The new kitten checklist (what to buy first)

ByMy Cuddles Cat

By the MCC team · 5 min read · Reviewed for accuracy

Congratulations — you got a kitten, and your life is now 30% cuter and 100% more chaotic. Before the zoomies begin, here’s exactly what to have ready, what can wait, and what you can skip entirely.

Buy before they arrive (week-one essentials)

These should be in your home before the kitten is:

  • Litter box + litter. Start with an open, low-sided box a kitten can climb into easily. One box per cat, plus one extra is the golden rule.
  • Food and water bowls. Shallow, wide bowls (whisker-friendly). A water fountain encourages drinking and is worth it long-term.
  • Kitten food. Match whatever the breeder or shelter was feeding, then transition slowly to avoid an upset tummy.
  • A bed or two. Kittens sleep a lot. A cozy enclosed cat cave or bed gives them a safe place to crash.
  • A carrier. You’ll need it on day one and at every vet visit. Get a sturdy one now.

Buy within the first week

  • A scratching post or pad. Redirect the clawing before it finds your couch. (See our scratching guide.)
  • Safe toys. Wand toys for bonding play, plus a few solo toys. Skip anything with small parts that can be chewed off.
  • A breakaway collar + ID (and ask your vet about microchipping).

Can wait a few weeks

  • A cat tree (let them settle first, then add vertical space — especially useful in small apartments).
  • Grooming tools (a deshedding brush becomes essential as they grow).
  • Personalized extras like a name food mat or ID tag — adorable, and a nice “welcome home” gift.

What you can skip

Pricey “starter kits” that bundle a dozen things you’ll never use, fragile toys that shed parts, and anything that claims to “train” a kitten overnight. Cats train you, not the other way around.

One thing people forget

Kitten-proof the room. Tuck away cords, secure blind strings, move toxic plants (lilies are dangerous to cats), and block gaps behind appliances. A curious kitten finds every hazard you didn’t.

Start here

Everything on this list ships from our U.S. warehouse in 2–5 days, so you’re not waiting weeks with a kitten and an empty house. Browse the new-cat essentials in our shop — and join the Cuddle Club to earn Whiskers on the whole haul.

Questions about what your specific kitten needs? Ask us.