PawPawUp Pet Store - We Care As You Care

Bringing a new cat home is exciting, but it can also leave you wondering what you actually need to buy. Walk into any pet store, and you'll find everything from automatic feeders to elaborate climbing towers. The truth is, your cat probably won't need half of it on the first day. Whether you're adopting an adult rescue or welcoming a kitten, getting the basics right matters more than buying the most expensive accessories. A comfortable place to sleep, a clean toilet, suitable food and somewhere to hide will make those first few days much easier. This practical new cat checklist covers the essentials for Australian cat owners, including what to prepare before adoption, how to set up your home and which purchases can wait. 1. Start With the Basics: Food, Water and a Cat Bowl Before your cat arrives, organise appropriate food and separate bowls for eating and drinking. Choose food labelled complete and balanced for your cat's life stage. Kittens need different nutrition from adult cats, so check the packaging rather than choosing based on flavour alone. If you're adopting from a shelter, ask what your cat has been eating. Keeping the same food initially can help avoid unnecessary digestive upset. Any change is best introduced gradually. For feeding equipment, stainless steel or ceramic bowls are practical choices because they're easy to clean. Choose a shallow bowl that allows comfortable access, and place fresh drinking water away from the litter area. Some cats prefer several water stations around the house. 2. Set Up the Right Cat Litter Box A suitable cat litter box is one of the most important purchases you'll make. Cats need a clean, accessible place to toilet, and a poorly positioned tray can cause problems even when the litter itself is perfectly fine. How Many Litter Boxes Does a New Cat Need? The RSPCA Australia recommends two litter trays for one cat, with an additional tray for each extra cat. This gives cats more choice and helps reduce competition in multi-cat households. For a new kitten, choose a tray with a low entrance. Larger adult cats benefit from a spacious box where they can turn around comfortably. High-sided trays can reduce scattered litter, while enclosed designs may suit some cats but not others. Place your cat litter box somewhere quiet, away from food bowls and noisy appliances. Scoop waste daily and avoid changing litter types unnecessarily during the settling-in period. If you're unsure where to position everything, our guide on how to set up a cat litter box for an indoor cat in Australia explains common setup mistakes. For most first-time owners, a simple, easy-to-clean cat litter box and familiar litter are better starting points than an expensive automatic system. MAKESURE MAX Modern Cat Litter Box Price Available Online View Product MAKESURE Open Cat Litter Tray with Scoop Price Available Online View Product Stainless Steel Open Cat Litter Box – Large High Edge Design Price Available Online View Product 3. Give Your Cat Somewhere to Climb and Scratch Scratching isn't bad behaviour. Cats scratch to maintain their claws, stretch their muscles and mark familiar spaces. Providing suitable scratching surfaces from the beginning can help protect your furniture. A sturdy cat tree combines climbing, scratching and resting areas in one piece of furniture. It's particularly useful for indoor cats that have limited opportunities to explore different heights. Choosing the Right Cat Tree for Your Home For smaller apartments, look for a compact tower with a stable base and scratching posts. Larger, active cats may benefit from wider platforms and a stronger structure. A tall cat tree isn't automatically better. Consider your cat's age, jumping ability and confidence. Senior cats may prefer lower platforms with easier access, while kittens need equipment that allows safe movement. Position the tower near a window or in a room where your family spends time. A well-placed cat tree often gets more use than an elaborate one hidden in a quiet corner. Fantasy Series Cat Climbing Tree – Dreamland Price Available Online View Product Ona's Cottage Multi-Tier Cat Tree with Scratching Posts Price Available Online View Product MAKESURE NINO Cat Scratching Post & Cat Tree Price Available Online View Product 4. Create a Comfortable Sleeping Area Cats spend much of their day resting, so provide somewhere warm, quiet and away from household traffic. A washable cat bed with soft padding works well, but don't be surprised if your new arrival initially prefers a cardboard box or an old blanket. Familiar smells can help cats feel secure during the adjustment period. For Australian summers, consider breathable materials and a shaded resting area. During winter, place bedding away from cold floors and draughts. You don't need several expensive beds immediately. Start with one comfortable option and see where your cat naturally prefers to sleep. 5. Add Toys for Daily Play and Enrichment Indoor cats still need opportunities to chase, pounce, explore and investigate their surroundings. Start with a few different toys rather than buying a large collection. A wand toy encourages interactive play, small balls can provide independent entertainment, and simple cardboard boxes make surprisingly good hiding places. Rotate toys every few days to maintain interest. You can also read our indoor cat enrichment ideas for 2026 for ways to keep cats entertained without constantly purchasing new products. Always supervise play involving strings, feathers or small detachable parts. 6. Don't Forget a Cat Carrier Don't wait until your first vet appointment to buy a cat carrier. You'll need one to bring your new cat home safely, and it's essential for future travel, veterinary visits and emergencies. Choose a carrier large enough for your cat to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably. Secure fastenings, good ventilation and an easy-to-clean interior are important considerations. For nervous cats, a cat carrier with a removable top can make veterinary examinations easier. Soft-sided options may be convenient for short trips, provided they offer adequate support and security. Leave your cat carrier open at home with familiar bedding inside. This allows your cat to explore it voluntarily instead of associating it only with stressful journeys. Purlab Multifunctional School Bus Pet Travel Carrier Price Available Online View Product Purrpy Elegant Pet Backpack Cat Carrier Price Available Online View Product Cute Canvas Pet Carrier Tote Bag Price Available Online View Product 7. What You Don't Need to Buy Straight Away Not everything marketed as a cat essential needs to be purchased before adoption. Automatic litter systems, expensive feeding gadgets, oversized furniture and large toy collections can usually wait until you understand your cat's preferences. The following table helps separate immediate needs from optional upgrades. Essential Item Buy Before Arrival? Practical Advice Cat food and bowls Yes Start with familiar food and clean bowls Litter trays and litter Yes Prepare two trays for one cat Scratching surface Yes Choose something stable and accessible Cat carrier Yes Required for safe transport Comfortable bedding Yes A washable bed or blanket works Interactive toys Yes Start with two or three varieties Automatic litter system Not necessary Upgrade when you understand your cat's habits Premium feeding gadgets Not necessary Basic feeding equipment is usually sufficient 8. Prepare Your Home Before Your Cat Arrives Shopping is only part of the preparation. Your home also needs to feel safe. Secure windows and balconies, remove poisonous plants, put away loose cords and check spaces behind appliances where a frightened kitten might hide. Arrange a veterinary appointment to discuss vaccinations, parasite prevention, microchip details and desexing if these haven't already been addressed. A new cat doesn't need immediate access to the entire house. Prepare one quiet room with food, water, bedding, hiding spaces and litter facilities. The RSPCA Australia's advice for new cat owners recommends allowing cats to settle in a single room for a couple of days before gradually exploring other areas. Final Thoughts: Keep Your New Cat Setup Simple The best new cat checklist isn't about buying everything available. It's about preparing the essentials, creating a predictable environment and giving your cat time to settle. Start with appropriate food, clean litter facilities, safe transport, scratching surfaces and comfortable resting spaces. You can add extras as you learn what your cat enjoys. Ready to prepare your home? Explore the cat essentials available at pawpawup, from everyday litter supplies and travel accessories to climbing furniture and comfortable bedding. Find practical products to make your new cat's first days at home easier.

Indoor cat enrichment does not have to mean buying another pile of toys. In most homes, the bigger issue is that cats see the same objects, sleep in the same places and follow the same routine every day. Even a good toy can become boring if it never moves, while a simple cardboard box can suddenly become interesting if it appears in a new place. The goal of enrichment is to give indoor cats more chances to do normal cat things: climb, scratch, stalk, hide, watch, explore and rest somewhere they feel secure. Cat Protection Society of NSW suggests indoor cats should have at least 30 minutes of play each day, including older cats, but that play does not need to happen in one long session. If your cat already has toys, beds and scratching furniture, start by changing how those things are used before buying more. Rotate Toys Instead of Leaving Everything Out When every toy stays on the floor all week, it eventually becomes part of the background. A better approach is to keep only a few toys available and store the others somewhere your cat cannot see them. Rotate them every few days so familiar toys return with a little novelty. You can also make the same cat toy feel different by changing how you play with it. Move a teaser slowly behind a chair, drag it around a corner or let it disappear into a cardboard box. Cats are often more interested when they can stalk something before chasing it, rather than having a toy waved directly in front of their face. Short play sessions usually work well. Five or ten minutes before breakfast, another quick session in the afternoon and a little play before dinner can add up without feeling like a chore. The important part is giving your cat regular chances to chase, pounce and catch. Use Vertical Space You Already Have Cats do not see a room only at floor level. Chairs, shelves, cabinets, windowsills and the backs of sofas can all become part of their usable territory. Take a look around your home and see whether existing furniture can form a simple climbing route. A chair beside a low cabinet may give your cat access to a window they previously could not reach. Clearing one safe shelf may create a quiet observation point without adding another piece of furniture. If you already own a cat tree, its location can matter as much as its size. A cat tree placed in a dark corner with nothing happening around it may get ignored. Move it beside a window or into a room where the family spends more time and it can become a lookout, scratching area and sleeping spot at the same time. For multi-cat homes, vertical space can be especially useful because it gives each cat more choice about where to sit and how close they want to be to the others. Turn a Window Into Free Cat Entertainment A good window can provide hours of visual stimulation. Birds, insects, pedestrians, moving leaves, rain and changing light all give an indoor cat something to watch without requiring constant attention from you. You do not necessarily need a dedicated window perch. A stable chair, bench or low cabinet can work perfectly well. If your cat already likes sitting there, move a cat bed or folded blanket into the spot for part of the day. Try changing the arrangement occasionally rather than keeping one permanent setup. A sunny window may be attractive in the morning, while a quieter covered corner may be preferred later in the day. Giving cats several resting options makes the home feel more varied without adding clutter. Give Cardboard Boxes Another Job Before recycling your next delivery box, see what your cat thinks of it. A large box can become a hiding place. Two boxes can make a simple tunnel. Cutting several holes into the sides creates places for paws and toys to appear. You can also place a ball or a few pieces of dry food inside and let your cat work out how to reach them. Empty toilet rolls, egg cartons and paper bags can also be used for simple food-search games, provided there are no unsafe handles, staples, sharp edges or small pieces that could be swallowed. The challenge should be easy enough that your cat stays interested rather than becoming frustrated. This type of activity works particularly well for food-motivated cats. Instead of putting every piece of dry food into a bowl, use a small portion of the normal meal for a search or puzzle. That adds a little problem-solving without increasing the total amount of food your cat eats. Put the Scratcher Where the Scratching Happens A common mistake is choosing the perfect corner for a scratching post based on how the room looks rather than where the cat actually wants to scratch. If your cat repeatedly scratches one side of the sofa, place the cat scratcher directly beside that area. If scratching happens after waking up, try positioning a scratcher close to a favourite sleeping spot. Pay attention to whether your cat prefers vertical or horizontal scratching. Some cats want to stretch fully upward, while others prefer cardboard or textured surfaces lying flat on the floor. The scratcher also needs to feel stable. If it moves or tips when the cat puts weight against it, the sofa may feel like the better option. Scratching is normal behaviour, so the aim is not to stop it. The practical solution is to make the correct scratching surface easier and more appealing than the furniture. Make Meals Part of the Enrichment Routine Food does not always need to arrive in exactly the same place. You can hide a few pieces of kibble around one room, place food inside an easy cardboard puzzle or divide a meal between several small locations. Start with obvious hiding places so your cat understands the game, then make it slightly harder over time if they enjoy it. This works best when