Cats are stunning, attention-grabbing, bizarre creatures. If you are fortunate sufficient to be beloved by one, it is your God-given duty to offer them a cushty and enjoyable home. Cats require a specific environment to play, scratch, and loosen up. Based on years of testing with our pets, these are our favourite cat toys, litter packing containers, and different feline provides. Even if our cats rejected a specific product, we nonetheless examined total development, design, and worth to find out whether or not it could be helpful for different kitties. They might be finicky, so you might have to think about a number of to search out the precise match.
Check out our associated guides like Our Favorite Fancy Cat Furniture. More of a canine person? We’ve received you coated! See our Best Accessories and Tech Essentials for Your Dog information.
Updated April 2024: We’ve added new favorites, together with the Eufy 360 Pet Camera, Tuft and Paw Porto provider, Okay&H Portable Car Seat Kennel, plus well being suggestions like Chewy’s free telehealth service and delicate cone collars.
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Table of Contents
Basic Cat Rules and Tips
Don’t take heed to the cat haters: Cats do type a connection to their human house owners. While they could be extra low-maintenance than dogs, they require considerate care. Here are some basic dos and don’ts when proudly owning a cat.
Do: Separate meals and water. Use a number of litter packing containers for a number of cats. Give them methods to hunt their meals. Ensure they get train and playtime. Give them locations to cover and really feel protected. Regularly trim their nails. Give them love and affection!
Don’t: Declaw them. Leave them unattended round these toxic plants. Accidentally hurt them with widespread essential oils like eucalyptus. Feed them a vegan diet, milk (sure, actually), or these different toxic foods.
Best Litter Boxes
A litter field is crucial. What form you get is dependent upon your cat—not each cat likes enclosed packing containers, and others want excessive sides to defend your partitions from urine (generally they purpose excessive!). A great rule of thumb is having one field per cat, and one on every ground should you stay in a multilevel home. You’ll discover low-cost, normal litter packing containers wherever you should buy pet items, however we have now a number of suggestions we have examined.
Tuft and Paw’s merchandise are fashionable and exquisite (and often fairly costly). The Cove is easy however is elevated with removable sides and a place to carry its scoop and small dustpan. If you forgo the edges, it prices $149. The newer Cubby ($69) is a simplified model for lower than half the worth. It would not have the built-in holder for the news and duster however has the identical elegant look.
Any medium-size plastic storage bins (with out the lid) are low-cost and work properly for litter packing containers. I sometimes get these from Target as a substitute of the multi-packs on Amazon. If you get a tall one, contemplate chopping out an entryway and sanding it down so your kitty can simply get out and in—I exploit a rotary cutter and sandpaper sheets to do that.
More Litter Boxes We Like
- Smart Paws Extra Large Litter Box for $59: So far this has been an excellent funding. It’s giant however mild, even with litter in it, and it dampens a few of the sound from my cat who likes to scratch the edges all night time.
- Good Pet Stuff Hidden Litter Planter for $67: This field properly blends into small areas with a intelligent plant disguise. My solely gripe is that it must be changed extra typically than different packing containers. It felt prefer it received dirty rapidly, and no quantity of washing might minimize it. There’s a equally designed planter from ExquisiCat we have not tried.
- Kitty Poo Club Disposable Boxes for $16-$29: Can’t resolve on a field? Kitty Poo Club delivers disposable, recyclable packing containers to your door each month, with or with out litter. The cardboard has a skinny plastic coating inside, so it should not leak, so long as you are changing it. Standard-size boxes are $16 with out litter and go as much as $29 with litter, relying on which kind you need. XL boxes are $18 on their very own and $60 with litter.
Automatic Litter Boxes
Robotic litter packing containers are massive and costly, and consultants warn that not cleansing out a field every single day might imply lacking potential indicators of illness. But we tried two that modified our minds. Both are nonetheless giant and expensive, however they’ve related apps to maintain monitor of your cat’s toilet habits. You’ll know if one thing is up, however you may nonetheless scoop much less.
