So, I'm getting a kitty.

[BitVyper]

Non-clumping litter is generally best if you're getting a kitten (although clumping is usually more a problem with nursing mothers). I wouldn't even bother with milk, but if you really want to give him or her some, then yeah, dilute with water. Really though, why would you?

If you are getting a kitten, watch that whoever you get it from isn't selling you one younger than six weeks. I usually prefer eight, myself.

Get a small, plastic kennel. You'll want it if you ain't got it.

I like to feed mostly dry food - it's better for their teeth. Usually a good idea to supplement that with a spoonful or two of canned food every day just 'cause cats usually won't drink as much water as they ought to. I find it's best to put canned and dry in separate dishes, otherwise cats tend to get used to having their dry with wet, and get finicky about eating it any other way. If you wanna feed mostly canned food though, go nuts - there's no difference in quality.

Some good quality brands of food off the top of my head: Science Diet, Nutrience, Royal Canin, Pro Plan, Bil Jac (if it's still around), Nutro, and I'm tired right now so that's all I can think of. If you prefer a bit cheaper, you can always ask your pet store if they have a house brand. Anything you can pick up at a grocery store is usually a bit junky. Not deadly or anything, just kinda shitty.

I like to get dogs and cats into the habit of eating on a schedule, so I tend to put food down a few times a day for twenty minutes to half an hour and if they don't finish it, tough luck. It's not necessary, but it can make some things easier later on. It's also nice 'cause you can feed smaller portions, and one common problem with cats is that they tend to eat too much food all at once and then puke it all up (if your cat is puking up whole chunks of food, this is probably your problem). It's useful for housebreaking too, 'cause if you feed them at the same times every day, they'll tend to shit on a schedule.

If you're getting a kitten, try to block off any small crevices in your home. It can save you some grief later on.

I usually don't give an animal full run of my home when I'm not there until I've had them for awhile. For one thing, it can be stressful for them, and for another confining them to a smaller space lets you control their behaviour easier until you have a bit more trust for them.

Edit: Also double sided tape can be a great all-purpose area-deterrent as long as you don't overuse it (i.e. don't just put it there and expect it to do all the work for you). It can be especially useful if your cat takes to scratching furniture. A lot of pet stores have keyed into this and now sell clear double-sided tape, which is even nicer.

Edit 2: As far as litter goes; I really like silica crystals. They're less dusty than clay litter, they last longer than almost anything else, and they're fantastic on odour control.