PetsA cat is independent but not a pet you can ignore. It needs play, a clean litter tray, the right food and a safe home. In return it is quiet, clean and affectionate on its own terms. Cats suit flats well, as long as windows and balconies are made safe.
This is a care guide, not veterinary advice. It covers housing, food, routine and safety. It does not diagnose or treat illness. If your pet seems unwell, is hurt or behaves differently, take it to a qualified veterinarian without delay.
At a glance
- Lives
- Commonly 12 to 18 years for a cat kept indoors
- Time each day
- About an hour: feeding, cleaning the litter tray, play
- Space
- A flat is fine. Cats like height: shelves and window perches
- Cost
- Medium: food, litter, vet visits, vaccinations
- Good with children
- Yes, with gentle children who let the cat walk away
Is a cat right for you?
A good choice if
- You want a pet that is content indoors
- You are out at work but home in the evening
- You can keep a litter tray clean every day
- You are patient: a cat decides when it wants company
Think again if
- Someone at home is allergic to cats
- You cannot secure your windows and balcony
- You want a pet that obeys commands
- You dislike fur on furniture
What you need before the first day
- Complete cat food suited to the cat's age
- Food and water bowls, wide and shallow
- Litter tray, litter and a scoop
- Scratching post or board
- A carrier for vet visits
- A bed, and a hiding place such as a box
- Toys: a wand, balls
- Brush or comb
- Mesh or netting for windows and balcony
The right home
Put the litter tray in a quiet spot, well away from the food and water. Give the cat a scratching post near where it sleeps, or it will choose your sofa. Cats feel safe when they can climb and hide, so offer a shelf, a perch and a box. In a flat above the ground floor, fit strong mesh on windows and balconies: cats do fall. Keep cleaning liquids, medicines and string-like things out of reach.
Food and water
Cats must eat meat. Feed a complete cat food and do not replace it with dog food or a vegetarian diet. Give kittens several small meals a day and adults two or more. Fresh water must always be available, in a bowl away from the litter tray. Many adult cats cannot digest milk well, so do not rely on it.
Never feed
- Onions and garlic
- Chocolate, coffee and tea
- Grapes and raisins
- Alcohol
- Raw bread dough
- Dog food as a regular diet
- Cooked bones
- Lilies in the house: the plant is dangerous to cats
Care routine
Every day
Every week
Every month
Handling and behaviour
Let the cat come to you. Stroke the head, cheeks and back, and stop when the tail starts to flick. Lift with one hand under the chest and the other supporting the back legs. Never pick a cat up by the scruff or the tail. Play with a wand toy, not with your hands, so the cat does not learn to bite fingers. Ask your vet about spaying or neutering and the right age for it.
When to see a vet
Do not wait and watch if you notice any of these. Go to a qualified vet:
- Not eating for a day
- Straining in the litter tray, or going outside it suddenly
- Vomiting or loose motions that continue
- Hiding, or a sudden change in behaviour
- Breathing with the mouth open
- Any fall, bite or swallowed thread
Find a vet before you need one, and keep the phone number where everyone at home can see it. Follow the vaccination and parasite-control schedule your vet gives you.
In India: climate and rules
Open balconies and windows are the main danger in city flats: net them before the cat arrives. In summer give several bowls of water and a cool floor to lie on. During Diwali keep the cat indoors in a quiet room with a hiding place. If you take in a street kitten, have a vet check it before it meets other pets.
More guides
Dog, Rabbit, Guinea pig, Hamster, Budgerigar, Cockatiel, Goldfish, Betta fish, Tropical fish tank. Also: the first week with a new pet, foods pets must never eat, summer care.
Written in November 2026. Life spans and sizes are the ranges commonly given for well-kept pets. Individual animals differ.