News

Sep 05, 2023

24 Things That'll Really Come In Handy If You Live With Two Or More Cats

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

These reviewer-backed products will help keep everyone happy — you and your feline clan included.

BuzzFeed Staff

This starter kit gets you the diffuser head and one vial of Feliway; refills are also available on Amazon. Keep in mind that if you're introducing a new cat, you should *still* take proper precautions like keeping them separate for a while, doing smell introductions first, etc.

Promising review: "I can’t express enough how much this has changed mine and my cats' lives. Merging two households wasn’t easy on the cats. One male cat had a hard time moving into a new house with new pets. He had terrible behavior problems and would cause us and the other cats a lot of stress. His bullying led to the other two cats having health problems. He would get into moods where he would chase and attack the others and would not let up. We tried everything the vet suggested to reduce theses incidences, but getting Feliway was the only thing that worked. He is a completely different cat now. He is calm and his outbursts rarely happen. He has become a couch cat and has turned into the sweetest boy. The other cats aren’t stressed anymore and neither are we. We have three diffusers in the three rooms we have had incidences in. It definitely has more of an affect on the male cats than the female. If you aren’t noticing a difference with one diffuser I would suggest getting a second. We couldn’t believe that this one product could fix everything, but it did. If he starts to act out again we check the diffusers, and sure enough, one of them will be out. If your cats are having any behavior problems or stress please try this!" —Kristine Spencer

Get it from Amazon for $25.47.

I've been using this trapper mat for months now, and while it's pretty much impossible to eliminate all litter from your home if you own even one cat, let alone multiple, this mat has made keeping the floor of my litter box room MUCH more manageable. Unlike other mats, where the litter just kind of sits on top and eventually gets kicked elsewhere, this mat is designed so that the litter falls through the holes and stays inside the mat until you're ready to dump it. It's made out of an EVA material that's supposed to be gentle enough for cat paws, and my two kitties don't seem to have a problem walking on it. I *highly* recommend getting the larger 30-by-24-inch mat to extend the coverage area — I initially got the smaller one but went back for the larger size and it's perfect. Note that the mat will probably have a fold down the middle when it first arrives, but just give it some time and weigh it down with something if needed; it'll lay flat.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

Cats who like to tear big holes in litter box liners make them pretty much pointless to use, but reviewers say these heavy-duty liners are sturdy enough to withstand the shredding. These are jumbo-size too, so they'll fit most litter boxes.

Promising review: "I have two indoor cats, and one indoor/outdoor cat split among three litter boxes. These liners hold up for several weeks without ripping, and are scooped daily. My cats love to pee in the corners, so I constantly have to scrub against the corners with the litter scooper and they have yet to rip. The other brands I tried, all eventually ripped." —Eric

Get a pack of 15 from Amazon for $9.84 (also available in a pack of five and two colors).

Not to scare you, but I once had to take a cat to the vet because the other one accidentally scratched his ear while playing (unbeknownst to me) and it got infected. Now I make *extra* sure I trim those nails when they start to get extra sharp. If you're new to trimming your cats' nails, you can start with just one or two nails at a time to get them used to the process, and of course, be sure to give them a treat afterward. 😊

Promising review: "These were way better than expected. Most of my life, I have used human nail clippers for cats. I have tried nail scissors unsuccessfully. We also tried another brand of cat claw trimmers that were guillotine style, but splintered their nails. These cut so smoothly, easily (without needing a lot of pressure), and so cleanly with no splintering at all. Just mad at myself I waited this long to get them. I truly didn’t expect such an affordable pair would perform this well." —interiorlulu

Get them from Amazon for $7.68.

