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Cat Owners: Any 'accessory' suggestions?

E

Veteran

I'm hoping to adopt a cat (an adult as a rescue, not a kitten!) next month, and so of course I'm doing as much reading as I can to prepare. But there's nothing like tapping into a hive mind! So for all of you who own cats, are there any toys/beds/treats/cat trees/etc. that you'd particularly recommend? Thanks in advance.

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31 replies

Latest reply was from Jeanie

rabbit

Veteran

Ah! Sounds great! It's good if you can adopt from a place where they know a little of the history and the behavior of the cat, as with adults I think you are working with already established patterns (that may be harder to change). This is probably especially helpful since you have a dog. We have a locally owned pet store that has some 'hard to place' cats from the humane society and always has a lot of information about each one and what an ideal home for it would be.

Okay particular recommends:

litterbox: Clevercat (these are high sided with lids). They give kitty some privacy and really really reduce litter scatter. Also pretty easy to clean. You might need two litterboxes, it depends on what kitty prefers. After trying various non-clay litter brands, I finally figured that the natural clay, although the bags are a lot heavier, wins so much in the cat preference and smell reduction department.

for the transition home: Feliway/Comfortzone cat hormone. You can get it in a diffuser that plugs into an outlet for your home (not inexpensive these things, a little cheaper on Amazon though and seem to work for many cats), or a spray to spray the travel box and bedding area, etc. (a little less expensive, but not long-lasting). Basically they can help reduce stress by letting a cat know he or she is home or in a safe place. Helps them meet new animals and humans.

Having an initial safe space like a bathroom with a bed for them (and their carrier for hiding) that they can stay in to adjust while people visit them for a few days is recommended. I'd also read about how to best introduce cats to dogs, I know with other cats letting them sniff around or under the safe space door and then having short supervised visits for another several days (plus the Feliway and exchanging blankets with their scent on it) appeared to work. Cats feel comfortable up high with good visibility (when they are awake) as well, so putting the bed on a counter or next to a window worked best for me. My cats have round soft beds, but they are honestly just as happy with a throw pillow or a cardboard box with a sweater in it.

Find out what they are eating at the shelter and don't change their diet right away, do it gradually (like any food changes). I found that I really had to remember to specifically ask about this.

rabbit

Veteran

Toys: I think this is a little personality dependent and I have young cats so they are rambunctious. But things that appeared to be total favorites:

Da Bird (kind of a feather on a fishing line thing -- cheaper imitations do not appear to work as well, this is mysterious to me). My cat will do full on 360 degree backflips to catch this thing. Don't leave it out or they may chew and eat it.

A tunnel thing: http://www.amazon.com/SmartyKa.....B001B41TOK they loved chasing, hiding, retrieving toys from this, jumping on this etc.

Cat crazy plastic rings: these suck if you step on them, but are a favorite toy to chase and retrieve and juggle. http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Ca.....TF8&q also little fluffy faux fur balls are good retrieval things too. (Some cats appear to enjoy playing fetch).

laser pointer: some vets think these can be a little dangerous or addictive if overused. There is one thing they are really good for though. Getting your indoor cat out of the garage or basement or wherever when you want to lock up for the night or open an outside door. Cats tend to not necessarily come when called, but they will chase a laser pointer anywhere you wish.

Louise

Veteran

How exciting I just adore kitties and apart from 18 months I've never been without a cat in my life. There is nothing more relaxing than stroking a purring cat sitting on your lap.
I've tried numerous proper cat beds in the past but mine prefer, the human beds, clean washing, my pyjamas or dressing gown, my discarded coat, the sofa or a warm lap. 1 likes to sleep in the airing cupboard or on top of the radiator! Cardboard boxes are always a winner too.
They have a basket of toys but get most enjoyment out of a Ping pong ball chucked up the stairs which they chase up then back down again, a sweet wrapper tied to the end of a bit of string then dragged around by the human and a laser pointer (avoid their eyes).
For treats they're not too bothered by store bought treats but they adore fresh cooked fish, chicken and prawns x

ETA a selection of cat bed photos!

