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Cat stuff from THE cat expert for new cat owners

Purple Star emoji 43 items
I live love laugh cats!! I have a colony of ten, volunteer at a rescue, and catsit on Rover. These are products I stand by as someone who's been in the presence of 100+ cats. If you like the item I recommended, please reuse the link so I can earn com...rover.com/sit/karenc87135
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Tools

These are the cat essentials that I use/seen clients use which I found useful. I NEVER recommend an item I’ve never bought
 
Karen Chen profile picture
The pink is a lovely color, the trimmer is compact and angled for optimal use. Love the lifetime warranty. Comfy grip and sharp
Mr. Pen Cat Nail Trimmer
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Karen Chen profile picture
Cat bowls slip and slide no matter the material. This one has a rubber bottom so it’s non skid. My client whose cat is wobbly uses it
Frisco Stainless Steel Taper Non-Skid Bowl
 
Karen Chen profile picture
A no brainer, everyone who uses wet food cans could use this
Frisco Silicone Pet Food Can Cover
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Karen Chen profile picture
The most popular option when it comes to reducing tracking next to the litter box. I see most homes use this material. This option from Target had a variety of sizes/colors
Everyday Chenille Bath Rug
 
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This brush collects the fur for you and you just need to push it out. Who doesn’t love a good brush?
Self-Cleaning Brush for Cats - Easy Fur Removal & Bristle Care
 
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I love a good metal scoop. Scooping stinky litter is hard enough, who wants to struggle with a bendy plastic scoop?
PETMATE Metal Litter Scoop
 
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This rug is perfect to sneak treats and toys for cats to “hunt”. An enriching and hands off toy. Plus, it’s perfect for naps
Ripple Rug for Playtime and Naps
 
Karen Chen profile picture
Every cat needs a scratcher that doubles as a bed. The pattern is cute and the box setup means it will catch the mess
Frisco Step In Cardboard Cat Scratcher Toy Constellation Pattern
 
Karen Chen profile picture
Tofu litter is the best litter I’ve come across. There’s virtually no dust, pee clumps up well and poo is easy to scoop. Poop smell gets covered up. It is pricy but worth every penny. The pellets are big and are less prone to getting stuck on paws or...
Pidan 3-in-1 Blend Cat Litter (11.46 lb) – Odor Control, Clumping, and Low Dust from Chewy
 
Karen Chen profile picture
This litter house looks like any cabinet and fits in perfectly depending on the style of your furniture. Keeps tracking to a minimum
Litter Box Furniture Cat House, White, Large
 
Karen Chen profile picture
Stainless steel pans are impossible to damage and infinitely more durable than plastic. I find that cats scratch plastic bins and the poop/litter gets trapped in between the groves, making them impossible to clean out and keeping odors.
Ptlom Paw Print High-Sided Cat Litter Pan | Chewy.com
 
Karen Chen profile picture
Do you have a little rascal who likes to eat their siblings food? This microchip feeder will only open for the right cat and keep the thieves away
SureFeed Microchip Small Dog & Cat Feeder (Automatic Pet Feeder)
 
Karen Chen profile picture
An eco friendly option as it’s made from recycled cardboard. The boxes are water resistant and perfect for temporary stays or just so you never have to scrub a giant plastic box
Disposable Cardboard Litter Box

Food

Tested by yours truly. Cat food is the most important thing to consider for the longevity of your babies. FYI: DONT use a dented can
 
Karen Chen profile picture
A classic. It's a good middle ground in the world of cat food. Not the cheapest but not too pricy. I chose Chewy because they have a $30 gift card with $100 order. Plus Chewy prices compare to Amazon
Fancy Feast Classic Paté Cat Food
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Karen Chen profile picture
Fancy Feast petites, they're chunky wet food that comes in a plastic container instead of the can. Some people find the plastic difficult to open
Fancy Feast Petites
 
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A pate that comes in pyramid shape and topped with gravy. I got this as a free sample from FF and the cats loved it
Fancy Feast Gems
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Karen Chen profile picture
Meow Mix. A tale as old as time. It's not the fancy new age cat foods, but it gets the job done.
Meow Mix Dry Food
 