Whisker’s Litter-Robot 4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is glossy and futuristic-looking, with an even bigger drum that can doubtless enchantment to bigger cats. The cleansing cycle is fast and almost silent. It does an excellent job of concealing odors too—the scent is stunning while you open that waste drawer. Read our assessment for extra about our expertise utilizing it.
The Casa Leo (previously referred to as Smarty Pear) was the primary automated litter field I attempted and it satisfied me they’re price it. Leo’s Loo Too (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a tad cheaper than the Litter-Robot and has the identical highly effective odor management. Both are loaded with security options to cease cleansing cycles ought to a cat leap in, however this one is extra delicate if in case you have notably curious cats. I like the pop of colour, however the drum has a smaller opening that some cats might not like. As somebody who desires of proudly owning a bar or espresso store referred to as Huxley’s House, I admire that it is named after the proprietor’s late cat Leo.
Litter Box Accessories
Litter field placement is tough and most of the people do not wish to relinquish closet area or a bed room to a litter field. I (Louryn) examined and love this litter field enclosure. It conceals my cat’s packing containers from eyes and noses and it provides my kitties privateness. My cats took to it instantly and appear to be as relieved as I’m that we will not see each other whereas they do their business. It appears like a small credenza or freestanding cabinet and the impartial colours work properly in most rooms (you can too paint it). I do not assume you could possibly guess it housed litter should you did not know. I sprinkle this deodorizer on the litter, however the enclosure does an excellent job of trapping odors by itself. This is my favourite piece of cat gear I’ve ever examined, and it is typically on sale.
Automatic litter packing containers now provide you with well being insights, however you do not have to spend $700 to know precisely what’s taking place when Fluffy visits the commode. Purina’s Petivity (8/10, WIRED Recommends) sits beneath a regular litter field and, as soon as related to the app, tells you which of them cat visited the field at what time, how a lot they weigh, and in the event that they went primary or two. This has made my life a lot much less worrying as a result of now I do know precisely how a lot my cat Huxley, who has decrease urinary tract illness, is urinating. If one thing is off, I do know instantly and may get him to the vet.
Litter Genies allow you to scoop the field every single day with out a journey to the rubbish can. As with a Diaper Genie, you scoop clumps into the highest compartment and open a hatch that drops it to a backside compartment, the place it holds within the odors for as much as two weeks. When you’re able to empty it, there’s a helpful attachment that safely cuts the bag to tie it off and begin a brand new one. You’ll need to commit to purchasing refills although. We tried the usual one however there are a number of measurement choices, together with a Plus, XL, and Easy Roll Genie, which says one refill pack can final six months and comes with perforated baggage as a substitute of the chopping mechanism. We’ll take a look at that mannequin quickly.
More Litter Accessories We Like
- Don’t neglect a litter mat. Whether you employ low-tracking litter, a field with steps, and even an enclosure, litter by some means will get in all places. A litter mat will assist maintain it beneath management and you should buy these anywhere they promote litter packing containers. Just vacuum commonly and shake it out occasionally.
- Cat not taking to their litter field? Sprinkle a little bit little bit of this litter attractant after cleansing the field. It’ll assist them do their business within the designated spot. It’s additionally useful for after a transfer.
Food and Water Bowls
Most vets and cat consultants inform you to make use of stainless-steel or glass bowls on your pet’s meals and water. Plastic can get dingy and soiled quick, and it holds onto micro organism, which may end up in cat acne. If your cat likes the units of bowls that sit in a stand together, nice, however some like their water to be separate from their dry kibble.
It’s no secret that I (Medea) am obsessive about Owala. I drink from the model’s FreeSip water bottle and my cats drink from this bowl, as do some WIRED dogs. It has a rubbery grip on the underside to cease it from slipping round, and the coating has held up after many dishwasher runs. It additionally is available in 48 ounces. We like Yeti’s stainless steel pet bowl too nevertheless it prices extra.
