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How to give your cat medication

Does the thought of giving your cat worming tablets or medication make you sweat? Read on to learn the tips and tricks to get your kitty to take their tablet without you getting battle scratches. 🐾 Giving cats medication is a daunting prospect for most cat parents. 💊 Here we guide you through tips and tricks to ensure you can accomplish mission impossible... Things to consider before attempting to give medication 💊 Can the tablet be crushed/divided or be given with food? Check with your vet or on the medication leaflet. 💊 Think about your cat’s personality: which method is most likely to be successful? For example, is your cat a good eater and therefore likely to eat medication in food? If your cat is a fussy eater, putting medication in food is unlikely to be successful and may put them off eating. 💊 Is there a second person who can help you and who ideally knows your cat? Giving medication in food 🍚 Once you’ve established your cat’s medication is ok to be given with food, plan for your cat to feel hungry. Take up any food that is left in a bowl during the day and give medication just before their main meal. 🍚 Before offering your cat their main meal, hide the tablet or liquid in a small amount of your cat’s usual food in their normal bowl. If they are usually fed dry food, it is best to offer medication with some wet food which will disguise it better! Other options include cat pâté, jelly from the wet food, a tiny amount of soft cheese or butter or a small piece of fish/meat. 🍚 Once your cat has finished the small portion of food with the medication, offer the rest of their meal. 🍚 If your kitty is super clever (or extra suspicious!) and eats around the tablet even in the small portion of food try crushing the medication and mixing it with their favorite treat or strong smelling fish. Some treat pastes that work well for giving medication include Webbox Lick-e-Lix, Arden Grange Tasty liver paste, Easypill Cat putty and Cosma jelly snacks. Giving medication into your cat’s mouth If the medication cannot be given with food or your cat will not take it in food, the remaining option is to gently restrain your cat and pop it to the back of their throat. If your moggie is quite docile you can try restraining them without wrapping them in a towel: Pop them onto a table or work-surface which is non-slippery. Sit them upright, facing away from you. Gently hold at shoulder level with both hands (like hugging them from behind). This is so you can keep hold of their front legs if they try to swipe. If your moggie is a ‘wriggler’ and likes to use their back feet to kick out (!)😽 then using a towel will be the safest method: Put a medium-sized towel onto a flat surface such as the floor or table and pop your cat onto the middle of it, facing away from you. Wrap each side of the towel over the top of your cat, leaving just their head out to make a cat burrito (a purrito!). Once your cat is gently restrained you are ready to give the tablet! OPTION A: A two-person job One person holds the cat facing away from them, the other person holds the tablet between thumb and index finger (of their dominant hand) Person holding tablet approaches from the side; their non-dominant hand holds the head from above between thumb and fingers which extend down to either side of the jaw, at the corner of the mouth Gently pressing the corner of the mouth will make your cat open their mouth. Keep their head tilted slightly back and drop the tablet in your dominant hand as far back in the mouth as possible (to the base of the tongue) - the further back it drops, the harder it is for your cat to push it back out with their tongue Gently hold your cat’s jaw closed and rub their throat in a downwards motion to encourage swallowing - watch for lip licking or a swallow which indicates success OPTION B: A one-person job Have your cat burrito tucked under your non-dominant arm, with your cat facing away from your body Use your non-dominant hand to hold your cat’s head from above with thumb and index finger at corners of mouth on jaw (as above) Use your dominant hand to hold the tablet and drop it to the back of the mouth and gently close the mouth, rub throat to encourage swallowing Other tips and tricks Use an empty gelatine capsule if you have more than one pill to give at the same time Use a pill-crusher to make tablets into a powder which can be easier to mix with food. Alternatively the powder can be mixed with some fish or meat juices and sucked up into a (needless) syringe to give by mouth. A pill-giver is a tool that can make administering tablets to the back of the mouth easier, especially if you are worried about putting your fingers in your cat’s mouth! If you really can’t get tablets into your cat with any of the above methods, contact your vet practice as they may be able to book your moggie in for medication to be administered!

May 6, 2023

My cat has gone missing - what should I do?

Every cat parent’s worst nightmare! Keep calm and follow our simple guide to take the first steps towards being reunited with your furry bestie. 💞 Take a deep breath 😮‍💨 First and foremost, keep calm! Many cats roam and can be gone for a while, it’s in their nature (unfortunately for us)! Check their usual spots and talk to neighbours 👀 Does your furry friend have a favourite place to catnap? Check all of their usual kitty hideouts to make sure they’re not right under your nose! Your neighbours may have seen them about and so make sure to touch base with them too. Contact local veterinary practices ☎️ No success? Start calling local vet practices. Often, if somebody finds your cat, they will take them to a vet practice for advice and to scan their microchip. Your contact details registered in the microchip would allow any vet practice to contact you directly if found. Alternatively, if your cat is not chipped, alert your local vet practices to keep an eye out. Try to describe your cat with unique or defining features - for example ‘they have dark brown spot in their right eye’. The more specific the better as this will support the claim that the cat actually belongs to you. Contact local cat rescue centers 🆘 Cat rescues are also common spots where finders may take your cat. Get in touch with the rescues in your area to check whether they recognize your furry friend from photos. Stick posters up in your area📍 Pin up posters in your local area and post on community Facebook groups - you can even get your friends to share the post on their page to increase the reach. Remember there’s a chance that they’ll come back 🤞 Mealtimes! Most kitties love their food and will come right back for a snack (and love from their favorite humans)! Keep your patience and paws crossed. How to future-proof any incidents 👀 Microchip your cat - this will soon be a legal requirement in the UK! Purchase a GPS tracker to attach to your kitty’s collar! If on the receiving end or you think you’ve found a stray cat, follow our tips on do’s and don’ts!

April 28, 2023

Do’s and don’ts: stray cats

Suspect a stray cat in your neighbourhood? Or have a regular visitor to your garden? 🐈‍⬛ Read on to find out what the next steps might be if you’re concerned… Do’s: Observe 👀 - Wait and watch! Monitor the cat visitor and their behaviours - how frequently do they visit your house? Is their coat in good condition? These are good indicators of whether they are being cared for. Check for a collar 🪪 - most cats who are owned by somebody will have a collar. This usually has a telephone number on it, which can be called to check that the cat is not lost and in fact just roaming your local area normally. Talk to your neighbours 🏘️ - Pop round and have a quick chat about the moggie with your neighbours - they might know who the kitty belongs to. Call your local animal shelter 🫶 - for example Cats Protection. They can help you find the kitty’s original owner, or search for a new home if an owner cannot be found. Contact the vet 🆘 - Your local vets will be able to scan for any microchip of your furry intruder! Microchips are usually located between a cat’s shoulder blades and contain the details of their owners. Most veterinary practices will offer this service free of charge. Put up posters and Facebook posts 📬 - If the above are unsuccessful, engage with your local community through posters and social media, both powerful ways to raise awareness. RSPCA 💙 - If you suspect that your feline visitor is owned by somebody, but is being cared for inappropriately or has been abandoned, it may be a good idea to report the cat to the RSPCA. Reunite 💕 - Reconnect the lost kitty to their owners, but remember you may never see them again. Don’ts: Don’t feed them 🥛 - especially not milk! This will just encourage your new furry acquaintance to return, even if they are owned by somebody Don’t pick them up 🧤 - you don’t know if the cat on the block is friendly - if not, they could cause harm. Don’t approach a feral cat 🐈‍⬛ - feral cats are different to stray cats. Stray cats are socialised to people, whereas feral cats are unfamiliar to people and tend to have closer bonds with their feline friends. Feral cats have not been domesticated and therefore are usually better suited to living a more ‘wild’ lifestyle! Unless they appear injured or sick, avoid any intervention. Don’t introduce them to your own pets 😼 - you don’t know if they have any fleas, diseases or unfriendly habits that may put your own furry friends at risk. Alternatively, if you’ve lost your furry friend, follow our tips on the first steps to take.

April 28, 2023

Cats and plants - what to pay attention to?

Did you know that many indoor and outdoor plants are toxic to cats? 💐🤕 Here are some of the most common shrubs to watch out for and suggestions for safer alternatives. Common plants that are highly toxic to cats Acorns Conkers Cycads Daffodils Laburnum Lilies, including peace lily Pieris Rhododendron Common plants that are toxic Christmas trees Chrysanthemum Crocus Fuchsia Holly Honeysuckle Hyacinth Ivy Mistletoe Roses Tulips 🚨 FYI: This is no comprehensive list; simply the most common offenders! If your cat has plant poisoning, they might be showing any of these signs Vomiting Diarrhoea Drooling Rash Swelling Tremoring Twitching Lethargy Hot or cold body temperature Drinking more than usual 🚨 N.B. you may notice none or all of these signs if your cat has had a nibble on a toxic plant, so stay on your toes! If you suspect that your cat might have been poisoned Monitor your moggie - for any of the signs of toxicity Contact your vet immediately - for advice or to book an emergency appointment Try to scoop up any urine or poo samples into a small pot - these might be useful for your vet to test or inspect If you saw the plant that your cat munched, take a sample with you to the vets Remember that many plants, even those which are not toxic, can cause tummy upset to your moggie, if munched on. 🤒 If in any doubt as to whether your cat has consumed something poisonous, you can contact the following 24-hour services: UK: for paid advice contact the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000. This usually costs £35-45 per call and is run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) US: for paid advice contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 Cat-friendly shrubs If you are looking to add some nature to your home, some plant retailers or online florists have a pet-friendly section on their website. Our favorite non-toxics to our furry friends are spider plants and calatheas. ✅

April 28, 2023

Indoor vs outdoor - which is best for my cat?

