Best Cat Litter Boxes for Easier Cleaning and Less Mess
The right litter box depends on the problem you’re trying to solve: daily scooping, litter tracking, odor, or a box your cat can use comfortably. A top-entry or covered box may contain mess, but it must also suit your cat’s size, mobility, and preferences.
Compare litter boxes for odor control and easy cleaning
If your cat is avoiding the box or peeing outside it, start with the
Bowls & Feeders
A feeding setup should fit your cat and the problem you want to solve. A wide, shallow bowl may suit a cat that seems reluctant to eat from a deep dish. A feeder with a spill guard can make cleanup easier. If your cat eats too quickly, a slow feeder may help pace the meal.
Wide, Shallow Bowl: Dr. Catsby’s Whisker Relief Bowl
This stainless steel bowl has a wide, shallow shape that gives your cat room to eat without reaching into a deep dish. It’s a simple option if your cat seems to prefer eating from a plate or shallow bowl.
View Dr. Catsby’s Whisker Relief Bowl on Amazon
For Spills: Neater Feeder Express for Cats
The Neater Feeder Express has raised sides that help contain food and water spills. Consider it if the area around your cat’s bowls needs frequent cleanup. Check its dimensions before buying to make sure the bowls and feeding height suit your cat.
View Neater Feeder Express for Cats on Amazon
For Fast Eating: Outward Hound Fun Feeder
The Fun Feeder’s grooves encourage a cat to take more time getting food from the bowl. Check the size and groove depth carefully: this model is primarily marketed for dogs and may be awkward for some cats.
View Outward Hound Fun Feeder on Amazon
If your cat has suddenly changed how they eat, regularly vomits after meals, or has difficulty picking up food,
contact your veterinarian rather than assuming a different bowl will solve it.
Automatic Cat Feeders for Timed Meals and Multi-Cat Homes
Choose a feeder based on the problem you need to solve: PETLIBRO for scheduled dry-food meals,
SureFeed to help prevent food stealing, or PETKIT for app-controlled feeding.
PETLIBRO Granary Automatic Cat Feeder
— Best for Scheduled Meals
Program meal times and portions without using an app. The sealed container includes a desiccant bag to help keep dry food fresh.
Consider another option if you need to control which cat eats the food.
View PETLIBRO Granary on Amazon
SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder — Best for Food Stealing
The lid opens for a registered pet’s microchip or compatible collar tag. It’s useful when cats need separate foods or one cat eats another’s meal.
It controls access; it does not dispense meals on a schedule.
PETKIT YumShare Dual-Hopper Feeder
— Best for App Control
Set meal times and portions through the PETKIT app. Its two hoppers let you dispense two types of dry food.
Consider another option if you prefer a feeder that doesn’t depend on app setup.
Cat Carriers for Vet Visits and Travel
Choose a carrier for the trip you actually take. Top access and a sturdy shell can make vet visits easier; a well-supported soft carrier may be more practical for flying. For car trips, check the carrier’s fit, closures, and instructions for securing it in the vehicle. Check your airline’s current size rules before buying for a flight.
Compare 7 cat carriers for vet visits, car travel, and flying
If your cat hides when the carrier comes out or resists going inside, see
Cat Beds for Curling Up and Staying Warm
Choose a bed based on where and how your cat already sleeps. A raised edge may suit a cat that curls up, while a flat warming pad can fit on a favorite resting spot. Check the sleeping area’s dimensions and washing instructions before buying.
Best Friends by Sheri Original Calming Donut Bed — For Cats That Curl Up
The soft, raised edge gives a cat a place to nest and rest their head. Choose a size that lets your cat settle comfortably without having to climb over an edge that is too high. “Calming” is the product name; a bed alone will not treat anxiety.
View the Best Friends by Sheri Donut Bed on Amazon
K&H Self-Warming Cat Bed Pad — For a Favorite Resting Spot
This flat pad reflects some of your cat’s body heat and needs no electricity. It can go on an accessible chair, shelf, or existing bed. It makes a slight crinkling sound, which may matter for noise-sensitive cats.
For an older cat who has trouble reaching a favorite sleeping place, see
Cat Scratchers and Scratching Posts
If your cat scratches furniture or carpet, choose a surface that matches how and where they scratch. A cat that reaches up a sofa may need a tall, stable post; a cat that scratches carpet may prefer a flat pad. Placement matters as much as the scratcher itself.
See how to choose a scratcher and redirect furniture scratching
Cat Trees and Towers
A cat tree can provide elevated places to climb, watch, scratch, and rest. Start with your cat’s size and mobility, then check the tree’s footprint, perch dimensions, stability, and route between levels. A tall tower is useful only if your cat can reach and use it comfortably.
Frisco 72-Inch Cat Tree — For a Roomy, Multi-Level Setup
This tall tree has several perches, hiding spaces, and sisal scratching posts. Its large footprint suits a household with room for a full-size tower.
Check the assembled dimensions before ordering.
View the Frisco 72-Inch Cat Tree at Chewy
FEANDREA 59.5-Inch Cat Tree — For Several Resting Options
This model combines two upper perches, two caves, a hammock, and scratching posts. Check the size of each perch against your cats, and use the included anti-tip kit as instructed.
View the FEANDREA Cat Tree on Amazon
Catit Vesper Base — For a Compact Furniture Style
The Vesper Base combines a cubed hideaway, raised platforms, cushions, and scratching surfaces in a smaller tree.
Catit lists replacement parts for worn cushions and scratchers.
For ideas on placing climbing and resting spots within the home, see
Interactive Cat Toys
The best interactive toy depends on how your cat likes to play. Some cats chase movement along the floor, while others prefer a toy they can stalk or a food puzzle they can explore. Start with the play style that gets your cat’s attention.
