I am often asked about pet products I recommend. I have personally used and tested every item featured on this page either with my own pets or client pets. I do receive a small commission if you buy these items through my link, but the main purpose of this list is to provide clients and others with good information on the best value in pet care.
Cat Litter:
Every cat is different, and finding the right litter and box can be crucial to their health and happiness. Cats are tidy animals and they need a safe, clean, private place to dig and bury their waste. Important considerations are the cat’s age and physical condition, space available in your home, cost, and environmental conditions like dust.
Clumping litter:
Made from ground clay, these litters form clumps around urine and need to be scooped daily. Pros are that they generally control odor well and cats tend to take to them easily because they have a similar texture to sand or soil. They can be used in any container. Cons are that they tend to produce dust which can aggravate feline or human respiratory allergies and sensitivities. They also tend to track out of the box, so I recommend a litter mat in front of the box. Clumping litter is not suitable for very young kittens as they might eat it, causing gastrointestinal distress or more serious problems.
Arm N Hammer Clump and Seal Slide, Multi-Cat
This is one of my two favorite clumping litters. It’s a little more expensive, but it forms solid clumps, controls odor well, and the best part is that clumps don’t stick to the side of the box, making it very easy to keep the box clean and reducing or eliminating the need to hose out the box when doing a full litter change. The biggest downside is the strong scent- this litter is not available unscented. I’m pretty sensitive to chemical odors and this litter bothers me a little bit, but only when I’m actively scooping or pouring it. It is very low-dust for a clumping litter.
Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter
Coming in at a slightly lower price point than the Clump and Seal Slide, Dr. Elsey’s is a great product. Clumps well but does stick to the sides of the box. It is dustier than the Slide, but it is available unscented and in a kitten version with an attractant (still not appropriate for very young kittens.) In my clay box I rotate between the Slide and the Dr. Elsey’s, a mix of the two seems to be the sweet spot.
Non-Clumping and Litter Systems:
I love Love LOVE this system, but it’s not for every house or every cat. It consists of a two-layered box. The top contains non-absorbent pellets. Under that is a grate and under that a tray, in which you place an absorbent pad. Urine drains into the tray with the pad, feces can be scooped from the top of the box. Cats still get to dig and bury their waste, and it does an absolutely fantastic job controlling urine odor, much better than clumping. The big downside to this system is the cost. Pads need to be replaced about every other day depending on how many cats you have. Luckily, pellets last at least a month before needing to be fully changed. I use off-brand pads (linked below), but there is no suitable substitute for the branded pellets because they need to be non-absorbent and a certain size. As far as cat compatibility, it depends. I have five cats and they all use the Breeze box, but not as much as the clay boxes. I highly recommend this system as either an additional box for a multi-cat home, or an only box for a smaller home with one or two adult cats. I have not seen this box used with kittens. I would not use it as a first litter box for a kitten because it doesn’t quite give them the feeling of digging in sand or soil.
These pads fit the Breeze system. They are less absorbent and don’t control odor quite as well as the Purina brand pads, but even having to change them more often I’m way ahead of the game price-wise.
Accessories:
An absolute must-have for a multi-cat home. The litter genie holds scooped feces and urine clumps in a sealed container that locks in odor. Such an improvement over using leaky plastic shopping bags! Keep it next to the litter box and scoop daily, then empty it when full. They try to get you with expensive refills, but the off-brand option I’m linking below is a very reasonable option.
Slightly thinner than the branded bags, these work just fine at a fraction of the price. One thing to keep in mind is that you must keep the plastic cartridge the branded bags come in to use these refills! So when you buy your litter genie, just don’t throw away the cartridge. Easy peasy.
If you use clumping litter, you know the struggle of keeping your floors clean. This mat design is my favorite. For day to day cleaning, just pick it up and dump it into the trash. The honeycomb mesh traps the litter and the dual-layer design makes it easy to empty. For deep cleaning, I hose it out in the garden.
Cat Food and Treats:
Food is highly individual to each cat. My first rule is that “fed is best” so as long as your cat’s diet is nutritionally complete and they eat it, you’re doing great. Never feel bad if your budget limits you to supermarket food- it’s perfectly fine and so so much better than a cat living in a shelter or being homeless. That said, there are a few things you can do to level up your cat’s diet. The first is wet food. Cats in the wild get most of their moisture from prey and many cats are not great water drinkers. Wet food is an easy way to add moisture to your cat’s diet. Dry cat food also contains more carbohydrates than are ideal in a species-appropriate diet. The following are some of my favorite wet foods. They’re more on the expensive side, but contain few fillers, byproducts and additives and lots of good ingredients.
