New cat starter kit: the day-one setup, plus the gift list

Day one is litter she trusts and a post that beats your couch. The carrier gets her to the vet. Start with Essentials. Everything else is a gift.

Tap any pick for the deeper guide. This kit is built for an adult cat. Kitten or senior? Swap the litter box for a low-entry one.

Essentials: day one, covered

Who it is for: She arrives this week. Have the box, the scratcher and the carrier ready before she walks in.

IRIS USA Large Top Entry Cat Litter Box. Litter on the floor, litter in your socks? Cats drop in through the lid and cross a textured top on the way out. Made for agile adult cats: kittens and seniors do better with a low-entry box. More: Best litter boxes

ökocat Super Soft Clumping Litter. Soft wood fiber that clumps, unscented, and rated 99% dust free by ökocat for sensitive paws. Switch slowly if she is used to another litter. More: Clumping vs non-clumping litter

ökocat Super Soft Clumping Litter

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ökocat Super Soft Clumping Litter

Depets Metal Cat Litter Scoop with Stand. Scoop without folding yourself in half. The handle adjusts from 16 to 32 inches and parks in its own stand by the box. More: The litter box guide

Depets Metal Cat Litter Scoop with Stand

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Depets Metal Cat Litter Scoop with Stand

Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Enzyme Cleaner. For the spot she picks anyway. Made for cat and dog pee, poop and vomit, and chlorine-free. More: Best pet stain removers

Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Enzyme Cleaner

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Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Enzyme Cleaner

ANWA 32" Tall Cat Scratching Post (3-in-1). Give her claws a better target than the couch arm. A 32 inch sisal post with a stable base for cats who stretch up to scratch. More: What to do when she ignores the post

ANWA 32" Tall Cat Scratching Post (3-in-1)

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ANWA 32" Tall Cat Scratching Post (3-in-1)

GoCat Da Bird Feather Wand Cat Toy. Spend the midnight zoomies on a feather before bed. She chases, pounces, then flops. It only moves when you do. More: Wand play for bored indoor cats

GoCat Da Bird Feather Wand Cat Toy

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GoCat Da Bird Feather Wand Cat Toy

Amazon Basics Hard-Sided Pet Kennel. Vet day, road trip: one hard shell, a door and ventilation slots. More: How to get your cat into the carrier

Amazon Basics Hard-Sided Pet Kennel

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Amazon Basics Hard-Sided Pet Kennel

Gift angle: For a new adopter: the box, the scratcher and the carrier she needs before she walks in.

Plus: the mess and nerves fixers

Who it is for: You want the first month calm: less litter tracked around the house, fresh water, a brushing routine, and help if another cat already lives there.

iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper Mat, Double Layer. Litter crunching under bare feet? Two layers: litter falls through the top and stays inside until you pour it out. More: How to stop litter tracking

iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper Mat, Double Layer

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iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper Mat, Double Layer

Litter Genie Standard Cat Litter Disposal Pail. The kitchen trash should not smell like the litter box. Pull the handle and scooped litter seals in a bag by the box. Runs on refill bags. More: The Litter Genie guide

Litter Genie Standard Cat Litter Disposal Pail

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Litter Genie Standard Cat Litter Disposal Pail

Veken Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain. Cat ignoring the bowl and drinking from the faucet? Moving water in a quiet stainless steel fountain. Swap the filter on schedule. More: When your cat will not drink from the fountain

Veken Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain

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Veken Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain

Potaroma Natural Silvervine Cat Chew Sticks. Catnip gets a shrug? Silvervine is the other door to knock on. Not every cat reacts, and chewers like it more than chasers do. More: Scratching, climbing and chew picks

Potaroma Natural Silvervine Cat Chew Sticks

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Potaroma Natural Silvervine Cat Chew Sticks

Jasper Microbrush Cat & Dog Toothbrush. Her mouth clamps shut when the brush appears? Go smaller. An extra-soft microbrush with replaceable heads, sized for small mouths. More: How to brush a cat's teeth

Jasper Microbrush Cat & Dog Toothbrush

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Jasper Microbrush Cat & Dog Toothbrush

Grooming Glove. Grooming disguised as petting. Lifts loose fur while you pet her. Use it between real brushings. More: Cat hair removal tips

Grooming Glove

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Grooming Glove

FELIWAY MultiCat Calming Diffuser Starter Kit. Only if another cat already lives there. A plug-in made for tension between cats that share a home. Replace the refill every 30 days. More: How to introduce a new cat

FELIWAY MultiCat Calming Diffuser Starter Kit

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FELIWAY MultiCat Calming Diffuser Starter Kit

Gift angle: The gift for the first month: less litter on the floor, fresh water, and a brushing routine she will tolerate.

Deluxe: the gift-box upgrades

Who it is for: You want the best version of each job: a second floor for her, meals that run themselves, cleaner air and a robot that handles the fur.

Gardner Pet 41" Tall Cat Tree. One sofa back, one cat who wants the high ground? Give her a second floor. A 41 inch tree with multiple perches and condos. Set aside time for assembly. More: Scratching, climbing and chew picks

Gardner Pet 41" Tall Cat Tree

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Gardner Pet 41" Tall Cat Tree

PETLIBRO Granary 2 Smart Feeder. She wants breakfast at 3 a.m. Let the feeder get up. Set meal times and portions in the app. Dry kibble only.

PETLIBRO Granary 2 Smart Feeder

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PETLIBRO Granary 2 Smart Feeder

LEVOIT Core 300-P Air Purifier for Pets. The fur is on the floor and the dander is in the air. An H13 HEPA filter plus extra carbon for pet odor. Sized for rooms up to 222 sq ft. More: Best air purifiers for pet hair

LEVOIT Core 300-P Air Purifier for Pets

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LEVOIT Core 300-P Air Purifier for Pets

Roborock Q7 L5 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo. The fur tumbleweeds are back, so send in the robot. 8,000 Pa suction and anti-tangle brushes, and it vacuums and mops in one run. More: A robot vacuum routine for cat hair

Roborock Q7 L5 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo

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Roborock Q7 L5 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo

Gift angle: The big gift: a cat tree, a feeder that gets up at 3 a.m., and a robot that handles the fur. Each wraps on its own.

Not sure which tier?

Start with Essentials. She will show you in week two what to add. Deluxe is for gifts.