Can we answer twice? I've thought of three other extremely useful things:
1. Internet pet supply stores
2. Cat window perches that clamp/screw onto the sill - we have one in the living room and one in the kitchen, and the cat uses them constantly.
3. "Anchors" which screw into the lawn and can be used with a long lead to let the cat roam a bit outside while you supervise.
I would have to say my favorite three (ok, Shorty's favorite three) cat things are:
1. the little fuzzy balls....she picks them up and plays with them...plays with you....plays all by herself
2. her little kitty condo....another where she can play all by herself or sleep in it
3. running water from anywhere! She specifically likes the bathroom, as she doesn't get into trouble for it. lol I don't think we'll be getting a decorative fountain any time soon!
1. the scratching post, I had a hard time finding a tall sissle one that wasnt attached to a whole condo. A scratching post I would like to see is a wood one, with out the sissle on it for cats who like to scratch on wood work. I have seen them but only as part of a condo.
2. Hoots takes Glucosamine for her arthritis
3. the brush, and I still havent found a nail clipper that is easy to use.
Leaving out things that I'm considering as necessary (food, litter, litterbox), I'd have to say:
1. - Cat tree (Spike's always on it)
2 - Platforms for windows so Spike can sit and watch the birds outside.
3 - Toys... It's harding choosing one. The Turbo Scratcher has been great... Spike loves it. He also likes chasing after the fishing pole. And furry shaker mice... and jingly balls... you get the idea.
I'd also have to agree that all the information you can find on the web about cats, especially here at TCS, has been most helpful.
1. disposable cat litter trys with pre-filled cat litter, they only cost $2.00 at walmart which is cheaper than buying cat litter alone and all you do is swap it out with a new one when it needs changing!
2. tall cat tree with scratching post.
3. toys: "wand" type cat toys with feathers on the end and small furry mice.
my three things are:
1) cat towers (of course! LOL!)
2) a good cat food
3) plenty of things for my cats to do to keep them intertained while I am at work. (does that count?)
if not then #3 would be this site, I've learned so much here.
1. Cat tree
2. Petmate Fountain - They love it!
3. Turbo Scratcher - I've had it for about 9 years now and my younger ones still love to play with this.
1. Kittie Gym (it's about 6'9" with 5 levels and a big triangle they lay in that is dangling by a chain from an arm on the gym. THEY LOOOOVE THIS THING. Was the best $250 ever spent.
2. Drinkwell Pet Fountain. My cats absolutely hate drinking still water. They love that fountain though, the filter and running water must be the trick *wink*.
3. Honestly? My socks. They all have holes in them.. because the cats just won't stop playing with them. LOL