My (Louryn’s) neighborhood has an affectionate real-life squishmallow of an outside cat named Stokely. He’s the sweetest, greatest gravy boat possible, nevertheless it’s powerful to not really feel like an enabler when he comes round asking for dinner. A gradual feeder has helped curb his habits—perhaps not his urge for food—however the mat slows him down. We tried a number of lick mats from Catflower, and there are dozens of similar options with suction cups to maintain them in place. Some critiques point out that notably toothsome cats would possibly chew on the mats to the purpose of degrading them. While I’ve not skilled this, it is at all times good to oversee your pet whereas they’re consuming.
Elevated feeders are nice for giving your cats a cushty consuming posture and may even assist them to eat slower, hopefully stopping them from vomiting it proper up on the carpet. These bowls have some top to them and are available in numerous widths and sizes.
Other Elevated Bowls and Stands We Like
Water Fountains
Cats do not feel the necessity to drink water the best way people do. So in the event that they’re sad with their water state of affairs, it might result in dehydration and other serious issues like bladder stones and urethral blockages—some cats do not like their water proper subsequent to their meals, which is why it is beneficial to maintain them separate. Male cats are particularly susceptible to those points. Feeding them moist meals helps with their water consumption, however we wished a extra engaging means for our cats to drink water. Some cats desire consuming from fountains (or, as many cat house owners have skilled, from the bathroom faucet). You’ll want to alter the filter about each month, and in some instances, it’s going to have to be close to a wall outlet, nevertheless it’s price it in case your cat makes use of it.
We tried Catit’s plastic flower fountain and its stainless-steel-topped fountain. While stainless-steel bowls are most popular, some cats might like the best way the water flows out of the flower in streams. Just clear it commonly, and ensure to replace the filter when wanted.
Uah’s fountain makes use of a chargeable pump so that you needn’t plug it in whereas utilizing it and the battery lasts at the least three months earlier than needing a cost in our testing. It’s all stainless so it is easy to wash—you may put it within the dishwasher. It’s additionally almost silent and should you activate movement activation, it begins to run when a cat is close to it and turns off after they walk away.
Catit’s Pixi collection affords a wise fountain and feeder managed through the Pixi app (available on iOS and Android). The fountain’s pump has a small LED that shines by means of the clear cat nostril on the entrance, turning purple when the water is low and blue if UV-C sterilization is on. It blinks blue when the filter must be modified, and the app may also warn you. For the feeder, you need to use the app to both pour meals remotely or on a every day schedule. You may also press the cat’s nostril to pour or disable it in case your pets determine it out. The app will inform you when the reservoir is prepared for a refill. Plus, it features a spot for backup batteries in case the facility goes out whilst you’re away.
The Felaqua Connect (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is not a fountain, nevertheless it robotically dispenses water into the bowl as your cat drinks. It connects to an app and, utilizing your cat’s microchip quantity, retains monitor of when and the way a lot every cat drinks. You want the Sure Petcare hub for the app connection, which is included for $199. If you do not look after app connectivity, you may forgo it for $115 and solely get an automated dispenser, however at that worth, it is best to go along with a less expensive fountain.
Scratching Posts and Furniture
Cats must scratch, and if you wish to stop them from ripping up furnishings, you want to present them with ample scratching posts. Declawing just isn’t the reply—it is like eradicating your fingers on the final knuckles—and can lead to problems.
Cats additionally like to leap and climb no matter they’ll, so a cat tree ought to assist maintain them occupied and off your mantle or breakable glassware. Cat timber are constituted of supplies that may be scratched up, and a few embrace separate scratching posts. If you are not nervous about aesthetics, you will discover loads of good cat timber at pet shops, in addition to locations like Home Goods or the like.
PetFusion lounges are a long-lasting, but pricey favourite. They’re sturdy and look good, and as soon as the highest has been completely destroyed, you may flip it over for a brand-new floor.
