Cat Life

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How To Add Fun To Your Cat’s Life With A Subscription Cat Box

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Have you heard of a subscription cat box before? It is not quite like Stitch Fix for cats. Cats do definitely not like clothing (we will not talk about the time my husband tried to dress Nemo up for Halloween). Nor is it like Blue Apron because really once one of my cats likes a food she REALLY likes it. A subscription box is a curated box of goodies just for your cats! It comes monthly and adds a little excitement to their lives and ease to yours.

Why A Subscription Box?

One of my favorite things to do is buy my cats new toys. They are so excited! My “overgrown kittens” Eclair and Baklava love pretty much anything but my fourteen year old Nemo is a little more discerning in taste. The idea of a subscription box was appealing to me because I do not always go to the store to pick up cat food and litter. I actually never go to the store and just have our cat basics on Chewy autoship so it just shows up. This avoided a lot of frantic cat food trips but it also means I do not browse the pet store anymore. As much fun as it would be I am unlikely to make a trip to the pet store just to pick up toys and treat.

A subscription cat box also brings us toys that I would not pick out myself. I tend to get the cats toys that are similar to cat toys that they already have. Does your cat have a favorite brand of cat nip? Because Nemo definitely does. I do not have time to research all the newest trends in toys nor do I want to “test drive” a new product. The cat subscription box companies check out all the toys beforehand and find things that appeal to cats. Sometimes I am a little doubtful that my cats will like something but the cat subscription box testers are usually right and they end up loving it! There is nothing wrong with a new type of toy as long as someone, or some cat, pretested that it is safe and fun.

subscription cat box

My (Cats’) Favorite Box

There are several subscription cat boxes out there but my favorite is definitely the KitNipBox. They offer a diverse array of cat treats, toys and other products. You can check out the offerings in a recent box here. The products are well researched and less than 1% of the products that KitNipBox tests make it in to the box.

A monthly box of fun toys, healthy treats, and other goodies for your cat!

There are two KitNipBox options. A single cat box and a multi-cat box. The multi-cat box is definitely a better deal. At $29.95 it is jammed packed with enough fun for my three cats, two of which who are still VERY active. The single cat option is great too and has a lower price pint of $19.95 a month. Both boxes offer free shipping. If you are giving a KitNipBox as a gift you will also receive a discount on boxes when you buy multiple months at a time.

Another reason that I love this subscription cat box over others is that they offer a no treat/food option. When we had two older cats they were on prescription food and could not have anything extra. The company also donates a portion of their sales to animal welfare organizations making them a responsible choice!

I hope you and our cats love your KitNipBox as much as Nemo, Baklava, and Eclair do. Be sure to also check out our new cat tree and cat bed roundups to get your furry friend a place to snuggle up when they are tuckered out after a romp with their new toys.

A monthly box of healthy treats, unique toys, and other goodies for your cat!

The 15 Best Cat Beds

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There are a huge amount of cat beds on the market today. Big and small, high and low. So what do we look for in a cat bed? First of all comfort. If your cat does not want to use it then you are just wasting your money. Second we looked for an array of cat beds for different cat tastes. Some like to hide while other cats like to be ready to pounce from up high. Last, we looked for cat beds for different human tastes. Some people like unique looking cat beds while others like their cat beds to blend in. We have picked some more modern cat beds and also some that blend in to more traditional furniture.

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I Have A New Cat, Now What?

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.  Thank you for supporting my blog

Yay! You have a new cat! Or maybe you are about to get a cat and you are just planning ahead (good for you). Either way it is important to create a smooth transition for your new family member. These are our steps to help your new cat fit in right away!

Let Them Chill

Once your cat comes home you will want to give them some space. Make sure they know where the litter box is (put them right next to it immediately) but then let them explore. Give them places to hide. A cat bed or tree are good options but when my kittens came home they were happy to run back in their “cat box” from the shelter when they got overwhelmed.

