Adult 1–7 years

A typical healthy 4 kg (9 lb) adult cat needs roughly 200 to 250 calories per day, but that figure is a starting point rather than a fixed rule.

Most adult cats should not drink milk.

For most cats, wet food is the better everyday choice, though a mix of wet and dry is a practical compromise.

Cats eat grass mainly for the fiber it provides and because it is a natural instinct, not because they are sick.

The best food for an indoor cat is a complete, balanced diet that is high in animal protein, moderate in fat, controlled in calories, and rich in moisture.

Several common human foods are genuinely dangerous to cats and should never be offered.

An occasional sneeze is normal and is simply how a cat clears dust or mucus from its nose.

A healthy adult cat should see a veterinarian at least once a year, even when it seems perfectly fine.

The earliest sign that a cat is sick is usually not a cough or a sneeze but a change in normal behavior.

It is normal for a cat to shed more in spring and autumn, and to leave fur on furniture year-round, especially indoor cats under artificial light.

The conditions vets diagnose most often in cats are chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, obesity and diabetes, lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), upper respiratory infections, and parasites such as fleas and worms.

The trick to giving a pill is to be quick, calm, and confident, and to use the method your cat tolerates best.

Kneading — the rhythmic pushing of the front paws against a soft surface — is a leftover nursing reflex, and adult cats keep doing it because it feels soothing and signals that they feel safe.

Scratching is normal, necessary cat behaviour, not revenge or mischief.

Most cat biting during play is not aggression — it is hunting practice that was never taught to stop.

Bringing prey home is a normal hunting behavior, not a gift of gratitude and not a sign that your cat is trying to feed you.

A purr usually means a cat is content and relaxed, but it is not a single fixed signal — cats also purr when they are anxious, in pain, or recovering from stress.

Training a cat to use a scratching post is mostly about placement, texture, and reward — cats scratch by instinct, so you are redirecting an existing behavior rather than teaching a new trick.

Most cats do best with brushing two to three times a week, while long-haired breeds such as Persians, Maine Coons and Ragdolls usually need daily brushing to stay mat-free.

Bathing a cat is safe when done properly, but most cats need a full bath only every four to six weeks at the very most, and plenty of healthy indoor cats go months without one because they groom themselves so effectively.

Trim your cat's claws every two to three weeks, taking off only the clear hooked tip and stopping well before the pink quick that carries blood and nerves inside the nail.

Heavy shedding in spring and autumn is completely normal, but shedding that stays extreme all year, or that comes with bald patches and itchy skin, usually points to something you can fix or a problem your vet should check.

Clean your cat's ears only when they look dirty or waxy, usually every two to four weeks, using a vet-approved ear cleaner and cotton balls, and never push cotton buds down into the ear canal.

Hairballs form when a cat swallows loose fur while grooming and the fur clumps in the stomach instead of passing through the gut, so brushing your cat several times a week is the single most effective way to prevent them, backed up by hydration, fibre and more play.

Litter training an adult cat is less about teaching a new skill and more about removing the reasons she avoids the box, so expect it to take weeks rather than days and plan for patience.

A sudden refusal to use the litter box is most often a sign of an underlying medical problem, so the first step is a vet visit rather than assuming it is purely behavioural.

Scoop solid waste at least once a day - twice is better - and completely change clumping litter every two to four weeks for a single cat.

There is no single best cat litter - the right choice depends on your cat's preferences, your budget, and how much upkeep you want - but most cats prefer an unscented, fine-grained clumping litter.

The rule of thumb is one litter box per cat plus one extra, so a single cat should have two boxes and two cats should have three.

Cats fling litter out of the box as part of their natural digging and burying behavior, but a box that is too small, litter that is too shallow, or sides that are too high can make the mess far worse.

Many common houseplants and garden plants are toxic to cats, and a handful — most notably true lilies — can be fatal.

Cat-proofing your home means removing or blocking every hazard a curious cat can reach.

Call your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline immediately — do not wait for symptoms, and do not try to make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.

Keeping your cat indoors is the safer choice and the one most veterinarians recommend: indoor-only cats typically live 10 to 15 years or more, while cats allowed to roam outdoors often live only 2 to 5 years.

Keep your cat off the counter by removing everything that rewards jumping up there, then making the surface unpleasant and offering a better perch nearby.

The safest cat toys are those a cat cannot swallow or get tangled in: wand toys used under supervision, plush kicker toys, treat-dispensing puzzle balls, crinkle toys and washable catnip toys with embroidered rather than glued features.