Paradox:
Oh, you are fine to go several days before getting to the vet. Just do it within about a week at the most is best.
As to essentials, don't forget to add litter for the litter box to your list!
And, personally, I'd suggest getting 4 bowls so that you have a clean pair to put down when you pick up the dirty ones to wash. If your budget won't stretch to 4 bowls to start, then 2 will do but remember to wash them often so kitty is drinking and eating from clean bowls. Again, you likely can find glass or metal bowls at a lower cost somewhere other than the pet supply store, depending on what shops you have nearby. Oh yes, and don't get big dog sized bowls as a little kitten will have trouble getting to the food and water in a big bowl. In a pinch, you can feed canned food in a saucer from regular dishes (with your mom's permission first!) and put water in a cereal bowl. In fact, I use small fruit dishes for feeding and cereal bowls and big ash trays for water. Just don't use plastic.
Be sure to buy enough food not to run out before you can go to the store for more. You don't want your kitten going hungry. At the same time, don't buy a huge amount to start because you are going to want to find out what food the kitten is used to eating and gradually change from that, if you do change, to whatever you chose to feed.
Don't be surprised or upset if your kitten gets loose stools from the stress of moving from the shelter to your home and from any change in diet. Slight looseness in the stool is okay but if the kitten has true diarrhea, that is serious as it can become dangerously dehydrated rather easily. But if you can keep the same diet to start and not let kitty overeat and gorge (as kittens are apt to do given a chance) you aren't likely to run into any problems.
The laser pointer makes an excellent toy. All four of my cats love to chase the light spot. One important safety note: you must NEVER point the laser light into the cat's or any person's eye!!! You can severely damage the retina of the eye, causing vision loss, including blindness, with even brief contact between the laser light and the eye. Be careful about how the laser will bounce off mirrors and still do the same damage from the reflected beam. But with just that bit of caution and care, you can provide your cat with hours of good fun. My cats like even more to chase a light spot made from sunlight reflecting off my watch crystal when the angle of the sunlight coming through a window allows.
Sounds like you are ready to get a kitty! Good luck.
food, bowls, scratching post, litter box, LITTER, laser pointer, perhaps a feather on a wand toy
Go for it! Happy shopping.