I am also a big proponent of Feliway and other pheromones products. They are an easy way to help your cats feel a little calmer. I always spray it in their carriers to help calm them down and I think it is also great to put a difuser in a place wherever they spend a lot of time (ours is in the litterbox area)

Take Them To the Vet

Once you have finalized the adoption or otherwise brought your cat into your house you will want to take them to the vet. It is important to find a vet that is compassionate, highly trained and also in a practice that is cat friendly. Most shelters will advise you to go to the vet in the first two weeks. If your cat is not already spayed or neutered make sure to get to your vet as soon as possible.

It is important to see the vet to get a baseline of you cat’s health. You should bring any paperwork, including immunization records, that you have from the shelter or previous owner. You will talk to the vet about general and past health, feeding, litter box habits, and future vaccines and appoinments. Depending on the history they may also do blood work, stool sample or occasionally, depending on the age, get a urine sample.

new cat tips

If your cat does not already have a microchip it is imperative that you get one for your cat. In the unlikely event your cat gets lost and does not have a collar on they can be scanned when found and your contact information will be linked to the chip. Animal control, vets and some local police departments have chip scanners. While you think your new cat will never get out they might.

Right after we moved five years ago Nemo got out while I was bringing groceries through the garage one evening. We could not find her for eight days. We live in a small suburb and using the Nextdoor app people kept seeing her in the neighborhood but no one could catch her. Eventually someone reported her to public safety as wandering around a construction site.

Nemo is a sort of a weird cat in that she responds to whistling by meowing and coming to you. Luckily I was able to wander the area whistling and eventually she popped out a bush ready to go home. Long story short- microchip your cat because if someone else had been able to catch her they could have scanned her and returned her to us.

Set The New Cat Up For Success

The next step is easy: love your new cat! Make sure you have food, litter, some toys, a treat or two and a comfy place to lay and they will be okay. Depending on their personality and history they may jump right into your lap or take a while to adjust. As always make sure you are patient and respect your cats boundaries. Adopting a cat is a process and it may take a little bit of time for you to find your vibe together but cats are amazing, lovable companions and a great addition to any home.

Top Amazon Cat Gear

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.  Thank you for supporting my blog

We all love Amazon, right? It is quick, the prices are competitive and there is an amazing selection. This includes Amazon cat gear! From specialty brands to their housebrand, AmazonBasics, there are lots of cat products to make your life with your cat easier and more fun.

Best Beds

We have three cats and ten+ beds. Yes, it’s a little much but they all like different things at different times and I like to think that they serve different purposes. Amazon has some great options and is where most of our beds are from. First, my cats love their heated cat beds. Maybe we keep our house too cold and maybe they are just cozy but we have two K & H Thermo-Kitty Heated beds (the “one cat” and “two cat” models). These beds are warm and super soft.

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How To Adopt a Cat: Five Steps to Your Perfect Pet

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There are so many great things about owning cats. They are loving, loyal, fun and great companions. They are also (usually) one of the easier pets to own. Finding the right cat for you does not have to be hard but does involve a bit of preparation. Here we will take you through the basics of how to adopt a cat.

Think About Your Needs

What are you looking for in a cat? There are lots of questions to think about and talk over with your family other than just what color you want. Here are a few of the main questions to ask:

–Do you want to adopt a kitten or an older cat? Both have advantages and disadvantages. Kittens are cute, little and adorable. They also have a ton of energy which can be a good or a bad thing depending on your lifestyle. Older cats usually come litter box trained and can be a chill companion. After we got married my husband and I went looking for two kittens. We got a 3 year old bonded pair that were an amazing pair.

–Would you be willing to adopt a senior cat or one with some health issues? Senior cats can be amazing companions. They are obviously older so they MAY have health issues sooner. But they might not. Sometimes they are in the shelter longer so they are even happier to live a great life in your house.

–Do you want one cat or maybe a bonded pair? If you already have pets or a busy house then a single cat may be the right answer. But, if you are bring home your first pet then maybe you want to bring home to. A bonded pair can keep each other company if you work a lot or add double the extra fun to your house.

