Cat Care: The Owner's Guide, Checked by a Vet
After a lifetime of living with cats, and nursing more than one through illness and old age, I built the guide I wish I'd had: clear, practical, written by an owner who has been there, and reviewed by a veterinary surgeon. These pages cover the whole of cat care, from a new kitten's first weeks to keeping a senior cat comfortable, with the health, behaviour, and feeding answers you actually need.
Cat Health & Illness
Spotting illness early, common conditions, preventive care, and when something is an emergency.
- Microchipping Your Cat: How It Works, Cost, and the Law
A vet-reviewed guide to microchipping your cat: how the chip works, what it costs, why details must stay current, and where it is now a legal requirement.
- Spaying and Neutering Cats: Benefits, Age, Procedure, and Recovery
A vet-reviewed guide to spaying and neutering cats: the health and behaviour benefits, the usual age of about 4 months, the procedure, and recovery.
- How Much Does a Vet Cost for a Cat? Routine, Emergency, and Insurance
Vet costs for a cat explained: honest price ranges for check-ups, vaccines, and emergencies, plus how pet insurance works and how to budget for it.
- Kidney Disease in Cats: Symptoms, Stages, and Management
A vet-reviewed guide to chronic kidney disease in cats: the early symptoms, how the IRIS stages work, and how diet and treatment slow it down.
- Diabetes in Cats: Signs, Treatment, Insulin, and Remission
A vet-reviewed guide to diabetes in cats: the early signs, the link to obesity, how insulin and diet treatment work, and why some cats reach remission.
- Hyperthyroidism in Cats: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Hyperthyroidism in cats explained: why an older cat loses weight despite a big appetite, how vets diagnose it, and the four main treatment options.
- Dental Disease in Cats: Signs, Treatment and Home Prevention
Dental disease in cats: how common it is, the signs (bad breath, drooling, not eating), what treatment involves, and how to protect your cat's teeth at home.
- Urinary Problems in Cats (FLUTD): Signs, Causes, and the Emergency
Vet-reviewed guide to urinary problems in cats (FLUTD): cystitis, blockage, the straining signs to watch, and why a blocked male cat is a same-hour emergency.
- Diarrhoea in Cats: Causes, Home Care, and When to See a Vet
Diarrhoea in cats explained: the common causes, safe home care, the dehydration warning signs, and exactly when loose stools mean a trip to the vet.
- Why Is My Cat Vomiting? Causes, Hairballs, and When to Worry
Why a cat vomits: how to tell harmless hairballs from serious causes, the frequency that signals a problem, and the red flags that mean an emergency vet visit.
- Fleas, Ticks, and Worms in Cats: Signs, Treatment, and Prevention
A vet-reviewed guide to fleas, ticks, and worms in cats: how to spot each parasite, which products treat them, how often to treat, and indoor risk.
- Cat Vaccinations: Core vs Non-Core, the Kitten Course and Adult Boosters
A vet-reviewed guide to cat vaccinations: core vs non-core vaccines, the kitten course, adult boosters, what indoor cats need, and the AAHA/AAFP schedule.
- When to Take a Cat to the Vet: Emergencies vs Wait-and-See
When to take a cat to the vet: the emergency red flags that need a vet now, the signs you can monitor briefly, and the routine annual and senior schedule.
- Signs Your Cat Is Sick: Behaviour and Physical Red Flags to Watch
Signs your cat is sick: subtle changes in eating, drinking, litter, grooming, and activity that reveal hidden illness, plus the red flags that need a vet now.
- Cat Health: How to Spot Illness Early and When to See a Vet
A vet-reviewed guide to cat health: the everyday signs a cat is unwell, the red flags that mean an emergency, and the routine care that prevents problems.
Kittens & New Cats
The first weeks with a kitten or new cat: supplies, vet visits, litter training, and settling in.
- Bringing Home a Rescue Cat: How to Help a Nervous Cat Settle In
A vet-reviewed guide to bringing home a rescue cat: the decompression set-up, the rule of three, and the patience a nervous or older cat needs to settle.
