Hrmmmmm...had cats all my life, and love them to death. Like some have said - food *does* matter. Good food that is mostly animal protein (we use Taste of the Wild) means a healthier cat who not only eats less, but also poops less. Cheap cat food means lots of poop, because they have to eat so much to get adequate nutrition. It also absolutely reeks.
On wet food - some cats will eat it, some won't. Jack and Diana will eat it, but Jack doesn't like the 'fish' kind. Oliver will not touch and, in fact, reacts as if it were poison. He also reacts to all people food this way. He's a kibble-only cat.
Get stainless steel bowls. Plastic can become icky, and greasy, and cats who eat from plastic bowls tend to get 'cat acne' on their chins, from rubbing on the greasy plastic while they eat. If you can find inexpensive ones, get four, that way you can switch out the bowls once a week or so and wash one pair. (Obviously you can do that with just two bowls, but if you're kinda lazy, like me, it's easier to just switch and not have to immediately wash and dry.)
I've always just put some food - about two cups for our three cats - out in the bowl, and left it. They eat when they're hungry, otherwise they ignore it, and in a day or so, I put in a little more. I don't like it to sit out too much, otherwise it gets stale. I also don't really like the 'feed half a cup once a day' thing. I've never had a cat that 'binged', and if I can eat whenever I like, why not my cat? Unless your cat just swallows all the food until it pukes, there's no reason to restrict their ability to nibble a few bits of kibble now and then. That's what our cats do.
Unless the cat will go outside, don't bother with a collar. Most cats hate them, and they can be super-dangerous. Even if they *are* outside, make sure you get an elastic collar that will pull off if it gets hooked on something, because cats can and will strangle themselves on a collar, or get it caught on their hind paw.
Consider getting two cats. Unless you're home a lot, one cat alone (especially one used to other cats) gets bored and lonely, and might become destructive.
Toys are great. Catnip is great. Balled up paper wads and the ring off a milk jug are great. Cats? Are not picky. Definitely something to scratch, either a post or a cardboard box or *something*.
DO NOT DECLAW.
Make sure there's somewhere up high the cat can go to chill and hide. They like to be up high, surveying their domain. They also feel safer up high if there are guests or the terrifying vacuum.
My cats get fresh water about three times a day (I don't fill the bowl to the rim or anything) because cats are picky and rarely drink enough, and the fresher the better. Cats really like moving water, so they like to drink from the sink a lot. You might consider a kitty fountain. The more water they drink, the healthier. Cat's will actually dehydrate themselves by *not* drinking if they don't like the water/bowl/whatever. Silly creatures.
Definitely clumping cat litter, try to get the non-fragrance kind. I get the 'Tidy Cat' multiple cat kind. Almost dust-free, and no scent, which is big turn-off for my cats and for me, too. If you get two cats, get two litter boxes.
Re: Questions about getting a pet
On wet food - some cats will eat it, some won't. Jack and Diana will eat it, but Jack doesn't like the 'fish' kind. Oliver will not touch and, in fact, reacts as if it were poison. He also reacts to all people food this way. He's a kibble-only cat.
Get stainless steel bowls. Plastic can become icky, and greasy, and cats who eat from plastic bowls tend to get 'cat acne' on their chins, from rubbing on the greasy plastic while they eat. If you can find inexpensive ones, get four, that way you can switch out the bowls once a week or so and wash one pair. (Obviously you can do that with just two bowls, but if you're kinda lazy, like me, it's easier to just switch and not have to immediately wash and dry.)
I've always just put some food - about two cups for our three cats - out in the bowl, and left it. They eat when they're hungry, otherwise they ignore it, and in a day or so, I put in a little more. I don't like it to sit out too much, otherwise it gets stale. I also don't really like the 'feed half a cup once a day' thing. I've never had a cat that 'binged', and if I can eat whenever I like, why not my cat? Unless your cat just swallows all the food until it pukes, there's no reason to restrict their ability to nibble a few bits of kibble now and then. That's what our cats do.
Unless the cat will go outside, don't bother with a collar. Most cats hate them, and they can be super-dangerous. Even if they *are* outside, make sure you get an elastic collar that will pull off if it gets hooked on something, because cats can and will strangle themselves on a collar, or get it caught on their hind paw.
Consider getting two cats. Unless you're home a lot, one cat alone (especially one used to other cats) gets bored and lonely, and might become destructive.
Toys are great. Catnip is great. Balled up paper wads and the ring off a milk jug are great. Cats? Are not picky. Definitely something to scratch, either a post or a cardboard box or *something*.
DO NOT DECLAW.
Make sure there's somewhere up high the cat can go to chill and hide. They like to be up high, surveying their domain. They also feel safer up high if there are guests or the terrifying vacuum.
My cats get fresh water about three times a day (I don't fill the bowl to the rim or anything) because cats are picky and rarely drink enough, and the fresher the better. Cats really like moving water, so they like to drink from the sink a lot. You might consider a kitty fountain. The more water they drink, the healthier. Cat's will actually dehydrate themselves by *not* drinking if they don't like the water/bowl/whatever. Silly creatures.
Definitely clumping cat litter, try to get the non-fragrance kind. I get the 'Tidy Cat' multiple cat kind. Almost dust-free, and no scent, which is big turn-off for my cats and for me, too. If you get two cats, get two litter boxes.
Enjoy! Take pictures! :)