New kitten essentials

A kitten needs less than the internet suggests, and the few things that matter, matter a lot.

Buy now: a bed or box to hide in, a scratcher before the sofa gets chosen instead, a shallow bowl that keeps whiskers clear of the sides, and two or three small toys — prey-sized, around 7 cm, is what cats actually chase.

Wait: a harness. Check the smallest size against your kitten's chest before ordering, because most cat harnesses start too big for a kitten, and harness training goes better at four to six months than at ten weeks.

Put the scratcher where they already scratch, not where it looks tidy. That single decision saves more furniture than any spray.

Rotate toys every few days rather than buying more: cats habituate to an unchanging toy within about three play sessions, and a toy that has been away for a week is new again.

Also see: New puppy essentials, Cat litter boxes, and Cat toys & play.