Peoples Ideas on Items for Cats

I thought I would start a discussion on what people consider to be good items for cats, and what haven't work out so well.

In our case the good is:
a) Stuffed mice - these get thrown around. However, you do need a number of them as they get chewed up and regularly disappear (Sometimes reappearing much later). The actual "fur" ones seem to be disappearing from the shops.
b) Flies and moths. These are free and give our two endless hours of chasing them around the backyard. However, they do tend to bring them into the house where they, often, get away.
c) Kitter litter and something like the Ozpet litter system which allows the urine, and dissolved wood particles, to drop to the tray below. Litter is also flushable. (Fortunately don't need this much anymore as cats go outside - yeah)
d) If you have a flat and only have a balcony then a doghouse makes a good cat tray holder - gets rid of the smell inside and the litter keeps dry. Just face it towards the sheltered area. Need a cat door for the balcony as well.
e) A cat toy, in our case a stuffed carrot, tied to some elastic hanging from a beam. (We live in a converted warehouse). The cats cart them around the area and, when let go, they chase after them.
f) Some old swivel chairs; my other half got when an ex company of his was getting rid of them. Kept in quiet spots they are favourite sleeping areas.
g) A Parrot drone car. They love chasing this around, even more if you tie a bit of string to it. You do need to rescue it when they get the string.
h) Scratching posts - get long ones so the cat can stretch out.
i) Cat tunnels - our two love playing in the tunnels, particularly when one can jump on the other.
j) Pet Zoom Brush Tool Self Cleaning - best brush I ever found for cats. The cats jump up on the vanity and demand to be brushed.
k) Fancy Feast cat food - they love the fish flavours.
l) Canidae grain free catfood.

The bad is:
a) A wobbly Kong food holder. They barely use it and at one point the base was unscrewed and went missing under the house. Can't even figure out how they did it.
b) Catit play circuit. They really never got into it.
c) Most of the "good for them" cat foods. We've tried Ziwipeak and Holistic Grain free and they only eat it under sufferance with a good dose of the Fancyfeast broths. (Would love some suggestions here).
d) Cat Nip - I've yet to have a cat that gave it the slightest bit of notice.

Anyway, this is my list would love to see some contributions from others.

Comments

  • +2

    i find bespoke feline couture always goes down a treat. there is nothing quite as handsome as a cat in formal attire, complete with tail coat and matching silk top hat.

    • +1

      nothing finer that a high couture pus.sy

  • +2

    Cats vary in what they like.

    Our two cats have both liked those continuous running water fountains for drinking (as does the dog).

    • one of my cats has taken to trying to 'catch' the running water from the tap with her paws to drink it. it is cute.
      has made me think maybe she'd like a fountain.

      • I got a water fountain cause my kitties did the same thing,

        http://www.readypetgo.com.au/drinkwell-ceramic-avalon-founta…

        I put it in the bath to mimise splashing; but they are no where near as enamoured as they are with a just running tap.

        It is a good water fountain and they only come in contact with porcelain - apparently plastic can give them acne. This is also relatively easy to assemble and clean.

        • $128 for a water bowl for your cat, now that's an Ozbargain :)

        • +1

          @dave999: I had a cat with kidney problems that cost me, and the cat insurance people, a shite load more than that. Anything to encourage my kitties to drink water.

        • re acne and porcelain.
          i recall reading that to and use porcelain bowls over plastic. my male cat has a tendency to get some black stuff under his chin, not sure if that is acne or not but it has improved since changing to the porcelain. how easy it is to clean the porcelain fountain you linked? i think the porcelain bowls tend to get slippery a bit quicker than the plastic which isn't a problem with a bowl as i just clean it every day but i have read some fountains can be a pain to clean.

        • +1

          @snowcherry: To stop this marking the bath we put a rubber mat under it. We clean the unit in the vanity in the bathroom and put the rubber under it there to stop any chipping. It is best to buy the drinkwell brushes; the set comes with three brushes that work with the nooks and crannies. We change the water completely and thoroughly clean it once a week. We haven't had any issues with slime. After the changeover I do try a bit of the water through the fountain to ensure the water still tastes OK; which probably grosses out some people but I have heard about other water fountains where the water turned foul and put the cats off.

          I've added a You Tube video (Although I can't work if our pump can be pulled apart, it doesn't seem to)

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrdC2o-7wls

          Hope that helped.

          BTW we feed our cats on china bowls; they are really cheap from Op shops and can be washed easily in the dish water.

          Our cats are keen on eating al fresco when the weather is OK so to stop ants getting in the bowls we put yoghurt lids filled with water under them.

        • @try2bhelpful:

          cheers for the vid and info
          doesn't look too difficult

          and re china bowls - i also feed the cats on an old crockery plate and have an extra water bowl downstairs from an old china set i had and have a couple extra old bowls if they need to fed separately - they do just as well as the 'proper' porcelain cat bowl :)

  • +3

    Desexing and a bell.

    • If I could vote for this multiple times I would.

