Cat Care for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

Quick answer

A cat needs complete cat food, fresh water at all times, a clean litter box, somewhere to climb and somewhere to hide, daily play and routine vet care (vaccinations, parasite control and neutering). Most cats live 12–18 years, so you are signing up for the long haul. Get to know your cat's normal habits early. Cats hide pain well, and a change in eating, litter use or behaviour is often the first thing you'll notice when something is wrong.

Before your cat comes home

Have these ready on day one:

• Food and water bowls: wide, shallow ceramic or steel. Plenty of cats drink more from a water fountain.
• Complete cat food, ideally whatever the cat is already eating, so you can switch slowly later.
• Litter box and unscented litter, plus a scoop.
• A sturdy carrier for vet visits and emergencies.
• Scratching post with a stable base, tall enough for the cat to stretch out fully.
• Bed and hiding spots. A covered bed does the job, and so does a cardboard box.
• Toys: wand toys, balls and small things to chase.
• ID: a collar with a quick-release (breakaway) buckle and/or a microchip, where available.

Set up one quiet room with all of this in it. A new cat should settle there for a few days before it gets the run of the house.

Feeding your cat

Cats are obligate carnivores. They have to eat animal protein, and they need nutrients such as taurine that come from meat. Pick a commercial food labelled "complete" for your cat's life stage, whether kitten, adult or senior.

Kittens do best on small meals 3–4 times a day until about six months old, then 2–3 meals. Adults usually get two measured meals a day, or several small portions. Start with the amount on the pack and adjust to keep a healthy shape: you should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat.

Wet and dry food both work. Wet adds water, which helps urinary health, and dry is convenient, so many owners feed a mix. Water should always be available, placed away from the food bowl and the litter box.

Never feed: onion, garlic, chives, grapes and raisins, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, cooked bones, or dog food as a regular diet. Lilies are extremely toxic to cats (even the pollen), so keep them out of the house altogether. Skip the cow's milk too.

Change foods gradually over 7–10 days to avoid an upset stomach.

Litter box basics

Most toilet problems turn out to be box problems.

• One box per cat, plus one.
• Scoop at least once a day and change the litter completely on a regular basis.
• Put boxes somewhere quiet and easy to reach, not beside the food or a noisy washing machine.
• Most cats like fine, unscented litter and an open box, though some have their own ideas.
• Kittens usually pick it up fast by copying their mother. At home, pop them in the box after meals and naps.

If a cat suddenly stops using its box, it may be ill or stressed. Get a vet to check before you write it off as "bad behaviour".

Health care schedule

The core vaccines usually cover feline panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus and calicivirus (cat flu), plus rabies in many countries. Your vet will fit the schedule to how your cat lives. Our kitten vaccination schedule goes into more detail.

Neutering stops unwanted litters. It also cuts down roaming, fighting and spraying, and lowers the risk of some cancers and infections.

Use only flea and worm products made for cats. Some dog flea products contain permethrin, which is highly toxic to cats.

Grooming, teeth and nails

Short-haired cats need a brush once a week. Long-haired breeds such as Persians need combing every day or they mat.

Dental disease is very common. Ask your vet about brushing your cat's teeth with cat toothpaste (never human toothpaste), and look at the gums now and then for redness or bad breath.

Indoor cats may need their claws trimmed every few weeks. Take off only the clear tip and never cut into the pink quick. Eyes and ears should look clean and clear; flat-faced breeds may need a gentle wipe around the eyes daily.

Play, enrichment and indoor life

A bored cat tends to get fat, anxious or destructive, sometimes all at once.

• Play properly for 10–15 minutes twice a day with a wand toy. Finish with a "catch", then a meal.
• Give them height: shelves, cat trees and window perches.
• Puzzle feeders slow down fast eaters and give them something to work at.
• Secure windows and balconies with screens or netting. Falls from height injure a lot of cats.

Indoors or outdoors depends on traffic, local wildlife and disease risk where you live. Indoor cats lead safer lives but need more done for them to stay content.

When to see a vet

Contact a vet promptly if your cat shows any of these:

• Straining in the litter box or passing little or no urine. In male cats especially, this can be a life-threatening blockage. Go immediately.
• Not eating for more than 24 hours (sooner for kittens)
• Repeated vomiting, diarrhoea, or blood in either
• Breathing with an open mouth, panting or laboured breathing
• Hiding, lethargy, or crying when touched
• Sudden weight loss, or drinking and urinating much more than usual
• Eye injuries, a swollen face, or any wound from a fight
• Suspected poisoning, including contact with lilies

Our article on a cat not eating or vomiting explains when to worry in more detail.

In Pakistan

Persians and Persian crosses are especially popular, alongside local domestic shorthairs, which tend to be hardy and easy to keep. Long-haired cats suffer in the summer heat. Keep them in a cool room, brush them daily and ask a groomer for a tidy trim rather than a full shave. Rabies vaccination matters even more where there are a lot of strays. Keeping cats in at night cuts down on fights and injuries.

Ready to welcome a cat? You can browse verified cat listings on Paalo.