Karlston Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 The Best Cat Toys and Supplies Between litter boxes, beds, scratchers, and trees, cats require a lot of supplies. These are our picks. Cats are beautiful, interesting, weird creatures, and if you're lucky enough to be loved by one, you know how important it is to give them a comfortable and fun home. In June, we wrote about the supplies you should get if you recently adopted a pet, but once you have that pet situated at home, you'll want to branch out and give them new things to really make their space. Cats require a specific type of environment to thrive—places to play, scratch, and relax. Below, you'll find our favorite products based on months of testing with our own cats. Even if our pets didn't like a particular product, we still examined overall construction, design, and value to determine whether it may be of use to some other kitties. What you get—be it litter box, toy, or bed—will entirely depend on your particular cat's personality. Felines can be fickle, which unfortunately means you may have to go through a few options to find the right fit. We also won't hold it against you if you're more of a dog person; we have a supplies and accessories guide for dogs, too. If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED Photograph: Martin Poole/Getty Images Basic Cat Rules Dos and Don'ts Cats are easier than dogs in a lot of ways, but they still require thought and care. Don't listen to the cat haters, either. They do form a connection to their human owners. Here are some basic dos and don'ts when it comes to owning a cat. DO: Separate food and water. Use multiple litter boxes for multiple cats. Give them ways to hunt their food. Ensure they get exercise. Give them places to hide and feel safe. Regularly trim their nails. Give them love and affection! DON'T: Leave them unattended around these toxic plants. Accidentally harm them with common essential oils like eucalyptus. Feed them a vegan diet, milk (yes, really), or these other toxic foods. Declaw them. Photograph: Amazon Find a Litter Box They Like Litter Box A litter box is an essential cat item. What kind you get will depend on your cat—not every cat likes enclosed boxes, and others need high sides to shield your walls from urine (sometimes they aim high!). Experts say you should have one box per cat. If you live in a multilevel home, we suggest a box on each floor. I (Medea) have this plant-disguised box, which nicely hides unsightly litter in a small apartment. I've also used Rubbermaid storage bins (without the lid) because they're cheap and sturdy. You'll find basic litter boxes everywhere they sell pet items. You should also get a mat for underneath the box to minimize the litter tracked through your house. These mats with deep corrugations trap a ton of litter. Just vacuum and shake it out regularly. $50 at Chewy Photograph: Kitty Poo Club Or Try a Monthly Litter Box Delivery Kitty Poo Club Can't decide on a box? Kitty Poo Club delivers cutely themed disposable boxes to your door every month. Out of the package, it looks to be just a few inches tall, but when you remove the lid, the box unfolds as a full-size litter box. Place the lid underneath and add the stabilizing strips, which keep the unfolded sides sturdy. The cardboard has a thin plastic coating inside, so it shouldn't leak, as long as you're actually replacing them. The box is made from 100 percent recycled materials and can be recycled again each month. If you add the removable dome to your order, you can see whether your cat will use a semi-enclosed box—the top is mostly open, but the dome raises three sides. (This video shows you how to assemble it.) You can also just get the box for $12 per month, or $22 if you include litter. You can currently choose from silica or soy litter. $22 at Kitty Poo Club Photograph: Amazon Keep Litter Odor Undercover Litter Genie For years I didn't understand the allure of the Litter Genie. Then I moved into an apartment complex where taking out the garbage meant a trip across the parking lot, and I started making excuses to not clean out the box—it was raining or dark, or I had my hair up in a towel and didn’t want to go outside. Finally, I bought one. As with a Diaper Genie, you scoop clumps into the top compartment and open a hatch that drops it to a bottom compartment, where it holds in the odors for up to two weeks. You can clean every day without daily trips to the trash and without wasting a ton of plastic bags. When you’re ready to empty it, there’s a handy attachment that safely cuts the bag to tie it off and start a new one. You'll have to commit to buying refills, though. There's also an XL version if you have multiple cats. $18 at Chewy $15 at Target $18 at Amazon Photograph: Wayfair … Or Out of Sight Entirely Archie & Oscar Frieda Litter Box Enclosure Litter box placement is hard. You need a low-foot-traffic area, away from your cat's food and water, and preferably a space where a stray odor won't ruin the mood. Understandably, nobody wants to relinquish closet space or a bedroom to a