Cat Essentials

Indoor cat essentials for a tidy, comfortable home

This category holds one pick per daily job. Fill gaps in your indoor cat supplies without buying a bundle:

• Litter: honeycomb mat
• Scratching: wooden scratcher
• Sleep: self-warming cave
• Grooming: mist brush
• Play: rolling ball
• Harness: H-style cat harness

Around the litter box: catching tracked litter

Wondering how to stop cat litter tracking? Start with a honeycomb cat litter mat at the box exit, where it catches litter from your cat's paws as they step out. The Double-Layer Honeycomb Cat Litter Trapping Mat traps granules in its lower layer, above a waterproof base. Clean-Up has more mess-control supplies.

How to empty a double-layer honeycomb mat

Open it like an envelope, pour the litter back into the box and lay it flat. Shake or rinse the EVA mat weekly.

A scratching spot that spares the furniture

The Cat Scratcher Guy Wooden Cat Scratcher is handmade, with floor-protecting felt pads. Because it is a wooden cat scratcher with a replaceable insert, you keep the frame: flip the cardboard insert to use its second side, then replace the insert when it wears out (replacement inserts are not included).

Where to put a scratcher

Set it on a stable, level floor beside the sofa or rug your cat already scratches. Sprinkle a little included catnip on the insert.

A warm place to sleep

The GOOPAWS 4-in-1 Self-Warming Cat Cave Bed (21 × 17 × 3 inches) works as a bed, mat, cave or sack. Faux rabbit fur tops the cotton fill, and the self-warming design traps your cat's body heat. Beds & Comfort has more; our guide covers how to choose a cat bed.

Brushing with less hair in the air

The 3-in-1 Steam Grooming Brush mists as you brush, so more loose hair and dander collect on its pins and less ends up in the air. It suits cats and short-haired dogs.

Fill the tank, press to mist and brush with the coat. For heavy shedding or skin changes, ask your veterinarian. Grooming has more brushes; our guide compares slicker brushes and deshedding tools.

Chase play for indoor cats

The Motion-Activated Rolling Cat Toy Ball wakes at your cat's touch, then darts and changes direction. It runs about an hour per USB charge and suits hard floors and short-pile rugs. Stay nearby while it runs. After play, the SodaPup lick mat in Feeding & Enrichment suits cats too; see what to put on a lick mat.

Harness time starts indoors

The Lupine Pet Reflective H-Style Cat Harness is made in the USA, with 9–14 in and 12–20 in girth sizes and six reflective designs. Let your cat wear it indoors briefly, with you nearby, before adding a lightweight leash. It is also in Walking & Training, with our dog gear.

Cat essentials questions

What does an indoor cat need at home?

Beyond food, water and a litter box, plan for scratching, a warm bed, brushing, play and perhaps harness training. Ask your veterinarian about health needs.

Do litter mats really stop litter tracking?

Not completely. A cat litter mat cuts tracking most when it sits right at the box exit.

How do you empty a honeycomb litter mat?

Open it like an envelope and pour the trapped litter back into the box. Shake or rinse it weekly.

How do I get my cat to use a scratcher instead of the sofa?

Make it the easier choice. Put the scratcher beside the spot your cat targets and praise each use.

Is it safe to leave a cat alone with a motion-activated toy?

It is safer not to. Use it while you are home, check it for wear after each session and store it afterward. No toy is indestructible.