Essentials - As a cat pet owner you can't do without

Well today whilst going through the house work I found my mum's old sofa looking a bit cat haired usually I use the hoover on it however I chose to use a sponge which I'd bought a little while ago from Pets at Home, well I'd forgotten how great it was. With a cursory rub the hair just attaches itself so all the dimpled areas that gather fluff like a belly button was easy to clean with a quick brush over.

So it got me thinking what other things have I found so useful or really used…….

• Zooplus Relax Scratch Bed £7.99. Wow, these are the most used items in the whole house. We have four, we gave one to my Sister in Law now she is buying two extra!!! As I speak all four are actually in use.

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/scratching_posts/cardboard_cat_furniture/315507

• Hair and Lint remover, Simple solutions. This is the sponge which I used to wipe off a coatful of hair from the sofa. £5.00

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/hair-and-lint-remover

• Flying toys - Dabird, Flying frenzy and Neko Flies. All these are excellent for keeping cats amused. love the Dabird flying range plus their mousey. Flying Frenzy to an extensive range of lovely attachments on their own rods or Dabirds, no reason for them to get bored at all. Neko Flies, just love them a lot but they are a little pricey but the quality speaks for itself.

http://www.da-bird.co.uk

http://purrfecthomes.co.uk/index.php?id_category=11&controller=category&id_lang=2

• Thrives freeze dried treats are the favourite for all the cats. They come at the rattle of the tube and bite your fingers off for them, they are however horrendously expensive. Get them whenever there is a special on such as Amazon 15% of pet treats occasionally or voucher codes!! I even work out which of their range has most in a tube, you have to look as the same size tube will hold different weights of product. I believe the Chicken works out best which is lucky as this is their favourite. Waitrose at the moment do them the cheapest - £ 2.99 a small tube.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrive-100-Chicken-Treats-MaxiTube/dp/B007IGMZD4

• Worlds best cat litter just goes on and on and on. I converted to this litter from a well known white brand available in supermarkets, well is was a revelation and this was no exaggeration. The litter tray was needing to be changed weekly at least (and with five that would be a lot of litter trays!!) at £6.99 a tray of the old brand and it did still smell. Well I changed to Worlds Best which on the face of it is ridiculously expensive (although from Zooplus it is much better priced) however the clumping nature of the litter means you ONLY remove the tainted litter ( wee clumps into doughnut shapes etc) and the multicat formula lasts and lasts and lasts and lasts. A tray just needs topping up when it gets low and only a change when you feel it needs it. It lasts absurdly long. Saying that I do like Natures Calling as well, Walnut based as opposed to Corn Kernel, which is new and cheaper. The best thing is that they are both licensed for the used litter to be flushed down the toilet so no huge litter waste in the bins and they are both from renewable sources.

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter/worlds_best_cat_litter

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter/clumping_litter/other_brands/387466

• A really good cat tree. After three shop bought cat trees that died within months of having them I came to the decisions of buying a large solid German made cat tree, and it's the best decision we made by far. In general the shop ones although cheap are not meant to take the weight of adult BSHs etc. There is a British make which is of fabulous quality, Tigga Towers, however the cost is exceptional. They do however have granite and solid wood parts. There are a variety of German makes some do use solid wood etc however to reduce the price some have plywood etc, the prices, even with delivery are much much cheaper.

http://shop.petfun.de/en/

http://www.kratzbaeume.de/Kratzbaeume/Holzbaeume-Multiplex-Buche-/

http://www.katzenglueck.de/xtm/

• For RAW feeding specifically mincing of bones and meat then a grinder is great. Bones being a challenge then one with a power motor is needed. The one we have will go through Rabbit and Chicken bones well especially on a coarse and them fine ground.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-James-Electric-Vegetable-Attachment/dp/B0063CF80G

• Fortiflora is described as a Feline Probiotic however it is used in this house when the tribes appetite is suppressed i.e. During hot weather. The product comes in sachets in minute qualities however a quick sprinkle over food will encourage most fussy eaters.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/FortiFlora-Feline-Nutritional-Complement-Kittens/dp/B004FGCVA2

If I think of more I will add them……...