Cat Gear we've tested
Every product below was used at home with real pets for 30+ days before we scored it.
Best Cat Scratching Posts (2026): Vertical vs Horizontal
Our 2026 guide sorts the best cat scratching posts by orientation, material and stability — and explains the stretch-height rule that keeps claws off your sofa.
Best Cat Carriers (2026): Soft-Sided vs Hard vs Wheeled
A head-to-head look at soft-sided, hard-sided, and wheeled cat carriers, with honest pros and cons plus a clear pick for vet runs, road trips, and flights.
Best Litter Mats (2026): Trapping vs Double-Layer vs Honeycomb
Buy the largest double-layer honeycomb mat that fits your space — our top pick is the Pieviev Cat Litter Mat in 30×24 (roughly $22–25), because size plus a sealed trapping layer catches the litter a flat mat just relocates. Cats with sensitive paws do better on a soft fabric mat like the Drymate.
Best Cat Nail Clippers (2026): Stress-Free At-Home Trims
For most cats, a scissor-style clipper with a safety stop is the right buy — the Safari Professional is our top pick at roughly $10–19. For cats that panic at the clipper's snap, a grinder like the Dremel 7300-PT files the nail gradually and cannot cut the quick.
Best Cat Brushes for Shedding (2026): Deshedding Without the Battle
A fine-tooth deshedding tool (the Furminator-style edge) removed the most undercoat with the least fuss, but only after we short-trained our cats with the gentler slicker first. The grooming glove was loved but barely touched the undercoat.
Best Cat Beds (2026): Donut, Cave, and Orthopedic Beds Cats Actually Use
The best cat bed matches your cat's sleep style: a bolstered donut for curlers, a covered cave for insecure cats, and an orthopedic or low-entry heated bed for seniors with stiff joints. Washable cover and a warm, draft-free spot matter more than the prettiest shape.
Best Cat Window Perches for Apartment Cats (Sun, Safety, and a Real View)
A good cat window perch has a wide, stable bracket (or suction cups rated well above your cat's weight), a washable cushion, and a mount that fits your window type — sash, casement, or glass-only. Cats get vertical territory and a view; you get a calm cat and a sun puddle.
Best Interactive Cat Toys for Indoor Cats in 2026
The best interactive cat toys mix a high-energy chase toy (wand or motion prey) with a puzzle feeder for the brain, plus a few minutes of human-led play daily. Rotate them so novelty does the motivating, not a bigger basket.
Best Cat Litter for Odor Control in 2026: What Actually Neutralizes the Smell
Odor control lives or dies on clumping tightness and ammonia binding, not scent. Unscented clumping clay with activated charcoal, or a crystal/silica litter, handles smell best for most homes. Scented litters just cover up and can put off the cat. Scoop daily and you'll out-perform any premium granule left to sit.
Best Cat Carriers for Travel in 2026: Flying, Driving, and What Actually Passes
Buy for the trip, not the cat. Flying in-cabin means a soft-sided carrier around 18 x 11 x 11 inches with ventilation on at least three sides. Driving means a rigid carrier that can be belted down — and only a handful of carriers hold an independent crash-test certification.
Catnip Safety and Uses: What's Fine, What to Skip, and How Often to Offer It
Catnip is safe and non-toxic for the vast majority of cats, and a fatal overdose is essentially impossible — but too much causes stomach upset, and pregnant or epileptic cats should skip it. Offer a pinch once or twice a week.
Best Cat Food (2026): Wet vs Dry, Scored on What Cats Actually Eat
A high-protein wet food with a named meat led the pack — cats ate it cleanly, drank less (more moisture from food), and our vet noted better hydration markers. Dry alone left them under-watered.
Best Automatic Cat Litter Box (2026): 6 Weeks of Scooping So You Don't Have To
A rotating-drum box with an entrance guard and app alerts won — odor stayed down, no paw traps in 6 weeks, and it paused safely when the cat re-entered. Cheap rake models jammed and smeared.
Best Cat Scratchers (2026): Saved Our Sofa, Tested on 7 Cats
A sturdy vertical post wrapped in real sisal rope, tall enough to fully stretch, was the only scratcher that pulled all seven cats off the sofa. Cardboard loungers were loved but didn't save the couch.
Best Cat Trees (2026): Stability Tested With a 20 lb Launcher
A wide-based tree with screwed (not glued) posts and a top perch at window height won — it didn't sway when a 20 lb cat launched to the top, and the sisal held for months.
Best Cat Water Fountain (2026): Did Our Cats Actually Drink More?
A stainless steel fountain with a quiet pump and a top-fill reservoir won — our cats drank noticeably more, it ran near-silent, and the steel bowl cleaned without the slime we got on plastic.