Cat videos

Every house has a king. His Majesty owns the sofa, the sunny windowsill, and — technically — you. Then one day, the doorbell rings. And a cardboard box arrives… with ears.

Opening that box in the throne room? Bold. Also, a disaster. Let's rewind, and do it properly.

Step one: a room of their own. The newcomer gets a room with food, water, a litter box and somewhere to hide. Very exclusive. No royals allowed.

Step two: smell before sight. Swap a blanket between them. His Majesty will inspect it like a customs officer.

Step three: dinner through the door. Bowls on either side, a little closer every day. Nothing says friendship like eating next to someone you can't see.

Step four: short peeks. A door open a crack, or a baby gate. A few seconds, then treats. Always leave them wanting more.

Step five: enough for everyone. Extra litter boxes, bowls and high places. Nobody should have to fight for the throne.

Hissing? That's not failure — that's feedback. Just go back one step. This takes days, sometimes weeks. And then one morning, the king shares the sofa… and pretends it was his idea. Long live the kings.

Every day, people ask their computers the same question: why does my cat do that?

We looked at the Anthropic Economic Index. It shows what people use the AI Claude for, based on anonymised conversations.

In Spain, questions about animal behaviour make up about a quarter of one percent of all conversations. That sounds tiny. But it's as much as gardening, and more than skincare.

In Poland, one of Europe's most cat-loving countries, it's even a little higher.

And on Google? The most searched why-question about cats is: why do cats purr? Then come kneading, biting, boxes, eating grass… and "why does my cat follow me everywhere?"

His Majesty would like to know why everyone is suddenly so interested in him.

The honest answer? Cats talk with their bodies, not with words. And we humans are still learning the language.

So we wrote a guide for each of those questions. Built on real research, and a lot of cat hair.

His Majesty has read them all. He remains… a mystery.

This is Noa. He was born in our house, to his mum, Bati. He was gentle, a little fragile… and he never went outside.

Noa had FIP: feline infectious peritonitis. It starts with a very common coronavirus, one most cats carry without any harm. But in a few cats, the virus changes, and the body turns against itself.

For decades, FIP meant one thing: goodbye. When Noa got sick, there was no cure.

Then, in 2019, researchers at the University of California, Davis, published a trial of an antiviral called GS-441524. Most of the cats recovered.

Today, studies report recovery in more than eight out of ten treated cats.

At first, treatment meant an injection every day, for twelve weeks. Eighty-four of them. And they sting. Cats had very strong opinions about that. Today, in many countries, it's a tablet.

But where you live still decides whether your vet can give it. In the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, the United States and Canada, vets can prescribe it legally.

In Spain, they still can't. So owners here face an impossible choice, and some turn to products that nobody controls.

European vets have asked lawmakers for a legal option. We hope they're heard soon.

If your young cat has a fever that won't go away, a swollen belly, or keeps losing weight, see your vet early. Time matters.

Noa didn't get his chance. We'd like every cat after him to get theirs.

His Majesty isn't feeling his best. His staff grabs the phone… and asks an AI.

They're not alone. When people ask AI about their pet's health, around half of those conversations become a back-and-forth: describing symptoms, answering questions, trying to understand.

And that's where AI can genuinely help: understanding what the vet said, preparing your questions, learning what's normal.

The trick is giving good information. Not "my cat is being weird", but "my cat is 11, hasn't eaten since yesterday, and is hiding under the bed."

Say how long, how often, and what has changed. Food, water, litter box, weight. A short video helps too.

But some things can't wait for a chat: breathing with the mouth open, a male cat straining with no pee, anything poisonous, collapse, not eating for a whole day. Those mean: vet. Now.

And never let a chatbot pick a medicine or a dose. Especially not a human painkiller.

Use AI to understand. Use your vet to decide.

His Majesty is feeling much better. He would now like to file a complaint about the thermometer.

Three in the morning. His Majesty is performing. Again. Loud. Long. And very, very sincere.

Night-time yowling in an older cat isn't always drama. One common reason is an overactive thyroid: hyperthyroidism.

It's the most common hormone problem in older cats. Around one in ten cats over the age of ten has it.

