Bringing your new cat home for the first time is very exciting for you and your cat. But before you pick up your cat from Kitty Cottage, there are a few supplies you'll need to buy, and some steps you'll need to take to safety-proof your home.

KITTY SUPPLIES.

Here are some of the supplies you'll need:

Sturdy cat carrier. A top-loading carrier is easier for many cats.
Litter pan (not too small!), clumping unscented litter, and scoop.
Food and water bowls. Use ceramic or stainless steel instead of plastic.
Food, both canned and dry.
Sturdy scratching post about 30" tall. Get extra posts if your home is large.
Cardboard scratch pad.
Cat nail trimmers.
Brush and comb.
Collar and ID.
Fishing pole type toy.

You may also want:

Catnip toys.
Cat bed. You could use a cardboard box and an old towel.

SAFETY-PROOF YOUR HOME.

Cats, like children, are curious, and will get into just about everything. Some breeds even learn to open kitchen cabinets! Here are some ways you can make your home safer for your new cat.

Chocolate. This can be toxic to pets. Also, cakes and cookies can lead to diarrhea and vomiting, which can be serious. Keep these sweets out of your cat's reach.

Electrical wires. Kittens may chew wires when they're teething, and some older cats may like to chew too. Keep the wires out of reach, or put bitter apple on the wires or some other pet repellant product.

Antifreeze. Cats are attracted to the sweet taste and the smell of the antifreeze. If your cat drinks antifreeze, call your veterinarian immediately! Store antifreeze tightly sealed and in a place the cat can't get it.

Deadly House Plants. Keep these plants out of your house, or at least where the cat can't possibly reach them: philodendron, elephant ear, spider plants, amaryllis, lilies, dieffenbachia, oleander, Jerusalem cherry, eucalyptus, azalea, boxwood, ivy, pyracantha, and plant bulbs.

Bones. Cats should not be given chicken, turkey or rib bones. Serious injury can result from splintered bones.

Cleaning Products. Lock up products such as bleach, oven cleaner, drain cleaner, rat and ant poisons, ammonia, paint, gasoline, mothballs, and disinfectants.

Plastic Bags and Jars. An inquisitive kitten or cat can suffocate in a plastic bag or get its head stuck in a jar that smells of food.

Hot Things. Appliances such as hot irons, coffeepots, space heaters, and curling irons can be knocked over by jumping cats. Be careful!

Toilets, Hot Tubs, and Swimming Pools. Keep the toilet lids down when you have a kitten, or it might drown. Keep covers on hot tubs and swimming pools. If you allow your cat near an open pool, be sure to install some ways for the cat to climb out if it should fall in, such as some sisal mats secured over the edges of the pool.

Christmas dangers. Christmas tree tinsel, mistletoe and holly are dangerous for cats.

Fireplaces. Please use a fireplace screen, so your cat can't get too close to the fire or be struck by burning embers.

Drapery and Venetian blind cords. Cats can hang themselves on these cords, so find a way to fasten them up.

Outgrown Collars. Be sure to check that your cat's collar continues to fit comfortably as the cat grows. Collars can actually become imbedded in the skin if they're too tight.

Eating Odds and Ends. Cats will eat rubber bands, sewing thread, yarn, strings, ribbons, sewing needles, thumb tacks, cigarette butts, balloons, plastic wrap and Baggie ties. Please train your whole family not to leave these things around.

Medications. Antihistamines, acetaminophen, sleeping pills, and aspirin can be deadly for a cat.

Appliance Dangers. Washers, driers, ovens, trash compacters, freezers, and refrigerators can be lethal. Keep their doors shut at all times so you cat doesn't crawl in.

Windows. Make sure your window screens are securely in place. This is absolutely critical in high-rise apartments. Many cats have fallen to their deaths.

Doors, Sofa Beds and Recliners. Check first before slamming a door, and opening or closing a sofa bed or a reclining chair.

SAFETY IN YOUR CAR.

Never leave your cat unattended in a car in warm weather, even for a few minutes and even if the windows are cracked. The temperature can soar inside the car, even on mildly warm days, in a matter of minutes. Your cat can die in a hot car!

INTRODUCING YOUR NEW CAT TO YOUR HOME

Some cats will waltz right in and immediately make themselves at home, and others may take a little time. Please be patient as each cat is different. Here are some suggestions for making the transition more comfortable. Introduce your cat gradually. If your cat doesn't seem confident, start out for a few days keeping your cat in a smaller room, and give your cat a chance to explore the sights and sounds of that room first.

When a cat is confined like this, be sure to keep the food and water as far away from the litter box as possible. Cats do not like to eliminate near their food. After the confinement is over, if you decide to move the litter box, move it gradually, say five to ten feet at a time. Confinement can also be helpful if you have other cats, so they can smell each other under the door first.

Your cat will let you know when he wants to explore more of your home.

Hiding. At first some cats may want to hide in a closet or under a bed. Find out where your cat is and talk softly to her. Try to coax her out with smelly cat food or a toy. Don't let the cat hide for more than a day, because the cat needs to eat and use the litter box.

Your other cats. Some cats love to meet new cats, and some don't. A good way to introduce cats is to present the new cat in a wire cage or carrier, so they can sniff each other safely. When you open the cage or carrier, monitor the situation carefully. Don't worry too much about growling and hissing, because that usually stops in a few days. Try bribing the cats with treats, right when the new cat and the resident cat are standing close together. Talk softly to the cats, and keep petting and reassuring the resident cat.

Never punish your resident cats for objecting to a new cat. Scuffles usually occur because the resident cat feels threatened, so reassure your resident cat that he is still loved. It's better to distract the resident with a toy or a treat than to raise your voice over her behavior. Another technique is to rub each cat's mouth area (scent glands are near the mouth) with a damp towel, and rub it on the other cat, to familiarize them with each other's distinctive smell. If the resident cat and the new cat actually start to fight, separate them, putting the new cat back in the crate, or back in a separate room. Remain patient, and try again later.