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E

Veteran

Thanks Rabbit! I’ll be getting my cat from a rescue group that fosters them while waiting for permanent homes (via Petfinder), the same way I got Thistle, so that I know as much about her personality beforehand as possible. Since I’m a newbie to cat ownership, I want to set myself & the cat & Thistle up for success, rather than risking an unknown! The group also does a home visit that includes meeting the cat, so we can make sure she & Thistle are compatible. And I’ve definitely been doing lots of reading re: how to introduce a dog & cat and just a new cat in general! Already planning how to turn my tiny bathroom (the only room with a door) into a kitty retreat. hehe

Thanks for all of the recommendations & tips! Hopefully I’ll get more toy advice from the foster mom, but it’s fun to learn what’s out there.

Louise, I love cats too, especially purring ones. I haven't had them my whole life, but my mom got one towards the end of my school years, so I have lived with one. Just never been the primary owner before! I love your ‘real world’ cat solution examples, and the accompanying illustrations made me laugh. So many sweet kitties, and all so comfortable! Clearly you’ve got cat ownership down pat. My dog on the other hand has an addiction to blankets, throw pillows, and my heating pads; wherever one of them is to be found on a piece of furniture, that's where she'll curl up. Of course, she's most excited when there's a whole pile for her to snuggle into! I think I'll need to get some extra blankets so the cat can have some too without Thistle getting jealous.

MsMaven

Veteran

My cats love cardboard boxes, paper bags that stay open, and a couple of sheets of tissue paper to rumple and crinkle.

We have two now. Each has its own tower with a sleeping platform next to a window. In warmer weather they spend hours sleeping in the window or watching the birds and squirrels through the open screened window. We have too much wildlife to let them go outside.

They like to play games with me--something as simple as a button tied to a string that I can drag around so they can stalk it.

We got them from the animal shelter when they were about three months old. The male owns DH and the female owns me. That's her in my thumbnail.

It may take a few weeks, but they will teach you to understand their meows and body language. I think it took our male a couple of years before he finally figured out that we had given him a name and that if he came when we called it something good might happen.

Runcarla

Veteran

MsMaven beat me to it! Boxes and bags have always been popular with my kitties. Adding a rag (ripped old towel) is all that is needed to make a cat nest, though cats will source out other spots-like unmade beds, towels left on the floor, a specific chair under a table. In a cold climate any place that traps heat will become a cat hideout. For some reason our current cat likes to sit amongst all the piled up shoes at the doorway entry.

We don't have any fancy cat toys, but I can recommend toilet paper cardboard rolls and wine corks.

We use a newspaper based litter, and two litter boxes.

ma342

How exciting! In terms of cat accessories, I have a cat tree from Molly and Friends, which has held up fine for a couple years. A scratching post is essential. My kitty loves chasing after little balls, especially those wrapped in yarn. Da Bird was also a hit, and there have been other toys she's enjoyed over the years. Each cat has his or her own preferences as far as toys go, though.

And yes, all the cats I've known have loved boxes, empty paper bags, and tissue paper/newspapers.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So exciting!! I am a huge kitty lover. You have already got some great advice. I agree with all rabbit and others have said about gentle introductions, high spaces, cuddly beds, etc. I have not tried the Feliway but it sounds intriguing.

Toys are always so individual, in my experience. You will just have to experiment a bit. Our Max has no interest at all in the laser pointer. It bores him after a minute and he would never come for it in a million years; he will, however, come when called -- immediately. Faster than most dogs I have owned. So, YMMV. (Note he's Siamese, which may affect this.)

Also, he'll play fetch with a fake mouse (if in the mood; he liked this more as a kitten and now seems to find it a bit dull). He also likes to chase a string with something on the end, and he adores elastics. We actually have to keep a strict eye on him or else he will eat elastic bands (which could cause digestive problems). But those rubbery bracelets are safer and he likes to gnaw on them and chase them about. He has a way of tossing them into the air for himself and then chasing them. He also loves to go for walks. (Just like a dog. Seriously. We are the talk of the block.)

We use a litter made from pine called Feline Fresh. It's scoopable, flushable, biodegradable, it smells pretty good, and he likes it. But rabbit's right -- best to use what kitty is used to at first (ditto for food) and make any changes gradually.

A couple of different scratching posts could be a good idea. We have one with carpet on it that he enjoys and another that he doesn't seem to like as much (although he does use it.) Different cats seem to prefer different shapes and styles of these. Again, a bit of experimentation might be necessary.

We feed Max a raw diet (homemade), supplemented by some kibble. He loves this combo. We thought we'd have to make a gradual switch to this when we got him at 3 months...but turns out, he was thrilled with it from the start. He has zero interest in treats, however. Just turns up his nose. OTOH, I've had different cats who would go crazy searching for them in cupboards! So it just depends.