Complete foods:
This is my top pick. Premium named ingredients, nutrients from organ meats instead of supplements, no GMOs, no fillers, low carb, and insanely appetizing. Cats go nuts for this stuff. I’ll be honest, I use this food as a sometimes treat because there is no way I could afford to feed 5 cats exclusively on this food! The whole Tiki Cat line is phenomenal, but After Dark is their best offering. Wanna spoil your cat? This is your best bet.
Another premium option. Very palatable and super healthy. Low-carb. I linked the option with the best price per ounce, but smaller cans are available.
Lower-cost option. If your budget won’t accommodate Tiki or Weruva, this Fancy Feast variety pack is a good option. You get the moisture benefits of wet food, which are huge especially if your cat isn’t a great water drinker. I specifically linked the chicken and beef variety pack because affordable wet foods with fish often include lower-quality tuna, which can pose heavy metals risk when fed long-term.
If you must feed dry for whatever reason, this is what I recommend. I keep it for emergencies when I can’t feed wet or raw, or if heaven forbid there was some natural disaster and I had to load all 5 of my cats into the car and escape. Full disclosure- it’s way cheaper at my local Petco than through this link. As dry food goes, it’s very high in protein and low in carbs, and the ingredients are great.
Supplements, Toppers and Treats:
First of all, a HUGE caveat about this food- it is NOT nutritionally complete and should never be used as a cat’s only food. The labeling is very deceptive and unless you read the fine print it’s not clear that it is not a complete food. I included it on this list because I’ve seen client cats who refuse all other foods being willing to eat Reveal. The seafood options are particularly tasty. If you have a finicky cat who might be temporarily sick or underweight, adding Reveal as a supplement might be a good choice if you’re having trouble getting food into them. Just make sure it doesn’t make up more than 15% of your cat’s diet long term.
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Topper
A great option to add some extra moisture and nutrients and appetizing qualities to a lower-cost food. These can be fed as treats or put on top of other food.
Every once in awhile you need some tasty junk food. These treats don’t contain any harmful ingredients but they’re definitely not health food. That said, I have rarely encountered a cat who doesn’t love these treats. I keep a few in my purse at all times. Perfect for distracting a cat for a nail trim, coaxing a shy cat into interaction, or just a reward for being a good furry companion.
Cat Toys and Accessories:
Petsafe Drinkwell 360 water fountain
The absolute GOAT when it comes to pet water fountains. 1 gallon capacity makes it great for multiple cats or smaller dogs. Different heads provide different water flow options so you can customize it to your pets’ preferences. All stainless construction makes this the easiest to clean out of any of the (many) other pet fountains I’ve owned over the years. All-around well-designed product. Replacement parts and filters are not outrageously expensive. It’s spendier than most and takes up a good bit of space, but it has saved me money over time and my cats love it.
We’ve known elevated bowls are best for large dogs for a long time, but did you know they’re great for cats as well? Cats are generally happiest eating from a flat dish where their whiskers don’t touch the edge of the bowl. Raising it up a few inches allows the cat to eat in a more comfortable position. There are tons of options, the one I linked is just a good, affordable example of what I consider to be the ideal setup. You can also make your own from a dollar store salad plate and bowl and some hot glue!
First of all, just put that banana in your cart now. You will not regret it. YEOWWW makes the best widely available catnip toys, hands down. The ‘nip is potent and the toys are built to last. The banana is a perfect size for “bunny kicking” which is a natural play/hunting behavior. I often give the sardines as gifts. Not every cat responds to catnip, but those who do will love these toys. Without even turning my head I can see two bananas from where I’m sitting- safe to say I’m a YEOWWW evangelist.
Great toy, great price. Consists of a three-tiered plastic tower with captive balls that cats can bat around. Excellent for cats who like to play independently. Only downside is that it can be a little loud, so if your resident carnivore likes to zoom and play at 3AM you might want to put it far from your bedroom or just put it away at night. If home decor is something that’s important to you, there are similar products that are more expensive, but much more aesthetically pleasing. (Note, I have not tested this particular product, but it’s a nicer-looking version of the same toy structure.)
Wand toys are a great way to interact and bond with your cat. You can dangle them to simulate a bird or drag them along the floor to simulate a mouse. The item linked is very low cost and comes with a variety of feathers with bells. Different cats have different preferences on what they like best, so an inexpensive toy like this is a great place to start. You can definitely upgrade once you figure out what your cat likes best. An important safety concern with wand toys is to put them away when you are not using them, as cats can get tangled in or ingest the string, causing illness or injury.
Battery Operated Automatic Toys
No specific recommendation here because there is not one brand that I particularly endorse. There are several different varieties. The ones I like the best have a base with a wand that moves randomly, simulating prey, either in the air or under a skirt on the floor. These are great for keeping cats entertained while you’re not home. In addition to battery operated wand toys, you can also get battery operated kick toys. These are stuffed animals that flop around when played with. My cats are kinda meh with these toys, but some of my client cats absolutely love them.
