In my eyes, cats are pets, but in the eyes of some people, cats are animals. This can lead to different ways of treating cats. During the time I have been raising cats, I have been learning about cat-related knowledge. Until today, I still write down some knowledge when I come across it. In short, scientific feeding. Here, I provide some cat-raising knowledge for reference.
When I was a child, my family in the countryside also raised a cat. We never considered sterilization, what cat food to eat, or whether to keep it in a rental house. It managed to survive, and my grandmother probably didn't worry much about it getting lost because if it did, it did. There wasn't much loss anyway. Actually, I don't know what happened to it later. It obviously died, but how and where it died, I have no idea. But for my current cat, I care about these questions.
If an unsterilized cat that eats leftovers and roams around can survive, why do we, the new generation of cat owners, pursue such detailed things?
Because we see pets as family members, whether it's cats, dogs, or other exotic pets, we not only care about whether they are alive, but also whether they are living well. Based on this, we are willing to spend money on them, which also emphasizes their low position among family members.
My knowledge of raising cats started with adopting Cola. To understand cats, the first lesson I learned was the "Essential Course for Cat Owners: How to Live a Happy Life with Your Cat" on Zhihu. I became a Zhihu Salt Selection member to watch this video course. The author is a professional international cat behavior consultant.
(In order to write this article, I specifically visited the author's Zhihu page. The author's updates show that they like the German dual system. I also learned about the German dual system. Maybe this is what they call "substitute messengers always attract each other".)
I learned a lot from this video course, but today in 2024, I only remember one thing:
Cats have four main activities in their lives: hunting, eating, grooming, and sleeping.
The interactive cat toy we bought satisfies the cat's hunting needs and satisfies our desire to watch cats.
As for eating, it's about what food to eat, whether to eat snacks, what water to drink, whether to use a water dispenser, whether to use nutritional supplements, and so on.
Grooming is self-cleaning, and sleeping is a part of a cat's life. It's okay for a cat to sleep for 18 hours a day.
If I have the chance in the next life, I want to be a pet cat in the home of a cat lover. If I don't have the chance, then let me be an unthinking caterpillar.
Cat Knowledge#
(The link to the WeChat official account homepage cannot be shared here, unless it's a QR code. And I don't want to include images here. I can't help but sigh that in 2024, China's internet products are becoming more and more closed. Giving you a little convenience is considered a favor. Many platforms have excellent content creators, but due to platform restrictions, you can't find them until it's too late. That's also one of the reasons why I want to share on my website, to help you discover high-quality content.)
WeChat Official Accounts I Follow#
- 爱猫 (Love Cats)
An honest content creator. Overall, speaking the truth in China doesn't lead to a good outcome. When I see him, I see my past self. He recommends cat products, and I strongly suggest considering the ones he warns against. He has his own pet brand, and I've tried their cat litter, which was good, but the other products are a bit expensive.
Impressive articles by him:
Exclusive! Exposing the Secrets of Cat Litter Manufacturing Plants!
- 猫咪研究室 (Cat Research Lab)
Also an honest content creator. You can have your own opinions about his recommendations, but if he advises against something, it's better to avoid it.
Impressive articles by him:
- 猫研所 (Cat Research Institute)
A popular science content creator, very productive. I don't have any particularly impressive articles from him, but I can say that he is a very beginner-friendly WeChat official account. Most of his scientific articles have references, so he doesn't just talk nonsense or follow the crowd.
Because of their expertise, I bought their cat behavior video course, but I haven't watched it yet because I prefer reading over watching videos.
Articles by him:
How to Identify Whether a Cat is Hiding Pain? Be Alert to Signs of Cat Illness!
- 猫与爱的世界 (Cats and the World of Love)
A storyteller, lots of pictures, collects stories about cats from around the world, very friendly to cat lovers and those who raise cats online.
Articles by him:
- RawMeat
Code name "Chef," a professional who shares high-quality cat-related content, in-depth scientific knowledge, not updated frequently, but worth a look.
Impressive articles by him:
315 Poisonous Pet Food: Doubts about Domestic Pet Food Ingredients...
- 喵呜不停 (Meow Nonstop)
Gave up a high-paying job to become a street cat photographer, taking pictures of cats all over China. I call him an artist.
Articles by him:
A Little Orange Yawning in the Late Cherry Blossom
Some people ask why I didn't mention YouTubers like Lao Yang who do product reviews. My evaluation is that they have lost their conscience after receiving money and are not worth watching. The products they strongly recommend, like Gaoye's, have many problems. I am very disgusted with these YouTubers and brands, and after learning about their actions, I will never watch them again.
Bilibili YouTubers I Follow#
As I mentioned earlier, I rarely use videos to acquire knowledge, so the following are mostly for entertainment purposes.
- 和猫住 (Living with Cats)
Mainly videos about rescuing stray cats. Who can resist being a hero to another emotional being?
- 王天霸是只猫 (Wang Tianba is a Cat)
Shows the world from a cat's perspective. Who can resist a cat with a camera on its head?
- 招财是狸花猫 (Zhaocai is a Calico Cat)
Fighting with cats on a cool mat. This theme never gets old.
Cat Medical Care#
I live in Shenzhen, and I mainly go to one pet hospital called United Pet Hospital. It started in Shenzhen, but now I see it in other cities in the Pearl River Delta.
