Hello , I am getting a kitten...

Question
Hello , I am getting a kitten later this year around late august/early september and I was wondering if what I plan to get him is enough I've made a list of things I'll be getting him please let me know if this is all ok, also I was wondering would the cat be happied with a litter mate to play with/talk to when noones home? jsut a thought anyways heres the list...

Cat tree about 3/5 feet tall will lots of platforms

Litter pan(which kind is best for someone who has dogs?

Dish set either plasitc, metal or glass

Lots of toys, balls, fishing poles, wind up mice, feather teasers.... the works lol

Brush

Shampoo possibly condtioner
and
A fairly high quality food

is there anything else he needs? maybe a bed?

Answer
Hello.  Congrats on your plans to get a kitty!  There are so many who need great homes.  And I'm glad you're doing research.  It proves you will be a loving and responsible pet owner.

Your list is impressive.  Sounds like you have pretty much everything you need!  I'll comment on a couple things.

If you can find a cat tree which provides carpeted surfaces as well as sisal and natural wood posts, that's the best.  That way, they can use what they like best to scratch.

I personally use hooded litter boxes.  They enclose the litter pan and have an opening in the front as an entrance.  I wouldn't get one that has a door covering the opening because some cats don't understand how to use it.  A hooded litter pan is best for me because it stops litter from being flung out of the box, and it also prevents the cat from scratching the floors and walls when they cover their waste.  But if your kitten will be tiny, a hooded box may be too deep.  Research suggests that unhooded boxes are preferred over hooded ones by most cats, so that will be up to your kitties to decide, really. I've never had a problem with my cats using them.

I haven't yet found a box that's best around dogs.  They seem to find a way into every type I've tried.  If your dog is big, you could build a large wooden box with a hole small enough for only the cat to fit in, and put the litter box inside that.  That always worked great for me until I got toy breeds that were as small as the cats!  If you get two kitties, you'll need two litter boxes, perhaps three.

And the litter, you shouldn't use clay clumping litter for kittens under 6 months.  Young kittens tend to taste their litter, and they can step in wet litter and then lick it off.  Clay clumping litter contains sodium bentonite, a compound that can cause upset stomach and intestinal blockages.  For kittens, I recommend Swheat Scoop, World's Best Cat Litter, or Feline Pine.  None of these are harmful if swallowed.  I use Feline Pine with all my cats.  It's the best litter on the market, in my opinion.

For the dishes - I recommend using stainless steel.  Other types of bowl (glass, plastic, aluminum) can cause feline acne, a build-up of oil and bacteria on the chin which can result in irritation or even infection.

The toys, excellent.  Be sure to keep anything with string or ribbons behind closed doors unless you are supervising.  I've seen kittens strangled by these.

A brush, another excellent idea.  My personal favorite is the slicker brush.  It's sort of like a rake with hundreds of hooked wire bristles.  These work best to remove dead hair and dander.  If your kitten will be longhaired, I recommend to buy a steel-toothed comb, too.  You should use this to get through tangles before using a slicker brush.

For shampoo, I recommend to use Johnson's Baby Shampoo (made for human babies) only.  Others, even those formulated for cats, can strip the skin of moisture.  You shouldn't bathe your kitty more than once a month.  As a matter of fact, it's best not to bathe your cat at all unless a medical condition requires it or he gets very dirty.  Cats have a natural detergent in their saliva, and a barbed tongue, which clean the fur as well as any shampoo will.  Since baths can be traumatic, I recommend not to bathe cats.  Periodic brushing will do just fine to keep their coats and skin healthy and beautiful.

A bed would be good for the kitty, too.  You could even make it out of a smallish cardboard box and an old towel.  These are a favorite.  If you go with a commercial bed, small round ones are favored over larger flat ones, as they provide a sense of security.

The only other thing I can think of is a nail trimmer.  I prefer special claw trimming scissors sold at pet stores.  You should trim just the tip of the nail, where it hooks.  Do that once every week or two, and you should be good!

Finally, I'm absolutely thrilled you are considering taking litter mates!  Cats NEED the attention of other cats.  Switzerland outlaws owning just one cat, citing animal cruelty.  Cats living with other cats have these benefits over cats that live alone:

They are smarter.  Interacting with other cats stimulates mental development.  Studies show that the brains of cats living with other cats are generally 30% heavier than cats living alone.

They are physically fit.  They encourage each other to exercise, so fewer of them are obese when compared to single cats.

They behave better.  They're not as likely to destroy things through scratching and knocking things over, because they're not bored.

They are healthier emotionally.  Cats living with other cats suffer from depression and anxiety less often than single cats.

Keeping litter mates together works WONDERS to help kittens get through the scary time of adjusting to a new home.  When I adopt cats out (I foster kittens), I always urge people to take a pair.  There are so many benefits to it.

The last point is, and I'm not sure if you're considering this or not, but please don't have your kitties declawed.  If you'd like any information on reasons not to declaw, as well as alternatives to declawing, please ask a follow-up question.

Oh, and vaccinations should start at 8 weeks, generally.  I don't recommend the feline leukemia vaccine unless your kitties will go outside.  It would be a good idea to have them tested for feline leukemia and feline AIDS.  I don't recommend the FIP vaccine at all.  And lastly, your babies can be neutered or spayed at about four months.  That will catch them before they are sexually mature.

Best of luck to you all!

Jessica