Cat

The hard part of buying for a cat is that cats do not adapt to a poor choice: whatever they judge wrong, they simply refuse to use. This guide helps you get the four basic decisions right in a way your cat will agree with.

A sturdy cat scratching post: height and stability decide everything

A sturdy cat scratching post is not marketing language but the condition of it being used at all. A post that wobbles at the first good pull will never be touched again, while the sofa never wobbles. The other condition is height: your cat needs to stretch out to full body length on it, which for an adult cat means at least 60 centimetres of scratching surface. Whether to go vertical or horizontal, and where to put it, is covered in our scratching post guide.

Cat cave or open bed: which sleeper is yours

A cat cave is the choice for hiders and peace-seekers: enclosed, warm and shielded from view, which gives many cats a real sense of safety. An open bed suits the observer type who likes to keep an eye on everything. If you are not sure which yours is, watch where they sleep now: a cat who burrows into the wardrobe or under a blanket wants a cave, while one who holds court on the windowsill wants an open bed, ideally somewhere raised. Placement-wise, a warm, draught-free corner wins, and a washable or removable cover matters just as much here as it does with dogs.

Cat water fountain: why moving water means more drinking

A large share of cats drink too little from still water, but moving water draws them in. A cat water fountain uses exactly that instinct: circulating, constantly refreshed water visibly encourages many cats to drink more, and good hydration does a lot for their health. Two practical rules: keep the water away from the food, which many cats dislike, and take the fountain apart for a weekly wash, replacing the filter on the maker's schedule.

Cat toys: choose by hunting instinct, not by cuteness

A good cat toy is not a question of looks but of the hunting sequence: chase, ambush, catch. A wand toy is the king of playing together, because it mimics how prey moves, while a tunnel serves the ambushing and sprinting side of the same instinct. The real trick is rotation: do not leave every toy out all the time, or the novelty wears off. You will find more ideas in our indoor cat article.

If you are unsure which type suits your cat, write to us and we will help you decide.