What is the best (or worst) thing you've bought for your cat?

[TheSecondOfHerName]

Our new Mistress will hopefully be coming to live with us very soon.

The time we had a rescue cat come to live with us was 1998. I bought a carrier, a bed, a basic litter tray, a couple of bowls, a simple scratching post, a brush and a few toys. There wasn't a big range to choose from, so it was all fairly simple.

These days there seems to be a vast range of cat-related paraphernalia to choose from. I'm also lucky in that as well as being able to offer time and attention, I have more money to spend than I did twenty years ago. I've seen a number of cat-related products that weren't even invented last time I was preparing for a new feline family member.

While I'm waiting for the Mistress to arrive, I'd love to know what is the most useful thing you've bought for your cat, i.e. the thing you can't live without or wish you'd bought years ago.

(If there's anything that you feel was a complete waste of money, I'd be happy to hear about that too).

[Weedsnseeds1]

I'm now struggling to think what our The Range was now and it's going to bug me all day. Not Homebase, that's still there at the other end of town!

[TheSecondOfHerName]

OK, I've invested in a top-entry litter tray. Let's hope she's able to work out what it is. We'll be using the same litter as she's had in the shelter, so hopefully that'll be a hint.

[dementedpixie]

I just have a high sided tray rather than a covered one.

[midlifecrash]

I bought a big furry cat tree with integrated scratching post and basket.

It is in the cellar (keep meaning to Freecycle it).

[dementedpixie]

We have a big cat tree too and they both use it.

[midlifecrash]

Those are lovely pictures! Your cat tree is very tasteful. Part of the fur on mine is bright purple. Maybe that was the problem...

[TheSecondOfHerName]

That cat tree looks really fun, and the cats are gorgeous.

[RandomMess]

Our huge cat tree was a success too it did eventually die though, but was from free cycle initially!

[EachandEveryone]

Do you have to put it up yourself? What are yours called again? I feel guilty for leaving mine at Xmas. I need to go Big!

[RandomMess]

Mine girl is sulking as they've not been put to bed yet!

[MarklahMarklah]

I don't have any cats any longer but when I did we bought them leads with the idea of being able to take them out. One cat sat down and flatly refused to go anywhere in the harness/lead at all. The other escaped from it within 5 seconds every single time. So that was a waste of money.
We bought them cat beds which they shat and puked on.
We bought them a scratching post which one of them would attack violently and wouldn't allow the other one to go near.
We bought a circular toy with a ball that could be knocked round in a track. Same situation as scratching post.
Best toys were ping pong balls which they'd go mad for, and hair ties/bobbles which they'd cache under the sofa.
Once bought them catnip and they went insane. One of them had snot bubbles coming out of its nose as it rolled about on the floor hallucinating. The other one climbed up a door and wouldn't come down for an hour.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

RandomMess you have literally been given the cold shoulder. 😂

Hoping to visit M tomorrow after her vet appointment. Haven't seen her since Friday (shelter was closed yesterday and not booking visits today due to open day) so it would be good to spend some time with her.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

Until GardenGeek posted that, I had no idea a cat wheel was even a thing.

Marklah thank you for your very honest reviews. I've bought some ping pong balls as the handover mentioned she likes them.

[Ollivander84]

Worst buy for me was probably a cat tree! He claims to get vertigo over 6 inches from the floor
He's still in his igloo and also loves Da bird toy

[caoraich]

Those fleece beds with hooks that hang off radiators. Got ours v cheap in Groupon and they are adored.

[caoraich]

Oops posted instead of adding pic!

Worst was a lead and harness which was hated so much that one cat hid it.

The best toy has been Ikea bags. Endless crumply 3am fun!

[ClandestineAdulation]

Best; anything with catnip in it

Worst; a lead... he always wanted to go for a walk with our dog and followed us when we went out - bought him a lead and a harness to try to keep him safe near the roads and he hated it

Carboard boxes and tinfoil balls have always been a winner, though.

[buckeejit]

Ours love the extendable ‘da bird’ type toys-dupes on eBay-great fun. Also the cardboard scratching thing, laser pointer & boxes-all the boxes!

One of mine loves the tap so was considering getting a cat fountain for Christmas but have instead decided on some yeowww catnip banana/rainbow toys-off to investigate some of these things!

[MikeUniformMike]

Catnip plant but it didn't stand a chance.
Brush
Cat flap.
Flea collar.

[TheDuchessofDukeStreet]

We do not own a cat but one comes to us regularly for his holidays. DP found a golf ball while out for a walk and puss loves it. He dribbles it along with his paws like a small footballer. And it was free.

[MikeUniformMike]

Those were the best ones.

He also likes my imitation leather work bag and my coat lining. They have to be stored out of paw's reach.
Best pet bed - anything freshly washed, ideally expensive and light in colour.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

caoraich they look really comfy

I've bought some catnip toys.

Went to visit her today and she was fascinated by some blokes outside moving crates around. She's going to love bin day / recycling day.

[Poppins2016]

These sisal mice are great, my cats love them:

www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/pets/sisal-mouse?CAWELAID=120267720000007857&cm_mmc=&ito=GAG43970341133&itc=GAC206943665227&itkw=nil&itaexid=&itawnw=search&itawmt=&itadvc=m&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgZTRBRDmARIsAJvVWAtbFK0f8Y_DsFw1n0cs7RUoVr5mEGEbP1y1k8pUpk_v9tZdv_hERXYaAiYnEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds