Buying for your cat? Check first.
How big a carrier or a litter box, how tall a scratching post, which toys are safe to leave out, what a cat food label promises, which foods to keep away, and whether your cat will even react to catnip. Small calculators, two sources per fact.
For your cat: seven quick checks
- CarrierChoosing a cat carrierHow big a cat carrier should be (with a size calculator), why a hard carrier with a removable top makes vet visits easier, and how to carry it and secure it in the car.
- Litter boxLitter boxes: how many, how big, how cleanHow many litter boxes you need, how big they should be, how much litter, and how often to clean, from veterinary sources. With a calculator.
- ScratchingScratching posts and cat treesHow tall a scratching post should be, why it must not wobble, upright or flat, where to put it, and how many for several cats. With a height check.
- ToysCat toys and playHow often to play with your cat, how to end a session, why lasers need a real toy at the end, and the toys and objects that cats swallow. With a toy check.
- Food labelsHow to read a cat food labelWhat the name on a US cat food label promises (95, 25 or 3 percent), what complete and balanced means, and how to compare wet and dry food. With a label reader.
- Can cats eatCan cats eat it?Six foods people ask about, checked with veterinary sources: which are toxic to cats, which upset the stomach, and which can be a small treat. With a quick checker.
- Why do catsWhy do cats do that?Kneading, purring, biting while petted and meowing at people: what veterinary sources say, what is still a theory, and when a change means a vet visit. With a cat decoder.
Catnip and silver vine
- CatnipCatnip for cats: will yours react?About two out of three cats react to catnip, kittens usually do not, and an episode lasts about 10 minutes. A quick check, and what to try when your cat ignores it.
- BehaviorCat behavior on catnipWhat a cat does on catnip, why some cats get calm and others lively, how long it lasts, and what a 2021 study suggests about all that rolling.
- PrepareHow to prepare catnip for your catThe ways to give catnip (fresh, dried, in a toy), how much to start with, and why too much can upset a cat's stomach.
- SafetyIs catnip harmless?Catnip is listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats because too much causes vomiting and diarrhea. What that means in practice, and the real risk with catnip toys.
- The plantThe catnip plant, and how it differs from catmintCatnip is Nepeta cataria, a hardy mint-family perennial. How it differs from catmint and from cat grass, and what to check before you plant it.
- UsesWhat is catnip used for?Catnip is used to make play, scratchers and beds more interesting, and a 2021 study suggests rolling in it keeps mosquitoes away from cats.
- Catnip toysCatnip toys, and how to use themHow catnip toys are used, how long the effect lasts, and the two checks that keep a catnip toy safe: no loose string, and not out all the time.
- Buying guideBuying catnip: what to look forA buying guide for catnip: the forms it is sold in, what Nepeta cataria on the label means, buying in bulk, and silver vine for cats that ignore catnip.
- Silver vineSilver vine: the plan B for catnipIn a 2017 study of 100 cats, 79 reacted to silver vine and 68 to catnip. What silver vine is, and the other plants some cats react to.
Four numbers worth knowing
- About two out of three cats react to catnip: 68 of 100 cats in a 2017 study, about 70 percent in other counts.1,2,3
- In a 2017 study of 100 cats, 79 reacted to silver vine and 68 to catnip.1,3
- Experts advise one litter box per cat plus one extra: two boxes for one cat, three for two cats.4,5,6,7
- Several short play sessions a day work better than one long one; the sources keep each session to about 15 minutes or less.8,9,10,11
How we checked this page
Checked on October 20, 2026. We kept a fact only when two independent publishers agree, and each one is numbered to its sources below. Where sources give different numbers, we keep only what they share. We never write a price. This page was written with an AI assistant and checked against the sources below.
Sources
- Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle, valerian and catnip (Bol et al., 2017), BMC Veterinary Research
- Why Do Cats Love Catnip?, Scientific American
- Eufloria: Catnip Isn't the Only Plant Scent Cats May Love (Dr. Tony Buffington), Vetstreet
- Litter Box Problems, ASPCA
- Feline House-Soiling: Useful Information for Cat Owners, AAFP and ISFM
- Inappropriate Elimination in Cats, University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital
- A Guide To Litter Box Etiquette (2023), Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine
- How Often Should You Play With Your Cat? (2025), AAHA
- Guide to Interactive String Toy Play, RSPCA NSW
- Simon's Cat: play time, Cats Protection
- Playing With Your Cat, San Francisco SPCA (Maddie's Fund)
How we work
Every fact here rests on two independent publishers and is numbered to its sources. We never write a price. Read how we check.