Your first week with a cat: the essentials checklist

1. Set up a small, quiet starting space

Prepare a room before your cat arrives, especially if other pets already live with you. Include a hiding place, comfortable rest area and the everyday resources your cat needs. Put litter away from eating and drinking areas. A clean cardboard box can be a hiding place; the entire room does not need to be newly purchased.

Check windows, cords, plants and small objects. If you have resident cats, plan a gradual introduction rather than opening the carrier into the middle of the household.

2. Cover the essentials first

Need	What to choose	Where to start
Food	Use the familiar complete diet initially unless your vet advises otherwise. Keep kitten and adult needs separate.	Compare cat food options
Food and water dishes	Easy-to-clean dishes placed where your cat can eat and drink comfortably.	Catit PIXI Elevated Dish
Litter	Start with the familiar type and a suitable tray. Compare the exact bag size when budgeting.	Catit Go Natural Unscented Litter and AirSift Jumbo Litter Box
Transport	A securely assembled carrier with enough space for your cat. Check its dimensions and weight limit.	Catit Cabrio Carrier
Rest and scratching	A hiding place, bedding and stable scratching surface. Choose around the space you have.	Catit PIXI Wide Scratcher
Grooming	Tools suitable for coat length and your cat’s tolerance.	Catit Shorthair Grooming Kit for a short coat

A fountain is optional. If you choose the Catit PIXI Fountain, include its filters in the ongoing budget and follow its cleaning instructions. A plain water bowl remains a useful starting choice.

3. Make the daily routine easy to repeat

• Morning: provide the planned food, refresh drinking water and clean the litter area as needed.
• During the day: let your cat choose quiet rest and contact. Offer appropriate play without forcing interaction.
• Evening: follow the planned feeding routine, check water and litter, and put away toys that need supervision.

Write down who feeds and who cleans so tasks are neither missed nor duplicated. Follow feeding and storage instructions for the selected food. If your cat is not eating or seems unwell, contact your vet rather than treating a product change as the solution.

4. Put care appointments on the calendar

Call a clinic to arrange an arrival check and bring the records you have. For a kitten, AAHA recommends a first visit within the first week, sooner if the kitten seems unwell. Ask for an individual plan for vaccinations, parasite prevention, identification and food portions.

Get costs from the clinic and note the appointment dates. These costs belong in your budget even though they are not products you buy through our links.

5. Price the list you will actually buy

Open the cat shopping-list builder and select food, litter and any equipment you still need. Enter retailer prices for the exact pack sizes. Your food and litter repeat; the carrier and dishes are setup purchases.

For food, estimate how long the selected pack lasts using the feeding amount you already follow or your vet has advised. Do not count a full wet-food diet and a full dry-food diet together if your cat eats a combination. Adjust the quantities to the actual plan.

Add separate allowances for the clinic, insurance or care while you travel. After a few weeks, update the litter and food assumptions using what your household really uses.