It’s a big world out there! Many factors play into whether you keep your cat indoors or let them explore the outdoors. 🏡 Read on to start thinking about which option is best for you and your kitty… Benefits of allowing your cat outdoors 1) Emotional wellbeing 🫶 Letting your cat roam the block allows them to use their natural exploratory behaviour. This is great for their mental and emotional wellbeing. 2) Exercise and natural instincts 🐈 Allowing your cat outside is great to increase their exercise levels. It also gives them the opportunity to exhibit their natural behaviour, as their ancestors would in the wild. This includes scratching and spraying behaviour, which is typically undesirable to owners within the home… along with hunting behaviour. This can be an extra benefit if you’re looking for rodent control around your house! 3) Interesting environment 🌳 When your cat explores the outside world, they are subjected to a whole new range of sights, smells and noises - this lights up their senses and the stimulation is enriching, usually it’s not too overwhelming! If you are letting your cat outdoors, also consider... - Age 🐱 Cats can adapt to living indoors, if they have from a young age. Cats should only be allowed outside 2 weeks after they have completed the primary course of their vaccinations. This is often two sets of vaccines, given a few weeks apart and the add on the extra 2 weeks after this to make sure that their body has responded to the second dose given. Likewise, cats of a very old age may not be nimble enough to navigate the outside world easily or protect themselves. - Neuter status ♀️♂️ Ensure that your cat has been either spayed (if female) or castrated (if male) before letting them roam - we don’t want any unexpected accidents (as much as we love kittens)! - Breed 🐈‍⬛ Certain breeds, e.g. Sphynx cats, are not built to endure the conditions of the outside world. Without hair, their skin is too thin to protect them from grazes and the elements. - Physical risks 🚘 The risk of potential injuries is reduced if your moggie stays inside e.g. road traffic accident, falls. Be careful if you live near a main road with fast oncoming vehicles - this could increase the risk of an accident. In some built-up areas, the cat territory size is much smaller, which can result in more conflict between cats. If this is the case, you may want to think twice before letting your furry friend out, depending on your neighbourhood and cat’s temperament. - Health concerns 🌡️ Medical conditions, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), pose a risk - whether your cat already has the virus, making them more vulnerable to succumb to other infections or the possible risk of your cat catching the virus from an infected cat outside. - Ethical considerations 🐥 Is your cat a particularly nifty hunter? You might consider what effect this could have on the local wildlife populations if outside - are there many birds that visit or come easily within paw’s reach? Not everyone likes to handle situations such as these, and they can be upsetting. - Lost or stolen 👀 Nobody wants their kitty MIA! Ensure that your furry friend is microchipped if letting them roam the outside world. This means that if they are found elsewhere, they will be able to be traced back to you to come home.💕 - Ingesting unknown substances ❓ There are all sorts out on the streets and sometimes cats can pick up things that they’re not meant to! Some people who do not own cats might also feed them food which is unsafe, or not in line with their regular diet - this could cause upset tummies.

April 28, 2023

How to minimise stress when taking your cat to the vet

Whether it be for a check-up or vaccination appointment, going to the vets can be furr-rightening for our feline friends... Is your cat easily stressed? Here’s our guide for making these important visits low stress. 🧘 Feline pheromones 🐈 Feline pheromones are a natural chemical communication that cats use to communicate with the world around them. Everyday instances such as your cat scratching or rubbing their chin against an object, are examples of cats using their pheromones to claim something as ‘safe’. Feliway make some great feline pheromones that you can plug in as a diffuser or spray on their blankets inside your kitty’s carrier to help them feel calm, reassured and safe. Treats 😻 Treats are a great way to reward your cat for good behaviour. Give treats as positive reinforcement when they sit still for a vaccine or lie a trail of treats out of their carrier for them to strut out onto the vet table. If your cat is a fan of catnip, you can bring some with you too! Use a cat-friendly carrier 🫶 A carrier that you can fully unzip or with a removable top is super handy - this avoids any difficulty in getting your furry friend to come out and it can allow them to stay sitting comfortably on their blankets inside their carrier if the top is taken off - cosy! Bring blankets that smell of home 🏡 Home sweet home! Familiar smells can help keep your furry friend calm. Pop a few blankets from home into their carrier to create a comfortable and cosy nook for the journey. Play quiet, classical music in the car 🎵 Does your cat dislike the car? Play some cat-friendly music en route to help drown out any noise from surrounding traffic. Sit far away from dogs and other species of animals in the waiting room 🐶 Many vet practices will have separate waiting areas for cats, dogs and other species. This is because the smell or sight of these animals can be weird and even stressful for both animals involved! When you arrive, ensure that you sit in the waiting area designated to cats. Whilst in the waiting room, never take your cat out of the carrier - this can make them more stressed and allow them in eye-catch of other pets (ahem.. dogs!) that are sharing the waiting room. Reassure your cat 💞 Ensuring that your cat can see your familiar face can help to keep them calm and reassured. Give them a chin rub when they potter out onto the table - that takes bravery!

