cat care

7 Proven Strategies to Get a Picky Cat to Eat Their Food

If you live with a picky cat, you already know how personal they can make mealtime feel. One day they inhale a food like it is the best thing that has ever happened to them, and the next day they look at it like you served them a sock. Before we jump into the fixes, one safety note from years of...

15 Human Foods Safe for Cats (and 10 to Avoid)

If you have ever cooked dinner with a cat supervising from the kitchen floor, you have probably wondered: Can I share a little? I get it. Clementine stares at me like I owe her a tax for opening a can of tuna, and Waffles would sell my soul for a bite of scrambled egg. The good news: a handful of...

Transition Your Cat to a New Diet in 7 Days

Switching cat food sounds simple until you’re staring at a full bowl, a judgmental tail flick, and a surprise hairball on the rug. I get it. Whether you’re moving to a higher-quality diet, managing allergies, or your cat has decided their old food is “beneath them,” the goal is the same: change...

What to Expect at Your Cat’s Annual Vet Checkup

If your cat seems perfectly fine, it can feel a little strange to book an annual vet checkup. I get it. Cats are masters at looking okay even when something is brewing under the surface. A wellness visit is your chance to catch small issues early, update prevention plans, and get a reality check on...

Cat Food Allergies: Symptoms and Elimination Diets

If you have a cat who seems itchy year-round, gets ear infections on repeat, or has a stomach that never quite settles, it is natural to wonder if food is the culprit. I have fostered plenty of cats who were labeled “allergic to everything” when the real issue was more specific, and much more...

Wet vs. Dry Cat Food

Few nutrition debates spark as many strong opinions as wet versus dry cat food. I get it. You want to feed your cat well, keep them hydrated, protect their teeth, and not feel like you are playing “guess what will get eaten today” at every meal. Here is the honest answer: there is no single “best”...

How to Relieve Cat Anxiety

If you have ever watched your cat slink low to the ground, freeze at a sound you barely noticed, or bolt under the bed when nothing seems “wrong,” you are not alone. Anxiety and stress behaviors in cats are not unusual, and they are often misunderstood because cats are masters at looking fine while...

Hairballs in Long-Haired Cats: Prevention and Safe Remedies

If you share your home with a long-haired cat, you have probably found it: the dreaded damp cylinder on the rug in the middle of the night. Hairballs are common, but they are not something your cat has to “just live with.” With the right grooming rhythm , a few smart diet tweaks, and safe hairball...

Flea Collars vs. Topical Treatments for Cats

If you have ever found a flea on your cat, you know the particular kind of panic that follows. I have been there, too, usually at the exact moment my tortie Clementine decides she wants to cuddle on my pillow. The good news is that modern parasite prevention can be extremely effective. The...

Help Your Indoor Cat Lose Weight Safely

If your indoor cat is getting a little too round, you are not alone. I have met plenty of beloved couch potatoes in rescue and foster homes, and the good news is that safe, steady weight loss is absolutely doable. The key is to approach it like a gentle lifestyle change, not a crash diet. Cats are...

Senior Cat Health Checklist: Arthritis, Kidneys, and Diet

If you live with a cat who is in the double digits, congratulations. You have officially entered my favorite chapter of cat parenting: the senior years. Depending on who you ask, “senior” can start somewhere around 10 to 12, and some cats act youthful well past that. Either way, older cats are...

9 Proven Ways to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water

If you have ever stared at your cat’s water bowl like it’s a mystery novel, you are not alone. Many cats often have a lower drive to drink than dogs, and they are famously good at meeting some of their water needs through food. In modern homes, that can matter, because consistently low total...

About Chloe Patterson

Hi, I’m Chloe Patterson, and I’m really glad you’re here. I’m an IAABC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC), and I’ve spent more than a decade with my hands, heart, and hoodie pockets full of treats, helping cats move from stressed and misunderstood to safe and thriving. If you found your way...

How to Brush Your Cat’s Teeth

If you have ever opened your cat’s mouth for a peek and thought, “Oh no, that is not supposed to look like that,” you are not alone. Dental disease is very common in cats, and it can sneak up on even the most attentive cat parent. The good news is that brushing, when introduced gently, is one of...

10 Household Plants That Are Highly Toxic to Cats

I love a cozy, plant-filled home. I also love a curious cat who thinks every leafy thing is a personal salad bar. Unfortunately, those two loves do not always mix. In rescue, I have seen “just a nibble” turn into an expensive emergency fast, especially with lilies. This list focuses on common...

7 Subtle Signs Your Cat Is in Pain (and When to Call the Vet)

Cats are world class at looking “fine” when they are not. It is not stubbornness or drama. It is instinct. In the wild, acting sick can make an animal a target, so many cats learn to mask discomfort until it becomes impossible to ignore. As a foster coordinator, I cannot tell you how many times a...