enrichment is matched to the individual cat. A young, active cat may enjoy searching around the room, while an older cat might prefer a simple puzzle placed close to their normal feeding area. Do not make every meal difficult. Regular feeding should still be comfortable and predictable. Food enrichment is simply another way to add variety. Create Different Places to Rest, Hide and Watch Keeping a cat busy does not mean keeping them active every minute. Resting and hiding are also important parts of an enriched environment. Try to give your cat several different types of spaces using what you already have. What your cat may want Simple option High viewing point Shelf, cabinet or window ledge Quiet hiding place Cardboard box Warm resting area Blanket or cat bed Scratching area Vertical or horizontal scratcher Hunting activity Wand toy or hidden food Visual stimulation Window with a stable perch This also helps you notice preferences. If your cat keeps choosing a high shelf but ignores the bed on the floor, height may be more important than softness. If they sleep inside boxes whenever visitors arrive, privacy may be the priority. Change One Small Thing Each Week The easiest enrichment routine is one you can actually maintain. You do not need a complicated schedule. Move a box into another room. Rotate two toys. Shift a chair closer to the window. Put the scratching board beside a different sleeping spot. Hide part of breakfast. Move a blanket onto a higher surface. Small environmental changes can make familiar spaces feel more interesting. The key is to watch what happens afterwards. If your cat uses the new setup, keep it for a while. If they ignore it completely, try something else. RSPCA Australia also has a useful page on low-cost DIY enrichment for cats and dogs, including ideas using cardboard boxes, tubes, towels and other household materials. Buy for a Real Need, Not Just Because It Looks Fun There is nothing wrong with buying new cat products, but it helps to identify the actual gap first. If your cat keeps climbing furniture, a better cat tree may solve a real need. If they repeatedly scratch the sofa, a more suitable cat scratcher may make sense. If they are already surrounded by ten toys but ignore all of them, buying an eleventh cat toy probably will not fix the problem. The same applies to resting products. Before adding another cat bed, think about whether your cat actually needs a new bed or simply wants the existing one moved somewhere warmer, higher or quieter. Good enrichment starts with observing behaviour first and shopping second. Keep Indoor Cat Enrichment Simple The best indoor cat enrichment ideas are often the easiest ones to repeat. Rotate toys instead of leaving everything out, use furniture to create vertical routes, give your cat a better view from the window, reuse cardboard for hiding and food games, and place scratching surfaces where scratching already happens. You do not need to constantly add more things to your home. You need to make familiar spaces feel useful in more than one way. If you do find that your cat is missing something important, PawPawUp has practical options for climbing, scratching, resting and play. Start with your cat's actual behaviour, choose what fills the gap, and build a home environment they will genuinely use.

Living in an apartment does not mean your cat has to miss out on climbing, scratching or having a high place to relax. The real issue is space. A large cat tower can quickly feel like it takes over the room, especially in a rental, studio or smaller Australian apartment. Put it in the wrong place and it blocks a walkway. Choose the wrong shape and it becomes another bulky piece of furniture your cat barely uses. The good news is that a cat tree does not need to dominate the room to be useful. In a small home, placement matters more than size. Here is how to set one up so it works for both your cat and your floor plan. Put the Cat Tree Where Your Cat Already Wants to Spend Time The best location is usually not the emptiest corner. It is the place your cat already finds interesting. Cats often prefer elevated areas because height gives them a better view of their surroundings. The AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines note that elevated perches increase usable vertical space and allow cats to monitor their environment.  In an apartment, this is useful because vertical space is often easier to give up than floor space. Good locations include: beside a secure window; next to the sofa; in a quiet living-room corner; near a sliding balcony door, provided the balcony is secure; beside a low cabinet that your cat already likes sitting on. A cat tree beside a window is often one of the best uses of space because it gives your cat a perch, viewing point and resting place without creating a new activity zone in the middle of the room. Use Corners Instead of Open Floor Space For a small apartment, a corner-style cat tower is usually easier to live with than a wide tree positioned in the middle of a wall. Corners make the structure feel more like part of the room rather than an obstacle. Before buying, measure: base width + platform overhang + the space your cat needs to jump on and off. That last part is easy to forget. A 45 cm-wide base may sound compact, but if the upper platform sticks out and your cat needs another 50 cm of landing space, the practical footprint is much bigger. Keep the Main Walking Route Clear One of the biggest mistakes in small homes is placing pet furniture where people constantly walk. Avoid setting a cat tree: beside the apartment entrance; in a narrow hallway; between the sofa and TV; in front of frequently used cupboards; where a bedroom or balcony door swings open. Your cat also benefits from a calmer location. RSPCA Australia recommends placing important feline resources in safe areas away from busy or threatening locations where possible.  