      Only thing you missed was a microchip.

  • +1

    as a general rule if i pay a bit/lot for it the cats don't care for it
    if it is free/cheap they love it

    good:
    one cat loves straws, boxes, plastic bags and foam. if i get a package in the mail with plastic on the outside and foam packing inside she is in heaven; and i will have ripped foam strewn from one end of the house to the other. i don't mind as it makes her happy.
    she also loves the little woolen fluffy balls - she carries them in her mouth.
    other cat has a penchant for my hair bands [and my hair] and loves chewing leather [he prefers real thicker leather but not opposed to fake leather]. my doorstop is a fave, plus also goes for the shoes, handbag, sunglasses case, tablet case.
    both like chasing a string on a stick - the toy on the end disappeared a long time ago but i think they prefer the string on its own.
    gecko's - they will get territorial with each other for one of them.

    bad:
    have tried the wire that is similar to a string on stick in method - they don't like it.
    catit circuit - small amount of time with it out of curiousity then turned nose up at it
    laser pointer - will 'sometimes' go wild with this [sometimes don't care] but i do have some concerns about the eyes and nothing to actually 'catch' so this doesn't really ever get used.
    catnip - meh - nothing.
    windup mouse - dislike.
    rubber balls - meh. expensive rubber ball by Jackson brand that bounces in different directions - slightly rated above normal rubber ball but still 'meh'.
    varying chew/play toys made of fabrics or textured or with feathers on them - meh meh and meh.

    other…
    scratch posts - have a short one and they destroyed the 'top' of it. so bought a tall one but they only scratch half way up - figures.
    double sided tape for the lounge - not attractive but pulled fabric even less attractive.
    high cat 'gym' / scratch post. they love being high up.

    food:
    dislike the canidae grain free or other ones that have larger sized biscuits
    they like the artemis one
    black hawk is okey
    prefer royal canin prescription food to hills.
    edit: Purr sachets from coles - they love these. tried a few brands and this one consistently gets eaten quickly - more so the fish ones than the chicken ones though.

    • +1

      For the string dangling thing, when the toy on ours bit the dust I created sort of flat bow out of a ribbon and tied it on the end of the string. They quite liked watching that when you flick it up and down.

  • +1

    I give corrugated claw saws as presents to cat parents

    https://www.bigw.com.au/product/categories-corrugated-claw-s…

    Every cat loves them and they instantly and instinctively know what to do with it. The product comes with catnip, but I have never found a cat that responded to it. Tried it on six kitties of various breeds so far.

    • Thanks - will need to check them out.

  • +1

    Plastic bags.

  • I find my cats don't really need much. Scratching posts are important, they get science diet dried food mostly. A laser pointer is also one of the best way to entertain/exercise them.

  • My cat needs nothing at all, can only have one kind of catfood due a medical issue (fancy feast chicken and liver pate, it's the lowest carb catfood you can get).

    Actually, a 'custom pet collar' (with name and phone number on it) and tag too - I have two tags - one that has her name and phone number, and one that says she's diabetic and needs insulin daily (sure to make anyone return her if she is lost LOL). She's in remission but I keep the diabetic tag.

    She really doesn't like anything at all.

    If I am at a market and there is a herb stalling selling catnip plants. I will buy one, and for that day she will be obsessed with the catnip plant for that day, but no other days LOL!!

    • Ahh yes, I can see that being something my two would do.

  • Ahhh,so many cats and so few recipes…
    Just kidding, I like cats on an individual basis, I just don't like what they do on my property, that is hunting. We have a"grand fur"(substitute child) that comes to visit when my son and his wife go interstate and she lives inside, she is well behaved, playful and generally funny and always welcome, but not outside!

    • I can understand that, and agree where there is a chance they can get to native animals they need to be controlled. We have an enclosed courtyard garden and we see very few birds actually close enough for them to try to catch. However, the cats have fun chatting to the birds they do see.

  • +1

    My monsters are inside cats, much to the relief of all the native animals, birds, lizards…
    For cat's dental health: chicken necks (not wings!) keep their gums healthy and teeth clean.
    Scratching posts -plural! - and a pair of claw clippers to trim only the sharp points of their claws. Never perform a deep cut of their claws as it is cruel and painful for the cat.
    Water: always have plentiful water available and make sure you clean the water bowl daily.
    Pats: Plenty of pats and love. One of them is bellowing at me for a pat as I type!

    • All my cats have loved Tummy rubs; they will lie next to me for hours and purr like crazy. When we got my two little ones they would suckle on each other, even though they were kittens. They appear to have grown out of this but I wonder if the tummy rubs have something to do with this.

