Taking care of a cat includes meeting its basic needs such as food, water, and shelter. It is also important to ensure the cat’s physical and mental well-being through regular play, grooming, and veterinary care. Creating a safe and engaging environment, along with providing consistent attention and affection, is essential for keeping your feline companion happy and healthy.

Caring for a Bengal or Savannah cat takes some dedication and experience. These lively breeds need plenty of stimulation, lots of vertical space to climb, and both physical and mental exercise to keep boredom—and the naughty behaviours that come with it—at bay. To keep them happy, make sure they have big, interactive cat trees, scratching posts, and a variety of toys. Don’t forget to offer top-notch food and regular grooming. Keep their litter box clean and roomy, and think about building a safe outdoor space like a catio. Bengals and Savannahs love spending time with people and shouldn’t be left alone for too long.

Environment and Enrichment

• Vertical Space: These cats love climbing and perching, so provide large, multi-level cat trees, shelves, and scratching posts.
• Mental Stimulation: Keep their sharp minds busy with interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and training sessions using positive reinforcement and treats.
• Safe Outdoor Access: A secure outdoor enclosure or “catio” is a great way to let them explore safely. Never let them roam outside unsupervised.

Exercise and Play

• High Activity Needs: These energetic cats need daily playtime to burn off their extra energy.
• Interactive Play: Use chaser toys or a laser pointer for fun, interactive games. Always finish the play session with a treat or a real toy to keep frustration away.

Grooming

• Regular Brushing: Brush their coat weekly to get rid of loose hair, prevent hairballs, and keep their fur healthy.
• Nail Trimming: Trim their nails every couple of weeks to keep them comfortable.

Diet and Health

• High-Quality Food: Both breeds do best on premium cat food, with some preferring high-quality wet or raw diets.
• Regular Vet Care: Keep up with all vaccinations and preventive health treatments just like any other cat.

Training and Socialisation

• Positive Reinforcement: Bengals and Savannahs are smart and can learn tricks. They respond really well to positive reinforcement and treats.
• Proper Introductions: When bringing them together with other pets, take it slow. Bengals especially have a strong prey drive and might not get along well with smaller or shy pets.

Key Considerations

• Owner Experience: These breeds are best for experienced cat owners who can keep up with their high energy and special needs.
• Presence and Attention: They’re social cats who thrive on company and can get bored or destructive if left alone too long.
• Water Fascination: Many Bengals and Savannahs love water, so be careful with open aquariums and make sure they’re secure.

The Litter Box Secret

Imagine this: it is late at night, the world is silent, and you enter your bathroom only to find the toilet unflushed, the air heavy, the floor unclean, and the walls closing in. Would you feel safe or comfortable using it? Now, consider your cat—small, dignified, and graceful—who steps daily into their litter box, a confined space they must accept. For many indoor cats, the litter box is a source of stress rather than relief.

Why? Because we often provide less than they require, due to convenience or misunderstanding. Veterinarians and behaviourists reveal a crucial guideline: the number of litter boxes should be one per cat plus one extra. Thus, a single cat needs two boxes; two cats require three. Though this may seem excessive, it aligns perfectly with feline instincts. In the wild, cats never urinate and defecate in the same location; they disperse their scent to protect themselves from predators, maintain cleanliness, and prevent illness. By providing only one box, we inadvertently force them to suppress this instinct, leading to painful, stressful choices.

Ignoring this truth results in subtle problems: a cat avoiding the litter box, soiling beds or carpets—not out of defiance, but desperation. Visualise life from their perspective: entering a single litter box where the scent of previous waste lingers, the litter is damp and cold, and no alternative exists. Repeating this experience multiple times daily can lead to urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and behavioural issues directly linked to bathroom stress.

Cats require clean litter not only for physical health but also for emotional security. Using the litter box is a vulnerable moment; they cannot defend themselves or flee, making cleanliness and safety paramount. When the litter box feels unwelcoming, it erodes their trust and increases anxiety.

The remedy is straightforward and transformative: provide an additional litter box placed in a quiet, private location away from food and water. Ensure accessibility and avoid placing boxes in dark basements or noisy laundry rooms. This gives your cat choice and reduces stress, often resulting in more confident, relaxed behaviour and increased playfulness and affection.

In essence, small changes—such as adding a litter box—can profoundly improve your cat’s health and well-being, offering them freedom, dignity, and peace of mind.

Neglecting the Litter Box Kingdom

The litter box is more than a bathroom; it is a sanctuary, a territory, and a silent diary of your cat’s health and comfort. Yet, it is often neglected—placed inconveniently, cleaned infrequently, or scented with overpowering fragrances.