Pet beds are sometimes hit and miss with cats, however this cave has been an enormous hit in my home. Even my 20-pounder, Donny, will get in right here. There are a number of designs to select from and all are constituted of sturdy wool, which ought to maintain them heat and comfortable and last more than fake fur.
Catit’s Vesper line has a pleasant fashionable really feel that is onerous to search out in reasonably priced cat furnishings. The Small Vesper Box would not take up an excessive amount of area, nevertheless it’s the right top to get my cats proper at window stage. They can nap within the coated backside stage, scratch and play on the second stage, and sit on the delicate fluffy pillow on prime for chook watching. It was straightforward to place collectively, and the material pillows and pads are mechanically cleanable. The Vesper High Base is a taller possibility, nice for multi-cat houses or for pets that do not essentially wish to lounge collectively. The Vesper line contains many other sizes and colors.
When you reside in a small house, every part you beautify with issues as a result of it is all on show—nothing will get hidden while you solely have one to a few rooms. Some of us need our cat’s furnishings to match too. Mau’s Cat Tree is one among our favorites. If you may afford it, your cats will thanks.
These window seats are an effective way for cats to bask within the solar and maintain a watchful eye on the neighborhood whereas safely indoors. They’re straightforward to put in too, with sticky strips that connect to your window sill that may maintain as much as 40 kilos. You may also nail the bottom into the window body, and there are even heated seats for super-spoiled kitties. The covers are detachable and might be machine-washed. You’ll want a window sill at the least 2 inches deep to correctly assist it. If you do not have that, see the product under.
I (Medea) was scared to strive perches that connect with suction cups, out of concern they could abruptly fall, however after some looking, I discovered the Kitty Cot perches. They stick extraordinarily properly—Huxley’s 13-pound stomach did not budge the factor. The seat is fabricated from nylon that ought to outlast even the sharpest claws. The firm used to have mats for the perches, however they have been unavailable for months, and your cat might desire a blanket or mattress that they already like anyway.
More Furniture and Scratchers We Like
We have a full information on the fanciest cat furnishings we have tried, however be ready to shell out some severe money. These are two of our favorites:
Pet Cameras
The means to sneak a peek at your cat while you’re out affords nervous pet house owners (most of us) some peace of thoughts. Eufy’s digicam is our favourite. It’s not low-cost, nevertheless it pans round and permits you to toss treats whereas away. An enormous plus is that you just needn’t subscribe month-to-month to get video historical past. Most different cameras require you to make use of an SD card should you do not wish to pay.
You do not want a pet-specific digicam until you need particular options like deal with tossing or meow alerts. A easy safety digicam works simply as properly and so they’re often cheaper. This one from Wyze rotates 360 levels and has a privateness mode the place the lens faces down when you don’t need it watching.
Cat Toys
If you will have a cat, you will know they sometimes need no matter piece of trash they discover moderately than a pleasant toy you have spent good money on. That mentioned, these Cat Amazing puzzle toys have been properly obtained. They maintain my kitties sharp by activating their looking abilities and making them use their brains. They nonetheless get a number of treats, however they need to work a little bit more durable for them.
My cats additionally went nuts for this Ripple Rug. The backside piece stays in place whereas the highest might be configured into totally different shapes for taking part in (or looking), and you may reshape it as typically as you would like. The materials appears like felt however is constituted of 24 post-consumer plastic bottles and may face up to sharp claws.
If you may’t work out which form of toy your cats will like, otherwise you simply need them to be refreshed occasionally, Meowbox is a superb subscription. You can select to get deliveries each one or two months, and so they embrace extremely cute toys following an equally cute theme, and treats. Plus, for each field offered, the corporate provides meals to a shelter. You can see exactly where on its web site.
More Toys We Like
- Cat Person Toys for $7: In addition to the Mesa Bowl we talked about earlier, Cat Person makes different nice merchandise, like these cute catnip toys. Bonus: The packaging turns into cardboard cat homes.
