8 best things I have bought for my cat!

Meet Little Drizzle, aka Drizzy. He is turning 2 soon and we have had him for a little over a year. Found the poor guy abandoned near a new home that was under construction during one of the turbulent Texas ice storms. Drizzle was malnourished and sick with infections. Several vet bills later, he is doing great and loving life in our family.

Let’s face it, when you own a pet, you end up owning more stuff. You just wake up one day and realize that your home has been taken over by spit-sodden stuffies and trails of cat litter. Which is fine. The little fur balls that bring joy and love into our homes are worth it, though the extra stuff can be a nuisance. That’s why it’s helpful to declutter pet items just like you would any other part of your home. When acquiring new things, exercise the same intentionality, restraint, and research in shopping for pet items that you would for your own stuff. One of my favorite ways to vet incoming stuff in my home is through reviews from other owners about items that have and have not worked well for them. Being our family’s first cat, we had some shopping to do. Of the cat toys and cat tools that have made a difference in our home, here is the cream of the crop that I would fully recommend you consider for your cat.

Cat box iPrimio Enclosed Sides Stainless Steel Cat box Speaking essentials, our new cat needed a place to go asap. I wanted to be more eco-conscious, so I opted for a design that would not need plastic cat liners. I also wanted a litter box that was easy to clean.

Behold, the stainless-steel cat box! Clumping cat litter goes directly into the steel box and deep cleaning is a breeze with the use of a hose outside when it’s time to change the litter. This litter box also came with a 6” lid wall that helps keep litter and urine from projectiling all over the place. Drizzle liked this simple steel cat box more than the Litter Bot 3 we have too.

Cat box Litter Catch mat Sierra Concepts Large Cat Litter Mat 36"x24"

My cat flies out of the litter box like a madman when he is done with the doo.

I needed something to help trap the litter from tracking after him, so I researched these cat litter trap mats. I bought 2 types and this one is my favorite because it holds so much dang litter.

The grains just disappear into the mat. When it’s time to clean the litter area, I vacuum the mat to lift some of the litter out, but the fun part is shaking the mat outside. So MUCH litter will fall out when you shake it!

Automatic Feeder

Veken Automatic Cat Feeder, 3 Liter

I wanted Drizzle to look to the food gods for timely meals, not me. An auto pet feeder was helpful to get his food dependence off of me and to maintain a portioned routine for his meals. When we are out of town for the day, I trust knowing that this machine has a backup of battery power in case the electricity goes out. The removable stainless steel feeding bowl was also essential: it doesn’t hold bacteria easily, is super easy to clean, and it will last a long time. This machine allows you to set feeding drop times and set portion sizes for the drop, plus you can even record a personalized message for your pet when the food drops. The recording was cute at first, but now I cringe when we have people over. Though I’m thinking about recording whisper messages specific to house guests before they arrive to spook them.

Sofa Corner Scratching post

Sofa-Scratcher Squared' Cat Scratching Post

This corner scratching post has become an essential item for our cat and it has saved the upholstery on our furniture a million times over.

Little Drizzle loves this thing too. From what I gather, cats scratch when they are happy, so we wanted to encourage this expression. It took some redirecting, but placing Drizzle’s paws on the corner post when he got scratchy taught him to run to this corner post when he wanted to let it out. We tried the plastic peel-and-stick sofa protectors too, however, nothing beats being able to support this happy behavior while also being able to preserve the sofa.

Wall shelf bqw Floating Cat Shelf Wall Mounted

Our cat likes being up high, especially when he is playing with our dog. We had a perfect opportunity to install cat shelves on the wall in our living room to reach a small window. At first, I attempted to design my own, but then this pre-made option popped up on Amazon. Two small shelves with gripper mats for Drizzle to bound up and down like steps, plus one swooped shelf option with a faux fur top that acts as a nest (by the window of course). The white color matches our trim and pops against the dark blue accent wall, so this setup blends with the design of the living room.

Cat Springs Andiker Cat Spiral Spring It was tough for us to find cat toys that we thought were safe (no feathers, not easily broken, no choking hazards, etc.) that Drizzle also got a kick out of.

He was drawn towards basic people things like pens, hair clips, and straws, so I thought that I would give these cat spring toys a try. WHAT A HIT! Drizzle loves these to no end. I have to take them away sometimes because he will play so hard that he is hyperventilating. They have been durable and easy to sanitize. 5 stars, yes, recommend this unsuspecting cat toy option.

Cat Nail Clippers Shiny Pet Nail Clippers for Small Animals A necessary task to keep those pointy points less pointy. I didn’t think that cat clippers varied all too much until I tried these clippers. The angle of the scissor and the handle size make clipping easier. The fact that the scissors are less bulky makes it easier to get in there to work with the paws swiftly. Drizzle also likes to smack the clippers around because they are small like a toy. I’m not a cat psychologist but I think that hitting the clippers makes him feel better about them trimming his nails.

Cat Play Tunnel Speedy Pet Collapsible Cat Tunnel

I like dynamic toys that offer versatility for the cat. A cat toy that can introduce new stimuli and keep their interest. For about twenty bucks, this cat tunnel has brought hours of entertainment and play for Drizzy. A decluttering plus, this tunnel collapses down to a pancake with Velcro straps, so it can easily be stored in a cabinet, drawer, under the sofa, etc. when not needed. I like rotating the tunnel from room to room in the house to give him surprise places to hide and play.

It’s lightweight and durable, and the side holes provide hours of entertainment between the cat and the dog playing whack a mole.

That’s my top 8 cat purchase list!

Let it be known that I purchased and acquired more items than this golden list. The success rate was rough, so I’m happy to share what has worked for us and our cat so that you can skip wasteful duds on the market. As for the items that didn’t work, I decluttered them consciously and with the environment in mind, donating them to fellow pet owners, recycling delivery packaging and quickly returning hygienic items that can be resold. Of course, nothing beats not buying the excess stuff in the first place!