The pest-control appointment is in an hour, your cat is safely going to an untreated area, and then you notice the litter box sitting against the baseboard the technician plans to treat. Move the litter box before treatment whenever practical. Take the scoop, mat, liners, open litter, and other litter supplies with it. General pesticide-safety…
You order a litter box labeled “extra large,” unpack it, pour in the litter, and feel pretty good about your choice. Then your 17-pound cat steps inside. His front paws fit. His back paws fit. His rear end, unfortunately, has decided to remain in another ZIP code. That is the problem with shopping for a…
The carrier has barely crossed the front door when your resident cat appears at the end of the hallway. They stop. Their nose starts working. Somewhere behind the carrier is a smell that definitely was not there yesterday. Your new cat knows it too. It can be tempting to think, “Maybe I should just let…
If you have ever stepped on a trail of cat litter in bare feet five minutes after vacuuming, you already know why choosing litter becomes strangely personal. But the floor is only part of the decision. The litter also has to control odor, scoop cleanly, feel acceptable under your cat’s paws, and cost enough—or little…
Your cat jumps down from the couch, takes a few steps, and suddenly the back legs seem to give way. Maybe one leg drags. Maybe both do. Your cat may cry out, breathe quickly, or look frightened and confused. Several conditions can cause sudden hind-leg weakness, but one of the most time-sensitive is feline arterial…
If getting your cat to the veterinarian begins with moving the sofa because the carrier appeared, the problem may not be the appointment alone. The carrier itself can make an already difficult morning easier—or much harder. A rigid plastic kennel, lightweight soft bag, and backpack can all transport a cat. But for a veterinary visit,…
You look down at the ribbon you were using to wrap a gift and realize several inches are missing. Your cat is sitting nearby and looks completely normal. That quiet moment matters. If you saw your cat swallow string, ribbon, thread, yarn, dental floss, tinsel, fishing line, or another long thin object—or enough is missing…
You open your laptop, settle into your chair, and start answering the first email of the day. Then one paw lands on the keyboard. Another follows. Thirty seconds later, your cat is sitting directly on the one object you need most. It can feel suspiciously personal. But your cat probably is not trying to sabotage…
Your cat goes into the litter box. A minute later, he goes back. Then again. It is easy to focus on how many times he is trying, but the more important question is: Is normal urine actually coming out? Go to an emergency veterinarian now if your cat repeatedly strains to urinate but produces no…
You bring your new cat home, carry the carrier inside, and open the door. Nothing happens. Two eyes stare back from the far end. Maybe one paw appears, followed by a nose—then both disappear again. That can feel anticlimactic after days of preparation, but your cat has just lost nearly everything familiar at once: smells,…