Find a Shelter

ASPCA and petfinder are both great places to start your shelter search. Which shelters are the closest and which have available pets are probably the two biggest factors in picking a shelter. Two questions to ask are what is included in the adoption fee and where do the cats come from. Adoption fees may include spay/neuter, follow up care or microchipping. Some of the sources for shelter cats include transports, animal control and people giving up their pets.

Pick The Perfect Cat

If you can then go visit the cats! Or if they are in a foster home check them out on the web. See which one will be a good fit but do not forget that the cats will be a little shy at first. The shelter staff (or foster parents) may be able to give you some insight into their personality! Be sure to ask any questions you have but remember they may not have been at the shelter very long so they may not have a ton of information on the cats.

how to adopt a cat

Prep For Your New Friend

First make sure you and your family are ready to adopt a cat. If you have kids let them know your cat or cats will be coming soon. Also, make sure you have a little more time the first few days to spend with your new cat. Buy some cat essentials including a box, litter and a few toys. Make sure to find out what food the shelter or foster has been giving them so that you can have some on hand.

Give Your Cat Time To Adjust

Your cat will need to decompress once she gets to your home. Make sure to give her places to hide and room and space to come out and visit when she is ready. Spraying some calming cat pheromones in the carrier or diffusing them in an area she will be in can also help ease the transition. In the end she may just need time to adjust to her sorroundings especially if you have other cats.

What’s Next?

Once they are settled in enjoy your new addition! I am sure your new pet will enjoy being in your home as much as you enjoy them being there.

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How To Introduce Cats: 6 Tips To Make It a Happy Transition

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.  Thank you for supporting my blog

Whether you are adopting a new cat or fostering a cat or two you will need to introduce your new cats to your resident cats. While this is fun for the owner it can be very stressful for the cats. Proper preparation can help ease this transition for everyone. Here are our tips on how to introduce cats to each other while keeping them as happy as possible.

Separate Everything

Make sure you have one of each of the essentials for each cat. Two litter boxes are necessary and if feasible they should be in different places. Also make sure the food and water dishes are in totally separate areas so they do not compete for resources. Adding an extra cat bed is also not a bad idea so your new cat does not borrow your resident cat’s favorite.

Stock Up On Treats

Your old cat walks by the new cat and does not hiss- have a treat. The new cat does not run away when the old cat comes in the room- have a treat. Reward BOTH cats every time they are nice, or at least are not fighting, chasing or hissing at each other. Giving them a treat during individual time with you or family members is also a great way to reinforce that they are special.

Give Them Places Be Alone

If someone came to your house unannounced and slept in your bed you would not be very happy. Neither will your cat. Make sure your resident cat can find places where they can be by themselves. Make sure to put their favorite cat bed in a place they can easily access. Put their cozy blanket next to you on the couch. You may also want to get your new cat a cat igloo or other enclosed structure. Cats love to hide and this will help your new cat acclimate to both your resident cat and your house.

Cat Toys for All

Distraction, Distraction, Distraction. Some new toys will keep the new cat occupied (especially if there is a kitten) and away from your current cat so that they have time to process their new friend. Be sure to grab your resident cats some toys too! We want to make sure your resident feels just as loved as always.

Cat trees are a great option because they double as a place for your cat to get away and a place for them to check out the new cat action without actually having to be in it. They can also be a fun place for the cats to play or at least get near each other (don’t forget to give them a treat when they do)

Stock Up On Pheromones

I am a huge fan of Feliway cat pheromones. I use the spray in the cat carrier and sprayed on the cat beds and have a diffuser in the area near the food. The pheromones have been shown to calm cats down and make them more relaxed. When we were adding kittens to my 15 year old’s solo life I also added a diffuser by her cat favorite (heated) cat bed and I think it really helped her with the transition.

Give Them Your Time

More than anything else both your your new and old cats need your love and attention. Make sure to leave room on your lap (both physically and metaphorically) for both cats! Be sure to remind any children and grandcatparents of this too because they tend to get wrapped up in “new kitty”.

Most of all make sure to keep your stress level low. It may take time but they will be able to learn to peacefully coexist or maybe even be friends!

how to introduce cats