Karen Chen profile picture
I prefer to cook fresh chicken but that’s not always an option, so this is a great alternative. Once upon a time, a rescue I helped out at rescued an EXTREMELY feral mom. This was all she ate.
Inaba Grilled Chicken Fillet in Sauce
 
Karen Chen profile picture
No artificial flavors or preservatives is nice. My one gripe with it is that when you split it in half, sometimes the plastic tears off
Sheba pate
 
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I’ve tried many dry foods with cats and they always finish this one
Fancy Feast Dry Cat Food
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This is a mixed bag, some cats will eat and others will only eat when they’re starving. Not a fan favorite but is affordable
Purina Friskies Shreds
 
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I’m iffy about giving cats the grain free foods. But this is yummy. I’ve never seen cats fed only tiki, people pair it with a dry food. A story: once upon a time I sat for a cat who hates me and lunges when I walk past. I needed a bag to hold between...
Tiki Cat Grill Variety Pack Grain-Free Cat Food

Toys

Toys I’ve personally used. Ranging from low human to high human effort😸
 
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Great chase toy. Some cats actually prefer the string than the ribbon/feather
Feather Wand Toy
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Karen Chen profile picture
If you give a cat a toy mouse…they’ll play with it and you don’t have to watch a poor mouse die! Zero effort toy, 10/10
Frisco Mice Plush Cat Toy with Catnip
 
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Yes, you need to press on the button for the laser to appear and yes it’s battery operated. But also, it’s super portable and perfect keychain addition
Single Dot Laser Toy
 
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Very simple toy and the wire is bouncy. Barely any effort on you and still very fun for the cat
Cardboard & Wire Teaser Cat Toy
 
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What cat doesn’t love a good old string?
String/ribbon toy
 
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Cute toy and they love to kick this thing. It has a crinkle texture and lasts a long time
Pickle “I’m a big dill” toy
 
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It’s rechargeable which is really convenient and more eco friendly. A bit chunkier though and no keychain option. The pro is that the laser has different patterns(butterfly/star/smiley face). Plus you don’t have to hold the button the whole time
Rechargeable Laser Pointer
 
Karen Chen profile picture
The cats love the string, ribbon, plush - basically every part of the toy! Tested on real cats
Frisco Octopus toy

Treats

I love trying out new treats. I’m very conscious of ingredients and past controversies and would NOT recommended something I’m not 100% sure on using on my own cats
 
Karen Chen profile picture
99% of cats like this, helped me tame so many feral cats
INABA Churu Cat Treats
 
Karen Chen profile picture
Catit has a thicker consistency and a stronger smell compared to Churu. It's a tiiinnnyyyy bit of an effort to squeeze out, but still they enjoy it
Catit Creamy Lickable Cat Treat
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Karen Chen profile picture
Temptations squeeze treats are slightly more affordable than Churu. They are made with real meat, of course, and do not use fillers such as corn, wheat, or soy.
Temptations Squeeze Treat
 
Karen Chen profile picture
My younger cats who have good teeth love this and it’s so cute, heart shaped!
Bonkers Purrpops Chicken and Catnip
 
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They loved the small pack so much that I just HAVE to buy in bulk.
Bonkers Bites Chicken
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Karen Chen profile picture
Good for throwing at strays to get them closer and more comfy with you
TEMPTATIONS Classic Chicken Cat Treats
 
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Dry cat treat with dual texture. This one provides fiber and has no artificial flavors/fillers
Greenies Smartbites Chicken Flavor
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Karen Chen profile picture
loved by 10/10 cats, nothing bad to say
Bonkers Cat Treat - Crunchy Chicken
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Karen Chen profile picture
Something non puree but also not dry, a happy medium
Purrsticks by VitaKraft
 
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Another chewy stick treat, I find that it's a more affordable alternative to the VitaKraft one
Sheba Meaty Sticks
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Karen Chen profile picture
Dried shrimp so you don't need to buy and cook fresh ones. It's sustainably caught and has no other ingredients
Freeze-Dried Shrimp
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It's not very “strong”, but still get the cats high
SmartyKat Catnip
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A new competitor to the market of lickable treats. Purrly was well adored by the picky cats in the rescue. I love the fact that the treats contain salmon oil, prebiotics, and lysine
Premium Lickable Cat Treat