Essential Supplies
The following are a list of favorite supplies and product links, listed by category. These are not official endorsements, but represent products that Kitten Lady likes and recommends to people who are caring for kittens. I hope this helps you furnish your home with all the essentials to make fostering fun and easy! Happy shopping!
Keep Em’ Fed
kitten formulas
Breeder's Edge Formula 12oz (great for a solo kitten)
Kitten Milk Replacer 12oz (great for a solo kitten)
Breeder's Edge Formula 4.5lb (great for multiple kittens)
Kitten Milk Replacer 28oz (great for multiple kittens)
Breeder's Edge Formula 20lb (bulk size for rescue orgs and shelters)
bottles and nipples
PetAg Bottle Kit (standard starter kit)
24 Pack of Kitten Bottles (this is what I use!)
Miracle Nipple Mini (my preferred nipple attachment)
Miracle Nipple (larger version of my preferred nipple attachment)
3cc Syringes (for syringe feeding very young kittens)
WET AND DRY FOODS
Babycat Wet Food (for kittens under 4 months)
Mother and Babycat Dry Food (for kittens under 4 months)
Kitten Wet Food (for kittens 4 months+)
Kitten Dry Food (for kittens 4 months+)
HELPFUL FEEDING SUPPLIES
Mini Whisks (to eliminate clumps)
Blender Bottle (to eliminate clumps and store formula)
Shallow Food Dish (so they can reach!)
Shallow Plate (great for young kittens!)
Baby Spoons (I use these for weaning!)
Keep Em’ Cozy
comfort sources
Snuggle Kitty (stuffed animal with heartbeat)
Snuggle Puppy (they don't know the difference!)
Toothbrush Bulk Pack (for comforting babies!)
On the go/carriers
Hard-Sided Carrier (my favorite carrier; very secure and great for top-loading)
Disposable Cardboard Carriers (12 pack of single-use carriers for frequent fosterers)
Hideaways and Beds
Heat sources
Snuggle Safe (microwavable heating pad)
Heating Pad (cat safe/chew resistant)
Incubator (consistent radiant heat and humidification for frequent neonate care)
enclosures
Large 45" Playpen (an essential!)
Transparent DIY Playpen (clear panels that click together into various shapes/sizes!)
Clear Plastic Tub (great for housing 0-3 week old kittens -- DO NOT USE LID.)
Blankets and mats
Microfleece Baby Blankets (pattern: grey bears)
Microfleece Baby Blankets (pattern: woodland creatures)
Microfleece Baby Blankets (pattern: blue and yellow)
Receiving Blankets (for nursing)
Keep ‘Em Clean
Bathtime
Fragrance-Free Natural Dish Soap (for bathing kittens with fleas)
Organic Fragrance-Free Baby Shampoo (for bathing dirty kittens)
Cotton Rounds (good for cleaning faces)
Disinfecting
Rescue Wipes (kills most viral and bacterial agents)
Rescue Disinfectant (ready-to-use solution)
Rescue Concentrate (to be diluted at home)
Stainless Steel Cart (perfect for keeping things clean and sanitized!)
Steam Cleaner (great for disinfecting carpeted or upholstered items like cat trees!)
Litter
Non-Clumping Litter (for kittens under 8 weeks)
Cat’s Pride Litter (for kittens and cats 8 weeks+)
Kitten Attract (for difficult to train kittens)
Litter Genie (for hassle-free litter scooping)
Daily Clean-up
Fragrance-Free Baby Wipes (for clean up after meals/peeing)
Wipe Warmer (to keep your wipes cozy)
Puppy Pads (for laying under messy spots like food dishes or litter pans)
All Purpose Cleaner (my preferred cleaner—note that this is NOT for disinfecting, only cleaning!)
Keep ‘Em Healthy
Please note: these are not all of the supplies you will need to keep kittens healthy! Please see a veterinarian to diagnose kitten conditions on a case-by-case basis and purchase prescriptions as needed. The following are at-home products that I find helpful for general health.
routine care
Pyrantel pamoate (dewormer)
Panacur (dewormer)
Digital Scale (for weighing kittens daily in grams)
Saline Flush (individual 5ml units of sterile saline; great for wound flushing and nebulizing)
Critical Care
Dextrose 50% (sugar replacer for hypoglycemic kittens)
Tube Feeding Kit (use only with training)
Nebulizer (for URI treatment—this one is very silent!)
Food Supplements
Benebac (my preferred probiotic)
Proviable (another probiotic)
Kitten Lyte (electrolytes for dehydrated kittens)
Electrolyte Drops (electrolytes for dehydrated kittens)
Gas Drops (kitten safe drops for gassy babies)
Miralax (kitten safe laxative - use just a pinch for constipation)
NutriCal for Kittens (high calorie supplement)
Gerber Chicken Food (for fussy/sick kittens)
Critical Care (complete meal replacement for weaned kittens requiring liquid diet)
Keep ‘Em Happy
Toys
Cat Dancer (the cheapest, but most loved cat toy)
Rainbow Rope (a classic favorite)
Crinkle Balls (12 pack - this is a must!)
Jingle Balls (well loved by kittens)
Mouse Toys (a big box of kittens’ favorite mice!)
Butterfly Cat Toy (extremely popular with 6+ week olds)
Room Enrichment
Unicorn Climber (adorable and loved by young kittens)
Mini Cat Tree (the starter tree I give to kittens 5-8 weeks!)
Treats
Freeze Dried Chicken Treats (kittens love them!)
Meat Tubes (the ultimate cat treat!)
Scratchers
Circular Scratcher Toy (easy to sanitize between litters!)
Scratch Post (this is my very favorite scratch post!)