British Shorthair
            Cattery
            Agilis Cattus*Pl

Fortunately, cats do not reqire any particularly specialist equipment, but you should have bowls and grooming accesories ready for your new pet before it comes, not to mention food. The things that will be necessary to take good care of your cat are, except the ones I have already mentioned, a nice, cosy bed, a scratcing post, a comfortable litter box, and a safe carrier to take your cat, for example, to the vet. Last but not least, you have to remember about toys, which are not any luxury, but a necessity, to make sure that your cat is not bored while you are at work.

Bedding.
To start with, it is good to bring a piece of bedding from the cat's previous home. The scent of something it recognizes will provide some security in the new surroundings. However, you must be prepared that your cat may not take to the cat bed you have so carefully prepared for her. My cats do not use theirs, except on the cat shows. At home they have their favourite armchairs, Clara's most liked bed is my daughter piano chair, completely uncomfortable in my opinion. Anyway, there must be one bedding, preferably a covered one, to assure some privacy when for example, the guests arrive, or when the cat needs some for any other reason. Fleecy round beds are warm and practical, they can be put at any place the cat likes, and are easy to wash. Covered beds are extremely popular with kittens as they love small dark dens to snuggle up in.

Carrier.
There is a great vaiety of different carriers on the market, so the choice may be difficult. Remember that the carrier you will choose must not only enable you to transport your pet, but provide safety, therefore according to me plastic ones are the most reliable. They are strong, durable and washable, and their walls will not colapse if something unexpected happens. They are sometimes a bit heavy and take a lot of space, but I find the cat,s safety most important here. Generally, cats like to feel quite znug, so a huge carrier is not always the best option. However, if you are planning a long journey, you should cosider taking a large one so that your cat can move around to prevent stiffiness. In case your cat refuses to come out of the carrier while at the vet's, you should cosider a top-loading one.

Scratching Post.
Cats need to scratch to remove the outer husk of their nails to reveal a sharp new one. They also scratch for territorial reasons, leaving in this way scent from their paws for other cats to "read". If you do not provide your cat with a scratching post, it will make her own in the place which may not be a suitable one in your eyes. You do not have to buy an extremely expensive one to please your cat. It is good to observe which places at home she finds most attractive for some reasons, and adjust them so as to make perfect scratching posts. This is what we have done - a chair and an armchair turned into perfect scratching posts, and our cats have never damaged any furniture. Sisal is the best material for a scratching post, but cats also like carpets. Remember that a scratching post must be stable - your cat will not use one if it is wobbly - and high enough for your cat to have a good stretch and scratch.

Litter-Trays.
You can choose a standard litter-tray or one that is covered. A covered litter-tray is very useful as it allows to keep the surroundings neat. Another advantage is that smells are contained within it, but the tray should still be cleaned regularly!. The only disadvantage is that not all cats like them, and some will refuse to come into a closed space. For those the only solution is a standard litter-tray. Whatever type of tray you choose, the base should be at least 8 to 10 cm deep, and it should be large enough for your cat to comfortably maneuver in it. Make sure that the tray is not placed too close to the cat's food bowls, no matter how convenient you would find it. You will also need a litterscoop to remove the poop or clumps of wet litter. This cuts down on the number of times that a complete litter change is required.

Litter.
At first it is best to use the same litter as the breeder uses, which will help the kitten to transfer her house training knowledge to her new home. Once the cat is settled you may try to change the liter - most cats accept a lot of different kinds of litter. To make sure it happens, change the litter gradually, i.e. mix in a small amount of the new one into the currently used litter, and the kitten will hardly notice any difference. Continue in this way until the changeover is complete. As for the type of litter, the two seem to be most popular:

Clumping Cat Litter.
They are very convenient, as they “clump” when liquids are added, which makes it easy to clean, you just scoop a ball of clumped litter afterwards. Depending on the material used, some of them can be flushed in the toilet, which makes things even more convenient, but some cannot. The tray should be scooped twice a day. Some clumping cat litters can be dusty, and if allergies are a problem, consider the low dust varieties.

Silica pellet cat litter.
This is the newest litter, and it consists of silica beads or pellets that absorb urine without the need to scoop. You only have to stir the litter every day, and certainly feces does need to be scooped. When the litter changes colour, it is removed from the litter tray, and the new litter should be used. Silica pellets control odours very well, but not all cats like the texture of this litter. My cats hate it, and use it very unwillingly, therefore I do not buy these ones. However, I know a lot of breeders who cannot imagine using other kinds of litter. Silica cat litters are among the most expensive litters.

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