Blogs

Cat Age Calculator: Cat Years to Human Years | Petopic

Use the Petopic cat age calculator to convert your cat’s age into an approximate human-age equivalent using their date of birth or their age in years and months. A one-year-old cat is roughly comparable to a 15-year-old human, while a two-year-old cat is around 24 in human years. After the second year, each additional cat year adds approximately four human years. Your result also shows your cat’s chronological age and current feline life stage.

Cat Ear Mites, Earwax and Discharge | Petopic

Cat ear mites, earwax and ear discharge can look similar, but they do not always mean the same thing. A small amount of pale yellow or light brown, odourless wax may be normal, while dark brown or black, dry debris that resembles coffee grounds can be associated with ear mites. Wet, yellow, green, bloody or foul-smelling discharge may point to an ear infection, irritation, injury, a foreign object, a polyp or another underlying ear problem. Colour alone cannot confirm the cause. If your cat keeps scratching their ears, shaking their head, rubbing their face, avoiding touch, developing a swollen earflap or holding their head to one side, they should be checked by a vet. This guide explains what normal cat earwax looks like, how ear mites differ from ear infections, why kittens and multi-pet households can be at higher risk, how vets diagnose ear disease, which home remedies should be avoided, how to check and clean a cat’s ears safely and which symptoms require urgent veterinary care.

Cat Flea, Tick and Worming Schedule | Petopic

A cat flea, tick and worming schedule should be based on your cat’s age, weight, lifestyle, health, whether they live indoors or go outdoors, whether there are other pets in the home, local flea and tick risk, and the product your vet recommends. There is no single schedule that fits every cat. Kittens, adult indoor cats, outdoor cats, senior cats, pregnant cats, multi-cat households and cats living with dogs may all need different parasite plans. In the UK, cat owners often search for flea treatment, worming, indoor cat flea prevention, kitten worming schedules, tick protection and how often cats should be wormed. The safest approach is to build a risk-based plan with your vet instead of using random spot-on treatments, dog flea products or old tablets at home. Fleas can be brought indoors on clothing, bags, other animals or visiting pets; worms can be linked to hunting, fleas, raw feeding, outdoor access and shared environments. This guide explains how cat flea, tick and worming schedules work, how often treatment may be needed, what to do for kittens and indoor cats, which warning signs matter, what not to do at home, and why products must be chosen carefully for cats.

Can Cats Eat Grapes? Risks and What to Do | Petopic

Can cats eat grapes? The safest answer is no. Grapes, raisins, sultanas, currants, seedless grapes, red grapes, green grapes, black grapes, grape juice, raisin bread, hot cross buns, mince pies, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and dried-fruit mixes should not be treated as safe foods for cats. Grape and raisin toxicity is better documented in dogs, but cats are also advised to avoid these foods because of the potential risk of kidney injury or kidney failure. The difficult part is that there is no reliable safe amount for cats, and a cat can look normal at first even after eating something risky. If your cat ate a grape, stole a raisin, ate a hot cross bun, licked grape juice, swallowed sultanas from a fruit loaf, or ate a dessert containing dried fruit, note what was eaten, how much may have been eaten, when it happened, your cat’s weight and the ingredient list, then call your vet or an emergency vet clinic. Watch for being sick, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, tiredness, tummy pain, drinking more, changes in urination, not passing urine, dehydration, bad breath, mouth discomfort, trembling, hiding or collapse. However, do not wait for symptoms before asking for veterinary advice. This guide explains why grapes and raisins are risky for cats, what symptoms to watch for, what to do first, what not to do at home and when urgent veterinary care is needed.

Cat Ate Onion or Garlic? Symptoms and What to Do | Petopic

If your cat ate onion or garlic, treat it as a poisoning risk and contact a vet for advice. Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, spring onions and chives belong to the allium family, and they can be harmful to cats whether they are raw, cooked, fried, dried, powdered or hidden inside human food. These ingredients can damage a cat’s red blood cells and may lead to haemolytic anaemia, which can cause weakness, pale gums, fast breathing, a rapid heartbeat, dark urine, jaundice, collapse and, in severe cases, life-threatening illness. Early signs may include being sick, diarrhoea, drooling, a sore tummy, reduced appetite and unusual tiredness, but one of the dangerous things about onion and garlic poisoning is that anaemia signs may be delayed. A cat can seem fine at first and still be at risk. If your cat has eaten onion gravy, stuffing, garlic sauce, curry, takeaway, stock, soup, baby food, meat cooked with onion, food seasoned with garlic powder or any product containing onion or garlic, note the amount, time, ingredients and your cat’s weight, then call your vet or an emergency vet clinic. This guide explains why onions and garlic are toxic to cats, what symptoms to watch for, what to do first, what not to do at home and when urgent veterinary care is needed.

Cat Ate Chocolate? Symptoms and What to Do | Petopic

If your cat ate chocolate, treat it as a potential emergency. Chocolate is not safe for cats because cocoa products contain theobromine and caffeine, which can cause poisoning. The risk depends on your cat’s weight, the type of chocolate, the cocoa content, how much was eaten, when it happened and whether your cat already has health problems. Dark chocolate, cocoa powder, baking chocolate, chocolate cake, brownies, chocolate spread, coffee-flavoured desserts and high-cocoa products can be especially concerning, but milk chocolate and white chocolate should not be treated as safe. Signs of chocolate poisoning in cats may include being sick, diarrhoea, drooling, restlessness, hyperactivity, drinking and weeing more than usual, a fast heart rate, rapid breathing, tremors, twitching, poor coordination, weakness and seizures. This guide explains what happens if a cat eats chocolate, which types are most dangerous, what to do in the first few minutes, what not to do at home, when to call an emergency vet and what information to prepare before speaking to your vet.