Cats are creatures of ritual and cleanliness, instinctively burying waste to avoid predators and maintain safety. A dirty, smelly, or poorly located litter box violates this instinct, causing silent suffering and behavioural issues such as inappropriate elimination.

Common mistakes include insufficient boxes (one per multiple cats), improper placement near noisy machines or in inaccessible areas, infrequent cleaning, use of scented litter or air fresheners, and boxes that are too small or enclosed.

Neglecting the litter box leads to health risks like urinary tract infections and kidney disease, behavioural problems, and emotional distress.

Restoring the litter box kingdom involves providing one box per cat plus one extra, placing boxes in quiet, low-traffic areas away from food and water, scooping daily (ideally twice), fully changing litter weekly, using unscented clumping litter with fine grains, and ensuring the box is spacious enough for comfortable movement.

Respecting the litter box is respecting your cat’s dignity and well-being. Small acts of care in this regard yield profound expressions of love

The Water Bowl Dilemma

Imagine waking at night with a dry throat, pouring a glass of water that smells faintly of metal and dust. Would you continue drinking from it daily? Many indoor cats face a similar reality, relying solely on the water we provide, which is often stale, unappealing, or even unsafe.

Cats descend from desert hunters who obtained moisture primarily from prey rather than drinking water. Consequently, their thirst drive is weak, and they often do not drink until mildly dehydrated, which can lead to urinary crystals, kidney disease, and bladder infections.

Despite this, cats desire to drink more water if it is presented attractively and naturally. Typically, cats receive a single water bowl in a kitchen corner, filled once daily. While appearing clean to humans, the bowl may contain detergent residues, dust, bacteria, or food odours imperceptible to us but off-putting to cats, causing them to drink insufficiently.

The misconception that cats will drink when thirsty is dangerous; their evolutionary biology does not prompt strong thirst signals. By the time they drink, dehydration may already be affecting their health.

Imagine your cat approaching a stagnant water bowl near their food, tasting soap residues, and feeling unsafe. They may drink little and remain thirsty, straining their kidneys and bladder daily.

The solution is to provide multiple water sources throughout the home, using ceramic or stainless steel bowls that resist odours, placed away from food. Refresh water at least once or twice daily, cleaning bowls thoroughly. Consider investing in a cat water fountain, as cats are attracted to moving water, which mimics natural streams and signals safety.

Fresh, flowing water is vital for cats’ health and longevity. Though invisible, the benefits manifest in their vitality and contentment.

Overreliance on Dry Food

Envision a wild cat capturing prey, consuming flesh rich in moisture that hydrates as it nourishes. Contrast this with the modern indoor cat’s diet of dry kibble—convenient and long-lasting but containing only 6–10% moisture compared to nearly 70% in natural prey.

While marketed as complete nutrition, dry food lacks sufficient hydration, essential for kidney function and toxin elimination. Cats rarely drink enough water to compensate, leading to chronic dehydration and increased risk of urinary and kidney diseases.

Dry food dependency creates a cycle of mild dehydration, insufficient drinking, and organ strain. This explains the prevalence of urinary crystals, bladder blockages, and kidney disease in indoor cats.

We often choose dry food for convenience, affordability, and cleanliness. However, when it constitutes the sole diet, it becomes detrimental.

The solution is to balance dry food with wet food daily, which contains 70–80% moisture, closely resembling natural prey. Enhancing wet food with warm water or unsalted broth increases hydration and aroma, appealing to cats’ sensitive noses. Introduce wet food gradually, mixing it with dry kibble to encourage acceptance. Tailor diets individually and consult your veterinarian.

Feeding wet food is not merely sustenance; it is an expression of care that honours your cat’s natural needs and promotes a joyful, healthy life.

The Perils of Indoor Boredom

Imagine a wild cat’s life filled with daily adventure—hunting, climbing, exploring. Now, contrast this with an indoor cat confined within walls, surrounded by unchanging furniture and silence. The cat’s instinctual need for stimulation is unmet, leading to boredom.

Boredom is not harmless sleep but a mental cage manifesting as restless pacing, destructive behaviour, overgrooming, excessive vocalisation, and diminished spirit. These behaviours are not signs of misbehaviour but cries for a richer, more engaging environment.

While indoor living protects cats from external dangers, it can inadvertently neglect their psychological needs. A cat without enrichment is alive but not truly living.

Signs of boredom include overeating, scratching furniture, overgrooming, restless energy, sudden aggression, and dullness in spirit.

Combat boredom through enrichment: interactive play with toys mimicking prey, vertical spaces such as cat trees and shelves, puzzle feeders that stimulate hunting instincts, window views of wildlife, rotation of toys to maintain interest, and training sessions that deepen bonds and sharpen minds.