  • +1

    Our dopey cat loves plastic bags and boxes. Her favourite toy is a squeaky pig (it's a dog toy) she either carries it around or kills it.
    Only eats dog roo meat from Also (have tried every other brand and she turns her nose up at them) and grain free dry food. She only licks the gravy off tinned food.
    As she is an inside cat only we use Lucerne pellets (available at most larger pet food stores and produce stores). A grassy scent when first opened, keeps odours right down, and best of all gets thrown in one of the compost mounds.
    We have a couple of the cardboard saws too. She is great at keeping all the flies, spiders,moths and geckos dead in the house.
    Flyscreen doors are also a wonderful toy as she jumps and climbs to the top and just hangs there.
    She sleeps wherever she likes usually as high up as possible like on the top of wardrobes or on stacked boxes.

  • Our two indoor cats don't need a great deal to keep them fed and happy.

    Small toys are a winner for a small while, until they disappear under a piece of furniture. Often a ball of foil will do just as well. One of them in particular loves the very small colourful mice toys that you can sometimes find in pet stores.

    We tried the Ozpet kitty litter and they will use it if there is nothing else, but they much prefer Wonder Wheat.

    You are so right about the swivel chairs, it is rare that there isn't one of them on the computer chair, it is definitely a coveted sleeping spot.

    One cannot leave plastic bags or piles of paper alone if they are on the floor. They must die! Also freshly washed bathmats are the enemy.

    They have a few scratching posts, like others have said, they tend to develop a favourite part of the post and then shred that bit beyond recognition. One of their posts is due for replacement.

    We have a cat tunnel that comes out from time to time and they cannot get enough of it. They have almost ruined it completely with their claws though.

    We don't have a brush for ours as they are both short hair and aren't too fussed about being brushed.

    They both eat Science Diet biscuits. We don't feed wet food. One just licks the gravy off it and the other is on a strict diet as he is so fat. We have microchip food bowls for them both to prevent them eating each others food. (That is how the fat one got so fat in the first place)

    We also tried a Wobbly Kong food holder and had little to no success with it. Catnip has also been a big fail in this house.

    We do have a pot with some cat grass in it outside though and they go mental for pieces of that when we bring some inside. I don't know what sort of cat grass it is though, it was given to us by a neighbour.

    I don't have one for our cats, but we have fostered in the past and these were a huge winner with some of the foster cats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdER58jIvPg&t=8s

    We have also had lots of success with these particular treat balls http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Crazy-Tails-Cat-Kitten-Food-Treat… Most cats seem to love them

    This thing was completely useless, they couldn't work out what to do with it http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Catch-Interactive-Cat-Feeder-Slow…

  • favourite toy is ANYTHING with a small bell attached. Or for more joy - multiple bells.

    Eg. I bought a $2 mask fridge magnet that has 3 bells on it. Threw the magnet bit away away, tied it to a piece of dowel with a hole in it, and waved it around and made him chase it… Well, didn't make him, he just went apeshit to the point he was panting heavily like a dog on a 40C day, but couldn't resist chasing it. Incorporate play with his tunnel, his cat tree… Loves it!

    Other than that - those cardboard scratching things. Feathers. His cat tree ($50 off eBay - loves it).

    • Our cats go nuts on the cat tree if you put a stuffed mouse with the tail dangling over the edge on the top, they leap up the side and drag it off. They do similar if you put the mouse on top of the scratching post with the tail dangling over the edge.

  • +1

    My cat is the owner of a littermaid.
    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/201704828456?lpid=107&chn=ps
    We purchased it 15 years ago for around $120 and I honestly thought I was wasting my money.
    Turns out with 2 cats, it was the best investment I have made in 40 somethnig years.
    It needs clumping litter, but the alternative of litter cleaning twice a day doesn't compare to the convenience.

    Both also used to play with ping pong balls.
    Put them as the goalie and a little bit of back spin and they loved it.

    They also liked an sheepskin that I used to have next to my bed.
    It now sits on a bench outside and the 17 year old boy spends his days watching the world go by on his sheepskin.

    Mr Cat also has a favourite stuffed toy.
    He predates my daughter, and it was interesting how he only ever played with this 1 toy, when there were so many to choose from in her room.
    Mutualy respect - he had his toys and she had hers.

  • Best thing we have done is toilet training two cats.
    Used the citi kitty set: http://www.citikitty.com/ but I think there are better alternatives out there too.
    Trained cats when they were 6 months old, and took them about 6 months to be fully adept at it - although I still use the tray with a few rings as they are pretty big cats. Now we no longer have any issues with cat poo or urine, just a simple toilet flush. Being big cats that eat and drink a lot, we were changing the litter twice daily). Now we have cut the litter bill completely and have been litter free for the last year and a half.

    • Luckily our kitties go outside most of the time. We have one tray we still can't quite get rid of but they only pee in that one ocassionally. I always wondered how the cats would cope if someone was using the loo when they needed to go.

      • One of my cats always happens to need to go to the toilet when my housemate showers. The cat would constantly meow at the door until he is finished, and we would need to keep him company when that happens. Apart from that they usually go as they please, we would come back home from work and find a poop and pee in the toilet and no mess to clean up.

  • Scratching posts and cat tunnels are excellent.

  • We went to Chaddy and got these great mice with feathered tails - the cats love them.

  • Cat grass for indoor cats

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