A buying guide is only as good as the research behind it. Here you can see which sources we compare, what we look at for each type of product and what keeps a product out of a guide.
By the Katdootje editorial team · Updated
How we assess
Every product goes through the same fixed checklist
We assess a product using the best information available, and we put the sources side by side. Specifications from the manufacturer, the experiences of owners who have used it for a while, independent tests when they exist, and for health topics the guidance of vets. Then every product goes through the same checklist for its type, and we check that you can buy it now.
Most products in our guides are assessed this way, without us having had them at home. We only call a product tested when one of us has really used it, and then the guide says for how long and with which cat. That way you always know where a verdict comes from.
What we do
Compare sources and look at where they agree
Check sizes, weight and terms with the manufacturer
Look for patterns in what owners say, praise and complaints alike
Follow the guidance of vets on anything to do with health
Check every week that each product is still available on Amazon
What we never do
Call a product tested when we have not used it ourselves
Write up an experience of our own that we do not have
Give a score that looks more precise than it is
Rank a product higher because the commission is higher
Suggest a lab test we have not done
The sources
Five sources, each with its own role
Specifications
Sizes, weight, materials, the minimum weight of the cat, guarantee and subscriptions, from the manual and the manufacturer's website. If a product page does not match the manual, the manual wins.
Experiences of owners
Reviews on Amazon and in other shops, and discussions on forums and in groups of cat owners. We look for what keeps coming back, good and bad. One angry review counts for little. The same complaint twenty times counts for a lot.
Independent tests
Which? and similar organisations. If they have tested the type of product, we include their results.
Guidance from vets
When a product touches on health, such as food for a sensitive stomach, flea treatments or worming, we follow International Cat Care, the Cornell Feline Health Center, the PDSA and Cats Protection. We do not give doses. For those, follow the package leaflet or your vet.
Availability
When we write a guide, we check that each product is on Amazon and can be delivered. After that we check every week. If a product is no longer available, it leaves the guide and we look for a replacement that does the same job.
Prices on Amazon change too often to show on our cards, so price is something you check in the shop itself. More on that in How we choose.
How we weigh it up
The cat first, then convenience, then price
Each type of product has a few criteria that weigh heavily and a few reasons that rule a product out straight away. The safety and wellbeing of your cat always come first. After that we look at ease of use, what something costs after you buy it, and only then at the price.
We give no overall score. A litter box that is perfect for a kitten is too small for a Maine Coon. That is why every guide ends with a pick for each situation, such as best for large cats or best without a subscription, with the pros and cons alongside. That way you choose what suits your cat.
Checklist by product type
What we look at for each type of product
This is the list we work through for each type of product. In the guide itself you can read what stands out for each product, in the explanation and in the pros and cons.
Automatic litter box
What we look at
How the box knows a cat is in or near it (weight, laser or infrared) and whether it then stops
The minimum weight the manufacturer gives, which matters with kittens
Entrance and inside space, also for large breeds such as the Maine Coon
Which litter the box can handle
Noise while cleaning, and how often you still need to clean it yourself
What it costs after you buy it: bags, filters and any subscription for the app
What weighs heavily
Safety of the cat
Suits the size and number of cats
What rules a product out
No clear information about the sensors or minimum weight
Owners keep reporting that the box turns while a cat is inside
We only use the word tested when one of us has used the product at home, with our own cat. Then we keep track of what an owner wants to know and what no specification tells you:
How long we used it, and with which cat or cats
Unpacking and setting up: what is in the box and what else you need
How the cat reacts in the first few days, and how long it takes to get used to it
Noise, smell and cleaning in daily use
What is different after a few weeks compared with the first day
That experience appears in the guide next to the product itself, with the period of use. For products without such a note, the verdict is based on the sources above.
When we look again
A guide is never finished
A new model comes out. Then we put the new model through the same checklist and check whether the old one is still available.
Owners report a new problem. If the same complaint keeps coming back, a product can lose its place.
A product is no longer available. Then it leaves the guide and we look for an available replacement that does the same job.