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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Most and least useful bit of cat equipment?

39 replies

Almostalwayshappy · 18/05/2013 12:32

I'm very excited as we have today been approved by our local cat rescue as suitable adoptees. They have a laid back six-year-old black and white short haired cat in mind for us (the laid back bit is important as we have a dog and two teenagers). I grew up with cats, but haven't lived with one for over twenty years. As far as kit goes, we are starting from scratch . Have you bought a litter tray/cat bed/scratching post/collar/cat flap that has worked brilliantly...or one that turned out to be hopeless? I've been lurking on The Litter Tray for a while and would be very grateful for your tips/recommendations/warnings. Did I mention I was excited?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 18/05/2013 12:44

Never had a cat yet who used a cat bed - even the non-Siamese. They always chose a place that they liked better. (Actual bed, armchair, linen cupboard etc etc.) I wouldn't bother with one of those, personally.

cozietoesie · 18/05/2013 12:45

PS - buy two litter trays at least. They're only cheap and cats like to have a choice. (And it's always good to have one spare in any case so that you can do a quick flip over when cleaning.)

ClaimedByMe · 18/05/2013 12:48

None of my 3 have ever used a scratching post, one likes the cat bed, 2 like the litter tray and eventually they all used the cat flap, we have a magnetic one....they also all eat different food.

Oh and they just take collars off as soon as they are out my sight!

RandomMess · 18/05/2013 12:48

Litter tray if they get shut in overnight (like they should be )
Cat flap
Scratching barrel www.zooplus.com/shop/cats/scratching_posts/scratching_posts/scratching_barrell/279410
Food bowls
Water fountain
Cat light toy

All very well used by our two.

bigbadbarry · 18/05/2013 12:50

No cat I have ever owned has gone in a cat bed. (Every time I get a new cat I go out all excitedly and buy one.) Nor used a scratching post, apart from to climb when tiny kittens.
Get the cheapest collars you can find because they will come back without it, again and again and again.

MirandaWest · 18/05/2013 12:52

Litter tray
Food bowl
Water bowl
Carrying basket thing

Not a cat bed as they won't use it
Toys are likely to be ignored
New armchair for sharpening claws on

cozietoesie · 18/05/2013 12:54

Oh - and well done for getting an older black and white rescue. I bet you're excited!

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/05/2013 13:03

Most useful would be a Miele cat and dog vacuum cleaner, I'm saving for a carpet cleaner.

Lonecatwithkitten · 18/05/2013 13:43

My cats only like beds that have been purchased for the dog. The dog has to lie on the carpet.

cozietoesie · 18/05/2013 14:00

Knows his place in the scheme of things then. Quite right.

SoftSheen · 18/05/2013 14:11

Essential:

Cat carrier
Litter tray
Food/ water bowls
Cat flap (lockable)

Optional (cat may or may not choose to use):

Cat bed(s)
Scratching post
Cat toys

VenusUprising · 18/05/2013 14:26

My cat loves her cat beds. I got two cheap ones on zooplus, and covered them in fleecy blankets.

Having said that she moves from bed to bed, and spent a good deal of last night curled under my knees, and then round my neck.

Get a few dangler toys, feathers on fishing poles, and a light.

My cat likes her scratching tree, and sleeps in the hammocks.
She also likes her cat cheese toy I found on zooplus

We have two different litter trays, and she uses both depending on how she feels - she's sociable, so will go close to where we are!

Cat carrier is essential.

I use small ceramic plates for cat food that I got in ikea, water is from two glasses, dotted around, as she won't drink from anything else.

Enjoy!!

VenusUprising · 18/05/2013 14:28

That's very true about the vacuum cleaner. We have a dyson with animal hair head, sorry can't remember exactly what model number. It's very brilliant.

cozietoesie · 18/05/2013 14:32

I'd probably not bother to buy special 'cat' water and food bowls, SoftSheen because they have a ££ markup in shops as do most things labelled as 'cat'.

I've found myself that the best food bowls are those smallish cereal/pudding bowls that you often get in sets but rarely use. The ones that are about 6 or 7 inches in diameter and a couple of inches deep. (They can usually be picked up in charity shops for 10p a go but friends and relatives will often be only too pleased to give you some because they have a mismatched pile in their cupboard.)

They can also be used for water although I have some of those handled soup bowls for water which the boys seem to like for some reason.

RandomMess · 18/05/2013 16:21

You shouldn't place their water near their food source as they naturally like to go hunt for the water - odd but very true. Mine love stealing water out of cups, demanding drinks out of the tap but do get a lot of use out of the water fountain too.

VenusUprising · 18/05/2013 16:51

Yes yes to not buying anything labelled 'cat' it's just such a rip off.... Like 'wedding'

We use these little plates from ikea, and bowls too.

Original poster

Almostalwayshappy · 18/05/2013 16:52

Thank you very much for your reponses...incredibly useful. Our new housemate won't be moving in for a couple of weeks, but when he does, I'll update. I'm sure I'll have a heap of other questions too! Oh, and thank you cozietoesie, it's taken a while to presuade the DDs that since older cats, epecially black and black and white cats, are harder to find homes for, we should have one of those rather than a kitten. I think we might have gone down the kitten route, but we're not sure how the dog would react and we are happy to have an older cat anyway. Wish he was here now!

OP posts:

deliasmithy · 18/05/2013 17:02

I own 4 cat beds and 2 cat blankets.
My felines prefer the dog bed I bought them, my bed, my towels, and my part of the sofa.

One loves cardboard boxes I source for free from work. The other is not interested. One loves foil the other hates.

I own a collection of toys that were loved or hated. Its so hard to know what they will prefer!

Litter tray = I like the big ones with sides and a lid. The cat flap part I took off as they didn't get on with that. I think its worth investing in more expensive litter as it smells less, and lasts ages.

3littlewomen · 18/05/2013 17:03

Our Maine Coon has totally fallen in love with the chair brought down from the attic and cleaned for the expected baby.... dread to think what he will do when the pram comes down!!

deliasmithy · 18/05/2013 17:04

Agree about bowls.

For water I use a washing up bowl, those water bowls for cats contain such a tiny amount of water. Mine also like water left in the bottom of the bath.

RandomMess · 18/05/2013 17:11

Mine love fleece or faux fur - helps encourage them to sit and sleep where I want them to

Floralnomad · 18/05/2013 17:11

Our Raggie said best buys : cat tent , daisy basket , conservatory
Worst buys : water fountain , dogs .

Secondme · 18/05/2013 17:15

Mine never drink from the bowl. They drink from the top of our bins, etc. They much prefer rain water. Also, when they get older or bigger like ours, most scratching posts get too small and we find that the best ones aren't the cylinder ones but the ones that you stick on the wall. Like this: Wall scratching post They are longer I think that's why our cats like them...

Secondme · 18/05/2013 17:16

We also put insulator on chairs so they sit there.

Lovethesea · 18/05/2013 17:22

I'd say collar unnecessary if microchipped, and avoids the possible choke risk and annoying factor for the cat!

Mine sleep on our beds too.

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