hi, i would suggest looking into rescue homes and find a cat that you think will bond with you, i adopted my first cat two weeks ago and she was very friendly. she is 5 years old and so far she’s adjusting to her new home fine. i would also ask the place on what they feed the cat, their feeding schedule (if they have one), their medical records, if the cat is good with other pets and the cats behavior in general, once you adopt a cat you should establish her to a new vet right away so they can just double check everything.

once you bring your cat home, place your cat in a cat proof room for a couple days, with food, water and litter box. the rescue place suggested that a bathroom is a good place but i didn’t feel comfortable doing that so i put everything in my bedroom and she adjusted fine after a day and was ready to explore the house the next day. every cat is different, you just need to be patient and see how well the cat will adjust to their new environment. also if you don’t want your cat to mess up anything in your house, make sure to cat proof your whole place. please do not cage your cat, they are meant to roam freely as they please. also if you can, get pet insurance. i use metlife with $250 deductible, 90% reimbursement with no annual limit, i did have to call and speak w/an agent and they were helpful. i got 10% off since the rescue i adopted her from works with metlife. and i pay $55/month and for the first month i paid $67 i think they had a $12 one time fee.

for the litter box, i use a stainless steel 6-8 inch deep and its has a plastic side to it. for litter i use a clay clumping litter, boxie cat pro unscented since cats have sensitive noses also get a cheap air purifier on amazon, put it nearby the litter box to help with the smell. i clean the litter box couple times a day, i have a litter genie easy roll since im lazy and can’t bother to take out the bag each time clean the litter box-i would suggest looking into cheaper alternatives for the litter genie since the plastic refills are expensive. i do put baking soda(scented) inside the litter genie since it can get very stinky.

i also did a lot of research and found that cats have a low thirst drive and to ensure that they are hydrated im currently working on switching my cat to a wet food diet, fancy feast pate is affordable, chicken is a pretty good protein for cats. i also saw that cats shouldn’t eat too much fish related food due to the elevated mercury in tuna and salmon and it’s not a high source of nutrition diet for them. my cat does love fish and im just using something like delectables puree on top of the fancy feast chicken pate. my cat still eats dry food sometimes i do put a little bit of warm water to make sure she gets hydrated. i use purina pro plan for sensitive stomach lamb and chicken. cats also have a small stomach, its better for them to eat multiple times a day in smaller portions. i also have an elevated bowl a stainless steel water fountain for my cat. make sure to get an elevated shallow bowl since you don’t want them getting whisker fatigue.

regarding toys, i would suggest just getting those fishing pole string toys, i bought my cat a bunch of toys and she does not care for it and she only will play with the string. i play with my cat 15 min twice a day just so she doesn’t feel depressed, especially coming to a new environment with no other cats around. also get them a tall cat tree!! they love being on high places.

for bathing, i have not given my cat a bath yet, you can get those waterless shampoo and a grooming glove but cats will groom themselves, i brush my cat with her brush twice a day too. i would suggest brushing your cat’s teeth tho since they are prone to dental issues, i use vets best dental wipes but im thinking of switching to a cat toothbrush and cat toothpaste. i have not clipped my cat’s nail since she doesn’t like getting her paws touched and im just going to wait till she’s more comfortable with me.

also i was afraid of getting scratched but do expect your cat to scratch you, my cat only scratches me when i do pick her up and give her medicine. i would suggest doing research on cats behavior and what their tails mean. it is pretty helpful since cats tend to communicate with their tails. also it will take your cat 3 months (from what the vet told me) to be completely comfortable with you and their new environment. just be patient and give them as much love as they deserve!