How I Review and Evaluate Cat Products
As a cat product blog, I do a lot of cat product reviews. Every Tuesday a new cat product review is posted.
Finding the right cat products for your feline friend can be difficult, especially if your cat is a particular or picky cat. Since my cats are Ragdolls, I am also looking to evaluate cat products for large breed cats, which can be different than testing a product for a regular sized kitty.
When I started looking at the best cat product reviews, I noticed that many of them lacked the depth of information I was looking for to decide whether or not to buy the product.
I wanted more than a recommendation – I wanted to know the ins and outs of the product because my cats don’t always like the same things – so I need details to decide if my cats or cat might go for it.
I wanted to do more than just reintroduce the product from the manufacturer’s guidelines. I wanted to offer trustworthy reviews and share evidence of the products actually being tested with our unboxing and review videos – and also the 4-6 weeks in-between.
If you are looking for the best cat products and honest cat product reviews, you have come to the right place.
Why Our Cat Product Reviews?
I’ve been reviewing cat products for a long time now – since 2008. Some have been great, and others not so much. I’ve always given honest reviews, because what’s most important to me is making sure that you – the reader – gets a fair idea of the products so you (hopefully) only buy what’s right for your cat.
We’ve all purchased something for our cats that they simply have no interest in. It’s impossible to know what’s putting them off, even when you spend your hard-earned money on a cat product that is supposed to be top of the line.
This is where a cat product reviewer like Floppycats comes in. How can you know if your cat is going to like something before you buy it? By reading reviews written by a genuine, unbiased and thorough cat product reviewer – when a product arrives for us to review, we first do an arrival/unboxing video and post on our YouTube channel.
We then do the full product review including a write-up and follow-up final review video, 4-6 weeks later on the site. We aim to be cat product influencers, providing you with only the best information about the products you want to buy for your cat.
You won’t find just glowing reviews written to entice you to buy a product. If you really want to know if something is worth the money, our cat product review will make sure you have all the information you need about that product to help you make an informed decision for your furry friend.
What Types of Cat Products Do You Review?
As cat product reviewers, we aim to cover a wide variety of cat products, ranging from the most basic food and litter mats, to high-tech litter boxes, to treats, to even pet cameras that help you keep an eye on your pet when you’re not home.
Even if you’re just looking for the right scratching post for your cat, we have a review that will help you choose the perfect one. Floppycats will give you a holistic view of everything you might want or need for your cat!
How I Evaluate Cat Products
I wanted to explain my review process in a little more detail.
Here’s a guide to what my cat product reviews will cover, and how I go about determining whether a product is worth it.
The problem with cat product reviews online is that anyone could in theory write a review based on a small amount of research. In fact, many websites don’t even receive or use the product with cats! They just use manufacturer’s stock photos and piece together review info from bigger sites like Amazon or Chewy.
That won’t give you a real understanding of what the product is actually like – you need to trust that the content you’re reading is from someone who has genuinely tried the product WITH CATS.
That’s why I like to go into a lot of detail. Here’s what I’ll cover:
Product Name
You might think it’s strange that I’d specifically call out the fact that I include the product name, but there are a lot of very similar products out there, and they won’t all be the same quality. I’ll make sure I use the right product name, and link to the correct product, so you don’t accidentally buy something similar but of lower quality.
First Impressions
First impressions matter, and can have an impact on how much faith you put into a product. I’ll give you my honest thoughts from the moment I receive the product in its box. Sometimes first impressions don’t match the product – something might not look great, but it could turn out to be awesome.
Many readers have cats that are like one of mine – so based on my cats’ first reactions, they often know after the unboxing if their kitties might go for it. I like to do the unboxings for that reason, but also because first impressions can be reassuring.
Packaging
I’ll take you through the complete unboxing process. I know that some Floppycatters may struggle with products that are packaged ‘too well’, if you have any issues with your dexterity or any other physical limitations.
Or, I can show you where products may not be packaged properly and risk damage when they’re shipped to you. I can also show you where every accessory will be hidden in larger boxes, so you don’t miss something and accidentally throw it in the trash.
Also, I will mention if a product has a strong chemical scent, as I know a lot of people and pets have sensitivities to such things.
