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The adult cat keeps meowing at the kitten and even drags it by the scruff out of the room—what’s going on?
If the kitten isn't hers, the adult's growling expresses displeasure and a warning—part of setting territory order. When first bringing a kitten home, keep them separated so the kitten adjusts and the adult accepts it, then guide joint play. If it is hers, the meowing is likely disciplining the kitten.
How do I hold a cat by the scruff to apply tail medication when it will not stay still?
Hold the scruff with thumb on one side and fingers on the other, lifting the skin, but calm the cat first and use a collar. Do not scruff large or fat cats.
How to Calculate Your Cat’s Daily Water Intake
Cats evolved in arid environments and have a naturally weak thirst drive, so they often fail to drink enough — especially on dry kibble — which strains the urinary system. A practical rule is about 60 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day, or roughly 1 ml per kcal eaten. Check skin elasticity, coat condition, and 2–3 daily urinations to gauge whether your cat is hydrated.
How to Pick Up a Cat Without a Struggle
A cat resists being picked up when the hold is wrong — dangling body parts trigger fear or biting. Always support the chest and hind legs with your hands (or a gentle wrap for a sick cat), cradle kittens with one hand under the belly and the other at the neck and head, and let show cats learn the 'stretched, held high' pose judges use. Regular handling by guests also helps a cat accept strangers.
How to Tell If Your Cat Is Sick
A sick cat hides its discomfort, so the earliest clues are changes in sleep, litter-box habits, appetite, weight, coat, and water intake. Red flags such as vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, a head tilt, or straining to urinate need a vet, and routine checks also catch fleas, hairballs, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and urinary disease.
How to Care for Newborn Kittens
A newborn kitten with no mother is fragile and will not survive without help: keep it warm, get milk replacer into it fast, and stimulate it to relieve itself. Watch for dehydration and diarrhea, shield its young eyes from bright light, and start vaccines and deworming by two to three months.
3 Essential Skills Every Rabbit Owner Should Know
Three rabbit-keeping skills pay off: pick the animal up by the scruff with hindquarter support (never the ears — that harms hearing and heat loss), read heat signs (reduced appetite, stamping, and a pink→red→purple vulva, with red meaning peak fertility), and give injections — mostly subcutaneous at the neck, intramuscular in the hindquarters, or intravenous in the ear. Hesitation with shots delays treatment.
How Do Male and Female Rabbits Act When in Heat?
Intact rabbits show clear, different heat signs by sex. Does get a dark-red, swollen vulva, rub their chins on objects, and may show false pregnancy; bucks circle, mount, and bite to hold. Knowing these signs helps you manage breeding and the mess that comes with it.
Should a Cat’s Nose Always Be Wet?
A moist nose is normal for a cat, but a dry one is not automatically a problem — low humidity, heat, or just waking from sleep can dry it briefly. Persistent dryness with other signs such as lethargy, sunken skin, or fast breathing may point to dehydration or illness and warrants a closer look.
Precautions for Feeding Milk to Cats
Like us mammals, cats can have milk nutrition for life. Here's how to feed it.