Cat gates: which type actually works, and how tall does it need to be?

Most pet gates are designed with dogs in mind. Put one across a doorway and a dog stays put. A cat looks at it, sits for a moment, then hops over. That doesn't mean gates are us...

Dog steps for beds and sofas: how to pick the right height, size and type

If your dog sleeps on your bed or naps on the sofa, they're jumping down from that height several times a day. Dog steps give them a way up and down without the leap, and they s...

Raised dog beds: is a dog cot right for your dog, and what size do you need?

A raised dog bed looks like a camp bed for dogs: a tight fabric deck stretched across a metal frame, lifted a few centimetres off the floor. They're also called dog cots or elev...

Mirror radiators: how to pick one that heats the room and fits the wall

A mirror radiator does two jobs on one stretch of wall. In a hallway that's barely wide enough for a coat hook, that's the whole appeal: you lose the separate mirror and the rad...

Filing cabinets for a home office: how to pick the right size, type and lock

Paperwork in a home office has a habit of spreading. It starts as one pile on the corner of the desk and ends up in the kitchen drawer, the spare room and a carrier bag under th...

CAT JOY review: handmade cardboard cat scratchers from Peterborough

A lot of cardboard scratchers go the same way. They work for a few weeks, then there's a shredded heap on the floor and a cat eyeing up the sofa again. CAT JOY was set up to cha...