I've owned this exact cat tree for about a year and a half now and have to say, for the amount of use you (well, your cats) get out of it, it's a steal at this price. My cats (that's them on the right above) are on this thing EVERY day. There are sisal-covered posts along the entire height of it for your cats to scratch, and the rope is just now starting to come apart from the amount of feverish scratching my younger cat, Chicho, has done to it (which, for $70, I'm not mad about). Now, there are some parts of this tree my adult cats simple weren't interested in using: the hammock on the first level, the cubby hole on the second, and the tunnel on the third. Those are absolutely designed for kittens, making this a great tree for cats of all ages. My cats prefer the two top tiers of the tree and the side basket — which my very thick older cat, Sneaky, curls up in for his afternoon naps every single day. I appreciate that this cat tree doesn't take up a *ton* of space either and fits very well in my NYC apartment. If you've got a couple of kitties and haven't gotten them a dedicated cat tree yet, take this as your sign that it's worth it!

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in six colors).

Living that multi-cat life doesn't *have* to mean living under a thick layer of fur at all times.

Promising review: "Ok. This is the f*ing GOAT. My boyfriend has a beautiful velvet couch. Not only do we have two cats but it is also a magnet for lint. I was wasting sheets of lint rollers that still took too long to de-lint the couch. Then I bought this thing that looked like volcanic rock but still didn’t do it and discarding the lint on that thing was impossible and I ended up just moving the lint around on the couch. I waited a good three weeks for this to arrive, first seeing it on IG. I got it today. I immediately went at it on the couch and it took like three minutes and two times emptying the trap. The inventor deserves a Nobel Peace Prize because I’ve had fighting fits with my bf over this couch. Now I don’t have to cover it up in a cheap sheet. I have never loved an object so much in my life." —Son He

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

When my mom first told me about this $500 automatic litter box she'd read about somewhere, my eyes just about popped out of my head thinking about spending that much on a thing that my cats poop in. But after thinking about it some more, I realized it's actually a pretty reasonable investment since I plan on owning cats forever but shamefully hate cleaning out their litter boxes as often as they really should be.

I've been using the Litter Robot myself for almost a year now, and I'm pretty sure both me and my two cats are way happier for it. After a cat is done using it, the Litter Robot waits a set amount of time until the cat's presence is no longer detected, then begins to rotate, collecting the waste into a bag at the bottom while retaining the clean litter in the barrel. I usually don't detect a smell from it afterward, though once the bag starts to get really full, you might get a subtle reminder that you need to take it out. I only have to take out that bag about once a week, and a flashing light will let you know when it's full.

Initially, the cats were a little spooked by the sound of the Litter Robot during a cycle, and for the first few weeks, they would just sit and stare at it, as if it would get up and run at them if they took their eyes off it. At this point, though, they've completely adjusted and accepted it as their way of life, making my life a heck of a lot easier while ensuring they always have a clean bed of litter. It's a pricey purchase, to be sure, but if cleaning out the litter box daily or even every other day is hard for you and you'd rather not think about it much at all, I say the Litter Robot is worth it. One thing to note: It's quite large, so make sure you have a dedicated space for it.

Get it from Litter Robot for $549 (available in white or gray).

Looking for a cheaper option? Here's another self-cleaning cat litter box from Amazon that reviewers like — it's smaller and utilizes disposable trays instead.

Reviewers say it works for both small and bigger cats alike! One reviewer's tip: Make sure the side without the grooved lid is facing a wall so that cats can't jump out that way (the grooved side is what prevents litter tracking).

Note that if you have a senior cat with limited mobility, you'd want to provide a litter box with low, easy access for that cat.

Promising review: "We have three cats and have to manage a silly amount of cat politics. We've learned that having a higher number of litter boxes, and spread to multiple locations, cuts way down on bullying and helps cats to feel safe, [as they are] instinctively territorial about where they put their scent and feel vulnerable when they're 'in the act'. This cat box helps to be able to have boxes in rooms of the house where a cat box would feel garish, not to mention the litter mess. It took a little while for my cats to try it out but they're using it now and don't get to kick the gravel out everywhere (I swear they do it on purpose)." —Dism

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three colors and two styles).

Promising review: "OMG this is disgusting!!! I hope this isn't all just cat pee that shows up cause there is a lot! I bought this because I thought my cat was peeing in one room and couldn't find the exact spot so I bought this. Found the spot and more. Would recommend." —Momof3boys

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

Carpet messes are undoubtedly the worst to clean up — it's "funny" how they always choose to have their accident there — but you can also use this on clothes and other surfaces like concrete and hardwood. Just be sure to follow the instructions carefully for non-carpet use.

