Why do I need two litter boxes if I only have one cat?
Cats are very clean animals and will stop using a litter box if it becomes too dirty. The rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one extra. Multiple boxes prevent accidents and bad habits, and they allow your cat to have clean options throughout the day. This is especially important if you're away during work hours.
At a glance
Length
16 min
Channel
Elena Marie Thoms
Video from
Nov 2024
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Anyone preparing to adopt a cat or kitten for the first time
What this video answers
Why do I need two litter boxes if I only have one cat?
Can I use any kind of cat food, or does it really matter?
Is a cat tree really necessary if I have a scratching post?
What makes a breakaway collar different from a regular collar?
When should I start trimming my cat's nails?
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Summary of the 10 Essential Items Every New Cat Parent Needs
Elena Marie Thoms walks new cat owners through a practical, deliberately curated list of 10 must-have items before bringing a cat or kitten home. Rather than overwhelming shoppers with optional gadgets, the video focuses on essentials she identified after adopting her own cat, Loki. Each item addresses a real need—from feeding and bathroom habits to comfort, safety, and enrichment—with specific product recommendations and reasoning for why each matters to your cat's wellbeing.
The guide emphasizes smart choices within each category: ceramic or stainless-steel bowls instead of plastic to prevent chin acne, multiple litter boxes following the "one per cat plus one extra" rule, wet food prioritized over dry, scratching posts and cat trees for natural behavior, toys for interactive bonding, a comfortable carrier to build positive associations, identification and microchipping for safety, and grooming tools for regular nail care. Throughout, the video stresses that investing in the right items upfront prevents behavioral problems and saves frustration later.
Key Moments
Key Points for Setting Up Your New Cat's Home
Use ceramic, stainless steel, or glass feeding bowls—never plastic, which harbors bacteria and causes chin acne; consider a water fountain to encourage hydration.
Provide one litter box per cat plus one extra; choose large boxes with tall sides, natural unscented litter (tofu, bark, or newspaper-based), and clean daily to prevent behavioral issues.
Feed primarily wet food since cats are obligate carnivores; dry food is supplemental and often contains unhealthy fillers.
Offer multiple cat beds and scratching posts (one per cat plus one extra) in different locations, positioned near windows when possible for mental stimulation.
Invest in interactive toys and playtime to meet your cat's enrichment needs and bond with them; self-play toys like robot balls help when you're away.
Use a soft cloth or backpack carrier, get your cat microchipped, wear a breakaway safety collar with an ID tag, and learn proper nail-trimming technique from the start.
Why Cat Essentials Matter for Long-Term Health and Behavior
Skipping or cutting corners on these 10 items often leads to preventable problems: cats may develop health issues like chin acne or urinary problems from inadequate water intake, refuse to use dirty litter boxes and eliminate elsewhere in the house, or develop destructive behavior from boredom and lack of enrichment. Beyond avoiding problems, providing the right setup builds trust and security. Cats use scent to mark territory and feel safe, so having enough beds and scratchers helps multiple cats coexist peacefully. A sturdy, tall cat tree positioned by a window meets their natural instinct to perch high and observe. Interactive play strengthens your bond and keeps your cat mentally and physically healthy. Proper identification and a secure, comfortable carrier can literally save your cat's life if they escape or need emergency veterinary care. These essentials aren't luxuries—they're the foundation of responsible cat care that prevents costly behavioral and medical issues down the road.
Common Questions About Preparing Your Home for a New Cat
Why do I need two litter boxes if I only have one cat?
Cats are very clean animals and will stop using a litter box if it becomes too dirty. The rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one extra. Multiple boxes prevent accidents and bad habits, and they allow your cat to have clean options throughout the day. This is especially important if you're away during work hours.
Can I use any kind of cat food, or does it really matter?
Wet food should be your priority because cats are obligate carnivores and need moisture in their diet, just as they would get from prey in the wild. Dry food often contains fillers that are unhealthy and may shorten your cat's lifespan. You can supplement with dry food, but wet food should be the main component of their diet.
Is a cat tree really necessary if I have a scratching post?
Yes, because cats need to be up high to feel safe and secure. Many cat trees include scratching surfaces, so they serve double duty. A tall, sturdy cat tree positioned near a window provides both security and entertainment, which are essential for your cat's emotional wellbeing and to keep them entertained throughout the day.
What makes a breakaway collar different from a regular collar?
