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).

if you have wooden floors then i suggest bouncy balls! my cat plays with them for hours.

also a cat radiator bed except we hang it over a door so she has somewhere high up to sleep. she looks at it and meows when she wants up.

I've also ordered a fluffy non-slip mat for the windowsill looking out on to the garden.

This is going to be one indulged young lady.

My lady loved her zoom groom too, I bought that about 15 years ago. She used to run at me, meowing, as soon as I picked it up :) The extra tall scratching post was fab too.

Cat water fountain however was a fail, as was every cat bed I bought her.

Oh and she wasn't really into toys, but give her a bit of foil and she would be in heaven!

Where was that fleecy cat tree from? I’m looking everywhere for one that doesn’t topple over but sone of them are hundreds of quid.

Mine really love the little hot carpet I got them for Christmas last year. Our house is a little cold and drafty so they have been spending a lot of time on it these days.

Update:
She seems happy with everything we have bought her apart from her bed, which she hasn't used.

The cat barrel has been used for perching on and for scratching.

She also likes the windowsill cushion I made for her.

She seems fine with the top entry litter tray.

Favourite toys so far:
Kickeroo.
The pom-pom at the end of the tail of a catnip mouse.

This is the bed that she isn't using.

It's positioned in an elevated place, which she can reach and from which she can see the door and the window.

The texture of the inside is a fabric that she's happy sitting on elsewhere.

The cushion inside has her scent on it.

Perhaps it's just too last season?

I got rid of 2 cat beds that went unused. They sleep where they want tbh

I’ve just bought one of those pods TCN has as I was quite jealous when I saw the photo. It hasn’t arrived yet. Mine have a basket shaped like a house and they both like to sleep inside that. Mainly they sleep on a sheepskin imitation mat on my bed though.

Mine are funny they don’t like to be enclosed with softness they prefer something solid I think that’s why thought doughnut type beds have never worked.

Beautiful cat!
Does her "Ladyship" have a name?

Her name is Missy.

Bed update:

She will sleep in the bed position if I remove the bed.

She will sleep on the cushion from inside the bed if I take it out of the bed and put it somewhere else.

She seems to be one of those cats that likes being in out the open rather than one of those cats that likes hiding in things. She came out of her carrier as soon as she arrived and has not spent any time in any of the potential hiding places we provided.

Mark I haven't been able to read the full thread as me and my DD are literally crying with laughter at your post! Tears streaming down my face!

Oh Op she's beautiful. She has the most perfect eyeliner. Such a lovely looking lady.

Having bought two different cat beds and blankets of various textures, she has found a sleeping place that meets with her approval. 😂

Is that next to her food or yours? Very cute. Mine like the kitchen chairs this week which suits me.

Her food.

She's not fussy. She likes playing with bank notes and business cards, hates catnip and designated cat toys, errm...typical cat in that she changes sleeping location frequently.

I need a big food container!! Has she already clocked on to it?! Mine where in with me last night that 5am wake up call is something else. They are like clock work arent they?

Missy walks around carrying a toy in her mouth and doesn't like Dreamies. She looks like a cat, but I'm not entirely convinced.