Pet Supplies Checklist Australia: What Your Dog or Cat Needs

October 28, 2026

Last updated: October 2026

Pet supplies are the everyday items your dog or cat needs to eat, sleep, stay clean and stay healthy. Getting the basics right in week one saves money and stress. Animal Medicines Australia reports that 73% of Australian households now have a pet. Dogs live in 49% of homes and cats in 34%. This checklist links to brands we stock, including Advance, Hill’s Science Diet, Cat’s Best, NexGard SPECTRA, Troy PlaqueOff and Vet’s Best.

Key takeaways

Here is the short version. These five points cover what most new dog and cat owners in Australia need to know before their first order. Each point is explained in more detail further down, with links to the RSPCA, Standards Australia and the products we stock.

• Start with six basics: complete and balanced food, food and water bowls, a bed, a collar and ID tag, parasite control and clean-up gear.
• Cats also need a litter tray, litter and a scratching post. Dogs need a lead that fits.
• The RSPCA says food should meet AS 5812, the Australian Standard for pet food.
• Split your list into consumables, which you reorder every few weeks, and durable gear, which lasts for years.
• Mindiampets delivers Australia-wide. Orders of $199 or more ship free to metro Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.

What pet supplies does a new dog need?

A new puppy or rescue dog needs fewer things than most shopping lists suggest. Focus on items that keep your dog fed, safe, identified and comfortable. Add training gear and extra toys once you know its size, energy level and chewing habits. This is the core list we suggest.

• Food: a complete diet for its life stage. Browse dry dog food, such as Advance Adult Dog Large Breed Chicken 13kg.
• Bowls: one for food and one for water. A heavy double wall steel bowl is hard to tip over.
• Bed or crate: a washable bed in a quiet spot. See dog beds and outdoor beds and crates.
• Collar, tag and lead: sized for now and adjusted as your dog grows. Shop dog collars and leads.
• Clean-up: Oh Crap compostable poo bags for every walk.
• Parasite control: worming and flea and tick products dosed by weight, from dog flea, tick and worm control.
• Toys and chews: a few dog toys and treats and chews for training.

Buy one of each item first. A puppy can outgrow a collar or bed within weeks. Spend on quality food and parasite control early, then upgrade the larger gear later.

Our dog blanket guide covers sizes, fleece and wash care for home bedding.

For supervised food enrichment, our lick mat guide covers suitable spreads, cleaning and safe use.

What pet supplies does a new cat need?

Cats are tidy and independent, but they still need a set-up that suits their instincts. The litter area, the scratching surface and the feeding station are the three things to get right on day one. Keep each of them in a separate, quiet spot in the house.

• Food: a complete diet for a kitten or adult cat, such as Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Indoor or Advance kitten pouches. Browse all dry kitten food and cat food. For adult pouches and tins, see our wet cat food guide.
• Litter tray and litter: clumping litter like Cat’s Best Original 13kg makes daily scooping easier. See all cat litter.
• Scratching post: a tall, stable post gives claws an outlet and protects furniture.
• Bed and hiding spot: a soft bed in a raised, quiet area helps a new cat settle.
• Health care: worming and flea control by weight, for example NexGard SPECTRA for cats 2.5 to 7.5kg.
• Water: a wide bowl or fountain placed away from the food and the litter tray.

Many cats avoid eating or drinking near their toilet area. Keeping food, water and litter apart helps your cat drink enough.

Bringing home a kitten? Read our guide to choosing kitten food before buying the first bag. Bringing home a puppy? Our puppy food guide compares wet and dry puppy food and explains how often to feed.

Pet supplies checklist at a glance

Use this table as your shopping list. It shows which items apply to dogs, cats or both, and roughly how often each one needs replacing. Print it, tick items off as you buy them, and keep it on the fridge for the first month.

Which pet supplies are consumables and which last for years?

Splitting your list into two groups makes budgeting easier. Consumables are the things you reorder on a cycle: food, treats, litter, poo bags and parasite control. Durable gear is bought once and replaced only when worn or outgrown: beds, bowls, walking gear, carriers and crates.

For consumables, set a reorder reminder or use a subscription. The Mindiampets pet subscription box starts at $49.99 for four items. For durable gear, a double wall metal bowl or a washable wide rib bed will outlast cheaper versions. The trade-off is a higher upfront price.

How do you choose pet food that is complete and balanced?

Food is the biggest ongoing cost, so it pays to choose well. In Australia, the RSPCA recommends food that meets AS 5812, the Standard for manufacturing and marketing pet food. The Pet Food Industry Association of Australia uses the same Standard for its tick of approval.

The basis of your dog’s diet should be a high-quality balanced premium commercial dog food that is appropriate for their life stage (e.g., puppy, adolescent, adult, pregnant, senior) and health status.

RSPCA Australia, What should I feed my dog?

Cats have different needs. The RSPCA describes cats as obligate or true carnivores and warns never to feed them dog food, because it lacks enough taurine.

Provide some moist foods such as wet canned food or pouches in the diet regularly as this helps to ensure adequate water intake and supports their physical wellbeing, including helping maintain a healthy urinary tract.

RSPCA Australia, What should I feed my cat?

What health care pet supplies should you keep at home?

A small health kit covers most routine care. Keep parasite control, a brush, nail clippers and dental products in one box. That way you can see when something is running low. Always dose flea, tick and worming products by your pet’s current weight.

Dental care is easy to skip. The RSPCA suggests dental chews as a safer alternative to bones. Products like Troy PlaqueOff or the Vet’s Best dental care kit make it part of the weekly routine. The Veterinary Oral Health Council, a US-based body cited by the RSPCA, lists dental products that meet its plaque and tartar standards.

Our dog dental chew guide explains how chews fit alongside brushing and vet checks.

Is it cheaper to buy pet supplies online in Australia?

Buying online is often cheaper for heavy, regular items like 13kg bags of litter or dry food. You avoid carrying them, and you can combine orders to reach free shipping. The downside is that delivery is not instant, so order before you run out.

Mindiampets is an online store, not a shopfront. We stock dog supplies, cat supplies, bird supplies, aquarium and fish supplies and small animal food. Keeping a rabbit? Our rabbit food guide explains how much hay, greens and pellets to feed. Orders of $199 or more ship free to metro Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. Other areas pay shipping by weight. We checked every product link in this guide against our store in October 2026. Stock and prices change, so check each product page before you order.

Setting up a tank? Our aquarium water conditioner guide explains how to treat tap water before every water change. If you keep goldfish, our goldfish food guide covers flakes, pellets and portion sizes.

Specific questions about pet supplies

New pet owners in Australia often ask the same few questions about pet supplies, budgets and the differences between dogs and cats. Each answer here stands on its own, with facts from the RSPCA and Standards Australia where they apply, so you can jump straight to the one you need.

What are the most important pet supplies to buy first?

Start with complete and balanced food, a food bowl and a water bowl, a bed, a collar with an ID tag, parasite control and clean-up gear. Cats also need a litter tray, litter and a scratching post. Dogs need a lead that fits. Add toys, treats and grooming tools once your pet has settled in.

How much should I budget for pet supplies?

Your budget depends on the size of the animal and the food you choose. Food is usually the largest recurring cost, followed by parasite control and litter. Compare the price per kilogram rather than the bag price. Buy larger bags once you know your pet likes the food, and combine orders to reach free shipping.

Do dogs and cats need different supplies?

Yes. Both need bowls, beds and parasite control, but the rest of the list differs. Cats need litter and scratching surfaces, while dogs need walking gear and poo bags. Food must be species-specific. The RSPCA warns that dog food is deficient in taurine, an essential nutrient cats can only get through food.

Pet supplies FAQ

Feeding routines and delivery are the other two topics that come up most with new owners. These answers draw on RSPCA feeding guidance and the Mindiampets shipping rules that apply to orders sent to Australian addresses in 2026. Check each product page for current stock and pricing.

How often should I feed an adult dog or cat?

The RSPCA advises feeding adult dogs at least twice a day. Adult cats do best on four to five smaller meals spread through the day and night. Puzzle feeders make meals last longer and can help prevent obesity. Always keep fresh drinking water available, and do not give milk to cats.

Is dry or wet food better for cats?

The RSPCA says a balance of wet and dry food is preferable for cats. Regular wet food, such as cans or pouches, helps cats take in enough water and supports a healthy urinary tract. Dry food is convenient and keeps well. Choose complete and balanced products that meet AS 5812 for both.

Can I get pet supplies delivered outside a capital city?

Yes. Mindiampets delivers Australia-wide from its online store. Orders of $199 or more ship free to metro Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. Regional and remote orders pay shipping by weight. Heavy items such as 13kg litter bags cost more to send, so bundle them into one order.

References

Facts and figures in this pet supplies guide come from the sources listed here. We used Australian sources wherever possible, including Animal Medicines Australia for ownership data, the RSPCA Knowledgebase for feeding advice, and Standards Australia and the PFIAA for pet food standards.

• Animal Medicines Australia, Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people
• RSPCA Knowledgebase, What should I feed my dog?
• RSPCA Knowledgebase, What should I feed my cat?
• Standards Australia, AS 5812:2023 Manufacturing and marketing of pet food
• Pet Food Industry Association of Australia, PFIAA tick of approval