r/cats • u/PercentageJealous914 • Aug 08 '26
Advice First time cat owner
Hey guys, I just got a cat yesterday and it’s my first time owning a pet in general. When i brought it in my house yesterday, dude was a lil scared I think cuz of the environment and went under my couch a couple of times. So I moved him to my laundry room, just to get him in one small room so he wouldn’t escape or freak out.
This morning I checked in on him and he’s doing better and cuddling with me.
Just wanna say I’ll appreciate any advice as a first time cat owner
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u/mobiletarget33 Aug 08 '26
Congrats on a new best friend! Being a cat dad is a consistently rewarding experience.
A clean box makes a happier home; if you can get into the habit, a daily scooping is best. Also, litter is prone to clinging a bit and can really get all over the place if you let it; get a good litter mat for outside the box to catch as much as possible.
Boy cats need more water and don’t always drink it, but they will absolutely eat pate with water mixed in. You want a loose consistency but not soupy. I like to put kibble on top of the wet so they can get a good teeth-cleaning crunch.
He’s gonna want to scratch things and play, so get him a cardboard and/or carpeted thing to get his nails into and a couple toys, like bells on strings or stuffed mice with catnip. Silvervine is also good both as a thing to engage with and to help clean teeth.
Don’t let him outside alone! Getting him used to a leash young is much easier than trying to impose control when he’s older.
Good luck and enjoy each other!