- Yeowww! Banana Catnip Toy for $9: I’m unsure a single toy has appealed extra to my cats than this rattling banana.
- Friendsheep Wool Toys: These toys are cute and our cats love taking part in soccer with the wool balls or bees. If your cat would not take to them, you need to use important oils to make use of them as air fresheners. (But do not use oils on them in case your cat does play with them! That could possibly be poisonous.)
- Catnip Spray for $10: Most cats love catnip. Ours have responded properly to Pet Craft Supply Co’s for $8 and Yeowww for $9, however I like this spray for days once I do not wish to get flakes throughout.
Cleaning Supplies
Cats puke and cough up hairballs, often on no matter carpeted floor they’ll discover. They’ll additionally sometimes get a little bit piece of poop caught to their fluffy butt hair and drag it throughout the room in a determined try and flee its grips (perhaps that is simply my cat). A great carpet cleaner will probably be a lifesaver. We have a information with a number of choices, however I notably just like the Bissell Pet Stain Erase PowerBrush. It’s small and lightweight however highly effective, cleansing even day-old stains, and there are not any lengthy hoses or tiny little components for particles to get caught in—any half that is going to get dirty from what you are cleansing might be rinsed out simply. It’s moveable too, so so long as it is charged you may walk round cleansing each floor possible with out being tethered to an outlet. I do not audibly groan once I spot a pile of puke anymore, and that is an enormous deal.
If you will have loads of carpets, you could wish to get a big stand-up cleaner. Our favourite is the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro. It’s a little bit bit more durable to search out now, nevertheless it’s nonetheless available straight from Bissell.
If your cats aren’t scared of it, a robotic vac is likely to be a worthy funding. It will maintain the hair and litter at bay with as minimal effort from you as doable. We have a listing of favorites, and this X8 is our choose for pets as a result of it makes use of twin generators to suck up twice as a lot dust in a single cross. We did not love its maps characteristic, nevertheless. The X8 is costly, so in order for you one thing to only maintain transferring across the ground, get the iRobot Roomba 694. It’s typically discounted to beneath $200.
I additionally suggest investing in an air air purifier or two, particularly should you’re allergic to the cats you like a lot (responsible). We have a number of favourite choices throughout various budgets, however this one is sweet for rooms as much as 930 sq. ft.
More Cleaning Supplies We Like
- Fur Zapper for $13: Unless your pet is hairless, their fur is probably going in all places on a regular basis. The silicone Fur Zapper is of course sticky, so hair clings to it within the laundry. Throw these within the washer and dryer, then simply rinse ’em off and use them once more.
- Chom Chom Hair Remover for $28: Our cats are arguably too fluffy. This software makes it straightforward to de-fur the couch, ottoman, sneakers, and every other floor that will get coated of their hair. We use them each single day. It would not replenish too rapidly, and emptying it takes all of three seconds. It works effectively and would not take too many passes to de-fur a complete sofa.
- Sprinkle & Sweep Messy Pet Accident Cleanup Aid for $45: This powder makes cleanups barely much less disgusting (so long as your cat is puking on onerous surfaces). You want a bit greater than the bundle suggests, however as soon as the mess is roofed, you may sweep it up. The perfume is usually a little overwhelming, nevertheless it would not final, and it is definitely higher than the scent of throw-up.
Cat Health
I like Chewy for a number of causes—what different firm sends flowers if a pet passes away or randomly selects pets to have their portraits painted—nevertheless it notably affords a free telemedicine service (until you reside in Alaska, Hawaii, or Alabama). The licensed vets you discuss to will not be capable of diagnose, however generally you simply want a little bit peace of thoughts or have somebody verify that it is best to make a vet name. If you wish to video chat as a substitute, that can cost $20.
It’s useful to have a thermometer readily available in case you believe you studied your pet could also be working a fever. I don’t find out about you, however I don’t assume I might carry myself to make use of a rectal thermometer on my fur infants. Mella’s thermometer, alternatively, goes beneath their arm … er, leg … and connects to an app if you wish to monitor and share outcomes. It’s an excellent step, but when there are different signs you could wish to go to the vet anyway.