One thing that seems universal -- cats love warmth. So any sunny spot or warm spot will be particularly welcome. We have hot water heat and old fashioned radiators; Max loves to sit on top of them in the winter. He also likes to burrow under blankets.

Good luck with this new adventure and addition to your family!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

My Jasper (I miss him so much! Passed away a year ago, at age 18) loved the small mice that come 4 or 5 to a pack. He would go after those like they were the real deal. He also loved a toy that I would hold and dangle, and we would run all around the house together - it was a wire thing with feathers and a small bell hanging from it. In our first house we had a stairway banister that was flat, and he would sit at the bottom while I went to the top of the steps and rolled a ball down the flat banister. He would hold up his paws and catch the ball!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Our cat moved in from the street but that doesn't mean she isn't as hi tech as the rest of the family. She has a babbling water bowl, a self cleaning litter box, and very expensive protein based cat food. Her favorite thing, however is a scratching post that resembles the inside of a corrugated box.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Our kitty (inherited as an adult cat from my daughter) bats around a collection of realistic mice. She loves to chase and shred a piece of string --- real string, jute or hemp not plastic. But her absolute favourite is those palm fronds they pass out at church on Palm Sunday --- just the right stiffness as they dry out. So if you acquire one today, I suggest you bring it home!

Anonymous

Ohh, how fab! I wouldn't be without my Bilbo now. I can vouch for cardboard boxes and laser chasers, plus a small fluffy ball or ping pong ball. I bought a fancy scratching post for my puss and it went totally unused! Ditto for the fancy cat bed we bought. He prefers our beds, laps or a comfy chair and as for scratching, he prefers our carpet!! Because of the carpet scratching, we cut Bilbo's claws to limit the damage Good luck Eva and you must show us photos when you have the new kitty.

BTW, love those photos Louise!

E

Veteran

MsMaven, I’m definitely look at cat trees/towers, and one would fit nicely in a corner near a window! And mine will be an indoor only cat, but there are some trees where squirrels like to congegrate in easy viewing. I love hearing about all of the simple toy options! And about your own cats; lol at the boy. My mom’s cat won’t come to his name, but he will come if I make a certain meowing sound. I suspect he only comes so that I’ll keep doing it & amusing him. hehe

Runcarla, I’ve got radiators, so I suspect the bit of window sill right above the radiator will prove popular! Love the non-fancy cat toy & cat nest suggestions; that’s definitely my style (make do & mend and all that). hehe

Ma342, I was looking at Molly & Friends, so I’m glad to hear they’re durable! That’s 2 votes for Da Bird too, so I’ll probably try that out. And I get so much of my stuff via the internet, that boxes and packing paper are always in plentiful supply. Funnily enough, my dog’s terrified of cardboard boxes, so it’ll be refreshing to have a pet happy to see them!

Suz, I’m very excited. I’ve been contemplating it ever since I signed my lease, which allows 2 pets, but I wanted to settle in first! I love hearing about your Max; one of the cats I’m looking at is part Siamese, so that could be fun! Does Max go for walks winter? I can’t imagine many cats liking the slushy sidewalks!Did you see the rubber toys Rabbit mentioned upthread? Sounds like Max might like those.

That litter sounds great (the flushable part would be very handy since I’m in an apartment building); I hate how the regular litter my mom uses smells (the clean litter…it has this weird chemically smell that makes think it’s killing my brain cells, lol)! And hopefully the foster mom can tell me which kinds of scratching posts the cat prefers, to save the experimentation period! And my couch, although luckily it’s secondhand & not at all pristine, so I’m not precious about it.

Luckily my apartment gets lots of sun & has warm spots: Thistle is very cat-like in that way, so hopefully there are enough options for them to both have good napping spots.

Karie, I’m sorry you lost Jasper, but I loved hearing about how you played with him! What a full life he lead too, up to age 18!

Shevia, you made me laugh! I’ve seen those scratching posts, so I’ll have to try one out!

L’Abeille, I brought my palm home, so I’ll save it! How fun.