A breakaway collar has a safety feature that releases under pressure if it gets caught on something, allowing your cat to escape rather than risk strangulation. This is critical because cats are extremely flexible and can get into tight spots. Even indoor cats benefit from breakaway collars if they wear harnesses or carriers with ID tags.
When should I start trimming my cat's nails?
Start as early as possible by handling your cat's paws regularly to get them accustomed to touch. When you're ready to trim, choose a time when both you and your cat are relaxed and calm. You don't need to trim all claws in one session; doing just one or two a day is perfectly fine and builds positive associations with the process.
This video is genuinely helpful for anyone adopting a cat because it cuts through the clutter of marketing and focuses on what actually prevents problems. Elena speaks from real experience with her own cat, not just theory, and she explains the "why" behind each essential rather than just listing items.
What I appreciated most was the emphasis on litter box management and the multiple-box rule—so many new cat parents skip this and then wonder why their cat is having accidents. Her tip about tofu litter not tracking is also gold for anyone tired of litter scattered across the floor. Absolutely worth watching before you bring your new cat home.
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In this video I cover the 10 essential things you NEED to purchase before adopting a cat or kitten. After adopting my first cat, I put together a shopping list of all the essentials I realized I actually did need, and left out all the fluff. For a FREE copy of this Cat Essentials Checklist, use the link below ⬇️
💜 FREE Copy Of My Cat Essentials Checklist: https://stan.store/elenamariethoms
💜 GET 10% OFF My Favorite Cat Litter! (code: elenathoms10): https://catbutler.com/0ufx0i
💜 CATIFY YOUR HOME (eBook): https://stan.store/elenamariethoms/p/catify-your-home-ebook
What To Feed Your Kitten + Best Cat Food Brands:
https://youtu.be/2Bp39zD98-Q?si=Od9mfP-JNWjSD9Cb
Safely Trim Your Cat's Claws On Your Own:
https://youtu.be/B0y4p9cqkDE?si=EXJu5QngFhVqNtDH
What You NEED To Know Before You Commit:
https://youtu.be/PMjBFyFO4W8?si=QcmcpnyszScpGiXF
Water Fountain Stainless Steel:
https://amzn.to/40ORyKa
FTC LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Some links included in this description may be affiliate links. Meaning, if you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue providing you with free, helpful content each week!
DISCLAIMER: Content of this video is my opinion and does not constitute medical advice. Herein, the content provides general information for general educational purposes only. The information provided is based on my own personal experiences, thank you!
Video transcript for “The 10 things you NEED for your cat: Shopping checklist for new cat parents” Accessibility
A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.
in this video I'm going to share the 10 Essentials you need for your new [Music] cat this is going to be a quick rundown of everything you need ideal for new cat parents and make sure you watch till the very end so you don't miss out on the [Music] freebie hello welcome back to Loki and
Elena I'm Elena and this is Loki I create content for cat lovers and cat ladies so first off I want to say congratulations if you're watching this you've probably decided to adopt a cat or two or maybe you've already adopted and you need to know ASAP what exactly you need essential number one for your
new fur baby is a food and water bowl the most important thing to remember when you're picking out your food and water bowl for your cat is not to buy plastic plastic is a porous material that holds on to bacteria and it's actually the number one reason why a lot of cats develop chin acne when cats are
constantly eating and drinking out of plastic bowls that has germs on it they get acne on their chin that might sound kind of weird and gross but take a look at your cat's chin if you see bumps and like weird oil deposits and like crusty kind of um black oily residue uh then your cat probably has chin acne so you
want to get bowls that are ceramic stainless steel or class or if you're able to I would highly recommend investing in a cat water fountain the running water is much more natural for cats and it encourages them to drink more water I would also recommend if you can investing in an automatic feeder it
will feed your cat automatically the exact amount that your cat needs if they're on a diet or something um but it's something that you can leave automated and not have to worry about it and it'll feed your cat at the correct time and amount every day essential number two is a litter box if you're
adopting one cat you are going to need two litter boxes the rule of thumb for litter boxes is that you should have one litter box per cat plus one extra so if you have one cat you should have two litter boxes if you have three cats you should have four litter boxes cats are very clean animals and they will
literally stop using their litter box if it's too dirty so so you do not want to have that extra mess to deal with and you also do not want to create any bad habits so providing plentiful clean litter boxes is really important there are also so many creative and aesthetic options now for litter boxes there's all
kinds of hidden litter boxes that literally just look like Furniture in the corner of the room I've seen some with plants on top of them you just you would not know that it's a litter box they also have these uh robot litter boxes I'm sure you've seen that will selfclean and you do have to um dispose
of the trash periodically that it collects of course but generally the robot litter boxes run every day and they keep the smell at Bay so if you're really concerned about the smell or if you just don't think you'll have time to clean the litter box yourself every day which you do need to clean it every
single day then maybe consider investing in a robot litter box and I recommend going with as large of a size as you can for your space cats really do like to be able to turn around and maneuver within their litter box so a larger litter box with tall sides it actually really helps
keep the litter in it keeps everything more clean here you can see the litter box cabinet that I purchased for Loki and set up in our bathroom I really love this litter box cabinet it has great storage so if you want to check it out I got it on Amazon I'll include a link in the description you're also going to
need litter obviously and a poop scoop a natural environmentally friendly and unscented litter is going to be best for your cat clay litter is not environmentally friendly and it creates a lot of dust so consider going with one of those litters that's made of bark or newspaper or walnut shells there's all
kinds of fun things my personal favorite is actually tofu litter I have Loki using a brand I think it's called dofu or doju I'll show a picture of it here it's a tofu litter I get it at mudbay I really love it because it actually smells kind of good smells very natural and pleasant the odor blocking is pretty
dang good especially if your cat does bury their stuff and it's clumping so when your cat pees it clumps up so it's really easy to scoop out not to mention of course it is environmentally friendly it also does not track like almost at all like it doesn't get stuck between your cat's toes a lot of those smaller
like granular type litters really do get stuck in the cat's toes and it'll be tracked all over your house which is really annoying but these pellet shaped litters like this tofu litter that I love um it barely tracks at all so the cleanup is much easier and again don't be a lazy cat parent please clean your
cat's litter box at least once a day essential number three is the cat food itself think of it like this wet food is your priority and dry food is just supplemental wet food is healthier and more natural for cats because cats are obligate carnivores an obligate carnivore means that they need
to eat meat which in the wild is obviously full of moisture dry food often has a lot of fillers in it which is not good for your cat's overall health and may decrease life expectancy for more information on cat food and which brands I like the best go ahead and check out this video here essential
number four is a cat bed similar to the litter box rule you'll want to make sure you have one cat bed per cat plus one extra cats like to sleep in different spots throughout the course of the day depending on temperature and noise so you want to give them a lot of different options to choose from cats also use
scent to mark their territory so it's important if you have multiple cats that they have the option to at least claim certain beds for themselves and get their scent on that bed scent plays a very important role for your cat's overall sense of Happiness Safety and Security Essential number five is a
scratching post again like the lbox rule you want to make sure you have at least one scratching post per cat plus one extra scratching is a very normal and very healthy behavior for cats they do it to mark their territory because they do have scent glands in their feet and they also do it to keep their claws
healthy and nowadays when it comes to scratchers you have so many different options there's rope cardboard wood carpet so do a little experimenting and find out what your cat prefers and then encourage them to play and scratch on that scratcher and that will help to protect your furniture which you do not
want them scratching essential number six is a cat tree this is similar to the scratching post because a lot lot of cat trees have scratching built into them so ideally you can get a cat tree that also has a rope wrapped area where they can scratch now why are cat trees important
though cats love to be up high because they feel safer so a cat tree is actually an ideal sleeping location or any sort of bed that's up high When selecting your cat tree if you can afford it taller is better but you want to make sure it's really sturdy with a wide base so that it won't tip over if
you have a cat anything like Loki he's going to love catapulting from the very top all the way onto your furniture down below so there's going to be some rough housing with the cat tree that you want to be aware of you want to make sure it has a really sturdy base if you've already purchased a cat tree and you are
having trouble with this consider attaching a second piece of wood down underneath the base or also consider just putting heavy objects on the base to help weigh it down ideally you will place your cat tree in front of a window this will really help keep your cat entertained because cats love to look
out the windows anyways so if you have a bed or a cat Tree near a window that is absolutely perfect essential number seven are cat toys don't skimp on toys and I know you won't because cats are so much fun to play with cats require a lot of interactive play and especially if you only have one cat in the house their
full attention is going to be on you they're going to look at you and expect you to play with them which is so cute so get some toys that look fun for you too playtime is bonding time with your cat it will truly make your cat feel so happy and they will feel much more connected to you anytime I get down on
the floor to start playing with Loki he loves it so much he actually starts purring self-play toys are also great for when you're away I always turn on Loki's robot ball anytime I leave him alone at the apartment having his robot ball at least makes me feel better I don't know if he's actually playing with
it but at least he has something essential number eight is a carrier please get a nice carrier to bring your cat home in you want to start a positive association with your cat's carrier from day one so a comfy cloth carrier or backpack is what I would recommend I do not recommend the cardboard carriers and
