The journal
Cat care writing that respects your time and your cat's opinions.
Low shedding cats: the breeds that leave the least hair behind
Low shedding cats explained: which breeds drop the least hair, why coat type matters more than length, and the care each one really needs.
Cat weight chart: what a healthy cat actually weighs
A cat weight chart is only half the answer. Here are indicative ranges by breed and life stage, plus how to score the cat in front of you.
How to give a cat a pill without losing its trust
How to give a cat a pill calmly: the hold that works, the food tricks that do not backfire, and what must never be crushed.
Cat tail meaning: reading the loudest part of a cat
A cat tail meaning guide: what upright, puffed, tucked, lashing and quivering tails actually say, and how to answer each one.
Cat asthma: the cough people mistake for a hairball
Feline asthma looks exactly like a cat trying to bring up a hairball. Here is how to tell the difference, and how the condition is controlled.
Cat UTI: urinary signs, and when it is an emergency
A cat UTI is rarely a simple infection. Here is what straining, blood and an empty tray actually mean, and when to call tonight.
Do cats dream? What the twitching paws mean
Cats have the brain architecture for dreaming, and their sleep tells you what it looks like from outside.
Why cats love boxes: the science of the squeeze
Security, warmth, ambush geometry: what the cardboard box does for a cat, and how to build on it.
Ringworm in cats: spotting it, treating it, and clearing the house
Ringworm is a fungus, not a worm, and it is contagious to people. The signs, the treatment that works, and the cleanup that stops the cycle.
Declawing cats: what it involves, and what to do instead
Declawing is not a nail trim. What the surgery removes, why the bans keep spreading, and the fixes that actually work.
Whiskers: what they do, and what they are telling you
What cat whiskers are for, why you should never trim them, and how their direction reads your cat's mood.
Ear infections in cats: the signs, the causes and the honest fix
Cat ear infection signs are easy to miss until the scratching starts. What causes them, how they differ from mites and wax, and why cleaning is not a cure.
Why cats meow: what each sound is actually asking for
Why do cats meow? Mostly at us, rarely at each other. What the greeting, the demand and the night yowl each mean, and when extra talking means a vet visit.
Why cats hate water, and the breeds that break the rule
Why do cats hate water? It is physics, smell and control, not drama. Which breeds genuinely enjoy it, and when a cat ever actually needs a bath.
Introducing a cat to a dog: the method that actually works
How to introduce a cat to a dog without the chaos: scent first, then a barrier, then short supervised meetings. A week-by-week method and the signs to watch.
Hyperthyroidism in cats: the signs, the tests, the treatment choices
Hyperthyroidism in cats is common in older age and easy to miss: weight loss with a big appetite, thirst and restlessness. The signs, tests and treatments, explained.
Are cats nocturnal? Not quite, and it matters at 3 a.m.
Cats are not nocturnal: they are crepuscular, built for dawn and dusk. Why that is, why yours sprints at midnight, and how to shift the schedule.
Cat grass: what it is, why they love it, and how to grow it
Cat grass is cheap, safe and grows in a week. Which seeds to buy, how to grow a pot that lasts, and why your cat eats it at all.
Cat vaccinations: what they need, when, and what is optional
Which vaccines every cat needs, which depend on lifestyle, the kitten schedule, booster timing, and the honest case for indoor cats.
How long are cats pregnant? The nine weeks, week by week
Cat pregnancy lasts about 63 to 65 days. Here is what happens in each of those nine weeks, and when to call the vet.
Cat years to human years: the honest conversion
The old multiply-by-seven rule is wrong. Here is how cat ageing actually works, year by year, and what each life stage asks of you.
Leaving your cat alone: boredom, loneliness and the signs
Cats have a reputation for indifference that their behaviour does not support. Most cope well with a working day alone; some genuinely struggle. How to tell which cat you have, and how to set up the hours you are away.
Brushing, shedding and mats: a coat routine that sticks
Most cats do not need a complicated grooming regime. They need two minutes of the right brushing, done often enough that mats never get a start. Here is how to build the habit.
Watery eyes and discharge: from a stray lash to an infection
One watery eye on a bright cat is usually nothing. A squinting eye, or coloured discharge, is never nothing. How to tell the difference, and what to do while you decide.
