Cats are lovely, attention-grabbing, bizarre creatures. If you are fortunate sufficient to be liked by one, it is your God-given accountability to offer them a cushty and enjoyable dwelling. Cats require a specific environment to play, scratch, and chill out. Based on years of testing with our pets, these are our favourite cat toys, litter bins, and different feline provides. Even if our cats rejected a selected product, we nonetheless examined general building, design, and worth to find out whether or not it might be helpful for different kitties. They might be finicky, so you will have to think about just a few to seek out the precise match.

Check out our associated guides like Our Favorite Fancy Cat Furniture. More of a canine individual? 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 service, Okay&H Portable Car Seat Kennel, plus well being suggestions like Chewy’s free telehealth service and smooth cone collars.

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Basic Cat Rules and Tips

Don’t hearken to the cat haters: Cats do kind a connection to their human house owners. While they could be extra low-maintenance than canines, they require considerate care. Here are some fundamental dos and don’ts when proudly owning a cat.

Do: Separate meals and water. Use a number of litter bins 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 secure. Regularly trim their nails. Give them love and affection!

Don’t: Declaw them. Leave them unattended round these toxic plants. Accidentally hurt them with frequent essential oils like eucalyptus. Feed them a vegan diet, milk (sure, actually), or these different toxic foods.

Best Litter Boxes

A litter field is important. What form you get depends upon your cat—not each cat likes enclosed bins, and others want excessive sides to protect your partitions from urine (typically they purpose excessive!). A very good rule of thumb is having one field per cat, and one on every flooring in the event you dwell in a multilevel dwelling. You’ll discover low cost, normal litter bins wherever you should buy pet items, however now we have just a few suggestions we have examined.

Tuft and Paw’s merchandise are fashionable and delightful (and normally fairly costly). The Cove is easy however is elevated with removable sides and a spot to carry its scoop and small dustpan. If you forgo the perimeters, it prices $149. The newer Cubby ($69) is a simplified model for lower than half the value. It does 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 effectively for litter bins. 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

• The Smart Paws Extra Large Litter Box for $59 has been an amazing funding. It’s massive however gentle, even with litter in it, and it dampens among the sound from my cat who likes to scratch the perimeters all night time.
• Good Pet Stuff’s Hidden Litter Planter for $67 properly blends into small areas with a intelligent plant disguise. My solely gripe is that it must be changed extra typically than different bins. It felt prefer it received dirty shortly, and no quantity of washing might lower it. There’s a equally designed planter from ExquisiCat we’ve not tried.
• Can’t determine on a field? Kitty Poo Club for $16-$29 delivers disposable, recyclable bins 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 sort you need. XL boxes are $18 on their very own and $60 with litter.

Automatic Litter Boxes

Robotic litter bins are large and costly, and specialists warn that not cleansing out a field each day might imply lacking potential indicators of illness. But we tried two that modified our minds. Both are nonetheless massive and expensive, however they’ve related apps to maintain observe of your cat’s toilet habits. You’ll know if one thing is up, however you’ll be able to nonetheless scoop much less.

Whisker’s Litter-Robot 4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is modern and futuristic-looking, with an even bigger drum that can probably enchantment to bigger cats. The cleansing cycle is fast and almost silent. It does an amazing job of concealing odors too—the scent is surprising once you open that waste drawer. Read our evaluation 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 soar in, however this one is extra delicate when you have significantly curious cats. I really like the pop of coloration, however the drum has a smaller opening that some cats might not like. As somebody who goals of proudly owning a bar or espresso store referred to as Huxley’s House, I respect 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 house or a bed room to a litter field. I (Louryn) examined and love this litter field enclosure. It conceals my cat’s bins from eyes and noses and it offers my kitties privateness. My cats took to it immediately and appear to be as relieved as I’m that we won’t see each other whereas they do their enterprise. It seems like a small credenza or freestanding cabinet and the impartial colours work effectively in most rooms (you can too paint it). I do not assume you might guess it housed litter in the event you did not know. I sprinkle this deodorizer on the litter, however the enclosure does 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 bins now provide you with well being insights, however you do not have to spend $700 to know precisely what’s occurring when Fluffy visits the commode. Purina’s Petivity (8/10, WIRED Recommends) sits beneath a typical litter field and, as soon as related to the app, tells you which ones 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 annoying 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 each day and not using 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 useful attachment that safely cuts the bag to tie it off and begin a brand new one. You’ll must 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 check that mannequin quickly.

More Litter Accessories We Like

• Don’t neglect a litter mat. Whether you utilize low-tracking litter, a field with steps, and even an enclosure, litter in some way will get all over the place. A litter mat will assist hold it beneath management and you should buy these anywhere they promote litter bins. Just vacuum often and shake it out every now and then.
• Cat not taking to their litter field? Sprinkle a bit little bit of this litter attractant after cleansing the field. It’ll assist them do their enterprise within the designated spot. It’s additionally useful for after a transfer.

