Essential information about feeding, health, safety and natural feline behaviour, collected in one place. This guide supports everyday care but does not replace an examination by a veterinarian.
Materials, shape and size for comfortable feeding.
Chin acne in cats is a disorder of the hair follicle that leads to the overproduction of keratin. Excess keratin builds up in the hair follicle and this leads to the formation of comedones (blackheads). If bacteria settle and multiply in the comedones, pustules (pus-filled pimples) form.
Choose a wide, shallow bowl that does not constantly press the whiskers against its sides. If your cat paws food out or eats from the floor, try a different bowl and ask a vet to rule out dental or appetite problems.
Running water and easier hydration.
What to look for in dry and wet food.
Benefits and drawbacks of the main litter types.
Sensitive guides that should never be trimmed.
Whiskers are specialised keratin hairs. The hair itself does not feel pain, but its follicle is rich in nerves and conveys information about touch, air movement and nearby obstacles. Whiskers help a cat navigate and judge narrow spaces.
Never trim or pluck whiskers. Doing so can temporarily disorient and stress a cat. It is normal for an individual whisker to shed naturally and grow back.
‘Whisker fatigue’ is discussed, but scientific evidence remains limited. A wide, shallow bowl is an easy change; refusal to eat always deserves veterinary assessment.
Claw checks, trimming and suitable scratching surfaces.
Scratching is natural behaviour: it stretches muscles, removes the outer claw sheaths and leaves visual and scent signals. It is not an attempt to annoy you. Boredom and a lack of suitable surfaces can redirect it to furniture.
Check claws regularly, especially in older cats and cats with limited mobility. Snagging on fabric, tapping on hard floors, limping or a claw curving towards the pad are reasons to seek advice.
When a bath is needed and when spot-cleaning is better.
Most healthy cats do not need baths on a schedule. They maintain their own coat, while frequent bathing can be stressful and dry the skin. Clean only the dirty area when that is enough.
A bath may be needed after heavy soiling, for a matted long coat or for a skin condition. The last two are best discussed with a veterinarian or feline grooming professional.
Home prevention and early signs of oral pain.
Dental disease is often hidden below the gum line. Bad breath, red gums, drooling, dropping food, chewing on one side or sudden fussiness are reasons for an examination.
Internal and external parasites and regular prevention.
Parasite treatment is mandatory when you bring the kitten home, especially if it has been living on the street until then. In that case it is almost certain that it has parasites. The rest of the time it is done periodically, because parasite eggs are carried in on people's shoes.
An overview of core vaccines and boosters.
Health benefits and prevention of unwanted litters.
Spaying a female cat usually removes the ovaries and sometimes the uterus. Castration removes a male cat's testicles. The right timing and method should be agreed with a veterinarian based on the cat's age and health.
There is no medical benefit to letting a female cat have one litter first. Neutering prevents unwanted litters and helps reduce the number of cats without secure homes.
What to watch for and when it is an emergency.
A cat that strains but produces little or no urine needs immediate veterinary care. Urethral obstruction can quickly become life-threatening.
Crystals are not a single diagnosis. Struvite and calcium oxalate formations require different treatment, and inflammation without stones can cause similar signs. Do not start a prescription diet or try to acidify urine without tests and a veterinary plan.
Common infectious diseases and their signs.
Feline herpesvirus (FHV) is also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR). Once a cat is infected with feline herpes, he or she becomes a carrier for life. The animal will go through an initial period of illness and then the virus will enter a dormant period. If the pet becomes severely stressed or falls ill with another disease, the virus can reactivate and the symptoms can return.
The symptoms are sudden and non-stop sneezing, nasal discharge — yellowish to green, half-closed and swollen eyes because of the heavy discharge stuck to the eyelids, conjunctivitis, fever and others.
Treatment — a course of antibiotics and immune support
Hunting sequences, variety and safe storage.
A laser can provide movement, but the cat cannot capture the light. End the game by guiding the dot to a physical toy or treat the cat can actually catch.
Use these only under supervision. String, elastic bands, ribbon, wire and loose small parts can be swallowed. Put the toy away after play and replace it when it starts to break apart.
Windows, balconies and everyday household hazards.
Never leave a tilted window unprotected. A cat can slide into the V-shaped gap and become trapped, causing severe internal injuries.
Common styles, correct fit and calm training.
Not every cat is comfortable on a lead. For many, an enriched familiar home or secured balcony is calmer. If the cat freezes, crawls, tries to escape or refuses rewards, go back a step or stop the training.
Light and adjustable, with straps around the neck and chest. It must be designed for cats and prevent backing out.
Covers a larger area and spreads pressure, but may feel too warm or restrictive to some cats.
Common gestures understood in context.
Often shows relaxation, trust or an invitation to play, but it is not necessarily an invitation to touch the belly. Let the cat choose contact.
During petting this usually means touch in that area feels pleasant. Watch the tail, ears and body tension because signals must be read together.
Pawing around the bowl may resemble hiding leftovers. If a cat suddenly refuses food or appears nauseous, look for a medical cause.
