Q: Do cats really only meow to communicate with people? How do they communicate with other cats? A: Kittens meow to communicate their needs, or when they’re in distress, and this is purely directed at their mother. As kittens mature and become independent, this form of communication diminishes in importance. An adult cat relies on
Q & A: Cats communicating Read More »
Owning a cat provides so many giggles and entertaining moments. Cats can be so funny and are sometimes real scaredy cats, but there are days when every cat owner needs some guidance on how to handle a situation, or at least to understand if your cat is purely going through a phase. Knowing which life
What to expect from your cat’s different life stages Read More »
Q: Why do some cats hate water, and others don’t? A: The Turkish Van is a breed of cat who famously enjoys water, to the point where they may even swim if given the chance. Other breeds who enjoy water include Bengals and Maine Coons. But not every individual within these breeds will be the
Q & A: Real water babies Read More »
Whether you choose to buy your kitten from a reputable breeder or rescue a kitten from a shelter, it’s a personal choice. Once your kitten is ready to come home, it’s time for you to take on a new role – that of responsible kitty parent. Liaising with the breeder or shelter If you are
Kitty’s first night home – what to do Read More »
Q: We would like to take our cat with us on outings, but what kind of outdoor activities can my cat accompany us on? A: This very much depends on your cat’s personality and the extent of training and socialisation that you’ve achieved with her. A cat who is ill-prepared for the world outside her
Q & A: Outdoor activities for cats Read More »
Q: I recently read that dogs’ teeth should be cleaned regularly. What about cat teeth, and how often should that happen? A: Cats are affected by many of the same dental problems that affect dogs, so what applies to dogs should in theory apply to cats too. Daily removal of plaque is the key to
Q & A: Cleaning cat teeth Read More »
Q: Why should cats not eat dog food? A: Cats need a balanced diet to ensure that their nutritional needs are met. If they are fed a single protein, human table scraps or even dog food, they won’t receive the nutrients they require to stay healthy. For example, a cat with a vitamin A deficiency
Cats need cat food Read More »
Q: I have recently adopted a cat and want to know why she is scared of strange people? A: There are many reasons why a cat may be afraid of strangers. Lack of socialisation with people at an early age is a common factor, especially in cats who have been adopted and may have a
Q & A: Scared of strange people Read More »
Visiting the vet with our pets might not be on our priority list of nice things to do. But it should definitely be something that we plan in advance and then make an effort to do, whether it is a cat, dog, bird, rabbit or any other small animal to see the vet. It might
When pets should see their vets Read More »
Q: Should I stop my cat from hunting birds in the garden? A: Hunting birds is a perfectly natural and normal behaviour for cats, and would be their means of survival if they were not in our homes. Our companion cats often kill birds but do not eat them, simply because they have access to
Q&A: Hunting birds Read More »
Standing in front of the shelves with all the various types of pet food in front of you, it can be daunting to choose the ideal food for your pet. Pet food manufacturers use different terms to indicate what you can expect from the food. There are no real guidelines as to what the terms
Premium or super-premium – making sense of pet food terms Read More »
Q: My vet recently warned me that my obese cat should go on a diet or she could face some diseases. What diseases can be associated with obesity in pets? A: There are a number of diseases that may be linked to obesity. Some of these include: Insulin resistance (cells fail to respond to the
Q & A: Diseases in obese pets Read More »
