New kitten checklist: what to buy before your kitten comes home
Food, litter, somewhere to scratch, somewhere to hide, and the South Australian rules for kittens.
Before your kitten comes home, have these ready: the kitten food they’re already eating, food and water bowls, at least two litter trays with an unscented litter, a scratching post, a carrier, a cosy bed or hiding spot, and a few toys. In South Australia your kitten must also be microchipped and, if born after 1 July 2018, desexed by six months of age unless an exemption applies. Everything on this list is on the shelves at our shop in Angaston.
Kitten food and bowls
Ask the breeder or shelter what your kitten is eating and keep to it for the first few days. A move to a new home is a big change, and familiar food helps. If you want to switch later, do it slowly.
The RSPCA’s guide to feeding a kitten says the basis of the diet should be a complete, balanced, premium commercial kitten food that suits your kitten’s life stage. It suggests starting with wet kitten food and introducing dry food as your kitten grows, and offering food at least four times a day. Never give a kitten puppy or dog food, because it lacks taurine, which cats can only get from their food. Fresh water should always be available, but the RSPCA says not to give kittens milk, because it can upset their stomach.
Our food range includes Cherish, Hypro wet cat pouches, Advance wet cat trays and Kit Cat. Ask us which of these come in a kitten formula, and if your breeder or vet recommends a food we don’t stock, we can try to order it in. We also carry food and water bowls, including rechargeable water bowls.
Litter trays and litter
Set up the litter trays before your kitten arrives, and show them where the trays are as soon as they come home. The RSPCA recommends at least two trays for one cat, in separate spots, and one tray per cat plus one if you have more than one cat. Fill them with about 3 to 4cm of an unscented litter, and keep them in a quiet place away from food and water.
Every litter we stock is clumping: Cats Best wood fibre in Original or Pellets, Wee Kitty bamboo with activated charcoal, and Poo Wee in tofu or bentonite clay. If your kitten has used a particular litter before, start with something similar. Our guide to choosing a cat litter compares them, and CSI urine spray is handy for any accidents while your kitten learns.
A scratching post
Kittens scratch to look after their claws, mark their territory and let off steam, so give them somewhere better than the couch from day one. The RSPCA recommends at least one scratching post per cat, tall and sturdy enough for your cat to fully stretch out against. Our cat scratchers and towers come from Kazoo, Allpet and Cattitude, and a tower gives a kitten somewhere to climb and watch the room too.
A carrier for the trip home and vet visits
You’ll need a carrier to bring your kitten home, and for every vet visit after that. We stock hard and soft cat carriers in the bedding room. Leaving the carrier open at home with a soft blanket inside helps your kitten see it as a safe place rather than something that only appears before a trip to the vet.
A bed and somewhere to hide
New kittens often want to hide for the first few days while they get used to the sounds and smells of a new home. A covered bed or cat cave gives them a safe spot. The Tara Treasures felted cat cocoons and Cattitude beds in our beds and blankets range are popular for this, and they’re easy to tuck into a quiet corner.
Toys for play and hunting practice
Play is how kittens burn energy and practise their hunting skills. Wand toys, small toys they can bat around and anything they can stalk will keep them busy. We stock Rienna Designs cat toys and Tara Treasures felted cat toys, plus LickiMat mats made for cats. Our enrichment ideas work for cats as well as dogs. If you plan to take your kitten outside on a lead later, Cat Harness Australia harnesses are in our harness and leads range.
The South Australian rules for kittens
Kittens must be microchipped before 12 weeks of age, before they’re sold, or within 28 days of a new owner taking them home, and the microchip must be recorded on Dogs and Cats Online. Cats born after 1 July 2018 must be desexed before six months of age, or within 28 days of you taking ownership, unless an exemption applies. Cat registration depends on your council. Our guide to registering your dog or cat in South Australia explains what that means in the Barossa.
Your kitten shopping list
- The kitten food they already eat, plus food and water bowls
- Two litter trays, an unscented clumping litter and a scoop
- A scratching post or tower
- A hard or soft cat carrier
- A cosy bed or cat cave
- A few toys to stalk and bat
- Urine spray for accidents
Kitten supplies in Angaston
We’re at 24 Murray Street, Angaston, open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 9am to 3pm, and we see cat owners from Nuriootpa, Tanunda and right across the Valley. Our pet shop near Nuriootpa and Tanunda page shows how close we are. Call 0468 378 344 or send an order enquiry and we’ll put your kitten’s first shop aside for you.
Common questions
What do I need for a new kitten?
The kitten food they already eat, food and water bowls, at least two litter trays with an unscented litter, a scratching post, a cat carrier, a cosy bed or hiding spot and a few toys.
How many litter trays does a kitten need?
The RSPCA recommends at least two litter trays for one cat, in separate spots, and one tray per cat plus one if you have more than one cat.
Can kittens eat dog food?
No. The RSPCA says never to feed puppy or dog food to a kitten, because it is deficient in taurine, which cats can only get through their food.
When does a kitten need to be desexed in South Australia?
Cats born after 1 July 2018 must be desexed before six months of age, or within 28 days of the owner taking possession, unless an exemption applies. Kittens must also be microchipped before 12 weeks of age.
This is general information only, not veterinary advice. If you’re worried about your pet’s health, please see your vet.