Overgrooming and bald patches: when licking becomes a symptom
A cat licking a bald patch into its own belly is not being vain. Overgrooming is a symptom with two main causes, skin disease and stress, and telling them apart changes the whole response.
My cat is limping: what to check, and when to call
A limp can be a thorn in a pad or a fractured toe. Here is the five-minute home check, the signs that change the answer, and how long to wait before calling the vet.
Catnip: why some cats lose their minds, and others shrug
Catnip explained: the genetics behind the response, why a third of cats are immune, how much to give, and the practical jobs it does well.
Litter training a kitten, in the first fortnight
How to litter train a kitten in the first two weeks: tray count, litter choice, placement, the daily rhythm, and the mistakes that cause accidents.
Hissing and growling: what a cat is warning you about
Why cats hiss and growl: fear, boundaries, overstimulation and pain, how to read the body behind the sound, and the responses that actually defuse it.
A cat in heat: the noise, the behaviour, and what to do
Cat in heat explained: the calling, rolling and restlessness, how long each cycle lasts, how to keep her calm and safe, and when spaying is the answer.
Fleas on cats: how to clear them, and keep them gone
How to get rid of fleas on cats for good: treat the cat and the home together, with a week-by-week plan, realistic timings and the mistakes that restart the cycle.
Why does my cat lick me? Grooming, bonding and when it is too much
What licking means in cat language, why it feels like sandpaper, how to redirect it politely, and the point at which licking becomes a symptom.
Cat dandruff: flaky skin, and what it is telling you
Why flakes appear in a cat coat, how to tell a dry coat from a skin condition, and the home routine that fixes most of it.
Human foods cats can eat, and the ones to keep off the counter
Which kitchen foods are genuinely safe for cats, which are occasional at best, and the short list that should never reach a cat at all.
Why is my cat drooling? From bliss to a dental warning
The difference between the happy dribble on your knee and the drool that means a bad tooth, a swallowed object or something toxic, and what to do about each.
Can cats see in the dark? What those eyes actually do
How much a cat can really see at night, what the eye gives up in exchange, and the small changes that make a dark house easier for them.
How to bathe a cat: when it is needed, and how to survive it
How to bathe a cat without bloodshed: when a bath is genuinely needed, the setup, the step-by-step, and when to call a groomer instead.
Why do cats sleep so much? Normal hours, odd habits and the red flags
Why do cats sleep so much? What 12–16 hours a day really means, the light doze vs deep sleep, and the changes that actually matter.
Cat sneezing: colds, dust and the signs that need a vet
Cat sneezing a lot? Dust, viruses, dental roots and foreign bodies, how to sort the harmless from the signs that need a vet.
Why does my cat bite me? From love bites to the real thing
Why does my cat bite me? Petting bites, play bites, redirected aggression and pain, how to tell them apart and what actually fixes each.
Can cats drink milk? What the saucer myth gets wrong
Can cats drink milk? Most adults are lactose intolerant. Which milks are safer, how much is too much, and what to watch for afterwards.
Why do cats eat grass? The instinct, the aftermath, and when it matters
Why cats really eat grass, whether the vomiting is a problem, how to grow a safe supply, and the point where grazing becomes a vet question.
Constipation in cats: the quiet problem hiding behind the litter tray
How to spot a constipated cat, the home levers that actually move things, and the point where straining becomes a same-day problem.
Cat diarrhoea: how long to wait, what to feed, and when to phone the vet
A calm triage guide to cat diarrhoea: the causes that matter, a 24-hour home plan, and the exact signs that turn watching into phoning.
Why does my cat stare at me? Reading the slow blink and the hard stare
What the different kinds of cat stare actually mean, how to answer a slow blink, and the rare times a stare is worth a vet conversation.
Hypoallergenic cats: what the label really means and which breeds come close
What hypoallergenic really means, which breeds come closest, and the trial-visit and cleaning routine that decide whether a cat and an allergy can share a home.
Kidney disease in cats: the slow one you can catch early
Chronic kidney disease is the commonest serious illness of older cats, and the signs that arrive first are a heavier water bowl and a slowly falling weight. Here is what to track at home, which tests find it early, and what treatment actually involves.
Spraying and marking: why it happens, and how to stop it
A small squirt on a wall means something completely different from a puddle on the carpet. This is how to tell spraying from urination, the five causes worth working through in order, and the cleaning and resource changes that actually resolve it.