A small, usually harmless growth in the thyroid gland makes too much hormone, and the whole body goes into overdrive.

So watch for this: eating more than ever, but losing weight. Drinking and peeing more. Restless, even hyper. Vomiting. A scruffy coat. And yes… yowling. Especially at night.

Left untreated, it strains the heart, raises blood pressure, and can even damage the eyes.

The good news? A simple blood test can find it. And there are four ways to treat it: daily tablets, or a gel for the ear. A special diet. Surgery. Or a single injection of radioactive iodine, which cures most cats.

Your vet will also check the kidneys, because treating the thyroid can reveal a kidney problem that was hiding.

With treatment, most cats go back to their old selves. His Majesty has put on weight, sleeps through the night… and has cancelled his world tour.

His Majesty has a cough. Everyone says: it's a hairball. Everyone is sometimes wrong.

Asthma is surprisingly common in cats. The airways get inflamed and narrow, and breathing becomes hard work.

Here's the trick: a coughing cat crouches low, with the neck stretched out… and nothing comes up. No hairball. Just a cough.

Other signs? Wheezing. Fast breathing, even while resting. Getting out of breath quickly after play.

And this one matters most. If your cat breathes with their mouth open, or their chest heaves with every breath, it's an emergency. Go to the vet now.

Common triggers include dust, cigarette smoke, air fresheners, perfume sprays, scented litter and pollen. His Majesty would like a word about your candle collection.

Top tip: film a coughing fit on your phone. It helps your vet enormously.

The good news? With the right treatment, most asthmatic cats live happy lives. That can mean daily medicine, and sometimes an inhaler with a tiny, cat-sized mask. Yes, really.

Asthma is usually lifelong, so never stop the treatment without asking your vet.

His Majesty now breathes easy. And still blames the candle.

His Majesty has been sick again. On the carpet, naturally. Everyone shrugs: cats just vomit sometimes. Actually, regular vomiting isn't normal.

One possible reason is IBD: inflammatory bowel disease. The lining of the stomach or gut stays inflamed for a long time, so food isn't digested properly.

The signs? Vomiting that keeps coming back. Diarrhoea, or soft stools. Weight loss, even while eating. An appetite that's poor, or suddenly huge. And, surprisingly, frequent hairballs. More than about once a month is worth a vet visit.

There's no single test. Your vet will first rule out other causes, like parasites, thyroid problems, kidney or liver disease, and food intolerance. Then usually blood tests, an ultrasound, and sometimes a small biopsy of the gut. That's the only way to be sure, and it tells IBD apart from a type of lymphoma that can look very similar.

The good news? IBD usually can't be cured, but it can be managed well. Treatment often starts with a special diet, sometimes with anti-inflammatory medicine, and vitamin B12 injections.

Many cats with IBD live long, happy lives. His Majesty finds his new diet boring. The carpet is thrilled.

His Majesty used to rule from the top of the wardrobe. Lately, he just… looks at it.

Everyone says: he's just getting old. But slowing down isn't only age. It can be arthritis. And arthritis hurts.

It's incredibly common. Studies suggest most cats over twelve have some. Yet many are never diagnosed, because cats are experts at hiding pain.

So watch for small changes: not jumping up, or jumping lower. Hesitating on the stairs. Accidents near the litter box. A scruffy, ungroomed back. Sleeping more, playing less. Grumpy when touched.

If you notice any of these, see your vet. There's real help today: pain relief made for cats, and even a monthly injection.

But never give human painkillers. For cats, they can be deadly.

At home, make life easier. Add steps or a ramp to favourite spots. Use a litter box with one low side. Keep food, water and litter on every floor. Offer warm, soft beds, and gentle play, little and often.

A healthy weight helps the joints too.

His Majesty now rules the wardrobe again. With a staircase. Installed by his staff.

His Majesty loves a garden. Sadly, some gardens do not love him back. Here are ten plants that can seriously poison a cat.

Ten: kalanchoe. A cheerful houseplant that can upset the stomach, and in larger amounts, the heart.

Nine: tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. Especially the bulbs. Digging is not a hobby, Your Majesty.

