Since we’ve had our cat, Slayer, for about a year and a half now, I thought I’d share some of the many cat things that have worked well for us over the past year+, including pajamas!

Before we got Slayer, it had been decades since I had a cat, and boy has the world of cat ownership changed. For one, did you know that you can teach a cat tricks?! And did I mentioned the pjs?!

Where to begin?

Cat Tricks

Let’s start with one of my favorite cat-focused instagram accounts. Surprisingly I do follow more than one cat-focused instagram account! I found Cat School when I was still doing some cat-care research before we got Slayer, and I’m so glad that I did. I was amazed to see cats doing all sorts of tricks, and it put me in the right mindset to understand that cats will be better pets if they are challenged mentally AND if given quality time to bond with their owns. Teaching your cat tricks accomplishes both of those goals!

Cat Snacks

Let’s start with snacks. This likely says more about me than the cat treat market, but I don’t think that I ever bought treats for my cats before Slayer.

There are a lot of cat treat options. I’m just sharing a few food-related items that have really worked well for us.

• Lickable Treats – we love the Churu brand lickable treats, particularly the fish varieties. Every cat that I know that’s tried these, loves them to the point that they will ignore everything going on around them to keep snacking. That’s great for you. We use these while trimming his nails, brushing his fur, and even giving him vaccines at the vet. In each case he’s so focused on the treat that he doesn’t make a fuss about any discomfort.

• Freeze Dried Minnows – these are a crunchy treat that he really loves. I use these whenever he’s practicing tricks or if I need to entice him to get into his carrier. How much does he love these? This is the only treat that he’s snuck up on, grabbed the whole bag, and ran off into the next room with the stolen goods.

• Water Fountain – cats need plenty of water, and I love this fountain because it holds a lot of water and recycles it through carbon filters.

• Frozen Raw Food (not pictured) – through research, I’ve learned that it’s important for cats to be served a combination of dry and wet food. They get a lot of their water needs from wet foods, and can suffer from kidney disease if just given dry food. I was turned off by most varieties of canned food, but our breeder told us about her homemade raw food. Being intimidated by the idea of buying organ meat and grinding it up for my cat, I found frozen raw options at our local pet store, and Slayer loves them!

• Cat Food Lid – I supplement Slayer’s raw food with canned fish options from Applaws, but usually never finish a can at a single meal. This cat food lip is perfect for covering the opened can between feedings.

Cat Travel

We’ve spent a surprising amount of time traveling with Slayer since we got him. He takes many 3+ hour car trips with us all winter for ski trips, and last summer I took him on a plane from the mountains to the east coast! These are items that have given us some peace of mind while traveling.

• Backpack Carrier – this is the exact carrier that we have. It has plenty of screens for ventilation and visibility, and four different doors that offer a variety of entry/exit options. In particular, I love that it can be worn as a backpack or opened up to give the cat even more room to turn around and stretch out. Slayer loves his carrier and even uses it as a bed and tunnel toy when not traveling. We helped to him get used to the carrier by keeping it upon and out in the house, so he can go in it any time, not just for travel. Early on we used treats to encourage him to get into the carrier and to walk through it like a tunnel (with two sides open).

• Calming Pheromone Diffuser – whenever we get to a new place, or even when we have visitors at our house, I like to plug in one of these calming pheromone diffusers. It doesn’t have a scent that’s perceptible to humans, but it really does seem to calm a stressed cat. We also used this when he was having a problem using his litter box. We thought that the problem might have been stress from visitors, and this helped him mellow out.

• AirTag – For peace of mind, we have an airtag attached to Slayer’s collar. If you have an iphone, airtags can be a great way to keep track of belongings or pets. By using the “Find My” app on your phone, you can see where your tagged belongings are (as long as they are close enough to other iphones or your wifi network).

• AirTag Collar – We use the airtag with this collar, and it’s been a great combination for us. At first I was worried that the tag would be too bulky, but I like that it sits flush with the collar, and it never seems to bother Slayer.

Cat Naps

Ok, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the cat pjs! Like any cat worth his salt, Slayer loves a good nap, and here are a few of his favorite beds.

• Cat Window Seat (perfect for smaller windows) – there are a lot of fantastic looking cat window seats on the market, but we got this one because it fits in a skinnier window. We put it in the perfect spot near our front door where Slayer likes to watch the birds and traffic go by. When it’s quiet, he’ll eventually settle down for a good nap.

• Tiny Tent – if you love the outdoors and camping, then this is the cutest stinking cat bed! I bought it for Slayer last Christmas because it went with the camping theme of presents that we bought for the boys. Fortunately for us, Slayer took to the tent immediately and loves both playing and sleeping in it!

• Cozy Cat Bed – this bed is so cozy that I want one for myself. It’s not something that Slayer uses every day, but I see him gravitate to it on particularly cold days.

Cat’s Pajamas!

And last but not least, the cat’s pajamas. We are so lucky that Slayer is such a mellow cat. With our trusty lickable treats in hand, this cat will do anything for us, including wearing costumes!

In his short life, we filled his closet with a red puffer, several halloween costumes, and pjs. The matching pjs were the biggest hit, but really, any time we put something on him, the kids go crazy. And Slayer’s oblivious to the limelight, he’s just there for the treats.