Providing stimulation honours your cat’s wild nature and fosters a deeper connection, transforming confinement into a kingdom of joy.

The Silent Burden of Overfeeding

Every cat owner cherishes the joyful sound of paws rushing at the rustle of a food bag, the pleading eyes, and the affectionate meows. In these moments, love is expressed through food—extra treats, larger portions—seemingly harmless acts of affection.

However, overfeeding is a hidden adversary that quietly diminishes vitality. Excess weight strains joints, heart, lungs, and kidneys, increasing the risk of diabetes, arthritis, liver disease, and cancer. Cats do not complain; they adapt by reducing activity, leading to a gradual loss of youthful vitality.

Overfeeding often begins with misinterpreting hunger cues, free feeding that allows constant grazing, frequent treats, and human empathy expressed through food. While a chubby cat may appear adorable, the reality is a heavy burden that compromises their health.

Signs of overfeeding include difficulty feeling ribs, hidden waistlines, reduced jumping and climbing, fatigue during play, and impaired grooming.

The positive aspect is that weight loss and health restoration are achievable with patience and compassion. Strategies include measuring meals precisely, scheduled feeding mimicking natural hunting rhythms, limiting treats, encouraging daily play and exercise, and consulting a veterinarian for safe weight management.

Cat drooling can be a normal indicator of happiness and relaxation; however, it may also be a sign of an underlying medical condition. The importance of drooling depends on whether it is mild and occasional or new, excessive, and persistent.

Normal Causes of Drooling

• Contentment: Many cats drool while purring, kneading, or being petted. This instinctual response is often linked to the relaxation and comfort they experienced during nursing as kittens.
• Relaxation: When a cat is deeply relaxed, the muscles around the mouth may loosen, allowing a small amount of saliva to escape.
• Anticipation: Some cats begin to drool when excited about a treat or meal.
• Flat-faced Breeds: Brachycephalic breeds, such as Persians, may drool more frequently due to their shortened facial structure.

Health-Related Causes of Excessive Drooling

If your cat’s drooling is new, excessive, or accompanied by other symptoms, it may indicate a health issue. In such cases, consulting a veterinarian is strongly recommended.

Oral and Dental Issues

• Dental Disease: Conditions such as gingivitis, infections, or broken teeth can cause significant pain and irritation, resulting in increased salivation.
• Foreign Objects: Items such as a string, small bones, or blades of grass can become lodged in the mouth or throat, triggering excessive drooling.
• Oral Injuries: Electrical burns from chewing wires, jaw fractures, or other mouth injuries can cause pain and excessive drooling.
• Oral Tumours: Although less common, tumours or oral cancer may develop in the mouth, leading to persistent drooling.

Digestive Problems

• Nausea: Gastrointestinal upset, kidney disease, or motion sickness can cause drooling, often accompanied by loss of appetite or vomiting.
• Bad Taste: Cats may drool to rinse an unpleasant taste from their mouth, such as from medication or a toxic substance they have licked.

Exposure to Toxins

• Poisonous Plants: Ingestion of certain houseplants, including lilies, philodendrons, or tulips, can cause oral irritation and drooling.
• Household Chemicals: Licking or ingesting cleaning products, insecticides, or antifreeze can result in mouth ulcers and chemical burns, leading to excessive drooling.

Stress and Anxiety

• Nervousness: Stressful situations such as veterinary visits, car rides, or moving to a new home may cause temporary drooling in some cats.

Other Medical Conditions

• Heatstroke: In extremely hot weather, excessive drooling can be a symptom of overheating, often accompanied by panting and lethargy.
• Kidney Disease: In older cats, kidney failure can lead to toxin accumulation in the bloodstream, causing mouth ulcers and increased salivation.
• Upper Respiratory Infections: Viral infections such as feline calicivirus may cause mouth ulcers and excessive drooling.

When to Consult a Veterinarian

While mild, occasional drooling due to relaxation is generally harmless, you should seek veterinary advice if your cat’s drooling is accompanied by any of the following signs:

• A sudden increase in drooling or a change in its frequency.
• Excessive, continuous, or foul-smelling saliva.
• Loss of appetite or difficulty eating.
• Bad breath, red gums, or pawing at the mouth.
• Vomiting, lethargy, or other signs of illness.
• Signs of distress or pain.
• Foaming at the mouth.

       The Cost of Cat Ownership

Are you considering welcoming a feline companion into your home this year? Before finalising your adoption, it is essential to understand the financial commitments involved in cat ownership.