April 19, 2023

How can I stop my cat hunting?

Our domestic moggies’ wild ancestors were designed to hunt for their food to survive. 🐈‍⬛ But does your kitty still hunt despite you feeding them and giving them all the attention they could possibly wish for? Read on to find out why our domestic cats hunt and how you can reduce the number of ‘presents’ delivered to your home. 🐱 If you are the cat parent of a cat that goes outdoors, you may be all too familiar with finding the remains of creatures in your house - or better still, how many of us have had to chase live furry creatures scuttling around our living room while our cat watches🐁? Our furry besties descended from hunting-savvy cat ancestors and so this instinct is hardwired into them🐅; however, nowadays hunting is more about fun and entertainment! Some cats may hunt due to hunger, supplementing their diet with small mammals and birds..😽 Understandably you may be fed up with clearing up the remnants of your kitty’s hunting trips or don’t have time to be catching and releasing the creatures delivered into your home alive! 😱 You may also be concerned about the bird population in your neighbourhood... 🐦 Worry not, here are some tips that may help reduce your moggie’s hunting habits. Keep your cat inside at dawn and dusk. This is when prey species are most active. 🐭 Make sure you implement this change gradually as any sudden change to their routine can stress your furry bestie. 😿 Put as many bells on your cat’s collar as you can fit on it and pop this on when they go outdoors. Make sure you buy a collar with a quick release buckle which means if the collar gets caught on fencing or a branch, it will snap open, keeping your kitty safe. 🔔 Feed a better quality diet with a higher meat content. This may make your cat feel more satisfied so that they may not feel the need to supplement their food through hunting. 😋 Offer smaller meals throughout the day and night; you can use timed feeders or puzzle feeders. This will help mimic your cat’s natural feeding patterns. 🐾 Offer a variety of foods (if your cat is not on a special diet) to keep your cat interested and not feeling like they want to add variety through hunting. 🐱 Use toys to stimulate predatory play. 🧶 This will redirect hunting instincts and mentally stimulate your furry bestie. Examples of toys that can satisfy hunting desires include; feather wands, moving electronic mice, ball towers and other interactive toys. Short bursts of play multiple times a day will keep your cat engaged and mimic your kitty’s natural predatory pattern. 😸 Please don’t punish your cat for hunting as it is their natural instinct. 🦁 It will take time to make the above changes and hopefully the number of creatures your cat catches will gradually reduce. 😽

April 19, 2023

How to introduce a new cat to your cat fam

Welcoming a new cat into your family when you already have a kitty at home can be daunting. As cat parents, we worry whether our cat fam will accept the newbie we bring home... Here we guide you through tips to make the introduction as stress free and as successful as possible! 🐱 Domestic cats have evolved from wild cats, which were largely solitary creatures, exploring and hunting alone in their territory. 🐈‍⬛ They would occasionally meet other cats but would choose not to interact with them if possible. This natural feline behaviour means that relationships between cats in a household can be complex and so introducing a new cat to your cat fam needs to be carefully planned. Do’s… ⏳ Be patient - it can take cats 8-12 months to become friends with a new cat. Cats that don’t want to be friends will learn to avoid each other, however others will continue to fight from the moment they are introduced until the moment they have to be rehomed because of this... 💨 Use cat appeasing pheromone plug-in diffusers and sprays to help calm the cat fam. 🚪 Keep your resident kitty separate from the newbie when arriving home. They should be able to smell and hear each other but not come face-to-face yet. Feed each cat near the door that separates them so that the positive experience of eating becomes associated with being near to each other. 🐱 🔁 Switch the cat’s locations after 2-3 days so that they can each become familiar with the other’s scent. 🐈 Rubbing a towel over each cat’s cheeks then leaving that towel in each other’s locations will help with scent ‘swapping’. 😽 🧶 Encourage play next to and under the door that separates the cats a couple of days after switching locations. 👀 Only let the cats see each other a week after the newbie’s arrival if there haven’t been signs of aggression such as hissing and growling through the door. 🐾 Use a tall baby gate or screen door between them. 👯‍♀️ Ask a friend to help with the face-to-face introduction phase. There should be a human with each cat on either side of the gate. Pop the cats down a few feet away from the gates and when they notice one another, offer them treats and praise them. 💗 🍪 Continue to encourage play, offer treats and feed both cats near their barrier for the following few days. 🤝 Remove the barrier once the above interactions are going well. 😻 Be present when allowing the initial face-to-face interactions. 🥰 Allow the cats to spend more and more time together if they remain calm. 🧑‍⚕️ Contact a behaviourist if after following the introductory phases there is conflict between your cats, such as one of them constantly hiding or either one is persistently harassing the other. Don’ts 🙅‍♀️ Don’t offer catnip or toys containing catnip during the introductory phase as some cats become aggressive or overly excited when exposed to it. 🙅 Don’t worry if the cats ignore each other; this is better than seeing signs of aggression! 🙅‍♂️ Don’t pick the cats up to force interaction between them. ❌ Don’t punish if either cat shows aggression. Go back a few steps in the introductory phases.

