The basics of cat care

Cats are experts at hiding discomfort. That is why the most important part of cat care is the daily routine that lets you notice, early, that something has changed.

The litter box: your best early warning system

The litter box tells you more about a cat's health than almost anything else. The basic rules for getting it right:

• Number: one box per cat, plus one. Two boxes is ideal for a single cat.
• Location: a quiet, easily reached corner, away from food and water bowls.
• Cleaning: scoop at least once a day; empty and wash the box regularly.
• Litter type: cats dislike sudden change. If you switch, mix the new litter with the old and move over gradually.

Water intake

Cats naturally drink little, which leaves them prone to urinary and kidney problems. Ways to increase intake:

• Put water bowls in more than one place
• Use wide, shallow bowls — cats dislike their whiskers touching the sides
• Keep the water bowl away from food and the litter box
• Refresh the water every day
• Try a running water fountain — many cats prefer moving water
• Include wet food in the diet

A marked increase in drinking matters just as much as a decrease; it can be the first sign of kidney disease, diabetes or a thyroid problem.

Coat care

Brushing reduces shedding and lowers the amount of hair the cat swallows while grooming, easing hairball problems. It also lets you notice skin changes, lumps and parasites early.

• Short-haired: once or twice a week
• Long-haired: daily — armpits, behind the ears and the inside of the hind legs mat most easily

Trying to cut matted fur out with scissors leads to skin cuts; for tight mats, use a vet or a professional groomer.

Claw care

In indoor cats, claws do not wear down enough naturally and can grow into the pad. Check every 2–3 weeks and trim only the clear tip. Do not touch the pink vascular section (the quick) — it bleeds and hurts.

Trimming does not stop scratching; for that you need a scratching post. Watch your cat's preference: some like a vertical post, others a horizontal cardboard pad.

Dental health

Tartar and gum inflammation are very common in cats and hard to spot, because a cat keeps eating despite the pain. Signs include bad breath, increased drooling, chewing on one side, dropping food and reduced appetite. Regular veterinary checks and professional cleaning when needed are essential.

Health signs that get missed

Cats hide pain. These changes are rarely "just personality" — they are usually the first signal of a problem:

• Starting to hide, stopping coming for a lap
• No longer jumping onto high surfaces — possible joint pain
• Stopping grooming (a dull coat) or over-grooming one spot
• Starting to toilet outside the litter box
• A clear increase in sleep, loss of interest in play
• A change in voice, more meowing at night
• Faster breathing or open-mouth breathing — in cats this is always serious

Home safety

Common household hazards for cats:

• Lilies — every part causes fatal kidney failure in cats; even drinking the vase water is dangerous
• House plants such as philodendron, dieffenbachia and ivy
• String, fishing line, hair ties, tinsel — if swallowed, they cause bowel obstruction
• Human medicines, paracetamol in particular — lethal to cats
• Bleach and cleaning products; a washing machine left open
• Open windows and balconies — falls are common, so screens are essential

Routine veterinary checks

A healthy adult cat should be seen once a year, and cats over 7 twice a year. In older cats, blood and urine tests can catch kidney and thyroid disease before symptoms appear — and in those conditions, early diagnosis directly extends life.