Cats

Walking a cat isn’t like walking a dog. Cats don’t heel. They don’t pull toward fire hydrants. They freeze mid-step because a leaf moved. And if the harness fits poorly, they turn into a furry liquid and slip right out of it. Cats have a weird anatomy trick — their collarbones float, unattached to the rest of the skeleton. That means they can compress their chest and back out of anything that isn’t snug. We found 6 harness-and-leash sets that stay on, feel comfortable, and won’t send you sprinting across the park. ...

Most cats will sit and stare out a window for hours if you let them. Birds, squirrels, leaves blowing — it’s cat television. But not every window has a sill wide enough for a cat to sit on, and ground-level windows don’t give them the height they want. A window perch fixes both problems. It attaches to the glass and gives your cat a spot to watch the world from, at their preferred altitude. We tested 6 for stability, weight capacity, comfort, and how annoying they are to install. ...

A pet stroller sounds like a luxury until your senior dog can’t finish the block, your cat needs fresh air without roaming, or you’re carrying a small dog through a crowded street fair because their legs gave out twenty minutes ago. Then it’s not a luxury — it’s mobility. I tested seven pet strollers and wagons. All-terrain models for trails. Lightweight city strollers for sidewalks. Multi-pet wagons for households with more than one furry passenger. Some are overpriced junk. A few surprised me. Here are the ones I’d buy. ...

Dogs and cats don’t sweat the way we do. They pant, they find tile floors, they dig holes in the garden to reach cooler soil underneath. On a hot day, a good cooling mat gives them a relief spot they can use anytime. We put six pet cooling mats through their paces — pressure-activated gel mats, water-filled pads, and evaporative cooling mats — to find the ones that actually stay cool and hold up to claws, teeth, and daily use. ...

Cats need to hunt, pounce, and chase even if there’s nothing in the house to hunt. Without an outlet, that instinct turns into shredded furniture, knocked-over glasses, and midnight zoomies across your face. Interactive toys bridge the gap — they give your cat a way to act like a predator without treating your ankles like prey. I tested six interactive cat toys across three categories: automated toys (run on their own while you work), puzzle toys (mental stimulation), and interactive wands for actual playtime together. Some are brilliant, some are overpriced junk, and a few genuinely surprised me. ...

An automatic pet feeder frees you from rigid feeding schedules, keeps portions consistent for weight management, and gives you peace of mind when you’re working late or away for the day. The right feeder dispenses exactly the right amount at exactly the right time, every time. But with options ranging from simple $30 gravity feeders to $200 WiFi-connected smart stations, choosing the right one takes some thought. We tested six of the best automatic pet feeders for cats and dogs, comparing capacity, scheduling features, power backup, and real-world reliability. ...

Cats are sleep connoisseurs. The average housecat logs 12–16 hours of sleep per day, and they have strong opinions about where those hours are spent. The wrong bed gets ignored. The right bed becomes a permanent installation. We tested 6 of the best cat beds in 2025 across four categories: covered caves for security-seekers, heated beds for cold climates, orthopedic loungers for senior cats, and window perches for sun-worshippers. Top 6 Cat Beds 1. K&H Thermo-Kitty — Best Heated Check Price on Amazon → The Thermo-Kitty uses a 4-watt heating pad that warms to your cat’s body temperature — it only heats when the cat is on it. Dual-thermostat safety means it won’t overheat, and the removable cover is machine-washable. For cats in cold basements, drafty apartments, or arthritis-prone seniors, this bed transforms winter. ...

Getting your cat into a carrier is hard enough. The carrier itself shouldn’t make it harder. The right carrier makes vet visits, road trips, and even air travel safer and less stressful for both of you. The wrong carrier is a wrestling match with a terrified animal, a security risk at the airport, and a source of anxiety that can linger for days after the trip ends. We tested six carriers across every category — soft-sided, hard-shell, backpack, and airline-approved models — so you can find the right one for your cat, your travel style, and your budget. ...

A good litter box is the difference between a happy cat and one that starts using your laundry basket. Cats are fastidiously clean animals, and when their litter box is too small, too dirty, or too hard to access, they’ll find somewhere else to go. We tested the best cat litter boxes available right now, from high-tech self-cleaning models to simple, affordable open pans, so you can find the setup that works for your cat and your home. ...

Cats scratch. They don’t do it to spite you or your sofa — it’s how they stretch, shed old claw sheaths, and mark what’s theirs. If you don’t give them something good to scratch, they’ll improvise. Usually on your favorite chair. Here are the best cat scratching posts you can buy right now, from tall sisal towers to wall-mounted space-savers and full-size cat trees that do a lot more than just scratch. ...