What Can Cats Eat? Safe and Toxic Foods | Petopic

What can cats eat? The answer is not as simple as “cats eat meat”. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their everyday diet needs suitable animal-based protein, fat, taurine, vitamins, minerals and enough water. For most cats, the safest foundation is a complete and balanced cat food chosen for their age, weight, neutering status, lifestyle and health needs. Small amounts of plain cooked chicken, turkey, well-cooked egg or plain cooked boneless fish may be suitable as occasional extras for some cats, but they should not replace proper cat food. At the same time, chocolate, onion, garlic, leeks, chives, grapes, raisins, alcohol, caffeine, xylitol, raw dough, cooked bones, salty leftovers, spicy food, raw meat, raw fish and spoiled food can be dangerous. This guide explains what cats can eat, which human foods are safer in tiny portions, which foods are toxic to cats, whether cats can drink milk, eat tuna, chicken, eggs, cheese, yoghurt, bread, fruit and vegetables, what kittens and neutered cats should eat, and what to do if your cat eats something harmful.

Why Do Cats Shed? Causes and How to Reduce Fur | Petopic

Why do cats shed? There is no single answer. A cat may shed because of normal coat renewal, seasonal moulting, indoor heating, light exposure, coat type, age, breed, diet, grooming routine or stress. In many cases, loose fur on clothes, sofas, bedding and favourite sleeping spots is completely normal. However, excessive shedding, bald patches, thinning fur, clumps of fur, dandruff, red or sore skin, scabs, itching, overgrooming, weight loss, being sick, diarrhoea, changes in appetite, drinking more, litter tray problems or sudden behaviour changes can point to fleas, allergies, ringworm, skin infection, pain, stress, poor nutrition, hormonal disease or another health problem. This guide explains the difference between normal cat shedding and worrying fur loss, when cats moult most, why kittens and older cats may shed, how food and grooming affect the coat, how to reduce cat hair at home, and when to contact a vet.

Why Do Cats Bite? Reasons and How to Stop Biting | Petopic

Why do cats bite? There is no single answer. A cat may bite because they are playing, overstimulated, fed up with being stroked, frightened, defending themselves, stressed, redirecting hunting behaviour, teething, in pain or dealing with a health problem. Some bites are light play nips, but others are warning signs that should not be ignored. If your cat suddenly starts biting, bites when you stroke them, attacks hands or feet, bites in the litter tray, reacts when touched, seems tense, hides more, stops eating, is being sick, has diarrhoea, struggles to wee or the bite breaks human skin, the cause needs careful attention. This guide explains why kittens bite, why cats bite during play, why cats bite when being stroked, what “love bites” really mean, how fear, stress, pain and illness can trigger biting, how to stop a cat biting safely, and what to do if a cat bite breaks the skin.

Why Do Cats Meow? Reasons, Meanings and When to Worry | Petopic

Why do cats meow? There is no single answer. A cat may meow because they are hungry, want attention, feel bored, want a door opened, are stressed, are in season, are getting older, are in pain or are dealing with a health problem. Some meowing is normal everyday communication, especially between cats and humans. But meowing that starts suddenly, becomes constant, sounds like crying or yowling, happens at night, occurs in the litter tray or appears alongside being sick, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss, drinking more, straining to wee or not passing urine should be taken seriously. This guide explains why cats meow, what different meows can mean, why kittens and elderly cats may vocalise more, why cats meow at night, how stress and being in season affect vocalisation, and when to contact a vet.

Cat Litter Training: How to Train a Kitten or Cat | Petopic

Cat litter training is one of the first practical steps for anyone bringing home a kitten, adopting an adult rescue cat or trying to solve litter tray accidents. Most cats naturally prefer to dig, toilet and cover their waste, but that instinct can fail if the litter tray is dirty, too small, hard to reach, badly placed, too strongly scented, uncomfortable under the paws or linked to stress or illness. This guide explains how to litter train a kitten, how to help an adult cat use a litter tray, where to place the tray, which litter to choose, how many trays you need, how to clean accidents, what mistakes to avoid and what to do if your cat suddenly stops using the litter tray.

How to Choose Cat Litter: Clumping, Low Dust Guide | Petopic

Choosing the right cat litter is not just about keeping your home smelling fresh. It also affects whether your cat uses the litter tray reliably, how much dust spreads around the house, how comfortable the litter feels under your cat’s paws, how easy daily cleaning is and whether toileting problems start later. In the UK, common choices include clumping clay, silica crystals, wood pellets, tofu litter, paper litter and other natural cat litters. The best option depends on odour control, dust level, tracking, clumping strength, kitten safety, multi-cat performance, tray type and your cat’s personal preference. This guide explains how to choose cat litter, which litter controls smell best, whether scented litter is a bad idea, how to change litter safely and what to do if your cat stops using the litter tray.