Are you a graduate student thinking of adopting a cat? Cats are both very independent as well as loving. They are the perfect Ph.D. companion. I couldn’t dream of getting through mine without my son who is a cat.

Before adopting a cat, I didn’t know much about them, though. What do they need? What should I buy to prep my home for a cat? I learned quickly and go through the essentials here.

Cat Food

This one is huge and something you might have to figure out with the help of a veterinarian. Depending on any special needs or diet, the food can vary a lot. I have bought all of the following at different times:

In my experience, this food comes highly recommended for kittens. Here is the wet version:
Pro-tip for adopting a cat (baby):

Kittens should never be losing weight. They should be eating and gaining weight. Also, they get cold easily. Be careful they don’t get chills. If you give them a bath, you need to make sure to dry them with a hair-dryer on low along with lots of towel-dry.

For adult cats, this is good dry food:
It’s good to do a combination of wet and dry food, always.

Also, change your cat’s water frequently! They like to drink water when it is fresh. Don’t let it go stale. It is incredibly important to encourage a cat to drink water and changing the water will help. They might also like running water or water with ice. Experiment to find out.
Cats are extremely cautious, though. So, it would be normal for a cat to take time to warm up to any new item in the house, including a water fountain.

Don’t forget bowls! Just ordered this one, looks promising.

Cat Toys

This is huge too. Kittens and cats are naturally very playful and love to entertain themselves. It is critical to make time to play with them every day. You gotta take an interest in the games they like to play, otherwise, they will be bored and sad.

This one is seriously the best. My son knew immediately that this toy was for him when it came out of the box. Cats love to play with this one.

Another gem. Cats like to hide as well as play, and this does both for them.

Besides these, what you need are:

• Laser pointer
• Cat tree

Both are absolute must-haves for a household with a cat. Cats LOVE to chase a laser and they love to chill on cat trees.

Without these, playtime is incomplete.

Kitty Litter

I am quite biased about this one but I like the idea of something more natural rather than something with a bunch of chemicals for the litter. Since cats clean themselves all the time, they will end up ingesting litter bits when they clean their paws. This is what I get. It is made of corn.

Speaking of litter, you will need a litter box. Lots of people and cats prefer something covered. However, there is a balance between that and what is easy to clean. Pick something that is easy to clean and maintain. Cats much prefer to use a litter box that is clean, and so regularly scooping litter is a must. If scooping litter sounds difficult, think about taking a dog out to walk when it is freezing outside. Scooping is nothing.

And, cats can be taught or they naturally know to bury their pee and poop. Which is awesome!
As for things like cat beds and such, I would wait to see what your cat prefers. They might end up sleeping a lot on human beds and sofas, although there are some cat options, too.

Share your favorite product for cats below and all the best with adopting a cat!