NOTE: Product reviews are based on personal use and perceived quality. Your experience may vary. Maine Coon Adventures receives no compensation for these endorsements. Funds for any future endorsement will be duly noted with proceeds donated to the Ames Animal Shelter.
Best Kitty Litter
Our favorites for low-cost kitty litter are Special Kitty and Fresh Step.
We’ll start with the low-end first: Special Kitty.
This large 20-pound tub is less than $6 at Walmart. It clumps well and masks much of the odors. It doesn’t leave much, if any, dust, and the cats like its small grainy grey texture.
The manufacturer states:
- Long-lasting fresh-scented smell control to keep your home smelling fresh
- 99% dust free for a cleaner pour
- The litter’s tight clumping formula makes scooping your cat’s box a breeze
- Great for multiple cats
- 20-pound jug includes a handle for convenient maneuverability and easy pouring
- The see-through build helps you know when it’s time to pick up some more
The best kitty litter by far was Fresh Step Extreme Odor Control Febreze Scented Clumping Clay Cat Litter.
It really does eliminate odors and has the best clumping of every brand that I tried. The cats appreciate the larger granules.
The manufacturer states:
- The purr-fect solution for the stinkiest litter boxes with Ammonia Block Technology that helps trap and eliminate litter odor for up to 10 days.
- Paw-activated Mountain Spring fragrance with the power of Febreze helps keep the room smelling fur-esh and clean.
- 99.9% dust-free formula helps you and your kitty breathe easy.
- Extra scoopable with ClumpLock technology that forms tight clumps as it absorbs liquid—no stinky crumbles left behind.
- Simply add a little more litter to re-fur-esh the box.
The 25-pound tub costs more than twice that of Special Kitty, but the quality is worth it.
Collapsible Tunnel
The CO-Z Collapsible Cat Tunnel Tube costs $10.99, and the kittens love it. They play inside it, with cute little heads popping up in the middle. They sleep inside it. It’s collapsible and fits nicely on a book shelf. But Freya and Siggy love it so much that we just keep it on the floor. One of their favorites, and well worth the money. After all, with the roughhousing kitten play, it still is in tact and like new.
RECOMMENDED
Feather Toys
I was attracted to this product because of its retractable rods with multiple birds and toys. The MeoHui Interactive Cat Feather Toys comes with two retractable wands and nine refill toys with extra wand strings. The wands resemble fishing rods, and although Siggy and Freya loved playing with the birds, I felt the rods were a bit flimsy.
While the retractable feature is good for storage, use it at full length for best results.
RECOMMENDED
Interactive Toys
This is not a high quality item. Price of the “oolilioo 22 PCS Cat Toys” is great, less than $10. The kittens disliked the bite logs. I threw out the sun glasses (please don’t dress your cats). However, the wand remains Freya’s and Siggy’s favorite toy. So buy it for that and the balls and mice.
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED
Kitten Carrier
We purchased this Prodigen Pet Carrier to bring home Freya. It’s high quality, with easy collapsible storage and lots of air vents and cushioned insides.
Manufacturer states:
- AIRLINE APPROVED PET CARRIER- ACCEPTED as a SOUTHWEST Airlines Pet Carrier, JETBLUE Pet Carrier, DELTA Pet Carrier Plus VIRGIN, ALASKA, FRONTIER, ALLEGIANT, UNITED & MORE. Carrier measures 17.2″L x 10″W x 11″H. DESIGNED with a Ventilated Top to meet all airline regulations of under forward seat.
- ULTRA-SAFE, EXTRA DURABLE- UPGRADED to REINFORCED Polyester & CLAW-DEFENSE MESH on top & 4 sides ensures your pet has ample VENTILATION and AIRFLOW & it WON’T TEAR like flimsy, cheap carriers while MINI ZIPPER BUCKLES ensure your pet stays tucked safely inside.
- EASY ACCESS & VENTILATED: Mesh windows on top and all 4 sides provide optimal airflow. Some have zippers to quickly reach your pet to comfort, touch, or take in or out.
- STRONG & WATERPROOF – Weighing in at only 2.3 lbs, Designed with Breathable Mesh on all Sides for Proper Ventilation * Removable Fleece Travel Bed * Padded Shoulder Strap * Storage Compartment for Treats or Meds, Seatbelt Compatible.
- PLEASE NOTE INTERIOR SIZING & PET MEASURING GUIDELINES BEFORE PURCHASE – Fits Pets up to 14″Lx10″H and up to 14lbs. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that we show the exterior dimensions as well as approximate interior dimensions to best portray the usable interior space for your pet. The interior space will be less than exterior due to the fabric thickness and plush faux fleece padding.
We had to drive for two hours to pick up Freya and then another two hours to bring her home. This carrier was great and helped ease the stress.
RECOMMENDED
Leash Harness
The “rabbitgoo Cat Harness” is supposed to be unescapable. But Siggy can wiggle out of it when she wants. We got the extra small version of this harness, and it is too big for Siggy at 4 pounds. It’s important to start leash training early with kittens so that they get used to the harness.
Here’s a video of Siggy using the harness.
Siggy has been using this now for more than a week, and she is growing, so the harness works better each time.
It is easy to put on her and clip.
Nevertheless, Freya is too slim for this. We have ordered a different brand for her. (More on that later.)
