Five things cats and kittens need to stay happy and healthy

Whether you have recently decided to buy a kitten recently or have been looking after cats for years, it's always good to keep up to date with the latest advice on animal welfare to ensure you feline friend remains happy and healthy. Of course, each feline is different and each will have their own specific needs, but there are some general pointers that all cat owners need to be aware of, as set out by animal charity the RSPCA. Here's the five key areas you need to be thinking about:

Environment
When finding your cat a suitable place to live, ask yourself a number of questions. Is it comfortable, draught free, clean and quiet? Does it offer easy access for an appropriate place to go to the toilet? Is there anything around which could scare it? Is it interesting enough for an inquisitive mind? Ideally, you'll have somewhere within your home which ticks all of these boxes – if you haven't you may need to make some alterations.

Diet
Cats and kittens should eat a balanced diet suitable for its age, health status and lifestyle and should generally consume several small meals throughout the day. They also need access to clean drinking water – cow's milk cannot be used as a substitute. If in doubt about anything diet-related, speak to your vet for further advice.

Health and welfare
It's important to consult a vet as soon as you suspect your cat is unwell and to speak about vacinations, treatments to control parasites such as fleas and worms, and neutering. You should check your cats for signs of illness and injury every day. Many pet owners find that getting pet insurance is a sensible move to cover the cost of treatments.

Behaviour
As time goes on, you'll get to know your cat's individual personality and daily routines. However, their behaviour can change in certain situations, such as when they are scared or have suffered a traumatic experience. Keep an eye out for changes to sleep routines or altered feeding or toilet habits.

Company
Cats can be pretty complex creatures – even more so than humans. An important aspect of kitten care is getting them used to company, be that human or feline. Ultimately, if cats are treated well as kittens, they're more likely to see humans as friends and companions. However, most adult cats will only be civil towards felines they've grown up with and may be not accept new cats into their home.