Insurance can help you handle any unexpected expenses you may have if you Kitten becomes sick or is injured. Pet Insurance can also help with Vet fees from annual check-ups and visits.
Take a serious look at Pet Insurance and see if it’s right for you and your cat.
Get more information on Pet Insurance below.
Pet Insurance for Your Cat: 3 Key Questions to Ask Before You Decide to Buy
Pet Insurance and the Meaning of Policy Terms
Cat Pet Insurance: Deciding if it will benefit you and Your Cat
Is Pet Insurance worth it? Knowing if you should buy Pet Insurance for your Cat?
Cat Pet Insurance: 7 Money Saving Ideas You May Not Have Thought About
5. VITAMINS and SUPPLEMENTS
A healthy diet with a high quality cat food will provide all the vitamins and minerals your kitten needs. Vitamins and supplements are an extension of your kitten’s normal diet and can do more harm than good if not used properly.
If your kitten is unable to absorb a certain nutrient than Vitamins or a supplement may be needed.
Talk to your Vet first and find out if your Kitten needs a vitamin or supplement added to their diet.
See More Vitamin and Supplement Ideas
6. CAT TOOTHBRUSH
Your kitten can’t keep their teeth clean the way a cat in the wild can. Cleaning your kitten’s teeth regularly helps to prevent dental problems which, if not treated, can also lead to further health problems.
C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Kit for Cats
Start a cleaning routine while your kitten is young to help them get used to the process. Use Treats and tartar control chews as a reward as your kitten becomes used to having their teeth cleaned. Raw, hard beef bones can also help control tartar and promote healthy gums.
Get your Vet to thoroughly check your kitten’s teeth and gums once a year and talk to them about your kitten dental health if you have any questions.
7. CAT TOOTHPASTE
Using people toothpaste can make your cat severely ill if they ingest the fluoride it contains. Use toothpaste that is specifically made for cats.
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Cat Toothpaste
Cat toothpaste is available in a few flavors you kitten or cat will like. When beginning start with a gauze covered finger and as your kitten gets older you can change to a kitty toothbrush.
8. CAT EAR CLEANER
If your Kitten’s ears are waxy or dirty you’ll need an ear cleaner to fix the problem. It’s a good idea to check your kitten’s ears at the same time you give them their regular brushing. Gently fold back the ear flap until you can see inside the ear. If their ears are clean then you can leave them and do nothing.
Zymox Ear Cleanser With Bio-Active Enzymes
If you see a build-up of ear wax or dirt then you’ll need to use ear drops to clean their ears. If you notice a green or yellow discharge then take your kitten to the vet as they may have a bacterial or fungal infection.
Talk to your vet about the best way to check and keep your kitten’s ears clean and the proper ear cleaner to use.
See More Cat Ear Cleaner Ideas
9. HARNESS and LEASH
As you indoor kitten grows older, you may want to do some training or take them outside for short adventures and walks. In either case you will need a harness and leash for your cat.
Petsafe Come With Me Kitty Harness and Bungee Leash
Get a harness that is adjustable so it will fit your cat properly and will be comfortable to wear. Slowly get them used to the harness and, when they are ready, slowly ease them into going outside.
See More Harness and Leash Ideas
10. CATNIP or CATNIP SPRAY
Cats can’t seem to get enough of this tantalizing little herb that sends cats and kittens into kitty bliss. Make sure you have some around for those times when you want to treat your kitten.
Sojos Certified Organic Catnip
Wait until they are 3 to 6 months before giving it to them as they may not have developed sensitivity to it yet.
11. KITTEN HEAT PAD
A heat pad for your kitten will help to keep them warm and cozy at home. Most heat pads will usually work off the kitten’s body heat. They work well in kitten beds, on the floor or anywhere else your kitten likes to nap.
K&H Thermo-Kitty Fashion Splash Heated Cat Mat
Operating on low voltage, they are also are machine washable and can be rolled up and stored when not in use.
See More Kitten Heat Pad Ideas
12. FLEA or WORM TREATMENT
If you are worried about your kitten getting fleas or worms or if they seem agitated and are scratching excessively then a flea or worm treatment suitable for small cats and kittens is a good idea.
Merial Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Control for Cats and Kittens
There are many choices to choose from such as drops and collars to tablets and sprays. If you have any questions about which one you should get for your kitten then make sure you talk to your vet first.
13. FELIWAY PHEROMONE DIFFUSER
If your kitten appears anxious or stressed in its new home then a feliway pheromone diffuser may help to calm them down and let them know that everything is alright. Some stress-related behaviors would be urine marking and scratching of furniture, etc.
Comfort Zone with Feliway for Cats Diffuser
A Feliway Pheromone Diffuser is nontoxic and odorless; it is not a drug or tranquilizer and will not harm people or other pets. You may see a calmer more relaxed kitten in as little as 7 days.
See More Cat Pheromone Diffuser Ideas
14. BOOKS ON CAT CARE and CAT BEHAVIOR
It’s always a great idea to have some Cat books at home to help you learn more about your kitten, their health needs and what affects their behavior.
The Natural Cat: The Comprehensive Guide to Optimum Care
When you have a question about your kitten’s diet of you want to know why your kitten is behaving a certain way you can quickly refer to your books for a quick answer.
See More Cat Behavior Book Ideas
Take Good Care of Your Kitten.
With these additional ideas your new kitten will be in good hands and well taken care of. Let us know how everything goes with your kitten. If there is any other items not in this list that you feel will help other kitten owners please let us know in the comments. We would be happy to add them for you.