Food and Water Bowls

Most vets and cat specialists let you know 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 can lead to 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 canines. 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 however it prices extra.

My (Louryn’s) neighborhood has an affectionate real-life squishmallow of an outside cat named Stokely. He’s the sweetest, largest gravy boat conceivable, however it’s robust to not really feel like an enabler when he comes round asking for dinner. A sluggish feeder has helped curb his habits—perhaps not his urge for food—however the mat slows him down. We tried just a few lick mats from Catflower, and there are dozens of similar options with suction cups to maintain them in place. Some opinions point out that significantly 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 scenario, it might result in dehydration and other serious issues like bladder stones and urethral blockages—some cats don’t love their water proper subsequent to their meals, which is why it is advisable to maintain them separate. Male cats are particularly susceptible to those points. Feeding them moist meals helps with their water consumption, however we needed a extra attractive method for our cats to drink water. Some cats desire ingesting 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 circumstances, it’ll have to be close to a wall outlet, however 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 well-liked, some cats might like the best way the water flows out of the flower in streams. Just clear it often, and ensure to replace the filter when wanted.

Uah’s fountain makes use of a chargeable pump so that you need not 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 simple to wash—you’ll be able to put it within the dishwasher. It’s additionally almost silent and in the event you activate movement activation, it begins to run when a cat is close to it and turns off once they stroll away.

Catit’s Pixi sequence gives a sensible fountain and feeder managed through the Pixi app (accessible 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 provide you with a warning. For the feeder, you should use the app to both pour meals remotely or on a each day schedule. You also can press the cat’s nostril to pour or disable it in case your pets determine it out. The app will let you know when the reservoir is prepared for a refill. Plus, it features a spot for backup batteries in case the ability goes out whilst you’re away.

The Felaqua Connect (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is not a fountain, however it robotically dispenses water into the bowl as your cat drinks. It connects to an app and, utilizing your cat’s microchip quantity, retains observe 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 take care of app connectivity, you’ll be able to forgo it for $115 and solely get an automated dispenser, however at that value, you must go along with a less expensive fountain.

Scratching Posts and Furniture

Cats must scratch, and if you wish to forestall them from ripping up furnishings, it’s worthwhile 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 hold them occupied and off your mantle or breakable glassware. Cat bushes are comprised of supplies that may be scratched up, and a few embody separate scratching posts. If you are not nervous about aesthetics, you will discover loads of good cat bushes 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 totally destroyed, you’ll be able to 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 just a few designs to select from and all are comprised of sturdy wool, which ought to hold them heat and comfy and last more than fake fur.

Catit’s Vesper line has a pleasant fashionable really feel that is laborious to seek out in reasonably priced cat furnishings. The Small Vesper Box does not take up an excessive amount of house, however it’s the right top to get my cats proper at window degree. They can nap within the coated backside degree, scratch and play on the second degree, and sit on the smooth fluffy pillow on prime for chook watching. It was straightforward to place collectively, and the fabric pillows and pads are mechanically cleanable. The Vesper High Base is a taller choice, 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 adorn with issues as a result of it is all on show—nothing will get hidden once you solely have one to a few rooms. Some of us need our cat’s furnishings to match too. Mau’s Cat Tree is considered one of our favorites. If you’ll be able to afford it, your cats will thanks.

These window seats are a good way for cats to bask within the solar and hold 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 also can 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 attempt perches that connect with suction cups, out of worry they could instantly fall, however after some looking out, I discovered the Kitty Cot perches. They stick extraordinarily effectively—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 furniture we’ve tried, however be ready to shell out some critical money. These are two of our favorites:

Pet Cameras

The capacity to sneak a peek at your cat once you’re out gives nervous pet house owners (most of us) some peace of thoughts. Eufy’s digicam is our favorite. It’s not low cost, however it pans round and permits you to toss treats whereas away. An enormous plus is that you just need not subscribe month-to-month to get video historical past. Most different cameras require you to make use of an SD card in the event you do not wish to pay.

You do not want a pet-specific digicam except you need particular options like deal with tossing or meow alerts. A easy security camera works simply as effectively they usually’re normally cheaper. This one from Wyze rotates 360 levels and has a privateness mode the place the lens faces down when you do not need it watching.

Cat Toys

If you have got a cat, you will know they sometimes need no matter piece of trash they discover slightly than a pleasant toy you have spent good cash on. That stated, these Cat Amazing puzzle toys have been well received. They hold my kitties sharp by activating their searching abilities and making them use their brains. They nonetheless get numerous treats, however they must work a 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 completely different shapes for enjoying (or searching), and you may reshape it as typically as you would like. The materials appears like felt however is comprised of 24 post-consumer plastic bottles and may face up to sharp claws.

