I’ve always had one or two felines in my house, save for a four-year break in college. Over a year ago, I made the milestone decision to cross the three-feline threshold — something that, in my opinion, you shouldn’t take lightly, especially if you hate scooping out a litter box. Extra clumps aside, I can honestly say that it’s been awesome having a trio of cats, and much easier than I expected. I credit that mostly to the few clutch products in my arsenal that make multiple cat ownership so much more manageable. From nail clippers to an automatic litter box (worth every freakin’ penny), these items make living with multiple felines less like a zoo and more like a tidy cat sanctuary. If you’re contemplating adding more than one or two cats to your brood, check out these items that I find reduce kitty chaos, clawing, scooping, and more.

_{Prices are accurate as of January 27, 2025. Subject to change.}

A Box That Does the Scooping For You: Whisker Litter-Robot 4

Last Christmas, I gave a litter box my heart. The Litter-Robot 4, to be exact, a present I received from a family member which I now covet. Two of our adolescent cats sleep in our spare room at night and thanks to this amazing invention, I never have any litter to scoop when I let them out in the morning. The handy app says that I’ve saved myself from 846 scoops, and counting! It also tells me when the poop drawer is full, how much my cats weigh, and when I need to add more litter. It comes with a hefty price tag, but it’s worth considering if litter scooping is your number one hated chore or you need to keep a close eye on exactly how much your cats are using the bathroom — multiple Better Report writers and even vets recommend them. Automatic litter scooping tech is what homes with multiple cats need.

Treats They Can’t Resist: Wellness and Blue Buffalo Treats

Herding cats was not an occupation I envisioned for myself when I daydreamed as a kid, but when you have more than one feline, you’ll do a lot of herding. You need tools to get the job done. I use treats to get two of my adolescent cats into the aforementioned spare room at bedtime. It may sound like an evil trick, but it works. All three of my cats love Blue Buffalo’s Bursts crunchy cat treats, but my blind cat — who has a bit of a halitosis problem — is encouraged to eat Wellness Whimzee’s natural dental treats because they promote better-smelling breath. If you’re adopting a third into the group, you’ll want to become accustomed to everyone’s favorite snack. Be it simply to treat them whenever you want to show extra love, or if you need to redirect any behavior as they get used to each other. 

A Plush Place to Hang Out: Multi-Level Cat Tree

For a while, we had an upholstered chair in our living room that, at any given time, had a cat sleeping on or scratching it. When the bottom of the chair began to sag from overzealous scratching and the armrests looked like they’d narrowly escaped a bear attack, I knew my cats needed a perch to call their own. Enter this oversized cat tree, which I discovered after a lengthy Amazon search. It’s not easy to find a cat tree that fits your home’s design aesthetic and to be quite honest, I don’t know that any of the carpeted ones ever really do. But my cats seem to enjoy scratching this one’s sisal posts and it also offers multiple soft places to sleep. All three love the hammock most and take turns curling up in it. The tip-top spot also sees a lot of traffic, especially when flies or ladybugs are being hunted. I love that I can vacuum it and that it safely attaches to the wall so they don’t tip it over. 

Litter and Fur Buster: The Tineco A10 Cordless Vacuum

I spend a lot of time scooping all of my non-automatic litter boxes (I have four total). The second most taxing duty as a multiple cat owner? Sucking up scattered litter. I use the World’s Best Cat Litter and, despite it being great, nine times out of 10, my cats kick some of it outside of the box they’re using. It’s critical to have something on hand to suck it up swiftly. I’ve found my Tineco A10 cordless stick vac does a great job sucking up both litter and fur balls from my hardwood floors. It’s powerful enough for area rugs, too, is easy to empty, and is hidden nicely behind my bathroom door where there’s a wall-mounted charging station.

Pawticures Made Easy: JW Pet GripSoft Nail Trimmer

If your cats live indoors like mine do, keeping their nails trimmed is just good practice. It keeps your cats’ nails from potentially growing into their paw pads, you get fewer accidental cuts, and it extends the life of your furniture. If you start doing this when your cats are young, they get used to it — learn how to do it safely here — but even older cats can get accustomed. I like JW Pet’s GripSoft because they’re non-slip and easy for human hands to grip, plus they’re ergonomically designed to make the sometimes awkward process more comfortable for you. The exact cat pair I use isn’t available as of this writing, but the dog versions are similar enough that you should get the same results.

Feeding On The Fly: Vibrant Life Gravity Feeder

Let’s face it, one of the best things about cat ownership is that you can leave them home alone for longer durations than dogs, who need to be taken out to use the bathroom multiple times a day — and rarely can free feed without devouring it all immediately. You can make the last-minute decision to spend the day elsewhere and not feel guilty, especially if you’ve left some nibbles out for them to eat. I fill up this feeder when we go away for long trips and it keeps the dry food flowing so that our pet-sitter can focus on wet food and scooping out litter boxes. Made with non-intent BPA and post-industrial recycled content, this cost-effective gravity feeder comes in a variety of sizes. We have the medium, which holds up to 5 pounds of kibble. It’s also easy to clean with soap and water.

Toys For Every Interest: Interactive Cat Toy Set

There’s something for everyone in this pack of cat toys. Whether your cat is into rattling balls, mice, or feathers, it’s all here, and for under $20, it’s a steal. A favorite in our house is the suction cup wand that sticks to the floor and, I’m glad to report, is strong enough to keep steady, but hasn’t damaged my hardwood. It’s also great for solitary play, so you can take a break after a while. They’re not indestructible but they definitely bring on the fun for felines — the kind of fun you immortalize in TikTok cat videos!

Pop That Pill and Move On: The Bullseye Pillgun

Inevitably, you’ll need to give your cat a pill at some point, and doing this is definitely a learned skill. When we found out our blind cat needed Prozac to correct some behavior issues, I was glad I had this popper in my toolbox for administering pills fast and easily. I’ve now used it for years, and it’s still the fastest way I’ve found to do this. Simply place the pill in the popper, put it into your cat’s mouth, aiming for behind the tongue, and push the plunger. When you’ve had practice, the pill-popping happens so fast, they won’t have time to hold a grudge.

Travel in Style: The Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed

I’ve had my Sleepypod pet carrier for over a decade, and besides holding up well to wear and tear — it still looks like new — it’s so cool looking that it’s always a conversation starter. Its plush, cozy construction is what sets it apart from typical metal carriers. There’s a time and a place for standard carriers, especially if you have cats that vomit or pee en route, but if you have a cat that’s mildly cooperative when embarking on vet visits or other necessary car rides, this one is second to none. Leave it out a day before your appointment and you may even find your cat sleeping in it.

Feature Image Credit: Anna Hoychuk/ Shutterstock