Cat Care Guide: Everyday Basics for Every Life Stage
Our complete cat care guide covers the everyday essentials—from food and litter to grooming and vet visits—tailored for kittens, adults, and senior cats.
Cat care, explained kindly
Helpful cat care for every stage
Clear guides to care, behavior, feeding and the products that make life with cats easier, written to point you to your vet when it matters.
Start here: our core cat care guides
One in-depth guide per topic, for new and experienced cat owners.
Understanding Cat Behavior: A Guide for Cat Owners
A comprehensive guide to understanding cat behavior, covering communication, instincts, and how to address common challenges.
Cat Feeding Guide: Food Types, Portions and Schedules
This comprehensive cat feeding guide explains the basics of feline nutrition, how to choose food, determine portions, and establish a healthy feeding routine.
Cat Products Guide: What Cats Need and What They Don’t
Our guide helps you navigate the world of cat products, explaining the essentials for litter, furniture, and enrichment, and highlighting what items are unnecessary or potentially unsafe.
Cat Health and Wellness: Prevention and Warning Signs
A complete guide to maintaining your cat's health through preventive care and learning to recognize the subtle warning signs that your cat may be unwell.
Cat Training Guide: Yes, Cats Can Learn
This pillar guide explains that cats can be trained using positive reinforcement, covering clicker training, carrier acceptance, scratching post use, and home adjustments.
Cat Buying Guide: How to Choose Products Your Cat Will Actually Use
This comprehensive cat buying guide helps you choose products your cat will love by understanding feline instincts, safety, and practical features.
New cat owners
Bringing a cat home, kitten care and settling in.
Cat Life Stages
Kittens, adult cats, senior cats and bringing a new cat home.
Home Adjustment
Introducing a new cat, moving house and multi-cat homes.
Cat care
Grooming, nails, teeth and a clean litter box.
Cat behavior
Why cats do what they do, and what to do about it.
Understanding Cats
Body language, scratching, vocalization, play and territory.
Behavior Challenges
Litter box problems, destructive scratching and stress-related behaviors.
Cat products
Litter, furniture, toys and enrichment.
Litter & Cleaning
Litter boxes, litter, mats, scoops and odor control.
Cat Furniture
Cat trees, scratching posts, beds, window perches and shelves.
Toys & Enrichment
Interactive toys, puzzle feeders, wand toys, tunnels and enrichment accessories.
Feeding Equipment
Food bowls, water fountains, automatic feeders and food storage.
Buying guides
How to choose trees, litter boxes, fountains, feeders, carriers and scratching posts.
Health awareness
Preventive care and the warning signs that mean it is time to call the vet.
Preventive Care
Vet visits, vaccination basics, parasite prevention and weight monitoring.
Health Awareness
Warning signs, appetite and behavior changes, and when to call the vet.
Featured questions
How to Choose the Right Scratching Post for Your Cat
Choosing the right scratching post involves matching its material, height, and stability to your cat's natural scratching behavior and preferences.
How to Choose a Cat Carrier: Hard vs Soft, Top-Loading and Size
Learn how to choose a cat carrier by comparing hard and soft styles, understanding the right size, and prioritizing safety features for stress-free travel.
How to Choose an Automatic Cat Feeder: Dry vs Wet Food, Backup Power and Portions
Choosing the right automatic feeder involves understanding your cat's diet, your schedule, and key features like backup power and jam prevention.
Do Cats Need a Water Fountain? Benefits, Types and Trade-Offs
We explain the benefits of moving water for cat hydration, the types of fountains available, and the trade-offs to consider.
How Many Litter Boxes Do You Need and Where to Put Them
A guide to the number of litter boxes you need and where to place them to keep your cat happy and your home clean.
How to Choose a Cat Tree: Height, Stability and Size
Choosing the right cat tree involves balancing your cat's needs for height, stable platforms, and appropriate size for their weight and activity level.
About Kitty Forums
Kitty Forums is a library of practical guides for cat owners: everyday care, behavior, feeding, training, health and the products cats actually use. Cats are good at hiding discomfort, so we focus on understanding what your cat is telling you and knowing when it is time to call the vet.
Just brought a cat home? Start with the cat care guide and feeding guide. Puzzled by scratching, hiding or litter box trouble? Read understanding cat behavior. Our health and wellness guide lists the warning signs that should never wait.
How we write our guides
- Health and care advice follows veterinary organizations such as the AVMA, the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Cornell Feline Health Center.
- Nothing here replaces your veterinarian. For a possible poisoning, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
- Some links may be affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure and editorial policy.