litter box. For small apartments like mine, where the open floor plan leaves few options, finding a good area can be tricky. I (Louryn) tested and loved this litter box enclosure. It conceals my cat's litter boxes from both eyes and noses, and it gives my kitties privacy. It was a pain to put together, but then again, most furniture is. The neutral colors work well in most rooms, and if you really wanted to, you could paint it. My cats took to it right away and seem to be as relieved as I am that we can't see one another while they do their business. As with any box, we suggest pairing it with a litter mat and perhaps a small broom and dustpan for easy cleanup. The enclosure looks like a small credenza or freestanding cupboard, and if you didn't know it housed litter, I don't think you could ever guess. I sprinkle this deodorizer on the litter between cleanings, but the enclosure does a good job at trapping odors on its own. This piece of furniture is my single favorite piece of cat gear I've ever tried. $200 $130 at Wayfair Photograph: Cat Person Get Better Bowls Glass and Stainless Steel Food and Water Bowls When it comes to materials, most vets and cat experts will tell you to use stainless steel or glass bowls over plastic for your pet's food and water. Plastic can get dingy and dirty fast, and holds onto bacteria. This can result in what's called cat acne. Most stainless steels bowls are simple and inexpensive. Elevated feeders are a good option too, as they can help your cat's neck. The Cat Person Mesa Bowl gives a modern take to perfect-posture eating. It's made of polycarbonate, and every part is dishwasher safe (and Cat Person packaging turns into cardboard cat houses). There are nice elevated glass bowls for their wet food dinners, too. ★ Alternative: WIRED senior reviewer Adrienne So likes the Yeti Boomer 8 Dog Bowl for her pooch, despite its higher price, and you can use that for a cat, too. It also comes in a 4-cup version. $10 at Amazon $40 at Cat Person Photograph: Pet Fusion Let Them Scratch Scratching Posts Cats need to scratch, and if you want to avoid them ripping up furniture, you must provide them with ample scratching posts. Declawing is not the answer—it's like removing your fingers at the last knuckles and can lead to a ton of problems. Anywhere you buy pet supplies should have some sort of scratcher. The PetFusion lounges are my favorites, despite being a little costly. They're sturdy (I've stood on them to test) and look relatively nice as far as cat furniture goes. Once the top has been thoroughly destroyed, turn it over for a brand new surface. The lounges are made of corrugated cardboard, which most cats tend to like. You don't have to spend that much though; there are many options, from a simple slat of it for just a few bucks or this Boots and Barkley tunnel. My cats really like the Wave Scratcher from the same brand, made of sisal and carpet. Don't forget to trim their nails: You should also regularly trim your cat's nails. (It's easier than it sounds, but it might be a two-person job.) Asking your vet to show you where to trim to so you don't cut their quick (the part of the nail that holds the nerves and blood vessels) is best so you can see it done in person. There are also helpful guides online. $50 at Amazon (Lounge) $15 at Target (Wave) $20 at Target (Tunnel) Photograph: Catit Give Them a Place to Climb Cat Trees Cats like to jump and climb whatever they can, so a nice cat tree should help keep them occupied and off your mantle or breakable glassware. Cat trees are made from materials that can be scratched up, and some include separate scratching posts. The Catit Vesper Box doesn't take up too much space, but it's the perfect height to get my cats right at window level in my apartment. They can nap in the covered bottom level, scratch and play on the second level, and sit on the soft fluffy pillow on top for bird watching. It was really easy to put together and has a nice modern feel that's hard to find in moderately priced cat furniture. The cloth pillows and pads are machine washable. The Vesper High Base is a taller option, great for multi-cat homes or for pets that don't necessarily like to lounge together. The Vesper line includes many other sizes and colors. $80 at Chewy $120 at Catit Photograph: Catit Try a Water Fountain Catit Water Fountain Cats don't feel the need to drink water the way humans do. So if they're unhappy with their water situation, it could lead to dehydration and other serious issues like bladder stones and urethral blockages—some cats don't like their water right next to their food, which is why it's recommended to keep them separate. Male cats are especially prone to these issues. Feeding them wet food helps with their water intake, but we wanted more of an enticing way for our cats to drink water. Some cats prefer drinking from fountains (or, as cat owners have likely experienced, the bathroom faucet.) If you get a fountain, you'll need to have an outlet nearby and to change the filter about every month, but it's worth it if your cat uses it. We tried Catit's