Must-Have Products for a Happier, Healthier Cat Plus a Few Smart Upgrades for Cat Parents, Too.
Cat wellness is not one thing. It is a handful of small, repeatable choices that make your cat’s day feel safer, calmer, cleaner, and more comfortable. Hydration helps everything from digestion to energy. Enrichment keeps boredom from turning into stress. Grooming supports skin, coat, and hairball management. Mobility tools protect joints over time. Travel gear can make vet visits and weekend trips less dramatic for everyone involved.
This round-up focuses on products that earn their spot because they solve real, everyday needs. Think of it as a “kit” you build over time, starting with the category that challenges your cat the most.
Photo Credit: Catit
Hydration support that feels easy.
Cats can be picky about water. Many prefer fresh, moving water over a still bowl. Veterinary resources often recommend increasing access points and considering fountains to encourage drinking.
If hydration is your first upgrade, a fountain is the easiest place to start. The Catit PIXI Fountain is designed to be user-friendly for humans and inviting for cats, with ergonomic drinking options and design features that reduce splashing. If you love data and notifications, Catit also offers a smart version with app control and UV-C water filtration.
Wellness tip: Put water in more than one place. Cats often drink more when water is easy to access and not tucked beside the food bowl.
Photo Credit: Catit
Enrichment that supports your cat’s mental wellness.
A bored cat rarely stays “just bored.” Stress can show up as scratching, hiding, tension between cats, or changes in routine. The good news is that enrichment does not have to look like a chaotic toy explosion. It can be thoughtful, attractive, and built into your home.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners knows that a cat’s comfort with their environment is closely tied to physical health, emotional well-being, and behavior. That’s why enrichment and stimulation matter.
Catit’s Cat Senses Design is built for rotating stimulation, from play circuits to interactive options that encourage stalking and problem-solving. It is a strong “starter” brand for cat parents who want structured, modular enrichment that refreshes easily without having to buy a whole new set every month.
Wellness tip: Choose one “daily” enrichment option and one “rotation” option. Daily could be a scratcher or a stable play station. Rotation is the item you swap weekly to keep curiosity alive.
Photo Credit: Fluff & Boots
Comfort products that help cats settle, knead, and decompress
Wellness is also about softness and security. Cats self-soothe through routines like kneading, nesting, and seeking familiar textures. That is where comfort-forward products can do real work.
Fluff & Boots is designed for feline comfort and calm, with pieces that support everyday routines while still looking good in a human home.
A standout for a wellness kit is the Signature Set, which bundles a Portable Lounge Mat, their proprietary Knead-it Pad™, and a Premium Blanket.
The Knead-it Pad is positioned as a practical solution for lap time and furniture protection, and it is also described as easy to bring along when traveling.
Wellness tip: The pad supports calm routines at home, then becomes a “familiar texture” tool when you need to change environments. That is a big deal for cats who don’t like transitions.
- Grooming tools that support skin and coat health
Grooming is not just about shedding on your black sweater. Regular coat care helps reduce loose hair, supports skin comfort, and can cut down on hairballs for many cats.
FURminator offers cat-specific tools tailored to coat type and size, helping you avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Their undercoat deShedding tool reaches through the topcoat to remove loose hair and undercoat without damaging the coat or cutting the skin.
Wellness tip: Pair grooming with something your cat already likes. Many cats tolerate brushing better after play or right before a meal. Keep sessions short. Make it normal.
Mobility support that protects joints long-term
Cats are athletes. They jump, launch, and land dozens of times a day. Over time, that impact can be hard on joints, especially for seniors, heavier cats, or cats recovering from injury.
PetSafe’s CozyUp steps help pets reach furniture while protecting joints and reducing the impact of jumping on and off.
This is the kind of upgrade that feels optional until you see how often your cat uses it. Then it becomes the thing you recommend to every friend with a couch-loving cat.
Wellness tip: Place near beds, sofas, window perches, and any “launchpad” spot your cat hits multiple times per day.
Photo Credit: FELIWAY
- Stress support for home life and big transitions
Some cats bounce back fast. Others carry stress in their bodies. Stress can show up during travel, introductions, moving, schedule changes, or even a new piece of furniture that smells wrong.
FELIWAY Classic is positioned as sending “happy messages” that help cats feel safe and secure at home, and is used to support well-being and reduce signs of stress, such as hiding, scratching, or urine spraying.
Wellness tip: This is a background support tool. You are not “training” your cat with it. You are helping the environment feel familiar while you work on routines and resources.
Photo Credit: Sleepypod®
Travel gear that prioritizes safety and familiarity
Even “chill” cats can spiral during car rides. The goal is to reduce fear by making the carrier feel like an extension of home, and to choose gear with real safety credibility.
Sleepypod’s carrier line has passed Center for Pet Safety certification testing. Some products, like Sleepypod Atom, are described as independently tested and certified by the Center for Pet Safety with guidance on pet weight limits and sizing.
Wellness tip: Leave the carrier out year-round. Add a familiar blanket or mat. Let it become a nap spot before it becomes “the scary box.”
How to build your “ultimate kit” without overbuying
If you are starting from scratch, you do not need everything at once. Choose one category as your anchor:
- Hydration first if your cat eats mostly dry food or ignores the water bowl.
- Stress support first if your cat hides, startles easily, or struggles with change.
- Mobility first if your cat is older, heavier, or hesitant to jump.
- Grooming first, if shedding and hairballs are a constant battle.
- Comfort first if your cat needs help settling, kneading, or traveling calmly.
Over time, the “ultimate” kit becomes a set of tools that make your home feel like it’s created for your cat, not just shared with one.