Safer choices and plants that do not belong in a cat's home.
True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are especially dangerous to cats. Even pollen groomed from the coat or vase water can cause acute kidney failure. Do not wait for symptoms.
Foods that should stay out of a cat's reach.
Initial, monthly and yearly costs.
Both dry and wet cat food have their advantages, and many veterinarians recommend a combination of the two.
The symptoms resemble those of the herpes virus, but in more serious cases it also causes ulcers on the nose and tongue, a high temperature, loss of appetite, lethargy and others. Some strains of feline calicivirus (FCV) can affect the joints and cause painful lameness, known as “limping syndrome”.
Treatment — a course of antibiotics and immune support
Also called feline parvovirus, it is a highly infectious and potentially fatal viral disease.
The symptoms are loss of appetite, weakness, vomiting, watery and very foul-smelling and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, dehydration, fever and others.
Treatment is focused on managing the dehydration through fluid therapy and a course of antibiotics.
Mortality in feline panleukopenia is very high and reaches between 60% and 90%, and in small kittens (between 2 and 6 months of age) it often exceeds 90%
Despite its name, feline leukaemia is a viral disease. It affects the cat's immune system and occurs in cats of all ages and breeds.
The symptoms include anaemia, lethargy, progressive weight loss, fever, recurring diarrhoea and secondary infections of the ears, skin, mucous membranes and internal organs.
Treatment is symptomatic. The secondary infections are treated, and immunostimulants and general vitamins are given.
Your veterinarian will be able to determine whether your cat is infected with FeLV using a blood test.
The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is the equivalent of human HIV in cats. It is important to note that people cannot catch FIV. Once a cat has been infected with FIV, it remains a carrier for the rest of its life. The virus attacks cats' immune systems and leaves their bodies vulnerable to all kinds of infections.
FIV is transmitted mainly through a direct cat bite.
The initial symptoms are: loss of appetite, weight loss, a dry coat and hair loss, recurring diarrhoea, vomiting. Later on they may develop: inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), refusal of food, drooling, frequent respiratory and digestive infections, wounds that do not heal and others.
Treatment is symptomatic, aiming to raise the cat's immunity and to treat the secondary illnesses.
The disease can progress very slowly over several years and it is possible that it never breaks out. The speed at which the disease develops depends on the cat's immune system, its age and the environment it lives in.
An FIV diagnosis is not a reason for euthanasia, but sensible precautions should be followed and cats should not be allowed to roam freely outdoors, as there is a risk of them infecting other cats.
FIV can easily be diagnosed with a blood test.
FIP is a relatively rare but fatal viral disease. It is caused by infection with the virus called feline coronavirus. It is important to note that this is different from COVID-19. Feline coronavirus causes only mild symptoms — the kitten suffers from diarrhoea for a few days and nothing more. In some cases, however, it mutates, causing FIP. It has three forms:
Symptoms of the “wet”, or effusive, form
In this form of the disease, fluid builds up in the abdomen, which makes a swollen belly one of the most obvious signs. This can also happen in the chest cavity, causing breathing problems. But other diseases can cause this fluid build-up too, so it is important to wait for a clearer diagnosis from your veterinarian before a presumptive diagnosis is made.
Symptoms of the ‘dry’, or non-effusive, form
In this case of FIP in cats there will be minimal fluid build-up and the symptoms will be vague and not specific to a single disease: weight loss, vomiting or lethargy. Inflammation may also develop and affect various organs such as the eyes, kidneys, lungs or skin.
Neurological and ocular form: These affect the nervous system (tremors, paralysis) or the eyes (inflammation, a change in colour).
Treatment Until a few years ago FIP was considered incurable and a fatal outcome was inevitable. Today there are effective antiviral drugs (such as GS-441524) that successfully neutralise the mutated virus and save the lives of sick cats.
Chlamydia in cats (sometimes called chlamydial conjunctivitis) is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia felis, which usually infects the eyes and the upper respiratory tract.
Symptoms: discharge collecting in the eye, frequent and excessive blinking, constant squinting, redness of the eye tissues.
It is treated with a course of antibiotics over 4 weeks.
!!This is the only disease on the list that can also infect people!!
A soft gaze and slow eye closure are usually calm, non-threatening signals. You can slowly blink back without staring.
Rhythmic pressing with the front paws begins in kittenhood and often appears during relaxation. Some cats extend their claws, so place a soft blanket between you.
An open mouth and raised upper lip are not a sneer. The movement brings scent molecules to a specialised organ in the roof of the mouth.
Meaning depends on the whole body. A soft posture may show interest; a tense body, dilated pupils and flattened ears suggest fear or a need for space.
Behaviour that begins suddenly, becomes frequent or comes with pain, appetite loss, litter-tray changes or over-grooming should first be discussed with a veterinarian.
Different plants cause different problems, from mouth irritation and stomach upset to heart, liver or kidney injury. If your cat has chewed a plant, photograph it or take its label, call a vet and do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed.