If you’ll be able to’t work out which sort of toy your cats will like, otherwise you simply need them to be refreshed every now and then, Meowbox is a superb subscription. You can select to get deliveries each one or two months, they usually embody extremely cute toys following an equally cute theme, and treats. Plus, for each field offered, the corporate offers meals to a shelter. You can see exactly where on its web site.

More Toys We Like

Cleaning Supplies

Cats puke and cough up hairballs, normally on no matter carpeted floor they’ll discover. They’ll additionally sometimes get a 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 very good carpet cleaner will likely be a lifesaver. We have a guide with several options, however I significantly 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 elements 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 transportable too, so so long as it is charged you’ll be able to stroll round cleansing each floor conceivable with out being tethered to an outlet. I do not audibly groan after I spot a pile of puke anymore, and that is a giant deal.

If you have got plenty of carpets, chances are you’ll wish to get a big stand-up cleaner. Our favourite is the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro. It’s a bit bit more durable to seek out now, however it’s nonetheless accessible immediately from Bissell.

If your cats aren’t petrified of it, a robotic vac is likely to be a worthy funding. It will hold the hair and litter at bay with as minimal effort from you as attainable. We have a list of favorites, and this X8 is our decide for pets as a result of it makes use of twin generators to suck up twice as a lot dust in a single go. We did not love its maps function, nonetheless. The X8 is costly, so if you’d like one thing to only hold transferring across the flooring, get the iRobot Roomba 694. It’s typically discounted to beneath $200.

I additionally advocate investing in an air air purifier or two, particularly in the event you’re allergic to the cats you like a lot (responsible). We have just a few favorite options throughout various budgets, however this one is nice for rooms as much as 930 sq. toes.

More Cleaning Supplies We Like

• Unless your pet is hairless, their fur is probably going all over the place on a regular basis. The silicone Fur Zapper for $13 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.
• The Chom Chom Hair Remover for $28 makes it straightforward to de-fur the couch, ottoman, footwear, and some other floor that will get coated of their hair. We use them each single day. It does not refill too shortly, and emptying it takes all of three seconds. It works effectively and does not take too many passes to de-fur a whole sofa.
• Sprinkle & Sweep Messy Pet Accident Cleanup Aid for $45 makes cleanups barely much less disgusting (so long as your cat is puking on laborious surfaces). You want a bit greater than the bundle suggests, however as soon as the mess is roofed, you’ll be able to sweep it up. The perfume is usually a little overwhelming, however it does not final, and it is actually higher than the scent of throw-up.

Cat Health

I really 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—however it notably gives a free telemedicine service (except you reside in Alaska, Hawaii, or Alabama). The licensed vets you speak to will not be capable of diagnose, however typically you simply want a bit peace of thoughts or have somebody verify that you must make a vet name. If you wish to video chat as a substitute, that can price $20.

It’s useful to have a thermometer available in case you think your pet could also be working a fever. I don’t find out about you, however I don’t assume I might deliver 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 observe and share outcomes. It’s step, but when there are different signs chances are you’ll 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 smooth Elizabethan-style collar might 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 straightforward to wash. We additionally tried this bread-shaped collar, which has typically constructive opinions, although Luna shortly discovered easy methods to take it off. Your cat’s mileage might fluctuate. Remember that you must at all times seek the advice of a vet in the event you discover any accidents or adjustments in your cat’s habits.

Basepaws is thorough. After swabbing our cats’ cheeks and sending the samples again within the included envelope, we acquired 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 in opposition to round 115 feline well being markers. The check tells you in case your cat is evident, a service, 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 together with your vet to make one of the best life selections on your cat.

Cat Carriers

We love Tuft and Paw’s upscale design, however normally it is out of our value vary. The Porto cat service (8/10, WIRED Recommends), alternatively, is fairly priced given the competitors. It seems improbable, and you may unzip it in quite a lot of methods. Lay it flat, open one finish, or open the complete 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 exterior however not be overwhelmed.

I (Medea) just lately made a cross-country transfer for the second time with my cats. I needed them to be extra snug 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, because of a strap on the again for the seatbelt to go by means of and a prime strap that buckles across the headrest. It folds flat once you aren’t utilizing it.

Roverlund’s service is the one one I’ve (Louryn) used that my cats will (kind of) tolerate. I really feel higher not cramming them in opposition to laborious plastic or squinting by means of tiny holes to see them. They really feel higher with all-encompassing air flow and a completely unzipping prime as a substitute of a claustrophobic cage opening. It’s a win-win scenario that has drastically shortened the standoffs between me, my cats, and a looming vet appointment. (We additionally advocate this service in our dog gear buying guide; 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 extensively accessible, however ideally, the one you purchase will likely be reflective and legible. Whether to record your cat’s title is a private alternative, however the ID ought to embody 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 received’t trigger damage if it will get snagged. It has held up effectively over time, and it does 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 attempt). No matter which choice 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