New Cat Parent

Are you familiar with the expression: “Taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut”? Essentially this means using over-the-top effort to achieve a simple end. A great example of this is declawing cats. OK, so what we want to achieve is the sofa not being shredded, but is surgically amputating one-third of each toe a proportionate way to achieve this? We think not! Keep in … [Read more...] about 5 Alternatives to Declawing Cats

As a cat guardian, one of your jobs is to figure out what’s best for your cat. This means making tough decisions that have the potential to be life-changing for your fur-friend. A classic is example is the indoor vs outdoor argument, and which is the best way of life for your cat. On the one hand keeping a cat indoors has the potential to limit natural behaviours such as … [Read more...] about 10 Reasons to Keep your Cat Indoors

Do you believe in purr-power? Purr-power is the ability of cats (and pets generally) to improve our mental health and well-being. If you’re not a believer, then you should be, because the latest research sheds light on the ability of pets to improve life for those with long-term mental health issues. [1] Indeed, the evidence for the beneficial effects of a feline friend … [Read more...] about 7 Reasons Pets are Good for Your Mental Health

Congratulations you are getting a cat! These fur-bulous creatures enrich our lives and provide years of companionship, but there's more to owning a cat than providing cardboard boxes of different sizes to play in (although to be fair that does help). Here is our guide to the 10 most common mistakes of first time cat owners. 1. Acting on Impulse No criticism meant here, and … [Read more...] about 10 Common Mistakes of First Time Cat Owners

Perhaps you’re adopting a stray or maybe you're moving from a house to an apartment -- in these circumstances sometimes it’s necessary to transition an outdoor cat to an indoor cat. The trick is to match expectations: yours and the cats, so that you can both share the same space without the fur flying. Think of things from the cat’s point of view and you won’t go far wrong. … [Read more...] about How to Transition an Outdoor Cat to an Indoor Cat

Being a Responsible Cat Owner What does it mean to be responsible? The dictionary defines it as “the duty of taking care of something”, which summarises what it means to be a cat guardian. This duty of care is enshrined in law, which states it is an offence not to provide adequate food, shelter, exercise, and freedom from pain. However, the law is aimed at preventing cruelty, … [Read more...] about What it Means to be a Responsible Cat Owner

For most pet owners, cats and dogs are more than just animal companions, they are much-loved members of the family, and they deserve the best medical care we can provide. Wanting to be able to provide the best health care for your pet is one thing, being able to afford it, is often another. The cost of veterinary treatment in Australia can be hugely expensive, but it is … [Read more...] about 3 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Buying Pet Insurance

If you live in Australia, you may be wondering what declawing is; because the practice of removing a cat's claws is illegal here and considered both cruel and inhumane. However, there are places in the world (including the United States) where declawing cats, is legal and even commonplace. We discuss the controversial practice of declawing cats, the risks and how it hurts … [Read more...] about Declawing Cats is Cruel: It’s Not Just a Manicure!

Socialisation usually happens when cats are young kittens - unless they’re born feral, they spend plenty of time being around people and being handled by them. In fact, many cat shelters have volunteers that are specifically there to socialise kittens by playing with them, picking them up and touching paws, ears and mouths, all the things that would happen at vet visits (what a … [Read more...] about How to Socialise Your Cat

Adopting a kitten can be an exciting time for the whole family, but just like bringing a human baby home for the first time, it helps to be prepared. We discuss basic kitten supplies, the importance of kitten proofing your home, your kitten’s first night and how to deal with homesickness, plus food and nutrition. Basic Kitten Supplies Before you bring your new kitten home, … [Read more...] about Welcoming a New Kitten Into Your Home