Diane, Bilbo is such a great cat name! hehe That’s a good point re: how cats don’t care about how much something cost. So perhaps I’ll hold off on the most expensive purchases until I see if the kitty manages to fill the need another way. I don’t have carpeting though, so a scratching post is a definite must! And don’t worry: I’ll add lots of photos once I bring her home.

rabbit

Veteran

Suz has a good idea with those rubbery bracelets, I'll have to try that! I have another rubber band eating cat so they have to be carefully hidden. Also one of my cats opens cabinet doors (even with the little pressure latch), so anything potentially dangerous has been removed. They also like the ring tops off of milk bottles and the plastic strip off frozen juice cans but they can chew these apart and swallow bits so I need to keep an eye on them. A small wadded ball of paper is also fun to retrieve. The houseplants all eventually got moved to different homes or very high locations (too many were poisonous or enticing).

I'm very impressed by Suz's cat that follows on neighborhood walks. I use a kitty leash and harness on my more adventurous and crazy indoor kitty (the personality of Calvin from the comic strip), and the other one mostly tags along with us in his harness and doesn't wander far (Hobbes personality) for daily front and back yard visits.

It's true that they train you to distinguish their meows and body language. Crazy Calvin kitty loves riding on shoulders and that leaves my arms free to collect the other cat which is nice. He will bolt up our small front yard tree (hopefully I have time to unclip the leash) and then after exploring will come to a lower branch and meow so he can jump back on my shoulder. He also likes to look over the high fence in our backyard so will meow until I duck my head and he can spring to my shoulder and from there to the fence top to survey everything while I hold onto the leash.

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Anonymous

Cats love cardboard boxes, so let them play in them whenever possible; just don't let them chew on them. Also, our cats love their cat condo and their scratching posts. Beyond that, make sure you have a good pair of trimmers to keep their claws trimmed, and be sure to buy quality cat food. Quality cat food has very little filler, so they don't have to eat as much to get full. Their coats are silkier and they don't shed as much, either. As for toys, those laser points are fab as long as you don't overuse them, and little toy mice you can throw for them to chase. We keep our cats indoors, but still make sure they wear their collars and are microchipped.

E

Veteran

Oh my goodness Rabbit! Those photos are so incredible! :DDD My cat will be an indoor-only one unless she wants to go on walks (lol...I suspect Thistle would not approve of that scenario...), as I don't have a yard for supervised outdoor time. I love hearing about your cats though; cats somehow seem quirkier than dogs (and I'm a big dog lover too, obviously)! I don't have any house plants, actually, because I have a black thumb and am terrified to get one and then have it die again, which makes me feel like a plant murderer. :/ I suppose that works out well for catproofing though.

Thank you BettyCrocker; I've been researching cat food actually to make sure I get a good brand. I give my dog high quality food too, and I like how less fillers means less poop. (Of course, the health benefits are why I'm willing to spend more, but there are definitely other benefits!)

catgirl

Veteran

Laser pointer toy! Sold in pet stores, no need for expensive ones. Our cat shuns her store bought bed for ours.

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Louise

Veteran

Una your kitty is almost the double of my Gracie

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Anonymous

Eva, I'm chiming in again to preach a bit about wet cat food. I read this article once : http://www.catinfo.org/ (a forum member hade provided the link for me once) , and after my Bilbo getting a water infection (he couldn't actually pass water at all for a while) It has changed my way of thinking. The trouble is though, that vets say dry food is better for their teeth. You can buy cat toothpaste (!) and an additive made from seaweed that prevents tarter build up http://www.amazon.com/Proden-P.....B000QAEQXQ. Cats don't have a natural thirst drive like dogs and my cat ignored a state of the art drinking fountain, and his water bowls. Dry food does make them drink more but they still don't get enough liquid. I actually add more water to the wet cat food as well now. Plenty of food for thought (pardon the pun!)

ETA. I do actually feed Bilbo dry food, but only as snacks. I feed him two wet pouches a day and each one I split up into two as he can be inclined to bolt it down and then bring it all back. He then has a small dry food snack in the middle of the day and also before we retire to bed. I think cats like to have little and often.

Louise

Veteran

Echoing Diane, ours have dry food for breakfast and snacks (they're rather hobbit like in their eating habits, breakfast, 2nd breakfast, elevensies.....) then wet food for tea. I always add extra water to Marleys as he's suffered with feline cystitis which can be deadly in male cats x

E

Veteran

Oh I love the kitty photos AG & Louise! That shade of grey is so beautiful & those are some happy looking cats.