Toys for Different Play Styles
SmartyKat Hot Pursuit — A moving toy for cats that like to chase.
Cat Dancer Original — A simple lure for play sessions with you.
Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder — A food puzzle for cats that enjoy searching for their meals.
Not sure which type your cat will use? Go here to identify your cat’s play style before buying another toy.
Grooming Tools
Choose a grooming tool based on your cat’s coat and how they respond to brushing.
A cat with loose undercoat may need a different tool from one with tangles or one that dislikes a traditional brush.
Choose by Grooming Need
Loose undercoat: FURminator for Cats (Short Hair)
a deshedding tool for short-haired cats with substantial loose undercoat. Use gently and avoid irritated skin.Tangles and loose fur: Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
a brush with retractable pins that make collected fur easier to remove.Brush-resistant cats: Grooming Gloves (Pair)
worth trying if your cat accepts petting but pulls away from a brush.
For help matching a tool to your cat’s coat, see Cat Grooming & Coat Care Basics.
If loose fur around the house is your main concern, start with How to Reduce Cat Shedding
Fur Cleanup
Match the cleanup tool to where cat hair collects. Upholstery, stairs, and clothing often need different approaches.
Choose by Surface
Sofas and bedding: ChomChom Roller — a reusable option for quick upholstery cleanup without adhesive refills.
Stairs and furniture: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld — a handheld vacuum for hair and debris in smaller areas.
Clothing: Evercare Giant Lint Roller — an extra-wide lint roller for quick touch-ups before you leave home.
For stubborn hair, see How to Get Cat Hair Off Furniture, Carpet, Clothes and Bedding.
For help reducing loose fur at its source, see How to Reduce Cat Shedding.
Litter Box Odor Control
If the litter box smells soon after cleaning, start with the basics: scoop regularly, remove clumps completely,
and check whether the box has enough space and airflow. A different litter may help, but fragrance alone will not remove waste.
Choose by Odor Problem
Clumps breaking apart during scooping: Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Clumping Cat Litter — a clumping litter to consider when waste is difficult to remove cleanly.
Odor between scooping sessions: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal — an odor-control litter option. Introduce a new litter gradually if your cat is sensitive to changes.
Urine odor outside the box: Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator — an enzymatic cleaner for accidents. Check the label and test it on the surface before use.
For help choosing a box that is easier to keep clean, see Best Cat Litter Boxes for Odor Control & Easy Cleaning.
If urine smell persists in carpet or furniture, follow How to Get Rid of Cat Urine Smell.
Training Aids
The most useful training aid helps you reward the behavior you want or makes a problem area less appealing while your cat learns a better option.
Choose the tool for the specific behavior you’re working on.
Choose by Training Goal
Teaching a new behavior: PetSafe Clik-R Training Clicker — marks the moment your cat does what you want, followed immediately by a reward.
Protecting furniture: SmartyKat Scratch Not Tape — helps protect a targeted surface while you place a suitable scratcher nearby and reward its use.
Keeping a cat off a specific surface: PetSafe SSSCAT Spray Deterrent — a motion-activated deterrent. It can startle some cats, so use it cautiously and provide an appealing place your cat can go.
For a reward-based starting point, see Clicker Training for Cats.
If furniture scratching is the problem, follow How to Stop Cats From Scratching Furniture for scratcher placement and redirection.
Cleaning Supplies for Everyday Cat Messes
Choose a cleaning tool for the mess you need to handle. Routine paw prints and spilled food call for a different approach from cat urine that has soaked into carpet or upholstery.
Choose by Cleanup Job
Urine stains and odors: Nature’s Miracle Enzymatic Cleaner — use a cat urine formula and follow its label for the surface you’re treating.
Routine floor messes: Bissell CrossWave Pet Pro — vacuums and washes compatible floors in one pass. Check your flooring and rug care instructions before use.
Urine odor with no visible spot: UV Urine Detector Flashlight — may help locate dried spots so you can clean the source. Confirm any glowing area before treating it; other substances can glow too.
If urine smell keeps returning, follow How to Get Rid of Cat Urine Smell.
For a broader cleaning routine, see How to Live With a Cat Without the Mess, Smell, or Constant Cleaning.
Cat Travel Gear
Choose travel gear for the trip you’re taking.
A secure carrier is the priority for car rides; a harness and portable litter box may be useful when your cat will spend time away from home.
Choose by Travel Need
Car travel: Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed — a carrier that also serves as a bed. Check the exact model’s current safety guidance and follow its car installation instructions.
Supervised stops: Rabbitgoo Cat Harness & Leash — an adjustable harness for cats already comfortable wearing one. Check the fit carefully; no harness is escape-proof.
Overnight stays: Petisfam Travel Litter Box — a foldable box that is easier to pack than a standard litter pan.
Plan the trip with Traveling With a Cat.
If your cat resists the carrier, start with Carrier Training for Cats & Stress-Free Vet Visit Preparation before travel day.
Create a Safer Home for Your Cat
Start with the hazard you need to address. Secure windows, manage exposed cords, and keep your cat’s identification current.
These products can help with specific parts of that setup.
Choose by Safety Need
A secure window resting spot: Kitty Cot Original Window Perch — gives your cat a place to watch outdoors. Follow the mounting instructions, check the weight limit, and secure the window and screen separately.
Finding a cat that gets out: Tractive GPS Cat Tracker — offers location tracking when the device has coverage and power. Check its current subscription requirements; keep your cat’s microchip information up to date too.
Exposed cords: Cable Management Cord Covers — help keep accessible cables contained. Route or unplug cords your cat persistently chews.
For a room-by-room look at hazards and escape risks, see the Complete Cat Safety Guide.
