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I just got a kitten (!!!), so I asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell me what I should be buying, as a brand-new cat owner. Here's what they said.
That's my little bundle of joy, Figg, BTW. She has the best personality and ICYMI, she's pretty damn cute.
1. A collapsable tunnel toy that will keep them busy for hours.
"My cat never tires of his tunnel. He loves racing through it when he's having the zoomies." – Sammy Kat
2. A filtered-water fountain to keep your kitty hydrated.
Cats are notorious for not drinking water – the fountain makes it more fun! They love to play and splash in it. Consider taping it together for a more *rambunctious* kitty household, or you'll end up with pieces and puddles of water! – Breannap2
3. A good scratcher.
"I got a Turbo Cat Scratcher toy for my cat Basil when I adopted him in March and it’s still one of his favourite toys." – kellydurgan
Figg really likes this standing option we bought for £8.39.
4. A litter box that makes life with cats a breeze.
"The Purina Tidy Cats Breeze litter box system is a MUST! My cat hates dirty litter boxes and all the litter I used so she would pee outside the box. The system is a box that has a drawer in the bottom that you put pads in that capture the pee. The top is grated so that the pee goes down on to the pad. The 'litter' is water-resistant pellets, so you just scoop out the poop. NO smell and my cat hasn’t peed outside the box since I got it." – Amiller256
Get a starter kit for £29.61.
5. A useful tool to help contain litter odours.
"It's basically what new parents buy for dirty diapers. A special bag and a separate bottom section to store poo and pee until the bag is full. No smell and you don't have to throw out tons of bags! It comes with an extra scooper and scooper hook thing, too." – Paige Miller
6. A reliable carrier for vet trips and travel.
"An airline-appropriate carrier that is left out at all times to encourage your cat to think of it as a safe and familiar place. Even if you aren't travelling any time soon, this will make vet trips and any travel way easier when the time comes." – Jaci Jarman
7. A heated pet pad for cosy catnaps.
"My cat is obsessed with the one I got him – he hangs out on it for hours, and gets way meltier (lol) than he does sleeping anywhere else. As long as you have a spot for it, you can plug it in and forget about it. It'll stay off until the pressure of the cat's weight activates it." – Austen Wright
There's also a more budget friendly, non-electric version uses your cat's body heat and reflects back. Get it for £8.49.
8. A good old laser pointer.
"My 7-month-old kitten comes running from the other room when he hears the little chain jingle." – AdrianneKurt
I've found that a good 20-minute play session before with the laser wears Figg out and keeps her sleeping curled up next to us in bed all night long.
9. A pheromone diffuser that will relax your little meow monster.
"Stops my cat scratching all our lovely furniture and chills our boy right out." – victoriaa44fd104f9
10. Poo-Pourri to neutralise litter odors.
"Spray it in the litter box every time you clean it. It’s an absolute lifesaver if you live in an apartment! – sierrae42738b5d5
11. This hero toy that will drive your cat nuts – in a good way.
"When we got two rescue cats the rescue worker told us not to fork out on expensive beds and toys; they don’t use them. With one exception: She said every single one of her rescue cats loves this". – jemmac43fff051b
12. A couch protector that doubles as a scratching post.
"If you have a sofa that's fabric rather than leather, these protector things are absolute life savers. We got these after we replaced our old Ikea couch, which had been wrecked by our cats." – Continents
13. A mat to catch stray litter before it finds its way all over the house.
"A black hole cat litter mat that catches the litter rather than just letting it sit on top. A little pricey, but super worth it to not have litter tracked everywhere."
– Michelle Irwin
Get it for £32.99.
I'm currently using this low-tech textured drawer liner from Ikea for £5.45 and hoovering twice a week.
14. This automatic pet feeder.
"They have a digital timer with three settings, so my cats get fed every eight hours and don’t bother me early in the morning for their breakfast." – carolynf44c7bad23
15. Or this food bowl that prevents overeating.
"Cats do best being free-fed because they eat small bits throughout the day, but sometimes they might overeat if they get bored (just like humans!). This makes it so they have to work for their food, just like they would in 'the wild', You can even change how hard or easy it is for them to get their food. We love it!" – samanthac495b428c4
16. A durable litter scoop.
"The DuraScoop pooper scooper is the best – I've bought one for everyone in my family. It is durable and the best part is that I can clean the litter box in two to three scoops!" – milesswanson9
I went with this one for £7.83, since it comes with a nice little standing sheath to hold the scoop.
17. These handmade catnip mice.
"Molly's Mice are the only catnip mice my cats will play with! They ship internationally from the UK." – Sophiem49ae2897b
18. A window bird feeder.
"The best investment I made for my cat was a window bird feeder. He
can keep himself entertained for an hour or so at a time 'hunting' the birds. He'll sit there and just watch them or launch himself at the window and bat at the birds. He absolutely loves it." – stephanieg4f027faaa
19. A fierce but cuddly bed.
"A shark bed! It’s cozy for my kitty and adorable to look at. :)" – eunicek44062d740
20. A game-changing fur brush.
"FURMINATOR! Best way to get rid of pesky cat hair, especially for longhairs." – colgatetotal87
21. A simple toy that will keep them coming back for more.
"Da Bird. Quite frankly, it's the best cat toy on the market. It looks like a flying bird to your cat, and she WILL go nuts for it." – neerak
Get it for £9.56 + shipping or get a Prime-eligible alternative for £9.95.
22. Pet insurance.
"Pet insurance! Working at a vet I see too many cats euthanised because owners cannot afford treatment." – A45ccb7b4b
23. A sturdy cat tree.
"A cat tree for sure. My cats love their cat tree. They get to climb and scratch and play. It’s their own little jungle gym." – graciew4e377b6a0
24. A box.
"A box. Whatever you buy, just save the box if cat can fit in it. Don't give it to cat, just let the little weirdo commandeer it and cat will love it." – Sarah Anderson
Can confirm. Why not treat yourself to one of these subscription boxes to keep the supply coming? Do it for your cat.