‘It saved my couch’: 10 must-have items cat owners swear by to pet-proof their home

Feliway

Optimum Cat Calming Diffuser Kit

from $29.99

$29.99 at Chewy$29.99 at Amazon

Freddie and Hendrix (my uncle-and-niece domestic shorthair tabbies) have experienced numerous life changes over the years, from several moves to the introduction of a newborn. It all seemed to contribute to unfavorable behavior, such as scratching my upholstery and urinating outside the litter box. Desperate, I never added something to my cart as quickly as this clinically researched plug-in pheromone diffuser when my vet recommended it during an appointment 10 years ago. After only plugging it in for about a week, I noticed my cats behave with a sense of calm in their new surroundings. The best part is that it helped them cool it on clawing at each other, too.

Hilde & Phil

Cat-e-Corner

$379

$379 at Hilde & Phil

Freddie and Hendrix also have an affinity with tearing apart couch armrests. My strategy has long been to position a scratching post right beside it as a distraction. When I learned of this side table with a built-in scratching post, I knew I had to get my paws on it. Choose where you want it to sit on your couch, how high you need it to be and what wood finish would look best in your space. The table’s stem is lined with a Velcro-backed replaceable sisal scratching pad that has completely saved my couch from ending up in a landfill.

Timhaka

Cat Scratching Board

$9.98

$9.98 at Amazon

“This cat scratcher is really great,” says Ariane Smoley, owner of Ganache, an American shorthair calico. “Ganache has claws, and it’s great for her because she just goes on it, scratches her claws and gets out that scratching need.” The eco-friendly and recyclable cardboard pad feature waves that help comfortably contour your cat’s frame.

Agym

Cat Scratching Post for Large Cats

$38.39

$38.39 at Amazon

Throughout Emily Rose’s years of owning dozens of cats, this scratching post has been the only successful deterrent away from furniture. “They use this thing all the time,” she says. “Whenever people tell me their cats ruin their furniture but they don’t want a scratching post, I’m like, ‘Well then, you’re accepting ruined furniture.’” While there is no shortage of scratching posts at varying heights, she notes the extra tall ones cater uniquely to cats’ affinity with stretching vertically, plus they can use its landing as a perch. My cats use this exact model too, and enjoy batting around its fluttering ball as if it were a wild animal.

Babelio

Extra Wide Baby Gate with Adjustable Cat Door

from $79.99

$79.99 at Amazon$82.99 at Babelio

Any parent of cats and humans will tell you the ticket to harmony in the home is granting cats easy access to their food and litter box while keeping the baby safe. That’s why Smoley’s husband helped his postpartum sister install this pressure-mounted baby gate with a cat-sized entryway. “The baby and cat gate makes it safe for the babies,” says Smoley. With it, cats can freely come and go while the main gate is closed.

Secbolt

Cord Covers for Pets

$9.99

$9.99 at Amazon

Veterinarian and cat owner Lauren Abrams knows first-hand just how dangerous the combination of cats and wires can be. That’s why she uses these pet-safe cable covers that fit like a sleeve in order to keep her electronics unscathed. “I have literally saved so much money, and it decreased my stress because the cats can damage [wires] so badly and also injure themselves,” she says.

Catstages

Nina Ottosson Buggin’ Out Puzzle & Play Cat Puzzle Feeder

from $19.99

$19.99 at Amazon$20.13 at Chewy

“Enough daily play time encourages cats to get their energy out on a toy rather than on furniture, and it’s great for the cat’s mental enrichment,” says Abrams. She uses mealtime for productive play with an interactive food puzzle. “Boots is so much less frustrated, and it takes much longer for him to finish his meals because he has to use his brain so hard, and then he is much calmer and cuddlier afterward,” she says. By rotating his games every few feeds, she keeps him engaged. “They’re easy to clean and super cute too,” she adds.

Toosoft

Anti Cat Scratch Furniture Protector

$25.99

$25.99 at Amazon

“Winnie and Bowie always mistook my couch as a cat scratcher so they would just play and go to town on it,” says Michelle Erica. When they first began their scratching careers, she said you wouldn’t have been able to tell from the couch’s already-disheveled boucle fabric. But soon enough, it grew obvious. “So this [protector] helped. It’s pretty low-key and not noticeable at all, like a giant piece of tape that stops them from scratching.” She places the peel-and-stick vinyl protector on her couch’s sides and corners, and they now look untouched.

Rocco & Roxie

Stain & Strong Odor Eliminator

from $19.99

$19.99 at Chewy (24 oz)$23.92 at Amazon (32 oz)

A year into adopting Harold and Peter, two orange tabbies, Hannah Sauve noticed a smell that wouldn’t quit, and only one lightly scented spray did the trick. “We use it everywhere, actually,” she says. It’s safe to use on all surfaces, including fabrics, whether clothing, furniture or carpets. “We spray it all over the litter boxes in the basement just to freshen it up. If ever one of them pukes on the carpet, we spray it.”

Cheerble

Pumpless Cat Water Fountain

from $35.19

$35.19 at Cheerble$39.99 at Amazon

When my male cat was urinating blood all over my home, I learned he was communicating deep pain and associating his litter box with discomfort. After an emergency visit at the vet, he was diagnosed with microscopic crystals in his bladder because of severe dehydration. It turns out those still water bowls I had been leaving out were not catching his attention like a flowing stream would. The Cheerble cat water fountain emits a constant stream of fresh water that kitties can actually see, leading them to drink. According to my vet, it’s a far more effective option than stagnant water sources. I have to agree: it saved not only my furniture and household surfaces, but my cat’s life.