Plastic Springs!

STURDY cat scratchers are a MUST if you value your curtains, furniture, & relationships with your cats. My husband built several of these & they're great for long-bodied, heavy Maine Coons to stretch, climb, & scratch.  Made with 4x4' posts, fence post toppers, lag bolts, sisal rope, & finished wood are easy to clean. We discourage posts made from carpet unless you want to encourage your cat to scratch your carpet. Sisal rope can be replaced easily as needed.

These are ~$18 for a 21 gallon tub- found at big box building stores (or local mom & pops).  Measures 8"x 21" x 33" They're super lightweight, everything slides off easily (use plastic scooper so you don't scratch it however so it doesn't harbor bacteria), and is nice & big like coonies like. If you have a super tall male, he has room to go so he's less likely to spray over the top behind him.  If you have the space for these, they're GREAT!  They make smaller ones that are $8 for  6" x 20" x 28" & perfect for kittens or female coons who are (usually) smaller than males

Pine Pellet horse bedding is the other litter we offer our kittens & queens. Brand name not critical... If ingested by kittens, it won't clog in their bellies like clay that can cause a fatal blockage. 

We purchase it at our local farm store for $7 a 40# bag or Tractor Supply ($7.49). It breaks down into sawdust when wet & is easy to scoop the poop. You only need a single layer of it & is able to be replaced when most of the pellets are dissolved.  The pine has a nice scent, as well.   

(Please support local mom & pops who offer pine pellets for sale at their stores).  

 Tackle tough dirt, oil & mats with Pooch Botanique’s F&T Degreaser, Dematter & Deep Cleanser. Nourishing & conditioning, this unique blend of 12 natural oils produces a super strong cleanser ideal for removing:

Skunk oil, Sap, Grease, Oil, Stud Tail, Ear wax, Tar, Gum, Sebaceous oil, Yeast Buildup, etc.

Apply & lather product into coat, if needed, add more water as you're lathering. Let product sit on pet a few minutes, lather every so often. If cleaning ears, swab ear with a bit of product then clean ear out. Rinse. 

You can buy from me directly or from Les Poochs.

 Pooch Botanique’s F&T Degreaser, Dematter & Deep Cleanser (lespoochs.com) 

Healthy cats' nails grow fast, especially the first year. If you trim kittens' nails every couple of weeks, they are used to it & it's much less of a fight. I lay mine down on their backs between my legs & take the tips off their nails, never going to the 'quick' or vein in the nail. As cats grow, their nails become thicker & the vein comes out farther. Regular trimming desensitizes them to the process, making it easier for everyone. Always trim nails before the vet's visit, bath time, when company comes, etc.  

  I use full strength on urine & dilute 9:1 for maintenance cleaning. EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with lowest toxicity category—gentle enough for daily disinfecting & sanitizing. NSF-registered “no rinse on food-contact surfaces” sanitizer. Certified by the Carpet & Rug Institute for pet stains & odor.  Effective disinfectant kills 99.999% of bacteria & viruses. Effective fungicide, mildew & mold remover—kills mold spores & prevents mold regrowth on tile & other materials up to 7 mos. Heavy duty odor eliminator—gets rid of bad odors by attacking the source of the problem, not masking. Eliminates allergens in homes & other environments. Sanitizes 99.999% of food contact surfaces with no rinse required. Carpet & rug sanitizer. Soft-surface sanitizer. Hypo-allergenic. PH balance of 8-9. No volatile organic compounds (VOCs). No harsh chemicals, non-irritating to skin, no nauseous fumes. No personal protection equipment needed. 

When I travel with the cats for more than a 2 hour trip, I use these kennels. They fit a small litter pan & are roomy enough for kitties to nap. One large male fits comfortably or 2 smaller cats in one kennel. I offer these to buyers in our optional buyer travel kit. The kennels wash very easily in a bathtub & air dry quickly. They are great for hotels where you don't want kitty to walk around the room where there could be lots of leftover germs from other pets. 32" long x 19.5" x 19.5". You'll still want to put a pad in the bottom as they are not waterproof.