Water and food dishes – use ceramic (lead free glaze), glass or stainless steel bowls. Plastic bowls are not as hygienic. Your cats can develop feline acne if you use plastic food bowls. Water and food dishes should be cleaned every day in hot soapy water. The water should be refreshed at least once a day. I highly recommend the Hagen Cat-It drinking fountain which circulates the water over a dome and through a filter. The water stays fresher and hair and other particles are trapped in the filter. I believe they drink more water because they are attracted to the fountain. Because cats evolved from desert dwelling cats, they have a very low thirst drive. Anything that attracts them to water so that they drink more is worth having to help prevent urinary tract problems. It is worthwhile placing a boot tray underneath your cats water fountain or water bowl. Maine Coons love to play in water and a boot tray will help contain the water.

Litter pan, scoop and cat litter – use the largest size that you can find and place the litter pan in a private quiet location away from the hustle and bustle of the home and away from food and water dishes. Corners are good locations for litter pans. If you own a another pet such as a dog or cat, make sure that they are not ambushing your new kitten or following them to the litter box making the new kitten feel vulnerable. Litter pans should be easily accessible with a clear escape route. Make sure the litter is 2 or more inches deep. Some cats like it deeper. I use wood pellets for litter but your new kitten should readily accept clumping litter, if that is what you choose to use, because of its sand like consistency. Cats urinate and defecate in response to biological drives and they also eliminate to mark their territory. You should have a litter box on each level of your home and if you have more than one cat, it is recommended that you have in your house a total of one litter box for each cat plus one. Having multiple litter boxes gives each cat many appropriate places to both eliminate and mark their territory without offending you or other cats.

Grooming combs (Greyhound type) – should have long (1 ¼ inch) tapered stainless steel tines with the tines ¼ inch apart on one side of the comb and 1/8 inch part on the other side of the comb. When it comes to combs, cheap is not better. Better quality grooming combs have very smooth tines that do not grab the fur but glide easily through it. Do not use brushes as these do not get down through all the fur to the cat’s skin. “Original” Greyhound combs made in Belgium are worth every pretty penny that they cost. You can spend a fortune trying to find the “right” cheap grooming tools. Put all that cash towards one excellent quality comb.

Scratching posts - cats scratch to loosen old nail layers and mark territory. Entice the cat to use it by placing it near a window. Rub its paws on the scratching post. You can also rub the post with catnip to make it more attractive. Maine Coons are very large cats. The scratching post should be tall enough for the cat to stretch out its entire body. It should probably be a minimum of 36 inches high attached to a very wide and heavy platform that is not easily knocked over. A post that has both carpet and sisal will offer different textures for your cat.

Nail trimmers – the small scissor type are good for most cats. For a large full grown neutered male Maine Coon, the scissor type for small dogs is best. These large cats need a slightly larger nail trimmer to ensure that the nail is cut not shattered when attempting to trim it. Choose a high quality stainless steel nail trimmers. These are sharper and hold their edge longer.
Scratching posts - cats scratch to loosen old nail layers and mark territory. Entice the cat to use it by placing it near a window. Rub its paws on the scratching post. You can also rub the post with catnip to make it more attractive. Maine Coons are very large cats. The scratching post should be tall enough for the cat to stretch out its entire body. It should probably be a minimum of 36 inches high attached to a very wide and heavy platform that is not easily knocked over. A post that has both carpet and sisal will offer different textures for your cat.

Toys – some of my cats’ favourites don’t cost anything. Favourites include crumpled balls of newspaper, the tubes for toilet paper or paper towels and empty boxes of any size. Ping pop balls, plastic coil springs and rabbit fur mice with rattles in them are also favourites.

Carrier – one large enough for a full grown Maine Coon. A medium size Vari Kennel Series 200 is recommended. The dimensions of this carrier are 27” (68cm) long x 20” (50cm) wide x 19” (48cm) high.

Bed – while not essential, as a cat will sleep almost any where, a cat bed will hopefully collect most of the fur rather than the furniture. They love to snuggle up in something soft and cushy. Cats are highly adept at finding the softest place to sleep. Small dog beds are a more appropriate size for a full grown Maine Coon.

Cat condo – a piece of cat furniture that provides several shelves and cubby holes that cats love to play on and sleep on. Cats love to keep an eye on all that goes on around them from the higher levels of a cat condo.

Kitten food – Kittens should continue to be fed a raw diet. A grain free canned kitten food is an alternative to a raw diet. Please see You Are What You Eat!!

My favourite place for cat toys, scratching posts, cat condos, a wide variety of top quality commercial cat food and most things cat is The Cat House at Stadium Shopping Centre in Calgary, 403-cat-cats (403-228-2287).