A new cat comes home

We know how exciting it is to decide to take a new family member into your home. And we also know how many questions you ask yourself beforehand: what you actually need, how to make sure the little velvet paw will feel at ease, and also when the right moment has come to take this step. But now you're at that point — the cat is coming! And you have to set yourselves up completely anew. Because even if this cat is perhaps not the very first you have ever had, a new cat obviously needs her own things. We at LucyBalu have put together what you need for your new indoor cat. The most important thing first:

Ensuring the cat's wellbeing

Cats need, especially at the start, a few safe retreats in which they immediately feel at home. Whether the new indoor cat moving in with you is a kitten or already a bit older — the situation is new and possibly a little scary at first. So make sure you offer enough cosy corners and hiding places. These should be chosen so that the cat can reach them easily and feel safe there. And they really should offer the cat protection — meaning: when the cat retreats, she should also be left alone there for a while. For many cats, safety means having a good view.

It was also for this reason that years ago we designed one of our first and most popular products: the SWING. This ingenious hammock offers everything cats want: a cosy feel, a sense of safety and stability. If you have a new kitten with you, the SWING may still be hanging too high to reach — here you can use STEPS or the WAVE to create simple climbing aids. Another advantage: making use of the "third dimension" of the room. In other words, you can turn walls right up to the ceiling into living space for the cat. Especially for indoor cats, such measures are a must to give them as much space to move as possible. Something that gives many cats a sense of security even in uncertain situations are places where they feel sheltered. Many kittens really love using caves for this purpose. As soon as a cat can nestle against something and at the same time see what is going on around her, she relaxes. And on top of that, the CAVE is simply incredibly fluffy…

The loo — the litter tray

The proverbial cleanliness of cats borders on being fussy. No other pet places as much value on cleanliness as an indoor cat. For that, a suitable litter tray is of course essential. Very important: with more than one cat, there must also be more than one litter tray! You can find more on this in our article on socialising cats . The litter tray must be placed in a clean, quiet spot. Neither the busy hallway nor the bustling children's room are suitable places for a cat to do her business. Likewise, before the cat moves in, you should make sure that the location of the tray is really always accessible. The choice of cat litter may at first seem unimportant — but it is not. Because whether you opt for clumping or non-clumping litter, the organic version or the artificially bleached one (…we would cautiously advise against the latter…), you have to know that this litter will end up everywhere in your home. And we mean everywhere. Dirt-trapping mats in front of the litter tray, rugs around the loo — the litter will end up in beds, on armchairs and in the kitchen.

What's for dinner? — the right cat food

The way to the heart is through the stomach — that goes for cats too. This means that, especially in the first few days, we can win a lot of goodwill with food and treats. A suitable feeding spot for our kitten is of course very important. What does it take for the perfect dining experience? First of all: a quiet, bright spot that is easy for the cat to reach. It is very important that water is always available , while food is best given at set times. Many cats receive both wet and dry food. Which in turn means you should definitely put out more than one food bowl . LucyBalu's DINE feeding station and also the BUFFET food bowl give you the opportunity to offer more than one type of food in a simple and stylish way. The water, or rather the water bowl, should ideally stand a little away from the food. In addition, further drinking stations should be offered, happily distributed around the home. We have already explained why in one of our earlier articles (more HERE). Cats often drink spontaneously, and by spreading the bowls around we can make sure they can lap up water whenever the mood takes them. The food bowl must stand securely and non-slip. And since many cats like to play with their food, you should either consider a mat , or place the feeding station on a floor that can be easily wiped clean.

Cat paradise — scratching and climbing

For the little tiger to really feel at home, it takes more than just a bed, food and toilet. To spare your furniture and carpets, we strongly recommend, for example, that you bring scratching options into the home. After all: claws want to be sharpened and territory wants to be marked! And they will be — regardless of whether the expensive ottoman can withstand it or not. That is why we recommend you offer scratching spots, for example through the Scratchpad — you will see how your furniture and textiles will thank you — and the cats of course too, because marking and sharpening claws are part of their wellbeing. Anyone who knows cats knows that, especially in their younger years, nothing is safe from them. No cupboard that is not climbed on, no piece of furniture that doesn't want to be discovered and taken into possession. To do justice to all this, there is the option of setting up true cat paradises in your home. The concept of LucyBalu's cat furniture lies exactly here; because the various elements can be freely combined with each other, there isn't just a static scratching tree standing there — no! It is possible to create real climbing-wall dreams for our cats, paired with feel-good oases. A paradise parcours, so to speak, that offers your cat everything she needs to lead a really good cat's life.

Finally — the toys!

Let's be honest — for us humans, buying toys is somehow one of the best parts of getting a new cat! The selection is huge and you can hardly wait until the little one finally loosens up and darts wildly through the home. Here the rule is: whatever is liked is allowed — except laser pointers. Why? Cats need a success when they hunt. "Catching" prey is extremely important to them from time to time. Since you cannot catch light — and many laser pointers can also be really dangerous for the eyes — we advise against them. Otherwise, when it comes to toys, cats are real individualists. Some like chasing after balls, some love toys that make sounds. A little side tip from our team: during the day that is great, at night it's fine if this toy briefly "disappears" for a while… Yet other indoor cats love wand toys or strings that they can chase after. A very important point when choosing toys is that they are not too small, so the cat cannot accidentally swallow them. Marbles or similar can quickly become dangerous here! Strings can also cut in quickly — so please always watch out that nothing happens, even during the wildest play. Also important here is variety. Swap the toys out from time to time, work with scents like Catnip and bring old toys back out after a few weeks — you will see how enthusiastically your pet will play.

Small (and big) trips with a cat

Something that is often forgotten, especially at the start, is the transport of the cat. By the time you set off to pick up the new family member at the latest, you realise that you really do need a carrier for her. There are endless offers on the market. Please make sure that your animal is safe inside her "travel case" and has sufficient air supply while travelling. You also have to be able to get the cat safely into and out of the carrier (especially later on vet visits). Reaching in only from the front, as was often done with the old wicker baskets, is not ideal. The cat can quickly feel attacked, which in turn leads even the sweetest kitty to painful attacks. Better are large zips or lids that can be removed from the top. We have taken all of this (and more) into account when designing our travel bags for cats. More on this HIER.

Anything else? — accessories for cats

There are still countless little things we could recommend to you cat owners. For long-haired cats , for example, brushes are absolutely essential. Many short-haired cats also appreciate being combed — here brushes and combs are a nice to have. For outdoor cats we should consider whether a tracking device (like our NEMO) is needed; for indoor cats, cat grass is always in high demand. And so on, and so forth. Living as a cat owner also means giving your cat what she needs in order to be happy.