Promising review: "I have six elderly cats, and a few of them oftentimes leave smelly pee puddles to register their disdain at whatever cats get 'peed off' about. It's not a litter box problem and, although I've caught one or two of them doing it, I can't blame them all. This product works great on fresh messes as well as dried ones. After blotting up fresh pee pods, I saturate the area with Rocco & Rossi's odor remover and let dry. For dried stinky stuff, I just saturate the area and let it dry. It has a pleasant odor and completely eliminates the ammonia odor. Believe me, I've tried all kinds of products, and this one works the best. I buy gallons now just to have on hand. It's better than smelling that awful pee!" —mona mia

Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in two sizes).

Rocco & Roxie is a family-owned small business named after the Magleby family's pets Rocco, a Labradoodle, and Roxie, a former shelter tabby cat. They make a variety of pet supplies, including cleaners, treats, grooming tools, accessories, and toys.

Check out our in-depth Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator review for more!

Promising review: "Like most reviewers here, I purchased after a bad experience with evacuating my two cats during a fire alarm. I needed something I could carry easily and get both of them in, bonus points if I could store it compactly. They are both 13–14 pounds and from nose to butt about 16 inches long. I took this bag for a test drive and yes they were pretty cramped but there’s really no way to make the bag larger and still be carried by a small person (as a small person it’s difficult not to tip over with it as is). Put this to the test with a fire alarm in my building this week. I laid the pack on its back so the two front windows were facing up, dragged the babies from their hiding places and dropped them right in. It was shockingly painless compared to getting them into hard plastic carriers (they usually grab onto the metal doors and resist going in but with this there was nothing to grab until they were in it, because of the flexible material). We were the first ones out of the building. Turned out it was a small, real fire in another unit this time and no one was hurt but now I feel 100% sure they will be safe. Bonus: None of the dozens of dogs also evacuated noticed them in backpack form and left them alone, and I got lots of compliments!" —Elizabeth Doughty

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in three sizes and three colors).

This robo vac can easily move between hard floors and low-pile carpets/rugs and can pick up all the accumulated dust, dirt, and hair while you go about your day.

Promising review: "First of all, I LOVE this vacuum. We have a smaller, single-level house with mainly tile floors and low pile carpet... and three indoor/outdoor cats. I hate vacuuming. The cats hated me vacuuming. The Eufy has solved both our issues. I hit the button in the morning or evening, and the little guy trundles around bouncing off of corners and chair legs and the occasional cat butt, and by the time it's done the floor is debris-free. I will say, it's far better at picking up hay bits and sand and cat fur than I expected. It does occasionally catch a stray cord, and it has gotten stuck on the rug with fringed edges a time or two, but for the most part it's really low maintenance and MUCH quieter than I was expecting. The cats, after an initial period of stalking it around the house, mainly ignore it entirely. It's only (slight) flaw is that longer strands of hair (mostly mine) and other strings/threads it pulls from throw rugs tend to wind themselves up around the brush. That said, it's super easy to remove and clean the brush once a week or so. The dust bin gets emptied every other use and hasn't been completely full yet." —SunnySD

Get it from Amazon for $229.99+ (available in two colors).

It captures not only pet dander and odors but also dust, smoke, pollen, and other indoor irritants that you don't see but can be harmful for you and any children.

Promising review: "I foster kittens for a rescue, and no matter how often I clean the boxes, I still have an odor in the room. I got this product out of desperation. It was a good size and weight for kitties bouncing around. I am truly shocked and enormously happy with how it works! My husband was at wits' end with his sensitive nose. He goes in there now and is astonished, no smell. We are getting another for the kitchen! The room is 10x10, and I use it on the 2 setting. I also enjoy the night light. Very helpful without disturbing sick sleepy babies recovering from illness." —Victoria Mohagen

Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in black or white).

