Cat Accessories

The short list for a new pet

Before an animal arrives, the genuinely necessary items are a food bowl, a water bowl, somewhere to sleep, a way to transport it safely, and for cats a litter tray. Everything else can follow once you know the animal's habits.

Choosing for the long run

Buy the collar and harness to fit now and check it monthly while the animal grows. Buy the carrier to fit the adult size from the start — it is the one item where growing into it beats replacing it, provided the animal can still feel secure inside.

Keeping things clean

Wash food and water bowls daily; a biofilm builds up faster than it looks in warm weather. Bedding that can go in a machine will actually get washed, which matters more than how it looks in the room.