Thank you Diane for the information: I've just begun to come across the arguments in favour of canned food on my own. It's crazy that the cat/water issue isn't better known; you'd think vets would bring it up on visits, but my mom's vet has never even mentioned it. Anyway, I've decided to definitely feed wet food, probably with some dry food as well like you & Louise do, as long as I can convince the cat too (sort of ironic that finicky cats prefer dry to wet; I can't imagine any dog choosing kibble over canned food!). Although I did wince at first when I saw the price difference! Eek! It'll pay off in future years of better health though, and that's what responsible ownership is about. At least an indoor cat doesn't require the pricey monthly flea/tick meds a dog does; that pretty much balances the cost right there!

Luckily I'm home almost all of the time, so multiple meal times won't be a problem. I eat much like a hobbit myself, lol, so a cat will fit right in! Poor Thistle will be mighty jealous I'm sure though; I might have to start adding some canned food to her diet as a treat.

Louise

Veteran

Tigger is a finicky eater he adores his dry food, he won't eat cheap tinned cat food but will eat >70% meat cat food though that's been trial and error to find the ones he'll eat! X

rabbit

Veteran

One thing for reducing the price of canned food, is that once you have figured out what agrees with them and is in your price range, you can order cases online (make sure you get free shipping) and the price can often come down quite a bit. My local pet store offers case discounts too. Also there is quite a bit of price difference between pretty similar in ingredient 'natural' canned pet foods so I found it helpful to go to a store with a lot of options and then do some testing.

Anonymous

Oh, yes I can vouch for buying in bulk. Bilbo has to have diet food now and the vet was charging more than twice what we found online!

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

Wow E, I can relate... After 16 years of shacking up with a jack russell terrier cross who was like a daughter to us we officially became 'cat people' in January of this year.
We adopted a 7 month old semi feral manx cat. She's a doll!
There was lots to learn.
She really likes a little catnip stuffed hedgehog plushie that we gave her the first day home. She sleeps with it. Sometimes she stuffs it in my sleeping daughters shirt to let her know she's 'special.' (They sleep together.)
She likes those soft crinkly balls. Beware: they will plug a dyson!
She also likes some dainty & wriggly wand toys we bought at a cat show; like little fishing flies on a gold wand.
Most big box pet store cat toys are pure crap. She likes boxes. And milk carton tabs. And hair ties. And those things that come in delivered pizza that look like doll furniture. So save your money!
She eats a combo of raw & canned food. Not picky at all. Freeze dried bonito flakes make a great training treat.
We use a combination of corn based 'Worlds Best' cat litter + walnut shell litter. All the leftover litter can be composted when it's time to change out the box.
We keep her inside. Lots of big streets near us.
Good luck! Cats really are great. I loved my dog but I love this little cat too.

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E

Veteran

Thanks Louise, Diane, & Rabbit! I'm hoping the cat likes Taste of the Wild, as that one seems highly ranked & cheaper than other, similarly ranked options. *crosses fingers*

Thimbelina, what a gorgeous cat! I loved hearing about all of the lessons you've learned already. I've been reading up on cat behavior & it's like the opposite of dog behavior, so I'm looking forward to trying out an utterly different approach! hehe How cute she has her own stuffie. I'll have to try one out when I get my cat, although trying to convince Thistle it's not hers (little stuffed squeaky toys are her favourite) might not be battle.

Anonymous

We feed Taste of the Wild to our cats, and they love it. Our vet recommends it. Also following our vet's recommendation, we feed our cats a "meat treat" once a day--roughly a tablespoon per cat. Lately it's been Fancy Feast appetizers. We tried them all, and the cats "voted" for the salmon, so that's what we give them.

catgirl

Veteran

Wow, Louise! Long long sisters? Ours is Sera.

Aida

Veteran

How fun! Lots of good advice already, not sure I can provide too much that's helpful as my cat is older (15-17) and has never been a good player even as a young'n. Agree that toys are very particular to the cat. These days he really only likes large sheets of paper (to sit on and crinkle), lengths of twine, and the occasional Hex Bug Nano. In his younger days he loved lasers, little plastic coils, and anything feathered. And of course catnip, always catnip

As for food my kitty is a larger than average cat, and has a sensitive stomach and skin, so we give him a mix of dry and wet food. This is the dry food we give him:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....#038;psc=1

The wet food is tougher, he refuses to eat anything but Fancy Feast Appetizers and Broths. We've tried all kinds! But we'd like to get something simpler for him, so considering looking at raw food as a replacement for the soft stuff.

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