Hello there! For those who do not know, I am a HUGE cat lover and proud cat mamma of a darling calico named Bella. I wanted to compile a guide of all the tips I have for new cat owner complete with links to some of my favorite products. Enjoy!

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1.) Cat-proofing house 101

The most IMPORTANT tip I can give to new cat owners is to become aware of the most common household dangers to cats. There are quite a few plants and medications and even foods that can be highly toxic to cats. For the sake of convenience, I listed the most common household plants and medicines that are toxic to cats in graphics below so you can download and print them. Trust me when I say that it is better to be safe than sorry and I have had to learn this lesson the hard way!

2.) must have supplies

Next on the list is making sure you have a good stock of supplies on hand for your cat’s everyday life. While each cat will have slightly different behaviors, you will want to have a scratching board on hand at all times. Fortunately Bella, who I adopted at 4, was trained by her previous owners to use a scratch board rather than the furniture. The other thing I would highly recommending keeping on hand is a cardboard box or two! Most cats LOVE climbing in a box for some reason and Bella is obsessed with seeing how small of a box she can squeeze into. You can use extra Amazon boxes or order one of these pre-cut cardboard boxes if you want.

3.) grooming

Grooming is important! I did not realize how much cats shed until I became a cat owner (despite cat sitting all the time) and with Bella’s white fur it is quite obvious when she lays somewhere. I try to brush her at least every other day and clip her nails once a month or so. Fortunately Bella is not bad about scratching ANYTHING or anyone, but sometimes her nails will get caught on things when they get too long.

4.) litter

When it comes to litter there are MANY great options nowadays. When I first had Bella I used a covered litter box with a flap, which worked beautifully for a bit but was not the cutest look and didn’t always smell fresh. I now highly recommend the plant litter box linked below as a great option that blends in and has a carbon filter to neutralize scents.

5.) food & Treats

Every cat has their own taste when it comes to food and treats, but I have found that Fancy Feast is a popular universal option. Bella is one PICKY princess and quite literally will only eat Fancy Feast dry food. With wet food, she will only eat Friskies packets or Fancy Feast cans with gravy. If health is your main priority for your kitty, I would go with Purina or Royal Canin, but if you have a picky little diva I would say Fancy Feast is your best bet.

6.) gear

One item I would definitely recommend acquiring for your cat is a mesh carrier! These carriers are soft, lighter to carry and very breathable for kitty when it’s time to take a little trip. Bella actually loves laying in her carrier, which makes it so much easier to transport her places.

Another item I recommend, if you are comfortable, is a leash and harness in the case you want to give your kitty a little supervised fresh air. The leash and harness linked below is easy to put on and comfortable for any cat looking to get a little change of scene.

7.) toys

Last but not least, it is important to have some fun goodies for your cat on hand. Cats are so unique with their playing preferences but some general go-to toys are anything that hangs on a string and something with a tunnel nature. Bella LOVES to bat at string toys and also loves hiding out in her cube tent, but is not so much a fan of fancier, self-stimulating toys. Laser pens are a fun option that most cats enjoy as well as these catnip flavored bubbles!

What about you?

For those of you cat parents out there, I would love to know what you think of this list. Would you add to or change any of the items? Feel free to share in the comments below!