Of course, you may have better options because I have become accustomed to this hospital and have no need to go to another one and write a review.
But if you don't want or can't choose this hospital, how do you find a good pet hospital?
What is most important in choosing a pet hospital? First, rule out cheap options because in China's environment, even expensive doesn't guarantee quality, and cheap is even more risky.
I believe the most important factors are professionalism and transparency. Professionalism means the hospital can treat any problem your cat may have, and transparency means the hospital doesn't push unnecessary treatments and charges fair fees.
When I first started raising cats, my cat Cola had a large incision for sterilization, and the overall cost was around 1200-1400 yuan. I can't remember exactly.
Later, as I became more knowledgeable about cat care, I discovered that the flank incision was a better option and also cheaper. Since then, I have taken my cats to United Pet Hospital for sterilization, and it has never cost more than 800 yuan. The exact price can be found on their Meituan page. I don't know if the hospital that charged me 1400 yuan lacked skills or wanted to make more money from me, or maybe both. I can tolerate spending a few hundred yuan, but I can't accept my cat suffering more pain.
There are also hospitals like Xin Ruipeng that have been warned against by Love Cats. They make customers brain-dead and then disappear. Would you dare to go there? I certainly don't want to take that risk. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. Before going to a pet hospital, do some research.
I can't guarantee that all the doctors at United Pet Hospital are honest, but I have been to their Shajing, Tangwei, Minle, and Gushu branches, not intentionally, but because I moved homes many times, and I am satisfied with their service.
So, take it as a reference.
Cat Food and Supplies#
I have recommended many things in this article, but it's purely a sharing from a cat lover's perspective. There is no sponsorship or brand promotion, so you can read it with confidence. I didn't mention it at the beginning of the article because only cat lovers will see this. I don't need to tell everyone that I didn't receive any money. I just need to tell you, fellow cat lovers, that's enough.
Cat Food#
Not recommending something doesn't mean it's not good. You can check Cat Research Lab or Lao Ba's reviews and cross-validate. Avoid controversial cat food and don't take risks with your cat. Cats can't speak and can't tell you if a certain food is tasty, and even if it is, it doesn't mean it's nutritious. So, the best thing you can do is avoid controversial cat food and not gamble.
- 纯福全价全期猫粮
Cat Research Lab has recommended their baked cat food before, mentioning that they have their own factory and patented enzyme technology, which makes it easier for cats to absorb nutrients. So, it's worth trying.
I found it strange that my cat suddenly stopped liking it after three months, so I canceled the recommendation on 20240605.
It could also be that I bought a fake one? I suggest buying from the official flagship store.
[好主人（CARE）金装好主人猫粮 2.0](https://item.m.jd.com/product/100009521685.html)
During my unemployment and salary reduction, this cat food helped me get through that period. Later, I found out from Cat Research Lab that this cat food is not only cheap but also of good quality. You can buy it.
> Note: They also have a 20% freeze-dried cat food, but my cat vomits after eating it. I'm not sure if it's a quality control issue or if my cat eats too quickly. If you want to buy their freeze-dried cat food, my advice is to start with a trial pack.
Well, since there is controversy, it's best not to buy it. Canceled the recommendation on 20240507.
Reasons are the same as above, good quality at an affordable price, a safe choice that won't go wrong. I often repurchase this.
Hypoallergenic, no issues, my cats have been eating it all the time. I feed them this when I have a higher salary and the other one when I have a lower salary.
Cat Litter#
I mainly use bentonite cat litter, followed by mixed litter, and rarely use tofu litter. This is related to cats' natural instincts. In theory, they prefer bentonite litter. Another issue with tofu litter is that if it's not cleaned in time, it can attract some insects, and I hate bugs.
The litter I was most satisfied with at the beginning was Platinum Everclean. I recommend this litter as well. It's like the Hermès of cat litter, with the best odor control and clumping. However, it's too expensive for me. If you have the money or are troubled by cat litter, or if it's on sale, I highly recommend using this.
Now, let's talk about more affordable options for daily use.
Pure bentonite: 怡亲猫砂钠基矿石低尘膨润土
Buy a lot when it's on sale. It has good performance, and I have repurchased it multiple times. It often goes on sale.
Mixed litter: lorde 里兜【定制款】小黑核 plus 豆腐膨润土混合猫砂
This product has a 10 billion subsidy on JD, so it's mostly bought on JD. It has good performance and is a cost-effective option.
Other Supplies#
I have bought many litter boxes, both domestic and imported, fully enclosed ones, IKEA ones, and the double-layer litter box from Iris. But in the end, I threw them all away and kept this one.
It is said to be inspired by a Korean brand's design, but the design is actually very simple. However, it's large and works well. It's also easy to clean. I have two of them for my three cats.
The same product is also available from Mango Pet, but I don't know who came first.
(I tried to provide a link to Pinduoduo, but I found that Pinduoduo is even heavier, and the user experience is probably worse than JD, so I gave up. You can search for it yourself.)
I chose the largest size: 110x75cm. With a semi-enclosed litter box, cats tend to bring litter out, and this product can solve part of the problem.
The same product is also available from Petbee, but I don't know who came first.
Tips for Living with Cats#
To be continued...