You get a large 33-quart bin and a smaller, stackable 12-quart bin, so if you have two different types of dry food you can store them separately, or just use the top bin to store supplies, treats, etc. You could also use the bottom bin for storing cat litter and the top bin for food — the options here are endless! The wheels on the bottom bin make it easy to roll around, a helpful feature for those with limited mobility or less arm strength. A scoop is included!

Promising review: "These storage boxes are excellent for protecting pet food from bugs and mice. The smaller container can hold just under an 11-pound bag of cat food. The cat food we use has crunchy and soft morsels. The soft morsels stay soft and the scent from the food when opening the container is fresh and sustained. The bottom container holds up to 25-pound bag of dog food. It has the same results too. The wheels make it convenient to store in a pantry or closet and slide out when needed." —Shannon Campbell

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two sizes and in 11 colors).

According to Amazon, I have ordered this stuff 46 times going all the way back to 2017, and I swear by it. First of all, the convenience of putting a 40-pound bag on subscription and having it straight to your door can't be understated. As someone who lives in New York without a car, I don't really have another choice, but even if you can drive to the pet store and buy litter, this is way easier, especially when you're caring for a large number of cats. People have all sorts of opinions on the "best" type of litter to use with your cat, but a good clumping, low-dust, low-tracking formula is one you can't go wrong with, and Dr. Elsey's checks all those boxes. It does a solid job of covering the odor (as long as you're scooping regularly), and paired with a good trapper mat to catch what your cats track out as they exit, you won't end up with it all over your house.

Promising review: "Several years ago I saw this litter in a review on a cat veterinarian's website. I had tried many different brands and types of cat litter — clay, paper, corn, etc. — because I wanted to find one with minimal dust. I ordered a bag and have never purchased another brand since. I have found this litter works for multiple cats equally as well. No perfume smell, little to no dust, reduced tracking, clumps well, longer time between changes, and has great odor control." —mydogtate

Get it from Amazon for $18.17+ (available in two sizes).

Simply B Vermont is a small business located in, you guessed it, Vermont. They make all kinds of adorable pet accessories and toys for cats AND dogs.

Promising review: "Fast shipping, seller was super thoughtful and attentive, and most important of all our kitties are obsessed with these balls! Even my shyer one is running around with these having an absolute blast even without my tossing them around. It’s also wearing her out which is quite hard to do. Highly recommend!" —Ketti Schulenberg

Get a set from Simply B Vermont on Etsy for $8.75+ (available in six styles including custom and with refills).

It can also help discourage them from hiding under furniture!

Promising reviews: "A must-have for ALL pet owners. This contraption is genius and will save cat (and dog) owners insane amounts of time and frustration retrieving toys. We used this beneath our oven and it works PERFECTLY. Cat can't destroy it (the way she shredded the foam insulation we had stuffed under there before) and we no longer have to get the yardstick out when literally all of her toys are 'gone.' Yes, this is a challenge to install, but 100% worth it. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat." —Allison Goldstein

Get it from Amazon for $14.98+ (available in three sizes).

I've used this exact gate in the past and found it really easy to set up in my doorway, and it's *extremely* sturdy once you adjust the tension properly — I can't see any dogs being able to break through, and it's made of metal, which discourages chewing. I personally used it when I adopted my younger cat and needed to slowly introduce him to my older cat. The space between the bars were wide enough for them to see and sniff each other without any possibility of them fighting. I will say that once the younger cat got braver, he was able to leap over the top of it, but my older, bigger cat could not (which meant the younger cat always had a means of escape). So keep that in mind, depending on your use case. You can also install it a few inches above the ground to get some extra height.

Promising review: "We just bought a second one of these as we recently opened up our spare room again. We have four cats and two dogs, and prefer to keep the dogs out of the carpeted rooms during the day, so these gates are a great solution to still allowing the cats free roam. They are very easy to set up (no tools needed unless you are mounting them to the wall — but I've found the regular setup is plenty sturdy without mounting). Many of the bad reviews come from people who simply didn't read the instructions and the big warning label explaining that it is designed to have a gap before setup in order for the pressure mounting to function properly." —Kira Goldfarb

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

Promising review: "Our two cats love this — we have three in various rooms in the house. The scratcher really helps with our overly aggressive cats who like to 'nuzzle' our tv trays while we have coffee on them/almost tipping them over — we just pick them up, set the cat near one of the scratchers and re-direct them that way. We used those peel-and-stick velcro tabs to affix to the corner of the kitchen island and two hallway corners. They have been up for over 6 months at this point — no issue!" —wmchef

Get it from Amazon for $4.99.