plastic flower fountain, and its stainless-steel-topped fountain. While stainless steel bowls are preferred, the plastic should be OK as long as you keep it clean. We'll look for fully stainless steel options to test in the future. $46 at Chewy $28 at Amazon Photograph: Amazon Keep an Eye on Them When You're Away Petcube Play 2 Camera The ability to sneak a peek at your cat when you're out offers nervous pet owners (us) some peace of mind. We have a full pet camera guide with a bunch of options, but Petcube's Play 2 Camera is designed specifically for cats, with an app-controlled laser. The wide-angle camera records in 1080p and has two-way audio. Plus there's Alexa capabilities built in, so you could even ask Amazon's voice assistant to play with your pet if you're at work. ★ Alternative: There's really no need to go all out when a simple security camera will do. Wyze's $38 panning camera or its $26 cube camera keep an eye on the mischief and offer two-way audio. $149 at Amazon Photograph: Medea Giordano A Perch for Window Gazing K&H Kitty Sill Cat Window Perch These window seats are a great way for cats to bask in the sun and keep a watchful eye on the neighborhood, while safely indoors. They're easy to install too, with sticky strips that attach to your window sill and can hold up to 40 pounds—you can also nail the base into the window frame. There are even heated seats for super-spoiled kitties. The covers are removable and can be machine washed. You'll need window sills at least 2 inches deep to properly support it. If you don't, see the next blurb on suction-cup seats. $33 at Chewy $27 at Amazon Photograph: Amazon If You Can't Attach a Perch to Your Window Sill Kitty Cot Cat Perch With Suction Cups When I (Medea) moved into my new apartment, I was extremely disappointed to find that the windows didn't have wide enough sills to hold the K&H seats. I was scared to try perches that attach via suction cup out of fear they may just suddenly fall, but after some searching I found the Kitty Cot perches, and they stick extremely well—Huxley's 13-pound belly didn't budge it. The seat part is made of tough nylon that should outlast even the sharpest kitty claws. Kitty Cots come in small, medium, and large, as well as medium and deluxe versions that can be maneuvered to sit flush against the window in order to close your blinds without removing the bed. The company also sells mats for the perches, but your cat may prefer a blanket or bed they already like placed on top. $45 at Chewy $45 at Amazon Photograph: Meowbox Consider a Subscription Box for Toys Meowbox Cats need toys to keep them stimulated and entertained. Unfortunately there isn't one toy that every cat will love. Some will play with any toy you bring home, others will prefer strings that fall off your clothes and the box that the expensive toy came in. You can go to a pet store and pick up a bunch of things to see what they like—most will probably find some enjoyment out of ball they can push around or crinkly catnip toys—or you can try a subscription box. I've used a few, and Meowbox is my favorite. You can choose to get deliveries every one or two months, and they'll include incredibly cute toys following an equally cute theme plus treats. Getting a few different toys will show you which your cat prefers, and then you can continue getting boxes or cancel without hassle once you're sufficiently stocked up. Plus, for every box sold, the company gives food to a shelter. You can see exactly where on its website. $23 at Meowbox Photograph: Fancy Feast Gift Them a Holiday Treat Fancy Feast Advent Calendar No matter what holiday your cat celebrates, they'll appreciate this advent calendar made just for them. If you already feed your cat Fancy Feast wet food, this will keep their meals interesting, because there's a few options placed throughout. If they don't eat Fancy Feast, but you want the calendar, ask your vet about slowly introducing new food to them so they don't get sick. $20 at PetSmart $23 at Amazon Photograph: Amazon For Extra Window Protection Extra Window Screens Because my cats like to be up at the window sleeping or chirping at birds, I always use extra screens as a reinforcement. If they roll over and lean all their weight against the open window, or jump at a squirrel, they won't push the screen out of its track and go flying out the window with it. You can get these screens on Amazon, but check your local Home Depot or Lowes, as they tend to be quite cheap there. $19 at Amazon $5 at Home Depot Photograph: Home Depot Keep Your Carpets Clean Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet Cleaner Cats will puke and cough up hair balls. They'll also occasionally get a little piece of poop stuck to their fluffy butt hair and drag it across the room in a desperate attempt to flee its grips (or maybe that's just my cat). This Hoover has been a lifesaver for my carpets. It sucks the mess up quickly and is easy to use, with one compartment for cleaning solution and water, and one that collects the dirty water. I wish the attachment that came with it