FAQ: Supplies for cats

Night-time yowling in older cats can be linked to failing hearing or sight, pain, thyroid disease or cognitive decline. Talk to your vet first, and at home leave a night light on and keep a steady daily routine.

A cat needs places to climb and watch from, such as a cat tree or shelves by the window, hiding spots and toys to chase. A daily 10–15 minutes of play with its owner matters as much as the things you buy.

Yes, many cats live healthy lives entirely indoors if they have enough space, activity and attention. Indoor cats are less likely to be injured, catch diseases or get lost, but they need more play and places to watch the world from.

Tall cat trees, wall shelves, climbing walkways and windowsill beds all work. Cats feel safer when they can watch their surroundings from above, and in a small flat vertical space makes use of the walls.

Yes, if the cat goes out onto the balcony. Cats often fall from balconies while chasing birds or insects, so a safety net or enclosure is a simple and effective protection.

If the windows are opened, they are strongly recommended: a cat can fall out of an open window or get trapped in the gap of a tilted window, which can cause serious injuries. Special screens or grilles the cat cannot push out work well.

Yes, many cats get used to a harness if introduced gradually, starting indoors. Choose a harness made for cats that is hard to wriggle out of, and walk in quiet places.

Many indoor cats like to chew grass, so a pot of cat grass can reduce the urge to nibble houseplants. It is not essential, but it is a safe and inexpensive form of enrichment.

Cats are naturally most active at dusk and dawn, and indoor cats sleep a lot during the day. An active play session in the evening followed by a meal helps, as the cat gets tired and settles down.

A bored cat often gains weight, scratches furniture, is noisy at night or overgrooms. Short daily active play sessions, climbing spots and food puzzles help it stay in shape.

Yes, although the risk is lower: germs can be brought in on shoes or clothes, and fleas can come in from the stairwell or other animals. Make a vaccination and parasite prevention plan with your vet.

It helps to teach the cat to wait away from the door, for example by leaving a treat or toy in another room when you open it. It is also good if the cat is microchipped and registered, so it is easier to find if it gets lost.

Cats love windowsill beds or shelves, cat trees by the window and a bird feeder outside the glass. Watching birds is a natural, calm activity for cats, especially while their owners are out.

An outdoor cat needs a microchip and registration, vaccinations and regular protection against fleas, ticks and worms. A cat flap and a warm, dry place to shelter are also useful.

A collar with contact details helps neighbours reach you quickly, but it must release if it catches on a branch. A microchip is a more reliable way to identify a cat, because it cannot be lost.

A basic flap opens for anyone, while a flap with a microchip reader lets in only your cat and keeps neighbours' cats out. The opening should fit your cat's size and be well insulated against the cold.

A city has many dangers: cars, dogs, other cats, poisons and diseases. Many city owners choose to keep their cat indoors or let it out only into a fenced yard or netted balcony.

Outdoor cats should be given tick treatments made for cats regularly, and their coat checked every time they come in, especially the head, neck and armpits. Remove ticks with a tick remover, and choose the treatment with your vet.

Yes, if the cat is microchipped, vaccinated and protected against parasites. For the first days in a new place it is better to keep the cat indoors so it gets used to it and does not get lost.

Many cats learn to come back if they spend only short periods outside at first and get food or a treat when they return. A regular feeding time and a particular sound, such as shaking a box, that the cat links with food also help.