The middle of the tube has a plush cat bed in it, so they can also take cat naps there if they prefer to use the tunnel for play. You could also lay a blanket in the tunnel for added comfort!

Promising review: "My cats absolutely love this thing! When I was putting it together, my 20-pound tabby immediately went inside the tube, and did not come out for over an hour! It was easy to put together (even with a 20-pound cat inside lol). But, this entire thing set up is about 3 feet long. It is HUGE. Make sure you have room!! The material is surprisingly soft, outside and inside the tunnel. And the light coloring allows light to filter through, which my cats like (I had a black tunnel that neither of them would go into). My smaller 10-pound tabby (black nose) LOVES to run around the house, and now he has added running a few laps inside this tunnel to his run lol. Both cats play in this ALL THE TIME. Both on the inside chasing each other, or one on the inside and one outside batting at each other. They use the tunnel as a good napping spot, and also a spot to hide from the vacuum or guests they aren't sure of. This has gotten soooooo much use from both cats. I would highly recommend this!!" —Trebeca

Get it from Amazon for $39.50+ (available in four patterns).

It comes with a cotton canvas tent, pine wooden poles for setting it up, and pom-pom pad for them to lay on (though of course you could put your own bed on top of it). Reviewers say it's spacious enough for big cats too!

Promising review: "This is hands-down the most adorable cat bed ever! They love it. They barely waited on me to finish before they crawled in. I'm in love! It easily fits my 20-pound girl PLUS two other normal-sized kitties inside." —Beevil

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three colors).

The box includes matatabi chew sticks, silvervine powder, valerian root, and an all-natural blend of catnip packed with the most potent part of the plant: its flowers. This'll help you figure out which of your cats have special preferences so they can enjoy an exciting new toy just like their catnip-loving siblings. The basic box comes with one refillable toy, but you can have more added too.

Meowy Janes is a small New Jersey-based business that sells all natural catnip and alternatives such as whole silvervine fruit.

Promising reviews: "I have three cats. One I knew would like everything, but the other two don't really go for catnip — until the Meowy Janes box showed up. They all *love* everything in the box, including the packaging lol, and I am kicking myself I didn't get more kick toys! Guess I'll be back for more! Thank you so much!!! Also, shipping was SO FAST." —Jocelyn Freeman

Get it from Meowy Janes on Etsy for $35.50+ (available with up to four refillable toys). They sell everything separately in their shop too, so once you figure out what your cats like, you can always order more of that specific item!

It's flavored with cat sugar, catnip, silvervine, and gall fruit, respectively.

Promising review: "My cats absolutely LOVE this toy! I really like that it adheres to wherever you want to put it, PLUS it is a no mess catnip/treat option for your furry babies! I bought two and WILL be getting more soon, I love them that much! HIGHLY recommend this product and this seller!!!!! Seller is also really sweet and is quick to respond to emails should you have any questions! You don't find customer service like this anymore, THE BEST!!!" —Pumphrey

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in two styles).

Psst — the cat door from Etsy above would work well as an entrance to this. It's also worth noting you could set this up inside your home near a window as a big indoor play area, like some reviewers did! It has a 5.5-foot tall front door for humans to pass through for playing and cleaning.

Promising review: "Our two cats love their catio! I installed it next to a window and modified the screen so they could move in and out when they wanted. They spend hours out there watching birds and enjoying the outdoors. Assembly was simple and the instructions were easy to understand. I did need some minor help from my wife for a few steps but otherwise it was a one-man job. It is sturdy and seems quite weatherproof. Good purchase." —Bart A.

Get it from Amazon for $346.99.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.