- How to Tell a Kitten's Age: Week by Week Signs
How to tell a kitten's age using eyes, ears, teeth, weight, and mobility, with week by week markers from newborn to four months and why age guides care.
- Introducing a Kitten to Other Pets: A Step-by-Step Guide
A vet-reviewed guide to introducing a kitten to other pets: scent-first steps, supervision, and realistic timelines for a resident cat or dog.
- Kitten-Proofing Your Home: A Room-by-Room Safety Checklist
A vet-reviewed, room-by-room guide to kitten-proofing your home: the cable, plant, gap, and window hazards to fix before your curious new kitten explores.
- Kitten Feeding Guide: What, How Often, and How Much to Feed by Age
A vet-reviewed kitten feeding guide: which growth food to choose, how often to feed little and often, how much by age, weaning, and the move to adult food.
- Socialising a Kitten: The Sensitive Window and How to Build a Confident Cat
A vet-reviewed guide to socialising a kitten: the sensitive window (about 2 to 9 weeks), gentle handling, and the experiences that build a confident adult cat.
- How to Litter Train a Kitten: A Step-by-Step Guide
Litter training a kitten step by step: the right tray, where to put it, how to introduce it, and how to fix accidents by changing the setup, not by punishing.
- Kitten Vaccination and Vet Schedule: Your First-Year Timeline
A vet-reviewed kitten vaccination and vet schedule: when the first visit, vaccine course, parasite control, neutering, and microchipping happen in year one.
- Kitten Checklist: Everything You Need Before Homecoming
A vet-reviewed kitten checklist: the exact supplies to buy before homecoming, what each item is for, and how to set up a calm base room to settle into.
- New Kitten Guide: The First 30 Days
A vet-reviewed guide to the first month with a new kitten: what to buy, the first vet visit, litter training, feeding, and helping a kitten settle in safely.
Cat Behaviour
Understanding and shaping behaviour: litter problems, scratching, aggression, anxiety, and body language.
- Should I Let My Cat Outside? Indoor vs Outdoor Cat Safety
Should you let your cat outside? A vet-reviewed look at indoor vs outdoor lifespan and risks, enrichment, and safer compromises like catios and harness walking.
- Indoor Cat Enrichment: How to Keep an Indoor Cat Happy and Active
Indoor cat enrichment, explained: daily hunting play, vertical perches, scratching, puzzle feeders, and routine that keep an indoor cat happy and stress-free.
- How to Introduce Two Cats: A Step-by-Step Timeline
Introducing two cats the right way: a vet-reviewed, step-by-step plan covering separation, scent swapping, barrier meetings, and how long it really takes.
- Why Does My Cat Meow So Much? Causes of Excessive Meowing
Why does my cat meow so much? A vet-reviewed guide to the reasons cats vocalise: attention, hunger, greeting, stress, medical causes, and old age.
- Understanding Cat Body Language: How to Read Your Cat's Mood
Read cat body language with confidence: what the ears, tail, posture, eyes, and slow blink reveal about your cat's mood, and how to respond well.
- Cat Anxiety and Stress: Signs, Causes, and How to Calm a Stressed Cat
A vet-reviewed guide to cat anxiety and stress: the signs owners miss, the common triggers, and how routine, hiding spots, vertical space, and pheromones help.
- Cat Aggression: Types, Triggers, and How to Calm It
A vet-reviewed guide to cat aggression: the types (fear, play, redirected, territorial, pain), what triggers them, and how to reduce it calmly.
- Why Cats Scratch Furniture (and How to Redirect It)
Why cats scratch furniture: it is a normal need for claw care, stretching, and marking, plus how to redirect it to posts and why you should never punish it.
- Litter Box Problems: Why Cats Stop Using the Tray and How to Fix It
Why cats stop using the litter box: cleanliness, tray type, location, number, stress, and medical causes, plus the one-per-cat-plus-one rule and the vet check.
- Understanding Cat Behaviour: A Practical Guide
A vet-reviewed guide to cat behaviour: how to read body language, why cats do what they do, and how to handle litter issues, scratching, and anxiety.
