A furry new feline member of the family is a cause for celebration. But you'll need to make sure that you have some necessary new cat supplies before the new kitty gets home, because life will be harder for both you and the cat if you don't.
The basics of cat ownership are a collar and ID tag with your name and phone number, litter, a litter box and scoop, water and food dishes, and food. Scratching posts and toys can be great additions, too, to keep kitty busy and not destroying your furniture.
People with new indoor cats wonder why they need a collar and tags. The reason is that sometimes indoor cats get out, and those found without ID are unlikely to be returned to you, which is a good enough reason for all cats to wear tags. If your new cat has access to the outdoors, the litter box might seem unnecessary. But during storms or while indoors for any reason, having a box will give your kitty somewhere to go without leaving the house.
A food and water dish is a definite essential. These don't have to be specialized cat dishes-- a lot of people use human dishes from a thrift store, or part of an old set. Whatever they are, they should be easy to wash and sturdy. Two dishes are enough if your cat only eats wet or dry food, but you'll probably need three if he or she eats both. Mixing wet and dry food will cause the dry food to spoil faster, so it should be avoided.
Food is definitely necessary. But choose carefully, so that you new kitty doesn't get a stomachache. If you know what your cat has been eating, get some of that and some of whatever you'd like to feed, and mix them together. Start with more old food than new, and then move to more new food than old, before discontinuing the old.
If you follow a few steps to be prepared when your newest family member arrives, you and he or she will enjoy a good start to your lifetime relationship. Remember, a pet requires a lot of time and care, so if you don't have the time or the desire to be prepared for one, you probably don't have the time or desire to care for one.