A simple test is to walk through your apartment normally for a day and notice the areas you cross most often. Keep the cat tower outside those routes. A Simple Small-Apartment Cat Setup This layout works well because each resource has a purpose without all of them being pushed into one area. Suggested setup: cat tree beside the window; cat scratcher near the sofa; cat bed in a quieter corner; toys in the open living area; litter tray away from all of the above; clear path between rooms. The goal is not to create a dedicated “cat corner” containing everything your cat owns. Cats often benefit from having important resources separated around the home. RSPCA guidance, drawing on feline environmental-needs research, recommends providing multiple and separated resources such as resting areas, scratching areas, play zones and toileting areas.  Don’t Put the Cat Tree Beside the Litter Box This is especially tempting in a small apartment. You may only have one obvious pet area, so it seems logical to place the litter tray, food, bed and cat tower together. From the cat’s point of view, that is not ideal. RSPCA Australia recommends placing litter trays in quiet areas and physically separating toileting areas from other important resources.  Your cat is unlikely to see a sleeping platform directly above a toilet area as premium real estate. If space is tight, separation does not necessarily mean another room. Even a different corner, visual barrier or opposite side of the room can create clearer zones. Choose Height Over Width For apartment living, a taller and narrower tree often makes better use of space than a low, wide model. Think of the cat tower as vertical storage for your cat. A good small cat tree may include: a stable base; one or two scratching posts; staggered climbing platforms; one upper resting perch; a compact hideaway. You do not necessarily need multiple large beds, tunnels and oversized platforms. The priority should be usable vertical space. The AAFP/ISFM guidelines also recommend that perches are large enough for a cat to stretch and rest comfortably.  So avoid going so compact that the upper platform is too small for your cat. Match the Cat Tree to Your Cat, Not Just the Apartment A small footprint is useful, but the tree still needs to suit the cat using it. For a young and active cat, look for more vertical climbing steps and higher platforms. For a larger cat, prioritise: wider platforms; stronger posts; a heavier base; less platform wobble. For an older cat, avoid big jumps between levels. Lower steps and closer platforms can make the tower easier to use. If your cat rarely climbs but loves scratching the side of the sofa, a large tower may not be the first thing you need. A separate cat scratcher near the sofa may solve a more immediate problem. Use a Cat Tree Together With a Scratcher, Toy and Bed A cat tree does not have to do everything. In a small apartment, it is often better to use a few compact resources in different locations. For example: Need Small-space solution Climbing Narrow cat tree beside a window Scratching Slim vertical or cardboard scratcher Sleeping Compact cat bed in a quiet corner Play Wand toy or small interactive toys Watching outdoors Upper cat-tree perch Hiding Bed, box or enclosed lower platform RSPCA Australia recommends offering cats opportunities for play and predatory behaviour, including interactive toys and food-based enrichment.  This is why combining a tree with a few well-chosen cat toy can work better than buying one enormous piece of furniture. A separate cat bed also gives your cat another quiet resting option when they do not want to sleep up high. Make It Work in a Rental Renters have a few extra considerations. Before fixing anything to a wall, check your lease or ask your property manager if permanent fixtures are allowed. If drilling is not an option, look for a freestanding tower with: a wide, stable base; good weight distribution; non-slip feet; compact vertical construction. Avoid placing a tall cat tree on uneven carpet or beside unstable furniture. You can also use washable mats underneath the base to reduce floor marks and make cleaning easier. Avoid These Common Small-Apartment Mistakes The biggest mistake is buying purely by dimensions. A narrow tree can still be awkward if the platforms stick into a walkway. A visually compact tower can still feel huge if it sits in the centre of the living room. Also avoid putting it somewhere just because “there is space.” If the tree is in a dark corner with no view, far from people and nowhere your cat normally goes, it may remain unused. A good apartment setup balances three things: your cat’s behaviour, your daily movement through the room and the available vertical space. Create More Cat Space Without Losing More Floor Space You do not need a large home to create a good indoor environment for a cat. A properly placed cat tree can turn a narrow corner or window area into a climbing, resting and observation zone without taking over your living room. Keep it away from busy walkways and the litter area, pair it with a separate scratcher and a few toys, and choose a height and platform size that suits your cat. For Australian apartments, townhouses and rental homes, the best setup is usually not the biggest one. It is the one that uses the space you already have more intelligently. Explore PawPawUp for cat trees, beds, scratchers and toys designed to help indoor cats stay comfortable, active and entertained at home.