Beginner

If you are starting from zero, the order of operations matters more than any single piece of gear. Ohio State's indoor-cat resource checklist is the fastest way to see the gap between what a new home has and what a cat needs: at least one litter box per cat cleaned daily, somewhere to scratch, several resting areas, a perch with a view, toys that get used, and a refuge to retreat to. Everything else is refinement.

Then sequence the first month. A settling room with food, water and litter in the right relation to each other (water and litter well away from the food bowl) for the first few days; the same food and same litter the cat came from, at least at first; handling practice in short sessions; and a first vet visit to set a baseline weight. International Cat Care's settle-in guidance is blunt about one thing that surprises new owners: if a cat hides, do not coax it out — sit in the room at floor level and let the cat come to you.

Start with the first-time owner checklist, setting up a cat-friendly home, the first 72 hours and the start here page.

Sources: Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative — Basic Indoor Cat Needs, International Cat Care — Helping your new cat or kitten settle in.