If you're a cat owner, these 6 items are totally worth investing in — trust me, I have 3 cats

I was late to the Litter Genie hype — I should have purchased this four years ago when I first rescued my kittens. The beauty of this pail is that it saves you from daily trips to the garbage can and it keeps odours sealed in, similar to a diaper genie. 

I felt wasteful using a new compost bag every day, but this offers a solution: the refill bags are flexible, which means you can cut and tie off the bag anytime, then pop it in the trash. The pail holds up to 14 days of cat litter for one cat, and the refills last up to two months. 

Amazon reviewers repeatedly comment how effective the design is at "locking in smells" and I totally agree. Pro tip: buy the normal refills, not the eco-friendly ones. I found those are not as good at containing odours. 

My sister had this brush for her cat, and once I tried it, I ordered one for my cats as well. Unlike other brushes where you have to grab at the trapped hair with your hands, this one is designed with a button that pushes pet hair to the top, making it super easy to clean. 

This brush is backed by nearly 30,000 reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.4-stars. Personally, I like how easy it is to use, and my cats seem to like it, too. Amazon reviewers say the stainless steel bristles are "gentle yet effective," and I have to agree. It works on both my short and long-haired cats. I've had it for three years now, and it's still going strong. However, a few of the stainless steel bristles have bent. 

This brush is often featured in online videos, and for good reason. With more than 91,000 Amazon reviews and an average rating of 4.4 stars, this reusable pet hair collector does a much better job compared to single-use lint rollers. 

The roller runs on static electricity. A section of fleece attracts pet hair as you move the roller back and forth over a surface. Many reviewers note it's easier to use than a vacuum cleaner when it comes to picking up pet hair off of hard-to-reach areas, like the back of a couch. 

I find it incredibly useful for quickly removing excess cat hair from carpets, sofas, pillows, and blankets. After rolling back and forth, all the hair goes into an easy-to-empty receptacle. However, it doesn't work perfectly on every fabric type. I had trouble using it on my parents' velvet couch, for example.

For those with allergies, an air purifier is a game changer. Air purifiers can help remove pet dander and allergens from the air and keep your house feeling fresh. It also improves the air quality and reduces pet odours, in my experience. 

I purchased this one from Levoit because it had more than 24,000 ratings on Amazon with an average rating of 4.6 stars. It was very easy to set up, and it comes equipped with a smart app that allows you to set timers, create schedules, and tool with settings. It's also compatible with Alexa, though I haven't used that feature. 

I keep this next to the litter boxes and I notice a difference when it comes to air quality and odours thanks to its HEPA filter, which traps pet dander and hair well. At just over seven pounds, I like that the compact design is easy to move around the house. The specs say it's good for up to 915 square feet. 

Reviewers note this air purifier is priced reasonably at $150 for an "effective and efficient" little machine. I have no regrets when it comes to this little machine — if anything, I should buy another! 

Cats are funny creatures, and it turns out they love drinking water from fountains. This is my second water fountain; the first one was made of plastic and I purchased this one as a backup. I noticed it is easier to clean than the plastic one, and I appreciate the stainless steel design and large 3.2-litre capacity.

Amazon reviewers note that this water fountain is very quiet, and I agree. I've had it for almost a year now, and the only downside is that my cats have generally lost interest in it. However, some reviewers say they wish it had a window to see the water level in the basin. By the way, you'll need to buy the filters as well and swap them out every month or so. 

As a cat owner, I've purchased all kinds of fancy scratchers. But nothing got more use than these plain cardboard scratchers. It turns out, my cats prefer to scratch on horizontal surfaces rather than vertical — unless it's the couch, of course. Classic cat behaviour.  

These Mankaide scratchers are made from 100 per cent recycled corrugated cardboard, making them an eco-friendly option. The best part is that once one side is worn out, you can just flip it over for a fresh side, which means it's more like eight scratch pads. 

With an average rating of 4.4 stars on Amazon, reviewers genuinely rave about how often their cats use them and how instantly they took to them. I completely agree! However, some note that it is smaller than they imagined, so be sure to look at the photos before placing your order.