Cat Care
New to cats, or bringing home a kitten? The new kitten checklist covers what to buy and set up before day one, and it works for adult cats too. For a job many cats resist, how to get a cat used to a carrier builds up in small steps so vet day starts calmly.
To save the sofa, how to get a cat to use a scratcher explains where to put one and how to make it the easy choice. More cat guides sit in the other topics, from brushing schedules to winter warmth and car trips. The scratcher, litter mat and other basics mentioned are in indoor cat essentials.
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Guide
Can Dogs and Cats Share Water Bowls, Beds and Brushes?
A healthy dog and cat can share a water bowl, beds, cooling mats and grooming tools if you clean them between pets; food, the litter box and small toys stay separate. Here's the item-by-item guide, plus when to stop sharing and the dog flea products that can poison cats.
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Guide
Indoor Cat Enrichment Ideas: Hunt, Scratch, Hide and Forage Every Day
Simple ways to keep an indoor cat busy, one idea per need: short chase games, a scratcher in the right place, high and low hideaways, a window seat and hidden kibble. Plus what to leave out on a workday, what to put away, and how to rotate it all.
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Guide
New Kitten Checklist: What to Buy and Set Up Before Day One (Adult Cats Too)
What to buy and set up before a kitten or adult cat comes home: a printable supplies list, a safe room with the litter box and scratcher in place, kitten-proofing for cords, string and plants, the ride home, the first vet visit and a calm first week.
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Guide
How to Trim a Cat’s Nails When They Won’t Let You: Clippers, Grinders and the Towel Wrap
A cat who fights nail trims can often learn to accept them. Start with paw handling, trim one or two claws a session, use a towel wrap or a helper when you need one, and choose small clippers or a quiet grinder to suit your cat.
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Guide
How to Groom a Long-Haired Cat at Home, Mats Included
Long coats knot where you can't see them. Learn how often to brush a long-haired cat, where mats start, a section-by-section grooming routine, how to work out small mats without scissors, where nails fit in, and when a mat needs a groomer or veterinarian.
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Guide
How to Get a Cat to Use a Scratcher Instead of the Sofa or Carpet
Cats ignore scratchers that are the wrong shape or in the wrong place. Learn to match the angle and texture your cat already uses, where to put the scratcher, how to protect the sofa and carpet without punishment, and when to flip or replace a cardboard insert.
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Guide
How to Get a Cat Used to a Carrier, So Vet Day Starts Calmly
Turn the carrier from a vet-day warning into a bed: where to put it, a step-by-step training plan, practice lifts and short drives, loading a reluctant cat through the top on vet day, and the same steps for a backpack.