had a bit of a wider mouth, as hair has gotten stuck up there more than once, but it works so well otherwise. It even works on stains that are a few days old. $119 at Home Depot Photograph: Amazon And Your Hardwood Floors Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T5 Despite my best efforts, my kitties track litter everywhere their toe beans travel. Like magic, they also dust up fluffy fur tumbleweeds that drift across my hardwood floors. I have to sweep or vacuum at least once every day. This robot vacuum/mop combo has been a time saver. It's easy to use, and when the dust bin gets full, it's easy to empty and clean as well. I lovingly named it Bonk, and my cats have accepted it as their new sibling. Bonk is smart enough to use more suction over the litter mat, use his weird little arms to get into every corner, and alert me in an almost-uncanny human voice when his brush is tangled. The companion app is pretty user-friendly and allows me to schedule cleanings or check on Bonk's whereabouts with just a tap or two. The T5 is expensive, and it isn't on our list of the best robovacs (though we like a few products from Ecovacs). However, what makes it cool aren't really its individual features. I'm convinced that any good robot vacuum will offer users a similar sense of satisfaction. Having a helper corral random whiskers, litter dust, and fluffs has made a big difference in my daily to-do list. $600 at Amazon Photograph: Chewy You May Want to Try Chewy Chewy Chewy is a big retailer now, but we're still fans. The company offers nearly any pet brand you're used to, with easy to manage auto-ship orders (usually at a slight discount) so you don't have to worry about running out of food and litter. Plus it's nice to have that heavy stuff delivered right to your front door. Shipping is fast, and the customer service is good, in our experience. They answer questions quickly and efficiently and will replace any damaged items, no questions asked. I (Medea) received a busted litter package once, and Chewy sent a new box the next day. Every order since then has been more sufficiently packaged to avoid spills. Plus, if you include information on your pets in your account you'll get birthday cards and potentially even hand-painted portraits. Chrewy also rolled out a televet service free of charge during the pandemic. Buy at Chewy Photograph: Sabina Torres/Getty Images More Cat Supplies We Like More Cat Products Steps: These cardboard steps were easy to put together and are surprisingly sturdy. It took a few weeks of enticing my older cat with treats, but he now uses them every day to get on the bed. Plus, there's a little opening on the sides so they can play underneath. Air Purifier: An air purifier can help if you're dealing with a stuffed up nose from cat dander and fur, especially if you have carpets. I've been testing the Coway Airmega 150 and it's helped tame my allergies tremendously (yes I, Medea, am allergic to cats). We have a full guide with other options, too. Chom Chom Hair Remover: My cats are arguably too fluffy. This tool makes it easy to de-fur my sofa, ottoman, shoes, and any other surface that gets covered in their hair. I use it every single day. It doesn't fill up too quickly, and emptying it out takes all of three seconds. It works efficiently and doesn't take too many passes to de-fur my entire couch. Pet Neat Grooming Brush: I purchased this hoping it would be a more affordable dupe for the pricier Furminator, and it has worked wonders. It helps remove your pets' undercoat so they don't shed as much. It has also prevented matting, a problem my cats usually experience on their rumps and armpits. Since I started using it regularly, I've only had to cut one mat out. Catnip Spray: Most cats love catnip, and mine have responded well to Pet Craft Supply Co's and Yeowww, but I really like this spray for days when I don't want to get flakes all over. Other "Cat Person" Toys: In addition to the Mesa Bowl we mention earlier, Cat Person makes other good products, like this cute catnip toy. My cats loved the wet food, and even though they're not wholly necessary, I'm a fan of these tiny spoons for scooping out gravy. Bonus: the packaging turns into cardboard cat houses. The Best Cat Toys and Supplies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karlston Posted December 5, 2020 Author Share Posted December 5, 2020 @funkyy don't let your cats see this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truemate Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 what a waste of money...just kick these cats out of house...garden... they will enjoy more in nature than these fake plastic stuffs. plus just throw a cricket ball or football.. they will enjoy with that too lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arachnoid Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 Declaw them.......how inhumane and theres a lot of stuff in that list thats more for the "designer owner" than the health of the Cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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