Welcoming a cat into your home requires thoughtful preparation. Essential supplies include a litter box, litter, food and water bowls, age-appropriate food, a scratching post, a carrier, toys, a bed, and a brush. The general rule for litter boxes is one per cat plus one extra, placed in quiet, accessible locations. Common litter types include clumping or non-clumping clay, silica, pine, paper, corn, and walnut, with most cats preferring unscented clumping clay. The box should be scooped daily (ideally twice), fully emptied and refilled every one to two weeks for clumping litter or weekly for non-clumping, and filled to a depth of two to three inches. Cats with mobility issues benefit from low-entry boxes.
A new cat should see a veterinarian within a week of adoption for a full health check. Kittens need core vaccines, including the FVRCP combination (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia) and rabies. Outdoor cats are also typically vaccinated against Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), while Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is primarily transmitted through bite wounds. Other important infectious diseases include Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), once considered fatal but now treatable with the antiviral GS-441524, and panleukopenia, a highly contagious and often fatal parvovirus. Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are the common "cat cold," usually caused by calicivirus or herpesvirus.
Spaying or neutering is recommended at around four to six months of age, though pediatric spay/neuter (eight weeks and up) is also considered safe. Beyond population control, the procedure reduces roaming and the risk of certain cancers and unwanted behaviors. Declawing, the surgical removal of the toe joints, is widely considered inhumane and is banned in many places; better alternatives include scratching posts, nail caps, regular trimming, and positive training. Other essentials for new cats include microchipping for permanent identification, visible ID tags, and breakaway collars that release under tension to prevent strangulation. Carrier training begins by leaving the carrier accessible at home so it becomes a safe space rather than a vet-only signal, and fear-free veterinary care reduces stress with low-stress handling and pheromones. The 3-3-3 rule helps set expectations: three days to decompress, three weeks to settle in, and three months to feel fully at home, with a small, quiet "sanctuary room" supporting the initial decompression period. On average, cat ownership runs $800–$1,500+ per year.