The cat accessories worth buying are the ones that give an indoor cat something to do: somewhere to scratch, somewhere high to sit, something to watch, something to hunt and something to work for. Decorative accessories are fine, but these five categories are the ones that change behaviour.
Which cat accessories are worth it?
| Accessory | What it gives the cat | Worth it for |
|---|---|---|
| Tall scratching post or wall scratcher | Claw care, stretching, scent marking | Every cat, and every home with furniture you like |
| Cat tree or wall shelves | Height, a lookout, an escape route from dogs or children | Almost every indoor cat; essential in multi-cat homes |
| Window perch | Hours of "cat TV": birds, insects, people | Indoor cats, especially those alone during the day |
| Tunnel or covered bed | Places to hide and ambush from | Shy cats, kittens, and cats that play-attack ankles |
| Puzzle feeder | Turns meals into foraging | Cats home alone, fast eaters, cats gaining weight |
| Water fountain | Moving water some cats prefer | Cats that drink little |
| Good toys on rotation | Hunting, chasing, wrestling | Every cat |
Scratchers: the accessory that protects your sofa
Cats scratch to maintain their claws, stretch and leave scent. The two common mistakes are buying a post that is too short (the cat cannot stretch fully) and one that wobbles (the cat will not trust it). Place it next to the furniture the cat already scratches, not in a corner, and offer both vertical and horizontal surfaces until you know which your cat prefers.
Cat trees and shelves: why height matters
Cats feel safer when they can see the room from above. A cat tree near a window doubles as a perch; wall shelves give the same height without the floor space. In multi-cat homes, more vertical space means fewer standoffs.
Window perches and "cat TV"
A suction or sill-mounted perch at a window that faces a garden, a bird feeder or a street is one of the cheapest, most-used accessories you can buy. It is enrichment that runs all day without you.
Toys: interactive and solo
Toys are the accessory people buy most and use worst. Every cat benefits from two kinds:
- Interactive toys you play with together, such as a wand or teaser. Ten to fifteen minutes, once or twice a day, ending with a "catch".
- Solo toys the cat uses alone: a kicker toy to grab and bunny-kick, a ball, a puzzle feeder.
For solo play, herb-filled kicker toys are the most reliable because the scent restarts interest each time the cat finds them. About two in three cats respond to catnip and about four in five to silver vine, so a toy that combines both reaches most cats. If you want to compare kicker and catnip toy brands on herb fill, fabric and price, see our cat toy brand comparison.
Accessories that are mostly for the owner
Cat-themed homeware, matching collars and outfits are for us, not the cat. That is fine, but keep clothing out of it: most cats find it stressful. If you are buying an accessory as a gift, a personalised toy or a good scratcher will get more use than anything decorative.
Frequently asked questions
- What accessories does an indoor cat need?
- A tall, stable scratcher, some vertical space (a cat tree or wall shelves), a window perch, a hiding place, and a mix of interactive and solo toys rotated every few days.
- Are cat trees worth it?
- For most indoor cats, yes. Height makes cats feel safe and gives them a lookout; in multi-cat homes it reduces conflict. Wall shelves are an alternative where floor space is tight.