Essential Guides
We have many Essential Guides on a wide range of topics to help you. Simply click on the link to open an easily readable Guide.
Caring for your cat - Cats can be independent souls and are great pets for people with busy lifestyles, but they still need to be looked after. Keep your cat happy and healthy by following this advice.
Welcome home - When you first adopt a cat or kitten, you will need to help them gently settle in to their new home. A change of environment is always stressful for a cat, so it will often take a few weeks for them to feel relaxed in their new abode. Following the advice here will help them to successfully adapt to their new surroundings.
Moving house - Moving house can be a big deal for cats - much of their feeling of security and ability to relax comes from being surrounded by familiar sights, sounds and scents of their own territory.
Feeding and obesity - Pop into your local pet shop or supermarket and you will be faced with a whole aisle full of cat food. So how do you know which one to feed to your cat?
Keeping your cat safe - Cats are naturally inquisitive animals and while most will enjoy happy lives free from danger, their curiosity can get them into scrapes from time to time. As a responsible owner, you'll want to do all you can to protect against unfortunate incidents.
When to let go - The average life expectancy of a cat is around 14 years but many cats live well beyond this age. As a pet owner, it is important that you are able to assess your cat's quality of life in order to prevent suffering as they get older, or if they become ill.
Microchipping - Microchipping offers cats a safe and permanent method of identification and increases the chances of a lost cat being safely reunited with their owner.
Neutering - Cats Protection believes that getting your cat neutered before it can breed is an essential part of responsible cat ownership.
Understanding your cat's behaviour - By understanding the behaviour the cat has developed to enable it to thrive in a changing world, we can learn how to best provide for our cats, meet their needs, maximise their welfare and ensure long-lasting friendships for happy cats and owners.
Managing your cat's behaviour - Cats which are nervous, aggressive or act in what we consider is an inappropriate way - such as spraying indoors - behave that way for a reason. Punishing your cat will only make matters worse.
Cats living together - If you already have cats that live together, or are thinking of getting two cats or more, there are some important things to consider about their social nature.
Indoor and outdoor cats - Just like people, cats are all individuals. Some cats love going outside, some barely put a paw through the cat flap and others can't go out at all, so wherever your cat spends their time, make sure they are safe and happy.
Cats and the law - Much of the law in relation to cats has now been consolidated into the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and in the Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. This leaflet also refers to other legislation which remains relevant.
Cats and people - If you already share your life with a cat, you're probably aware that you get far more than just companionship and affection in return, but did you know that owning a cat has proven health and social benefits?
Caring for your kitten - Kittens are adorable, fun and unique, but it is important to remember that providing a home for a kitten is a commitment for its lifetime, which may be 15 to 20 years. Kittens are mischievous, full of energy and often time consuming.
Elderly cats - As your cat enters their golden years, they'll need some extra understanding for their changing lifestyle. There are lots of simple steps you can take to ensure the later years of your cat's life are comfortable and happy.
Feral cats - True feral cats are the offspring of stray or abandoned domestic cats. They live wild in towns, cities or rural areas and may have little or no contact with humans. As a result, they are often scared of people and will avoid them.
Pregnant cats, birth and the care of young kittens - Cats are prolific breeders and their offspring need to be speedily neutered or the population will quickly get out of control. In fact, one female can be responsible for a staggering 20,000 descendants in just five years.