Top 8 items every cat parent needs

Keeping your feline floofers happy while making your life easier!

1. Kitty water fweontain

Our feline friends are notorious for hiding symptoms of potential ailments, as most are not very vocal. Many cats experience urinary tract infections or bladder infections at some point, which are generally caused by a lack of hydration. To help keep our cats well hydrated, we purchased a small electric water fountain - the sound of the water reminds them to drink water more often. We’ve had great success with this investment, and even saw an uptick in their urination patterns! (we have actual excel sheet and a chart on these, Michael is all about that data! - even when it's cat pee data!).

2. Water additive

Brushing your cats’ teeth can be a daunting task, sometimes even requiring sedating them. Enriching the water they drink circumvents the need to manually brush their teeth, and reduces decay and plaque that would otherwise build up over time.

3. Treats

Not all cats enjoy the same treats (or treats at all), but they can be excellent tools for providing positive reinforcement. Our cat Bailey isn’t a big fan of most treats, and the Greenies brand don’t sit well with his brother Pushkin. When we came across some shaved tuna “cat sushi” (Pure Japanese Bonito Flakes), both of them fell in love it, and we’ve been able to reward them both for good behavior with it. They love these! They run as soon as they hear me open the drawer that houses these!

4. Cat backpack

If your cat enjoys adventures in the great outdoors like our cat Pushkin, an easy way to transport the cat is a must-have. We’ve been able to take this cat backpack with us on camping trips, hikes, and even kayaks! It provides a window for the cat to observe their surroundings, and is well ventilated to provide them with plenty of oxygen throughout the trek.

5. Catnip spray

Catnip spray has been a life saver when we introduce new changes to our cats (such as guests, other pets, or even new furniture). A couple squirts goes a long way to helping cats acclimate and become comfortable with the changes, and makes less of a mess than traditional catnip. It's also a good stimulant for play time!

6. Automated litter

Although litter boxes are a basic requirement for any feline household, we opted to spend a little bit extra on an automated litter box. The box automatically rakes the litter after our cats do their business, and scoops the remnants through crystals and into a small compartment. We use one box for both cats without problems, and simply change the tray every 10 days or so. If your cat is a baller, you can also check out the iRobot for next-level litter boxing.

Budget option: https://amzn.to/3cR2xpX (not automated)

Baller option: https://www.litter-robot.com (it connects to you phone, incase you wanted data on kitty poops, LOL!)

7. The “farmacy”

This has been dubbed as the Farmacy (Feline Pharmacy), and it is a cumulation of trusted products that I gathered and used over the years on my boys. Since so much work went into research and procurement, I decided to list everything and hope that it will help your fur kids in times of distress. (You can get dog versions on most of these too!)

Bach rescue remedy - natural stress relief - https://amzn.to/3cWgovt

Used on Bailey when we moved houses, he was in so much distress it was emotionally overwhelming to see him in that state. I used this to slightly ease his discomfort, it didn't wipe away his anxiety (only medication can do that), but it allowed him to take longer, better naps while he was hiding. This was used on him for 2 weeks, he was finally out and happy after that.

UTI kidney bladder formula - cranberry juice extract - https://amzn.to/2KDXnl9

We talked about how terribly hydrated cats are, and let me tell you, kidney/bladder/deposited kidney stones are nothing to kid about. Vet bill for removing a kidney stone from a cat costs up to $7,000, and that's if the cat doesn't need his/her urethra enlarged (ouch!). Pushkin is my pee pain culprit, I give this bi-monthly, he loves the taste!

If your cat DOES have a known UTI, I recommend this: https://amzn.to/3eUyiQV

Advantage treatment shampoo for cats/kittens - https://amzn.to/3cXmWdf

If you have animals, this is INEVITABLE. It will happen! Fleas are absolutely disgusting, and I have this on deck all the time, because when it does happen, you don't want to be pacing and waiting for an Amazon delivery or running around trying to find a pet store that carries it.

PetMD otic clean - ear cleaner - https://amzn.to/2VItF4U

Yup, you've seen them go to town on their ears, then do the sniff, and then get back at it. Itchy ears are annoying ears, and if their nails are not trimmed, they can potentially break skin and cause an infection - which - you guessed! Causes more vet bills. If you spot a trend of me trying to avoid the vet, you're onto something!

Pheromone diffusers

Collar: https://amzn.to/35heS4j

Room diffuser: https://amzn.to/2VGKGMH

Pheromones are basically cat hormones, that relaxes them and makes them feel more comfortable. These were a Godsend when we introduced our cats to each other, we used the collars on both of them, and then diffused the room for 3 months! Ps: You can't smell pheromones at all, only the cats can. The collar has a nice lavender scent to it.

Cheristen for cats - flea prevention - https://amzn.to/3bIHhTt

You know the drill, this little gem goes on between the shoulders, and it prevents fleas. Simple and sound! Budget option : https://amzn.to/2SgIVnA

Tapeworm dewormer - https://amzn.to/3eQQsTL

Not the best thing to think about, but it calms me knowing that I am prepared. The immune and digestive systems get raveged by tapeworms, it is very unfortunate, but when caught in the early stages, it is an easy fix, later stage would result in.... vet visits. Common sympton? Scooting their butts on the floor/carpet. Hair is also a common reason for scooting, not the most pleasant thing to investigate but it is needed.

8. Litter furniture

Yeah, litter can be fancy. Long gone are the days of smelling litter, and having a cloud of dust surround you every time your cat buries a turd. We overcame this challenge by purchasing a “washroom bench” which essentially camouflages the litter box by enclosing it in a white bench that looks just like a normal piece of furniture, while allowing the cats to enter and exit easily using a small door on one side. Litter boxes can alternatively be hidden by specially designed side tables and palm tree pots! This is especially invaluable in smaller homes and apartments where space is very limited.

Cute option 1: https://amzn.to/3bPdfgU

Cute option 2: https://amzn.to/35bpyBk

Baller option 3: https://amzn.to/2Y8Uqku

I hope this list either enlightens you, or helps you in one way or another. In full transparency, all the links are affiliate links. They do not cost extra to you. It helps me justify the time I spent listing all these, and running this site. Thanks! ^.^