April 17, 2023

Why does my cat wake me up at night?

Do you ever find yourself wondering why your cat gets the zoomies around bedtime? 👀 Or early in the morning? You’ve got to be kitten me… Cats are crepuscular; this means that they’re most active at dawn and dusk! Read on if you’re looking for ways to regulate their sleep pattern (so that you can get some zzz too). 🌙 Did you know that your cat is related to the African Wildcat?! Cats are natural hunters and traditionally, their ancestors would roam around at night. Many people believe that cats are nocturnal but this is not completely true, in fact they are crepuscular. It means that they are most energetic just as the sun rises or descends. The good news is that there are solutions to help regulate your cat’s sleep pattern so that you can get some shut eye too; we all love beauty sleep. Encourage exercise during the day 🐾 Lack of exercise during daylight hours can lead to your cat having lots of energy come the evening. Engage with your cat to get them moving around - you can use toys to encourage playtime, such as wands. Allow your cat to catch any chase toys occasionally - this helps them to build confidence (it’s not fun playing a game which you never win)! Food puzzles are another fun way to mentally stimulate your cat - plus they’ll enjoy the reward that comes with it. Fancy getting creative? Check out our article on DIY cat toys you can make at home. Interact with your cat during the day 😽 Sometimes our cats wake us up wanting to cuddle - aren’t they the cutest? 😍 Interacting with your cat during the day can help to reduce this behaviour - whether that be strokes, playing or training. Just because our feline counterparts are independent, doesn’t mean that they don’t need attention. If your cat is super affectionate, why not have an extra snuggle during the day? Or if your cat prefers their personal space, you can speak to them softley to let them know that you’re pals! Ensure they’re satiated 🐟 If they’ve got a rumbling tummy, cats can wake you up by purring or meowing. Make sure that you’re feeding your kitty at the same times every day, so that they know when to expect food. Most adult cats are fed twice a day - once in the morning and once at night, with the food evenly split between the two feeds. Kittens should feed them 3-4 times per day, follow the recommendations on their feed packaging according to their requirements. You can even set up an automated feeder to do this for you and this will ensure that they won’t disturb you when expecting food - they’ll think of the feeder rather than you when they’re peckish. Get a veterinary check-up 🩺 If your cat is crying or yowling at night you may want to ensure that they’re just being cheeky, rather than in pain. They may be trying to get your attention for help. Pain can be due to a number of medical conditions and it is always worth getting a veterinary check-up if you are concerned - bring along some of their favourite treats so that they enjoy the experience! FYI: If you are still struggling to resolve their sleeping behaviours, visit your vet to obtain a referral to a behaviour specialist for further support - we recommend seeing a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). Would you like to understand your cat’s sleeping patterns better? Track and analyse their sleeping activity using the Moggie app for a unique insight. That’s it - you’re all set for the purr-fect night’s sleep. 💤

April 17, 2023

The 5 health benefits of being a cat parent

If you speak to any cat parent, they will reel off a long list of the joys of owning their moggie... 💓🐈 But did you know about the health benefits of having a cat? 🐾 Anyone who has a cat in their lives will feel fur-tunate to enjoy lazy weekend mornings in bed with our purring machines as well as those evenings curled up together in front of the fire.. 😻 Aside from their intelligence and beauty, cats make the purr-fect companions for the following five reasons 🐱: They make us feel less lonely. 😽Our furry besties make wonderful companions, offering a constant presence and unconditional love. 💗 Cat parents have better psychological health than humans without pets and claim to be happier, more confident and feel more able to face problems in life. 🐈‍⬛ They improve our mental health through lowering our stress and anxiety levels. 🐱Ever had a bad day at work but after you got home and played with your kitty, suddenly those negative emotions and bad mood have melted away? Just watching their yoga-like postures and gravity-defying antics instills calm and positivity in us. 😹 If we become distressed, our furry besties will remain calm and therefore may be more of a calming influence than other human folk! 🐈 They reduce allergies. 🩺Children growing up in a home with cats from a young age are less likely to develop allergies to cat hair and other allergens later on in life. 🐱 Our furry besties can also help our children emotionally through teaching them empathy as they try to imagine what their kitty is feeling. 💭 They help improve human cardiovascular health. 💓A cat’s purr calms our nervous system and lowers our blood pressure! If you’ve ever been a cat parent, your risk of a heart attack or having a stroke lowers during that time compared to human folk who have never owned cats. 👀 They improve our relationships. 💘Looking after our furry bestie and them looking after us may lead to benefits in our human-to-human relationships. Being a cat parent makes you more likely to trust other humans, be more socially sensitive and like other people more than folk who don’t own pets. 😽