I actually had a cat who literally ripped through the little corner and like pulled the Box apart he was so afraid to go to the vet he was a very scaredy cat but um he literally tore the Box apart so if you've already purchased one of those very common plastic carriers then at least put some
kind of cushion or towel or blanket inside the carrier for your cat now the the reason why this is so important to be using cloth is because again your cat's scent is very reassuring to them make sure your carrier is big enough for your cat to turn around fully while inside and consider giving them treats
anytime they're in the carrier to boost that positive Association your big goal here is to enable your cat to feel that their carrier is indeed a safe space essential number nine is a form of identification please get your cat microchipped by your vet if they are not already for Loki I had him microchipped
while he was already being neutered so that was very efficient microchipping could potentially save your cat's life and at the very least get them returned to you much much quicker if your cat is going to wear a collar make sure that you get a collor tag made to put on the collar with your contact information on
it even if you're B is going to be indoor only and not wear a collar you should still have a tag made with your contact information on it to attach to their harness or to their carrier this could be really useful if you ever travel with your cat to have a tag that you can attach to their carrier and if
there's any possibility you're going to start leash training your cat you're going to need a harness and I really think it's important to have an identification tag attached to that harness it's also extremely important to make sure that the collar you purchase for your cat is a safety Breakaway
collar all this means is that the collar has a safety feature built in so if the collar gets caught on something or hooked on something and your cat is pulling and pulling trying to get free that a certain amount of pressure will actually break the collar so that the cat can get free and cats are extremely
flexible so you never know what kind of trouble they are going to get into I've actually seen before a cat where their arm got stuck up through the collar and the collar was under under the armpit and around the neck like that and uh a safety collar again uh would have just broken free and your cat would have been
okay so you don't want anything like that happening and last but not least essential number 10 is grooming tools so this is going to be a nail clipper and a brush with nail clipping you want to start practicing as early as possible you want to make sure that you handle your cat a lot and get them used to the
feeling of you touching their paws so you can hold your cat play with them touch their paws massage their paws you want to get them used to that from an early age if possible if your cat is already a little bit older you just want to slowly start introducing that touch and the best time to start a nail
trimming session is when you are both relaxed relaxed and maybe cuddling you want to just do one or two claws even if you can't get all of the claws done in one session that's totally fine maybe set a goal for yourself that you get just one claw trimmed a day that is wonderful for more information on how
exactly to safely trim your cat's claws check out this video tutorial I made here when it comes to brushing your cat even if your cat has really short fur it's still good to brush them because it stimulates the oils in their skin it's good for their skin and it's good for their fur now if your cat does have long
fur grooming is actually extremely important it is a lot of work for a cat to groom their entire body with a bunch of long fur a lot of long-haired cats simply cannot keep up with all of the grooming required to keep their long fur in good shape and what will happen if they cannot keep up with the grooming is
that their fur will start to get mad matted fur is really gross and it's also really painful for the cat it's basically a bunch of Tangled Up fur um a lot of like dead skin and dust and things get trapped in the mats so the mats themselves are going to be kind of dirty and they're going to be pulling on
the cat's skin which is uncomfortable and eventually what will happen to matted fur is that it will just completely fall out like the whole big matted Clump will eventually fall off so it's really important to help your cat groom by grooming zooming them regularly with the brush and if you do see that a
mat is starting to form in your cat's fur just go ahead and cut it out with a pair of scissors very carefully maybe have somebody assist you but you want to just cut that out of there so that it doesn't continue to get any worse long-haired cats are also more likely to struggle with vomiting from hair balls
so helping your cat to keep up with the amount of grooming required to remove all of the Dead hair hair all of the shedding hair that is coming out is really important for their overall health if you'd like to download a free copy of this cat Essentials checklist I will include a link down in the
description so you can download the PDF onto your phone and look at it that way or you can also just print it out and like physically check off items as you go shopping and if you enjoyed this video you are really going to love this one as well where I break down all of the things that you really need to know
for adopting a cat so this video covered everything that you need to purchase before getting a cat but this one covers everything you actually need to know before making this big commitment thank you so much for liking and commenting on this video the engagement really helps YouTube recognize my channel and push it
out to other amazing cat people like you subscribe so you don't miss out and I'll see you in the next one bye
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