We have categorised the expenses into three segments: initial costs upon bringing your cat home, recurring annual essentials, and optional expenditures that depend on your cat’s breed, age, and lifestyle.

Initial expenses for new cat owners typically range from £440 to £1,440 to adequately prepare your home and care for your new pet. Annual essential costs, including food, toys, and litter, range from £530 to £2,025. Additionally, optional expenses typically range from £760 to £1,580 per year for most cat owners.

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The Cost of Cat Ownership: Initial Expenses

Welcoming a new cat involves several initial costs that may come as a surprise.
We aim to clarify the budget requirements. Beyond food and litter, your cat will need various supplies and services. Expect upfront costs between £440 and £1,440 during the first year.

First-Time Cat Costs
Item | From | To
Adoption fees | £90 | £115
Spay or neuter surgery | £120 | £180
Microchip | £35 | £35
Initial vet exam and vaccinations | £90 | £135
Collar | £5 | £10
Bed | £10 | £125
Food | £20 | £65
Food and water bowls | £5 | £125
Litter box | £5 | £125
Litter | £20 | £65
Carrier | £15 | £145
Scratching post | £5 | £250
Brush | £10 | £20
Nail trimmers | £5 | £15
Toys | £5 | £30
Total | £440 | £1,440

Let us examine these costs in detail.

Adoption Fees

Adoption fees generally range from £90 to £115. If your cat has not yet been spayed or neutered, these procedures typically cost between £120 and £180.

Health and Wellness

Essential one-time expenses include microchipping, averaging £35, to ensure your cat’s safety if lost, and vaccinations, which usually cost between £90 and £135, including the veterinary consultation.

Cat Supplies

To create a comfortable environment for your new cat, consider the following items:

cat carrier (£15–£145), kitten collar (£5–£10), cat food (£20–£65), water bowls (£5–£125), litter box (£5–£125), litter (£20–£65), scratching post (£5–£250), bed (£10–£125), toys (£5–£30), brushes (£10–£20), nail trimmers (£5–£15).

Do not be deterred by the upper range of these prices. The market offers a variety of options, from basic to premium, including automated feeders and natural litters. Selecting more economical products does not compromise the quality of care and affection you provide.

The Cost of Cat Ownership: Annual Essentials

Cost of Owning a Cat Per Year
Item | From | To
Food | £215 | £805
Litter | £245 | £790
Toys | £35 | £380
Annual check-up | £35 | £50
Total | £530 | £2,025

Once your cat is settled, it is important to budget for recurring annual expenses, which typically range from £530 to £2,025.

The variation in costs is influenced by several factors:

Food: Most cat owners spend between £215 and £805 annually, depending on the type and brand of food (dry versus wet) and the cat’s dietary needs.
Litter: Essential for maintaining hygiene, litter costs generally range from £245 to £790 per year. Some cats are particular about the brand used.
Toys: While cats tend to be less destructive than dogs, providing stimulating toys is vital for their well-being. Annual toy expenses vary from £35 to £380, depending on replacement frequency and quantity.
Routine Veterinary Visits: These typically cost between £35 and £50 annually.

The Cost of Cat Ownership: Optional Expenses

Additional Cat Expenses
Item | From | To
Emergency vet bills | £150 | £310
Dental cleaning | £220 | £420
Wellness vet bills | £90 | £160
Drop-in visits | £15 | £105
Grooming | £65 | £205
Pet insurance | £180 | £325
Litter Genie | £40 | £55
Total | £760 | £1,580

Although not every cat owner will incur these costs, it is prudent to anticipate potential unexpected expenses, which average between £760 and £1,580 annually.

Consider the following possible expenditures:

Emergency Veterinary Visits: While hopefully rare, emergency visits can cost between £150 and £310.
Dental Care: Professional teeth cleaning, though optional, may range from £220 to £420.
Pet Insurance: Many owners choose insurance to mitigate large veterinary bills, with annual premiums between £180 and £325.
Cat-Sitting Services: Depending on your schedule, pet sitting may cost £15 to £105 per night.
Grooming: For long-haired or high-maintenance breeds, grooming appointments typically range from £65 to £205.
Litter Disposal Systems: Devices such as the Litter Genie, which facilitate litter disposal, cost approximately £40 to £55.

End-of-Life Care Costs
Item | From | To
Euthanasia | £225 | £510
Cremation | £100 | £135
Special Foods | £50 | £150
Medical Costs | £85 | £850
Total | £460 | £1,645

Although difficult to contemplate, it is important to plan financially for your cat’s end-of-life care. Costs can vary significantly depending on individual circumstances and preferences. We provide these estimates to assist you in preparing for this challenging period, with total expenses ranging from £460 to £1,645.