April 5, 2023

6 ways to celebrate your cat’s birthday

Cats are members of the family and like many of us, we enjoy celebrating their birthdays! 🎉 Let’s explore how we can commemorate their special day, in a way they will also appreciate. Avoid dress up 👒 We all love a good dress up (especially when it’s an 80s themed party!), but outfits can be stressful for cats. We prefer to let our cats show off their beautiful coats. 💅 If you definitively, absolutely, flat-out must accessorise for the occasion, keep it simple. Costumes can make funny noises and rub in ways that our kitty’s are not used to. Perhaps a discrete ribbon attached to their collar could help bring out the colour of their eyes! Just make sure to remove the accessory if they seem uncomfortable and avoid endangering them with pieces that could catch on furniture. Reward with healthy treats 🥣 Us humans love a birthday cake, and likewise it is nice to treat your cat to mark the occasion. You can try smearing some of their wet food onto a lick mat. You can even try making a pâté-style cake using your cat’s food, then sprinkling the top with kibble! We love this cat birthday cake recipe, cheffed up by Battersea Dogs and Cats home. Make sure that the food is safe to cats and not too far astray from their usual diet - we don’t want any upset tummies on this momentous day! This means no XL portions or unusual foods, but instead their favourite treats that they are comfortable with having. If you are trying a new treat, introduce them to it slowly until they have adapted to it (e.g. one a day over 2 weeks). In other words, don’t go crazy on the Dreamies! Stick to their usual routine 🕜 Cats are creatures of habit. While it’s their special day, your ‘MVC’ (a.k.a. Most Valuable Cat) deserves to be on top form! Of course, you can play with them a little more than usual and give extra cuddles to celebrate. However, we believe it is actually a good idea to stick to their usual daily routine to avoid stress from any big changes. Offer playtime or new toys 🧸 Presents are a great way to reward your cat for another 365 days on Earth! We always check that any gifts are cat-friendly. If you cat loves to play, you could try making a catnip toy following one of our guides - maybe this will stop them stealing your hair ties! If you’d prefer not to buy something new, you can create a den for your cat with a cardboard box - they love a good hiding spot. 😼 For bonus points, write their name or ‘Happy Birthday’ on the side - get creative and watch them enjoy the ultimate afternoon snooze. To take your cross-species understanding to the next level, gift your cat a Moggie health monitor! It’s a great way to know what they’re thinking and how they’re feeling. Make a donation 🐈 Does your cat already have everything they could possibly want? Is there any toy your kitty hasn’t played with in a long time? What about taking advantage of your cat’s bday to make another kitty happy? You could make a donation of unwanted toys, kitten food or blankets to your local shelter - Cats Protection are a great cause to start with and have many branches. Snap some photos?! 📷 Take some cute shots of your moggie, but remember to turn off flash - this can be scary. Set the photo to your device background or hang it up in a frame so that you’re reminded of their special day.You could even hire a professional pet photographer to capture your cat’s best angles - cat model who?! Is your cat ready for Insta fame? Tag us in your favourite photos on Facebook and Instagram!

April 5, 2023

How cats communicate with us

Have you ever caught your cat staring at you and wondered what they were thinking? You are not alone! The signals our cats give us can be ambiguous; read on to find out what your cat’s body language means... 😽 Our furry besties communicate with us folks by using both vocal and visual signals; however when interacting with their own kind, they will only rely on visual and olfactory (smell) cues. Therefore, when you are next at home with your cat fam and you hear a meow, pay attention, as your cat is saying ‘I’m talking to you, human’! Some cat breeds, including Burmese, Siamese and Russian Blues will chatter to their cat parents at all waking hours, and if you’re unfur-tunate, at night too. Cat behaviour and communication can leave us folks puzzled so knowing the basics will help ensure you know your cat is feline good 24/7. Illustration by Luís Coelho What our cat does and what it means Purring “I’m feeling content, so human, by all means, carry on what you’re doing here with me - don’t stop! Take note - I will also purr when I don’t feel well or when I’m scared, which is my way of telling you that I want you to stick around to look out for me.” 😿 Rubbing against you “Greetings human - I missed you - let me mark you so that you remember you’re mine😻! But also, I love you like the fleas love my fur! 💗” Slow blinking at you “I trust you cat parent, we’re cool - I accept you in my Kittyverse. Now flatter me back by blinking at me slowly 😽” Tail position “An erect tail means I’m happy folks - sometimes I’ll fluff it up when I’m super happy. 💓 But, if you see me with a fluffed up tail and arched body, I’m telling you to ‘BACK OFF’. 😼 If I hold my tail low and tucked, I’m feeling anxious or insecure. You’ll know I’m agitated if you see me thumping my tail - give me space human. 👀” Flattened ears “If my ears are flattened, the tip of my tail is twitching and my body is stiffening, the message is; you are annoying me cat parent - should you choose to carry on petting me I will swipe you and I will bite you! 😼” Now that you meow how your cat might be feeling, you can enjoy every meowment with your furry bestie! 🐾

March 30, 2023

Catwalk; what does your cat’s strut mean?