Assembly
Some products may need a little assembly at home. Whether it’s a simple clip-together job or something that you’re going to need your own tools for, I’ll take you through the process so you know what to expect when you buy, and whether you might need a helping hand to put a product together.
Size
The dimensions of the product are important. Yes, most websites will tell you how large or small a product is, but that’s often hard to visualize. Between my written review and videos I can help you understand more about how large a product is, whether it’s suitable for your cat, and how it’ll fit into your home.
The Best Benefit
Every product has some kind of main benefit or USP – a unique selling point. That’s why it exists, because the manufacturer thought there was a gap in the market that they could fill. I’ll explain that main benefit of the product, and whether it actually succeeds or if it misses the mark.
Pros
Simple enough – I’ll tell you all the honest reasons that the product is worth buying.
Cons
Same again – I’ll give you fair reasons why the product’s also not so great. Very few products are perfect, and knowing the cons just helps you to understand a product’s limitations, or find out if there’s an alternative better suited to your cat.
Troubleshooting
In the same way that not every product is perfect, they also won’t last in perfect condition forever either. Sometimes, things go wrong – and where possible, I’ll give you the most common issues and how you can fix them, or get around them.
Ease of Cleaning
Hygiene is important when it comes to cat products. You want to make sure that the items you buy for your feline friend aren’t going to be a nightmare to get clean, with nooks and corners that you can’t really get to that could build up bacteria over time. Whether something’s dishwasher safe, or easy to disassemble to rinse, I’ll let you know.
Safety
Probably one of the most important parts of my reviews, I’ll explain any safety features as well as any concerns you may need to be aware of. No product should put your cat at risk, so I’ll make it clear where a product might have an issue or where it goes above and beyond to reassure you that it’s totally safe to use.
My Big Take Away
Here’s where I’ll explain my overall impression of the product. What’s the main thing you need to know about the product above all else?
Price
Price is key. I try to avoid giving specific prices for products because so often they can change, but I’ll give you an explanation of the typical price range of the product and any accessories that you may need to buy to go with it.
Where to Buy
I’ll give you some options on where you can buy the product, including information on likely shipping times, returns policies and any warranty that the retailer will give you.
Discounts and Coupons
Where possible, I’ll explain the discounts you might be able to get on the product and any coupons or codes you could use to save some money. Discounts and coupons aren’t always available but I’ll do my best to give you the latest info so you can enjoy products with a savings.
FAQs
Every product is different and so there might be some interesting questions that customers often have about a product, including how it works or things you might need to consider that aren’t covered in the rest of the review. I’ll make sure you have everything you need in this Q&A section.
Videos
I’ll always write extensive reviews of the products I look at, but I also post videos to help you see a product working. I’ll start with an unboxing video so you can see the product in the same way that I do when it first arrives. And then later I’ll post a video review. This takes some time – I don’t like to rush and give a half-baked opinion. I take 4-6 weeks to properly road-test a product and film it being used, so you get a proper evaluation.
Why Does Floppycats Care?
Founder, Jenny Dean, is a longtime lover of Ragdoll cats. She has loved Ragdoll cats since she was young child. This love has inspired her to become a cat product reviewer, ensuring that owners get exactly the products they need to make sure their cat is healthy and happy.
Here on Floppycats, you will find a wide variety of product reviews to help you make your decision. From scratching posts to organic cat treats to technologically-advanced litter boxes, we have a review of everything you could need or want for your cat.
Whether you’re just getting started with your very first cat or you are a long-time owner trying to make sure you have the best of the best, you’ve come to the right place!
Conclusion
Finally, I’ll give you my summary of the product – how good is it really, whether it’s worth buying, and extras that you might want to consider. My conclusion will always be fair and accurate, based on my own experiences – and that of my cats, too, who are the best product testers around.
My Favorite Reviewed Products
2. Litter-Lifter – The BEST Cat Litter Scoop
3. Zen Clipper Cat Nail Clippers
4. Necoichi Cozy Cat Scratcher Bowl
5. Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Treat Puzzle Dog Toy
7. Lilly Brush BE FOREVER FURLESS PET HAIR REMOVER
8. Litter Genie Cat Litter Box
Check out my Cat Product Reviews!