Louryn’s downside baby, Luna, has pores and skin points and an inclination to over-groom. When a flare-up will get too unhealthy, a delicate Elizabethan-style collar may also help give tender pores and skin an opportunity to heal (or, within the case of Luna’s stomach, an opportunity for the hair to develop again.) This lovely, strawberry-shaped collar stays put and is simple to wash. We additionally tried this bread-shaped collar, which has usually optimistic critiques, although Luna rapidly discovered learn how to take it off. Your cat’s mileage might range. Remember that it is best to at all times seek the advice of a vet should you discover any accidents or modifications in your cat’s habits.
Basepaws is thorough. After swabbing our cats’ cheeks and sending the samples again within the included envelope, we obtained PDFs of almost 70 pages detailing their breed percentages, a number of pages about all of the cat breeds, and the way our infants stacked up towards round 115 feline well being markers. The take a look at tells you in case your cat is obvious, a provider, in danger, or at excessive danger of quite a few metabolic, cardiovascular, eye, blood, endocrine, renal, autoimmune, pores and skin, musculoskeletal, and connective tissue problems, in addition to blood sort, transfusion danger, and different traits. Any cat can develop a illness or dental issues, however having a baseline can alleviate anxieties and may empower you to work along with your vet to make the most effective life decisions on your cat.
Cat Carriers
We love Tuft and Paw’s upscale design, however often it is out of our worth vary. The Porto cat provider (8/10, WIRED Recommends), alternatively, is fairly priced given the competitors. It appears unbelievable, and you may unzip it in a wide range of methods. Lay it flat, open one finish, or open the whole aspect. There are seat-belt straps and a baggage pass-through.
The Diggs Passenger Carrier elicits compliments each time we go to the vet. It’s sturdy and thoughtfully made, with security options like seat belt clips and a buckle strap. There are additionally one million pockets, and the inside mattress simply suits a pee pad over it in case your pal is vulnerable to accidents (one pad is included to check out). There’s simply sufficient mesh to permit your cat to see outdoors however not be overwhelmed.
I (Medea) lately made a cross-country transfer for the second time with my cats. I wished them to be extra comfy than final time, so I purchased this automotive seat cat kennel. The medium measurement suits each Huxley and Eely-Rue, plus the Friendsheep cave talked about above with room to spare. It did not budge within the automotive, due to a strap on the again for the seatbelt to cross by means of and a prime strap that buckles across the headrest. It folds flat while you aren’t utilizing it.
Roverlund’s provider is the one one I’ve (Louryn) used that my cats will (type of) tolerate. I really feel higher not cramming them towards onerous plastic or squinting by means of tiny holes to see them. They really feel higher with all-encompassing air flow and a totally unzipping prime as a substitute of a claustrophobic cage opening. It’s a win-win state of affairs that has drastically shortened the standoffs between me, my cats, and a looming vet appointment. (We additionally suggest this provider in our canine gear shopping for information; it is a WIRED Gear group fave.)
Cat Accessories
Unfortunately, I (Louryn) can converse firsthand to the devastation that comes with a lacking pet. There are some things you are able to do to forestall it. Step one is to get your pets microchipped. Step two is to verify they’re carrying a collar with identification. ID tags are broadly available, however ideally, the one you purchase will probably be reflective and legible. Whether to listing your cat’s identify is a private selection, however the ID ought to embrace your telephone quantity.
I ordered this collar for my cat after her brother went on an prolonged trip with out my permission. The clasp breaks away so the collar gained’t trigger harm if it will get snagged. It has held up properly over time, and it would not hassle my simply ruffled fur child. If it bothers yours, there are many others, a few of them high-tech (which I’ve but to strive). No matter which possibility you select, ensure that it is from a trusted model. The collar must be sturdy, extremely seen, and light-weight, with a breakaway clasp.
More Accessories We Like