Ever thought about your cat’s body language as they move and what it means? 🐈 Read on to decode what they’re communicating to you… Walk🚶 Walk is a four-beat gait - the ultimate slow strut! Each one of your furry friend’s paws touch the ground at a different time. They often place their back paw almost in the same position as their front paw previously was while prowling. Walking means that they are feeling leisurely. You may see some people walking their cats on leads, but we recommend not to restrict them with a lead - our sassy friends prefer to route their own course! 😎 Trot 🐾 Trot is a steady two-beat gait, with diagonal front and back legs contacting the ground at the same time. Your cat may trot if they’re motivated to move a little faster - this could be out of curiosity or to get to another place. Your moggie can keep up a trot for a long time, and it’s the gait of choice for travelling longer distances at a decent pace. This is because there’s less movement over their centre of gravity - efficient right! Pacing is another two beat gait, but this time the front and back legs on the same sides contact the ground at the same time. This is much rarer than trot - you might say it’s less balanced. 👀 Canter 🏃 Faster than a trot but slower than a gallop, canter is a playful three-beat gait. At least one of your kitty’s paws will be in touch with the ground at any one time. It looks like quite a bouncy gait! One back paw, followed by the other back paw and diagonal paw contact the ground at the same time, finished with the remaining front paw hitting the ground at the front - this is called the ‘leading leg’. Gallop 💨 Gallop is a four-beat gait - the speediest of them all! It’s super tiring for your kitty to keep this pace up - so they only use it for short bursts, whether that be to catch prey or run away. There is a moment during this gait where none of their paws are touching the ground; this is the suspension phase, during which they are hanging midair - pretty cool if we say so ourselves! Our cat’s bag legs propel them forwards as they leap into the air. Sometimes their back paws will cross beyond their front paws when they land - this is called overreaching. It is clear to see that there’s much more flexion and movement in the spine when they’re galloping around and this can be painful for cats with certain medical conditions. 🩺 Observing your cat’s gait 🧐 It’s important to watch your cat move to learn what their normal movement is. This allows you to notice any changes or lameness, which could indicate a problem. These could include: Limping Reduced stride length Reduced mobility Stumbling If you have any concerns with your cat’s movement or gait, please contact a vet. Possible problems could include soft tissue injuries, fractures, arthritis or neurological problems. Try to capture their normal gait and any abnormal gait on video to show to your vet - this will be useful for them to see.🤳 Check out our guide on ‘How cats communicate with us’ to decode how cats also use their ears, eyes, tail and voice to communicate. This cat body language chart is a useful summary: Source: Dan Simms, 2021

