New Kitten Shopping Checklist: Everything You Need Before They Arrive

Bringing home a kitten? The short version: before they arrive you need food and water bowls, a litter tray and litter, a scratching post, a small carrier, somewhere quiet to sleep, and a couple of safe toys. Everything else can wait until you know your kitten's personality.

Kittens settle far quicker when the basics are already in place and the house feels calm. Below is the order I'd actually buy things in, with honest notes on what's worth spending on and what's a nice-to-have.

The non-negotiables for week one

These are the things you genuinely shouldn't wait on. A kitten can arrive needing the toilet, a meal and a nap within the first hour.

• Food and water bowls — shallow, wide and stable. Many kittens dislike deep bowls that press on their whiskers, so go low-sided. A pair of cheap cat food bowls is fine to start; you can upgrade to ceramic or a fountain later.
• Litter tray and litter — an open tray is easiest for a kitten to learn in. Use the same litter type the breeder or shelter used for the first fortnight to avoid toilet upsets.
• A litter scoop and disposal system — you'll be scooping daily, so sort your litter scoops and disposal before day one rather than scrabbling for a carrier bag.
• A carrier — needed for the journey home and every vet trip after. A top-opening hard carrier is far less stressful than wrestling a frightened kitten through a front door.
• Kitten food — stick with whatever they're already eating, then transition gradually over a week if you want to change.

Sleeping, scratching and safety

A kitten needs a sense of territory. Give them a small, draught-free spot to sleep — a covered bed or even a towel-lined box works at first, because tiny kittens often prefer enclosed, warm nooks.

A scratching post is essential, not optional. Cats scratch to mark, stretch and shed claw sheaths; without a post they'll use your sofa. Choose one tall and sturdy enough that an adult cat can stretch fully up it, so you're not buying twice.

Safety-wise, do a quick sweep: tuck away cables, move toxic houseplants (lilies are dangerous to cats), and check no gaps behind appliances where a kitten could vanish.

Toys and enrichment that earn their place

Kittens learn to hunt through play, and the right toys burn off the 3am zoomies. You don't need a basketful — a small, well-chosen set beats a heap of plastic.

A wand toy is the single best buy for bonding. Interactive play with you mimics the hunt sequence and tires them out properly. A classic feather teaser wand or a colourful feather cat wand teaser bell toy gets noses twitching fast — always put wand toys away after play so cords aren't chewed unsupervised.

For solo time, a few self-play options help:

• An electric dog cat ball toy interactive intelligent for chase when you're busy
• A crinkle cat tunnel for hiding, pouncing and ambush games
• A second feather teaser wand so you always have one to hand

For more on choosing safely, our guide to the Best Kitten Toys in the UK: Safe and Stimulating covers what to avoid (small bells, loose string, anything they can swallow).

What you can skip — for now

It's tempting to buy everything at once. Hold off on these until you know your kitten:

• A cat tree — lovely, but watch what your kitten gravitates to first. Some want height, some want hidey-holes.
• A second litter tray — worth adding once they're settled (the rule of thumb is one tray per cat plus one spare), but one is fine to begin with.
• Fancy automated gadgets — establish routine first.

A simple grab-and-go list

If you're standing in a shop or filling a basket, this is the minimum:

• Food and water bowls
• Kitten food (matching current diet)
• Litter, tray and scoop
• Carrier
• Bed or warm nook
• Scratching post
• One wand toy plus one or two solo toys

Keeping the daily clean-up easy makes the whole first month smoother — our Litter Scooping and Disposal: Tools and Hygiene Tips guide is worth a read before the tray sees its first use. For the wider picture of what a household needs, browse the Cat Supplies hub or the full cat range.