A cat that stops eating: how many hours matter, and what to do
Cats are built differently from dogs when it comes to fasting: their livers cope badly with sudden weight loss, and an overweight cat is at more risk than a thin one. This is the hour-by-hour guide to appetite loss, the causes worth checking at home, and the line where waiting stops being reasonable.
Itchy ears: mites, wax, yeast and what is actually wrong
How to tell ear mites from wax, yeast and infection, why cotton buds and olive oil make things worse, and the one sign that turns an itchy ear into a same-day vet visit.
Why do cats knead, and what the paws are really saying
Kneading is a kittenhood pattern kept into adulthood, a nest-building routine and a scent-marking tool all at once. A context reader for working out which, plus what to do about claws.
Cats and plants: what is toxic, what is safe, and why cat grass helps
Lilies, sago palm and oleander are genuine emergencies. Monstera and peace lily are irritants. Cat grass is the answer to a cat who chews everything green. A plant-by-plant checker included.
Fleas, ticks and worms: a plan that fits your cat
A risk-based parasite plan for cats: how to check for fleas, treat a household properly, remove a tick safely, and how often to worm.
How much water should a cat drink?
How much water a cat needs each day, how much comes from food, why fountains are overrated, and when drinking more is the earliest sign of illness.
Cat hairballs: normal, or a warning sign?
How often hairballs are normal, why they happen, the combing interval your cat's coat needs, and the signs that mean asthma, allergy or gut disease rather than fur.
Cat body language: how to read ears, eyes and tail
A practical guide to reading cat body language: what ears, eyes, tail and posture mean together, the warning signs before a bite, and how to answer a slow blink.
Litter box problems: why cats stop using the tray
Why cats stop using the litter tray: the medical causes to rule out first, the box count and size that cats actually accept, and a retraining plan that works.
Cat vomiting: what is normal, what is not
Cat vomiting explained: hairballs versus food versus illness, what the colour tells you, how often is too often, and the signs that mean call your vet today.
How to trim your cat's claws without a fight
How to trim cat claws calmly: where the quick is, the ten-day desensitising plan, how often to trim, and why declawing is not an alternative.
How to introduce two cats without a war
How to introduce two cats: a seven-stage plan with exit conditions, the resource maths behind a peaceful multi-cat home, and the signs an introduction is failing.
Cat litter: what nine types actually do
Best cat litter by type: how clumping clay, silica, wood, paper, corn, tofu and walnut compare on odour, dust, tracking and cost, and how to switch without a protest.
Why do cats purr, and when purring is not contentment
Why do cats purr? The mechanism, the four contexts it appears in, the solicitation purr owners respond to without noticing, and the cases where purring means pain.
Cat dental care: the disease most owners never see
Cat dental care in practice: how to spot gingivitis early, how to brush a cat that objects, what dental diets do, and when a scale under anaesthetic is unavoidable.
How long do cats live, and what actually adds years
How long do cats live? Typical lifespan is 13 to 17 years, and weight, outdoor access, dental care, neutering and vet cadence explain most of the spread.
Why is my cat so vocal? Decoding the Siamese voice
Why is my cat so vocal? A guide to Siamese and Oriental talking: what each sound means, when it is medical, and how to answer without training a yowl.
Wet vs dry cat food: settling the argument with actual numbers
Everyone has an opinion on wet versus dry cat food. Very few of them start with the moisture requirement of an obligate carnivore evolved in a desert. Here are the numbers, the costs and a plan.
The vertical apartment: enrichment for cats who never go outside
How to enrich a flat for an indoor cat: vertical routes, hunting play, feeding puzzles, territory maths and the cheap fixes that work first.
The first 90 days: a kitten socialisation timetable
A week-by-week kitten socialisation timetable: the sensitive period, homecoming, handling, play, carrier training, vaccinations and neutering.
Eleven quiet signals your cat is getting old before you notice
The early signs of ageing in cats: thirst, weight, mobility, grooming, tray habits and night noise, plus what to raise with your vet and when.
Scratching posts: we measured nine, and most are too short
Scratching post buying guide: the height your cat actually needs, why sisal beats carpet, base stability, placement, and how to stop sofa scratching for good.