Cat Nutrition & Feeding
Feeding your cat well: wet vs dry, how much, healthy weight, and foods that are safe or toxic.
- How to Get a Cat to Drink More Water: A Vet-Reviewed Guide
How to get a cat to drink more water: why feline hydration matters, plus fountains, multiple bowls, wet food, and bowl placement that actually work.
- Feeding a Cat With Kidney Disease: Renal Diets, Phosphorus, and Appetite
How to feed a cat with kidney disease: why renal diets, controlled phosphorus, moderate protein, and extra moisture matter, plus ways to tempt a poor appetite.
- Grain-Free and Raw Diets for Cats: Benefits, Risks, and How to Choose
A vet-reviewed look at grain-free and raw diets for cats: the marketing myths, the real bacterial and balance risks, and how to choose a complete food safely.
- Can Cats Drink Milk? Why Most Adult Cats Should Not
Can cats drink milk? Most adult cats are lactose intolerant, so cow's milk causes tummy upset. What to give instead, and the truth about cat milk.
- Foods Toxic to Cats: The Poisons to Keep Out of Reach
A vet-reviewed list of foods toxic to cats: onion, garlic, chocolate, grapes, xylitol, alcohol, and lilies, plus exactly what to do if your cat eats one.
- Cat Obesity and Weight Loss: How to Help a Cat Lose Weight Safely
A vet-reviewed guide to cat obesity and weight loss: how common it is, the health risks, body condition scoring, and how to slim a cat down safely.
- How Much to Feed a Cat: Daily Amounts by Weight and Life Stage
How much to feed a cat: start from the pack guide by weight and life stage, measure each meal, then adjust to your cat's body condition score.
- Wet vs Dry Cat Food: Pros, Cons, and Which to Feed
Wet vs dry cat food compared: the pros and cons of each, why moisture matters for urinary and kidney health, and how combination feeding works.
- Cat Nutrition: How to Feed Your Cat Well
A vet-reviewed guide to feeding your cat: obligate carnivores, wet vs dry food, how much to feed, keeping a healthy weight, and the foods toxic to cats.
Senior Cat Care
Caring for an ageing cat: the signs of ageing, chronic conditions, comfort, and end-of-life care.
- End-of-Life Care for Cats: Quality of Life, Comfort and Saying Goodbye
A compassionate, vet-reviewed guide to end-of-life care for cats: assessing quality of life, palliative comfort, the euthanasia decision, and coping with grief.
- Caring for a Cat With a Chronic Illness: Daily Management, Medication and Quality of Life
Caring for a cat with a chronic illness: how to give medication, monitor at home, judge quality of life, and work with your vet to keep your cat comfortable.
- Senior Cat Vet Checkups: How Often and What's Checked
Senior cats need a vet checkup every 6 months: what's screened (bloods, urine, blood pressure, weight) and how it catches kidney disease early.
- Feeding a Senior Cat: Nutrition, Weight and Appetite as Cats Age
How to feed a senior cat: the diet, calorie and protein changes older cats need, why weight loss is common, and how to tailor food to age-related conditions.
- Cognitive Decline in Older Cats: Signs, Causes and Management
A vet-reviewed guide to cognitive decline in older cats: spotting feline dementia signs like night yowling, confusion and disorientation, and how to manage it.
- Arthritis in Cats: Subtle Signs, Diagnosis, and Pain Relief
A vet-reviewed guide to arthritis in cats: the easily missed signs, how it is diagnosed, and the pain relief and home changes that keep older cats comfortable.
- Signs of Ageing in Cats: What's Normal and What's a Treatable Condition
A vet-reviewed guide to the signs of ageing in cats: the physical and behavioural changes to watch for, and why many are treatable conditions, not just old age.
- Senior Cat Care: Looking After an Ageing Cat
A vet-reviewed guide to senior cat care: when a cat is 'senior', the signs of ageing to watch for, common conditions, and keeping an older cat comfortable.