Eight: azaleas and rhododendrons. Pretty. Toxic. Next.

Seven: autumn crocus. It can damage the gut, the liver and the kidneys.

Six: yew. Found in hedges and parks. Its leaves and seeds can stop a heart.

Five: lily of the valley. Tiny bells. Big trouble for the heart.

Four: foxglove. Beautiful spires, and one of the most toxic plants for pets.

Three: sago palm. Very popular in Mediterranean gardens. It attacks the liver.

Two: oleander. It lines half the streets in Spain, and every part of it is poisonous.

And number one: lilies. For cats, the most dangerous flower of all. A nibble of a leaf, a little pollen licked off the fur, even water from the vase, can cause kidney failure.

If you think your cat has chewed or touched any of these, don't wait for symptoms. Go to the vet immediately, and take the plant with you.

Want some greenery? Try cat-safe plants, like spider plants and Boston ferns. His Majesty approves. Mostly for napping.

His Majesty spends hours every day grooming himself. So why on earth should you brush him?

Because every lick swallows loose hair. And what goes in… comes back up. Usually on your favourite rug. At three in the morning.

Brushing removes that hair before it's swallowed. Fewer hairballs.

It also prevents mats: tight knots that pull on the skin and can really hurt. Long-haired cats are the most at risk.

Some cats need your help even more. Older cats, overweight cats and cats with stiff joints often can't reach everywhere.

And brushing is a free health check. You'll spot lumps, fleas, scabs or sore spots early.

How often? Long-haired cats: every day. Short-haired cats: about once a week.

Keep it short and sweet. Brush in the direction of the fur, start where your cat loves being stroked, and stop before they've had enough. Treats help. A lot.

Found a mat? Never cut it out with scissors. A cat's skin is thin and easy to cut. Ask your vet or a professional groomer.

And if your cat still brings up hairballs often, or coughs without bringing anything up, see your vet.

His Majesty is now glossy, fluffy and hairball-free. The rug is safe. For now.

His Majesty has scratched the sofa. Again. Some people's answer is declawing. So let's be clear about what that actually means.

Declawing is not a nail trim. A cat's claw grows from the last bone of each toe. So declawing means amputating that bone. On every toe.

Imagine losing each finger at the last knuckle. For scratching a sofa.

And it can hurt for life. Studies found declawed cats were more likely to have back pain, to bite, and to stop using the litter box.

In Spain, it's banned. The animal welfare law forbids mutilations, except for real medical reasons. Many other European countries ban it too.

Here's the thing: scratching isn't bad behaviour. It's how cats stretch, keep their claws healthy, and leave their mark.

So give His Majesty something better than the sofa: a tall, sturdy scratching post. Put it next to the sofa, near where he sleeps, and by the door. Add a little catnip, and praise him when he uses it.

Trim the very tips of the claws every few weeks, and cover the sofa, just while he learns.

The sofa survives. The claws stay. Everybody wins. Except the scratching post. It never stood a chance.

His Majesty would like to order from your plate. Politely decline. Here are ten foods a cat must never eat.

Ten: onions, garlic, chives and leeks. Raw, cooked or powdered, they damage red blood cells. Yes, even in the gravy.

Nine: chocolate. And the darker it is, the worse it gets.

Eight: coffee, tea and energy drinks. A caffeinated cat is not a productive cat.

Seven: alcohol. Even a small amount can be deadly. The king does not do happy hour.

Six: grapes and raisins. Nobody knows exactly why they're dangerous. So let's not find out with your cat.

Five: raw bread dough. It keeps on rising… inside the stomach.

Four: milk. Most adult cats can't digest it. Cartoons lied to you.

Three: raw meat, raw fish and raw eggs. They can carry bacteria like salmonella.

Two: cooked bones and fat trimmings. Bones can splinter, and fat can upset the stomach badly.

And number one: salty snacks. Crisps are for humans with regrets.

Plus a bonus that isn't food at all: never give your cat paracetamol, or any human painkiller. For cats, it can be fatal.

If your cat eats something on this list, call your vet straight away, and take the packaging with you.

His Majesty will now be having… cat food. Again. Thrilled.