cats

I've got a ton of stuff to share that I'm just throwing out unorganized. So sorry for the huge post.

Do your future self a favor and try to buy a cat tree that isn't fully covered in carpet. They either quickly get shredded and look awful, or the cat hair becomes embedded in the carpet and is impossible to properly vacuum off.

!!A few quick examples of my preferred type are:

1.Frisco 47.5-in Modern Cat Tree

2.SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post, 32"

3.cardboard scratchers

4.Expensive option. Refined feline Lotus Cat Tower. Has replaceable carpet and sisal pads. Mine is currently going on 5-6 years old and is in perfect condition.

You can also sometimes buy carpet squares at Menards, Lowe's, etc for under 2$. I cut them with scissors to size and use rug tape to hold them on the cat trees.

Chewy has a sale right now buy 100$ get a 30$ gift card back.

!!Toys

My cat loves the Frisco Colorful Springs

A automatic toy like Potaroma 3in1 Hide and Seek.

Penn-plax or Hartz mini mice

Wand toys

Cat tunnels

One of my cats is obsessed with those pool/beach foam water balls. Like Water Bomb Splash Balls or also called Splash bombs

Silvervine sticks for chewing. It's kind of like catnip.

A long sheet of brown packing paper crumpled up. Mine hide in it and jump around crunching the paper. Chewy frequently puts in a big sheet as padding when I order from them.

Boxes whole or with fun shapes cut in them.

Plastic bottle caps

Cat window perches with the suction cups are really nice. I've got double stacked ones in 3 of my windows and all of my cats love them.

!!Water fountain

Try to buy a metal or ceramic pet water fountain. Cats prefer running water, but I also provide a regular metal bowl of water too in case the power goes off or the fountain pump plugs up.

I've got Oiwliur Cat Water Fountain that I like right now

Petsafe and pioneer also make metal fountains

Plastic food/water dishes harbor bacteria more easily.

!!Litter

I recommend unscented cat litter. Fresh step unscented or PetSmart brand Great Choice unscented

A litter genie XL or similar type litter/diaper pail makes scooping the cat litter less of a chore.

!!Miscellaneous cat owner info

Watch your shoestrings around the cat. I had one cat that would chew them off the shoes. We ended up with a 500$ vet bill twice in his 12 years of life because he swallowed them and they got stuck. Also, if your cat ever has a string coming out of them, do not pull it out. We never did, but the vet stressed to us strongly that it was a bad idea to do it ourselves. Hair ties and rubber bands are just as dangerous as shoestrings.

If you have window blinds with pull strings, then make sure the strings are up on the curtain rod out of reach. We lost a cat that way when I was a little kid.

Feliway or Comfort Zone sprays can help with anxiety or destructive scratching. The diffusers are okay, but I had one overheat and won't use them again.

Microchip your cat and follow through with registering it with the chip maker and the free pet registries. I found a cat last year that had been missing for months who I quickly returned, even though the owner had moved, only because of the microchip.

This link has a list of registries to add the microchip info to. www.aaha.org/your-pet/pet-microchip-lookup/participating-companies/ Some of them are free others are paid. I'd just worry about the free ones. I think I've only done mine with 24PetWatch, 911PetChip, FindPet, and HomeAgain (the maker of my pet microchips).

Also, HomeAgain tries to make you think you need to pay yearly, but you don't. That's just for the extra features that aren't worth it. If you end up with one of their chips you can register with them and keep your info in there forever even if you don't pay the fee.

Enjoy your new cat!!!