March 30, 2023

How to make your home more cat friendly

Have you ever wondered what the key to your cat’s happiness is? 😽 As cat parents we want to do our best to meet the needs of our furry friends; much of their happiness is derived from their environment which means there is a lot we can do in our homes to help achieve this! 💗 Creating the purr-fect cat friendly home is all about understanding which resources or objects your cat considers important 🧶. These are elements that provide security, stimulation and nourishment for your kitty. 🐈 Security High resting places - our cat fam love climbing to high points and observing their surroundings from above 👀; and importantly being high up makes them feel safe ***. Staircases fulfil this need, but if your home is single-storey, shelving, the top of cupboards and tall scratching post frames also make great spots! 🐾 Hiding places - are important for cats to take time out from their social demands. Create secret hideaways by clearing space under the bed, inside wardrobes or cupboards and behind the sofa! 😻 Beds - are the key to your cat’s rest and relaxation given how long they spend asleep 🐱 (read our article ‘Is my cat too lazy?’). Our furry besties love a warm place but some may also favour areas where there is the familiar scent of their human such as our beds; this makes them feel safe. 😽 Providing an assortment of beds across your home in sunny, quiet, warm or communal areas gives your cat different options depending on their mood! Beds are best placed on raised areas where cats feel safest. 🐈‍⬛ Cat flaps - often seen by our besties as a weakness in the defence of their home as any feline intruder could pop through the flap at any point 👀. This can make your kitty constantly vigilant and feeling uneasy. 😏 Installing a microchip reader cat flap will ensure that only your cat can access their home and keep other invaders out! 😼 Another tip is to keep your cat’s resources well away from the cat flap - out of your cat’s perceived ‘danger zone’! 👀 Litter trays - should be provided even if your cat has outdoor access. There should be one tray per cat in the cat fam plus one extra one; placed at different locations away from food and water, in private areas where your cat will feel safe toileting! Litter trays should be cleared of faeces and urine daily and fully cleaned once a week; dirty trays can stress cats out and discourage use. 😏 Feline synthetic pheromones - the natural version is secreted from glands in a cat’s face to communicate signals of familiarity and security. 💓 Having a plug-in diffuser of these pheromones will help your cat relax and reduce tension within the cat fam. 😻 Stimulation Scratching posts - are needed so your kitty can mark their territory and keep their claws healthy. 🐾 Vertical posts should be tall enough for your cat to stretch up fully and horizontal scratching surfaces should also be on offer. These should be placed near beds, litter trays and sofas(!). If there aren’t enough scratching options, you may find your cats take a liking to your sofas! 😹 Social contact - can be in the form of cat parents, other cats and even dogs! 😻 Whether your cat will get on with other cat fam is dependent on personality; relationships can get tense when competing for resources. Social contact with us humans is also important, but the quality and quantity again, will depend on cat personality. 😽 Grooming, verbal communication and predatory play is often our cat’s preferred type of social contact with human folk (soz they aren’t as keen on our cat parent kisses and cuddles! 😹) Predatory play - a way of providing a similar experience to the natural hunting one! 🧶 Our furry besties love toys that move around unpredictably, those made from feathers or fur-like material of prey animal size and those laced with catnip. 😻 Scent stimulation - through the use of catnip! Lots of cats will enjoy a euphoric-type experience through smelling or eating this herb. 💓 Offering play with catnip toys for 10 minutes a day will provide a purrfect source of stimulation! 😹 Novel items - brought into the house to provide your cat with an exciting new object to explore 🐈‍⬛. These can be in the form of; paper bags or cardboard boxes (we all know how much they luurvee these 💘), stones, wood and plants (read our ‘Cats and plants - what to pay attention to?’ article to learn about safe plant options). Windows - make great viewing points for cats looking on to the outside world; smaller windows in darker rooms being preferable over larger ones. 👀 Our furry besties can feel more exposed in front of large expanses of glass, which can cause confusion because they may not grasp it is a barrier and that they are safe indoors. 😏 Other cats staring in can cause stress, therefore putting frosted window film on the bottom part of large full length windows can make our cat fam feel safer. 🐱 Nourishment Food - offered in ceramic or glass bowls which tend to be favoured over plastic bowls as these may get scratched more easily and give off a smell that puts off your cat. 😮‍💨 However, in their natural environment, cats would spend hours stalking and catching prey every day, therefore feeding from a bowl twice a day lacks any form of challenge. 😏 More stimulating options for feeding include; hiding your cat’s food around the house 👀, scattering dry food and using puzzle feeders. 🐱 Water - provided at a different location to food as cats naturally hunt for these on separate occasions. 🐾 Water can be offered in bowls made out of different materials, glass tumblers or water fountains. See our article on ‘How to encourage my cat to drink?’ Vegetation - for our furry besties to eat, as a natural way to clear hair from their gut. If your cat is indoor only, sources of cat grass or herbs specifically for this purpose are available commercially, with favourites being spelt wheat grass, barley grass and oat grass. Before adding to their indoor jungle please be aware that some plants can be toxic - read our ‘Cats and plants - what to pay attention to?’ article.

March 24, 2023

How to: change your cat’s food

If your kitty is growing up or you’ve been recommended a specific food by your vet, you may be wondering how to transfer your cat onto their brand new cuisine. 🍴 Let’s explore how we can do this without upsetting your cat physically or emotionally! 💕 Change the food over a couple of weeks ⏰ Any sudden changes can lead to your furry friend turning foe…especially if they enjoy the food they are currently on or are prone to an upset tummy. 💩 Easing them into their new food over a couple of weeks will ensure that they gradually adapt to the new diet without any surprises. 😼 Ensure the accurate amount per serving 🥄 Ensure that you are providing the correct amount of food depending on your cat’s weight (or ideal weight if they’re hoping to shed some pounds)! You can find these recommendations on the back of the food packaging. ⚖️ Remember you can always ask to check your cat’s weight with the vet - it’s a good idea to keep an eye on any changes, especially when they’re growing out of those cheeky teenage years! We recommend that you weigh your cat every 3 months. Keep an eye on their toileting habits 👀 Any changes in the poop can be an indicator that their tummies are not coping with the change. You might notice that they smell slightly different - this is totally normal. However if the consistency is looser or firmer than usual, slow it back down. 😎 Our 2 week guide 🥣 Day 1-3: Introduce around a teaspoon of their new food in a small bowl alongside their current food. This can have a very different texture, taste and smell to what they’re used to, and so do not worry if they do not seem interested at first - it is very normal for them to ignore it for the first few days. Day 4-6: Only start this stage once your cat finds the new tasty food appealing. Feed 25% of the recommended amount of their new feed and 75% of their original feed. Day 7-9: Feed 50% of their new feed and 50% of their original feed. Day 10-13: Feed 75% of their new feed and 25% of their original feed. Day 14: Feed 100% of the new diet. 😸 Do not worry if the transition takes longer than expected - the key is to change them gradually to avoid any surprising side effects. If you have any doubts, concerns or notice blood in their stools, do not hesitate to contact a vet. ☎️

March 24, 2023