RECOMMENDED
Litter Box with Lid
We like Amazon Basics No-Mess Hooded Cat Litter Box, which sells for about $40.
The beauty of this box is the lid that folds back and allows the kittens to enter as they would an unlidded box.
It takes awhile for kittens to know how to push through the lid. Start them out with the lid open and then close after a week or two.
This is large enough for Maine Coons and easy to clean.
RECOMMENDED
Maine Coon Litter Box
With a Maine Coon male coming into our household, with an expected adult weight of 25 pounds, it was time for a new extra large litter box. We chose this one because of the easy front access and sideways preventing litter spills.
The box has been in use now for three months, and it is the favorite now of all three cats.
RECOMMENDED
Frisco 65-Inch XXL Cat Tree Stand
This stand was easy to assemble, study and inexpensive, about $100 from Chewy. The product was delivered within days of order with free shipping. It took about a half hour to assemble. Quality materials and very sturdy.
RECOMMENDED
See this video for assembly:
MAINE COON CARRIER
With Thor over 14 pounds at 8 months, we needed a new pet carrier as this one below no longer was large enough for him. This was ideal with three access points. It is sturdy with collapsible bars and folds into a slim briefcase size.
See this article for a complete review.
RECOMMENDED
MAINE COON KITTEN TREE
Maine Coon Adventures assembles and reviews the extra large Feandrea cat tree. The assembly took about 45 minutes. The product comes with its own screw driver. No other tools are required. The instruction manual that comes with the tree has useful photos and visuals for each stage of assembly as seen in this video. Here are the specifications: Color: Light Gray Material: Particleboard, Plush, Sisal Product Size: 26.8″L x 18.9″W x 39.8″H (68 x 48 x 101 cm) Product Weight: 31.5 lb (14.3 kg)
RECOMMENDED
PETAMI BACKPACK
The backpack is well made and large enough for Maine Coon cats. You can buy this at Amazon for about $40, and it’s worth the price. The manufacturer states:
- Designed for the maximum convenience and comfort for you and your pet while hiking, traveling, or taking your best friend to the vet, or going for a walk in the park. Measures approximately 12.5″ x 10.2″ x 16.3″ (L x W x H). Easily fits cats, small dogs, and most other small/medium sized pets!
- YOUR PET WILL TRAVEL IN COMFORT – Well ventilated design for optimal airflow, two-way entry for easy access, zip up mesh window for more headroom and visibility, and thick, cozy sherpa lined bedding so your pet can rest and relax. This backpack is firmly structured, providing ample room for your pet to move around.
- DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND – Equipped with a firmly reinforced structure to prevent itself from collapsing on your pet while traveling. Also comes with a safety strap and buckle to secure your pet and prevent escape.
There are two issues with the product. If you are a big person like me, all the straps do not fit. You might need an extender. But the main straps are study and work fine. The second drawback is the collar and inner strap are not enough to hold inside a cat who sees prey or is seen as prey. My neighborhood dog came into our woods and barked at my Siggy, who promptly hissed and escaped out of her collar.
I’ll tighten it an try again.
Here’s our video:
Sheba Meaty Tender Sticks
Freya and Siggy love Sheba Meaty Tender Treats for different reasons. Freya likes to play and then eat them. Siggy likes to play with them and not eat them … until Freya steals her stick.
These irresistible cat snacks are made with meat (chicken in our case) no corn, wheat, soy and no artificial flavors. But those matter less when kittens play with their food.
RECOMMENDED
Water Fountain
Freya and Siggy love this. It has cool colors at night so that you can see the various water levels. It is easy to clean every two weeks or so. The filters keep the water fresh.
Here’s a video of our kittens using it.
Here’s how the manufacturer describes the fountain:
- Large capacity – Staying hydrated is the key to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases. The 95oz capacity makes this pet fountain a perfect fit for small to medium dog breeds and all cats.
- High-quality – Made of vet recommended stainless steel, this fountain is durable, and is easy to operate and clean. The water-level window lets you observe how much water your pets drink in real time.
- Two flow designs – The Veken Pet Fountain has 2 modes: flower waterfall (faucet drinking) and gentle fountain. The water streaming down the petals of the fountain will draw your pet’s attention and encourage animals to drink more often.
- Triple-filtration system – In addition to keeping water fresh via circulation, the triple-filtration system, including activated carbon layer, ion exchange resin and thick non-woven fabric, keeps water better tasting and safer for pets.
- Smart pump – The state of the art pump is ultra-quiet, has low-energy consumption and will last more than 2 years. In addition, the pump turns off automatically when the fountain runs dry, the LED light alerts you when your pet needs more water.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Wet Kitten Food
The kittens prefer Friskee’s hard kitten food, but we give them this, too, because it helps keep them hydrated.
The manufacturer states:
- High-quality protein to help your kitten build muscle
- Made with purposeful, easily digestible ingredients young cats enjoy
- Contains a clinically proven antioxidants plus vitamins C+E for your developing kitten’s immune support
- Canned food with balanced minerals for strong bones and healthy teeth.Caloric Content: 71 kcal/2.8 oz can
- Irresistible wet food made with natural ingredients
- Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
- #1 Veterinarian Recommended
RECOMMENDED
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