Cat care FAQ

Most adult cats are lactose intolerant to some degree, and cow's milk can cause diarrhoea. Fresh water is all a cat needs to drink. If you want a treat, cat-specific "milk" products are lactose-reduced, but count their calories.

Lilies (true lilies, Lilium, and daylilies, Hemerocallis) are especially dangerous: even small amounts of pollen, leaf, or vase water can cause kidney failure. If you think your cat has had contact with a lily, contact a vet immediately. The ASPCA keeps a searchable list of toxic and non-toxic plants.

Feline life stage guidelines from the AAHA and AAFP recommend at least one wellness visit a year for every cat, with more frequent visits often advised for senior cats and those with health conditions. See Cat life stages.

Kneading is a behaviour kittens use while nursing, and many adult cats keep doing it when relaxed or content. It is normal. Trim nails or put a thick blanket down if the claws are uncomfortable.

Vets use a body condition score. At a healthy weight you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, see a waist behind the ribs from above, and see a slight tummy tuck from the side. Ask your vet to score your cat, and use the calorie calculator only as a starting point.

A common guideline is one box per cat plus one, in different places. See Litter box setup.

A slow blink is widely seen as a relaxed, friendly signal, and a 2020 study found cats were more likely to approach people who slow-blinked at them. Try blinking slowly back. More in Reading cat body language.