What Is a Raw Diet for Cats? 

To reiterate above, a raw diet means uncooked meat, muscle or organs, and bones. This type of food is sometimes called the BARF diet. No, it isn’t because it makes your cat get sick and barf all over the house.

BARF stands for "bones and raw food" or "biologically-appropriate raw food." Note you may also hear a Raw Diet or a BARF diet called a Fresh Food Diet as well.

The ideal raw diet is prepared based on a carefully designed recipe. Many cat owners choose to prepare these diets themselves, but you can also buy them pre-made in freeze dried packaging.

If you choose to feed your cat a raw diet, it should be one that has been determined complete and balanced by a veterinary nutritionist.

Why Consider A Raw Food Diet?

Cats thrive on high-protein and high-moisture diets rich in substances only found in meat. Felines are obligate carnivores. Which essentially means they must eat meat to survive.

This means that wet cat food is healthier than dry food cat food, but the negative PR associated to commercially available processed food (dry foods make your cat fat, both wet and dry food can suffer from product recalls) has many people starting to pursue alternative diets for their cats.

These diets are considered both healthier for your cat and better for the planet by avoiding mass production of meat and the hazards that come with it.

I've also heard of a few individuals attempting vegan diets for their cats. If you happen to run into anyone considering feeding a cat a vegan diet please point them to a veterinarian immediately to ensure they know this will be fatal to the cat!

Raw diets are becoming more popular because commercially available foods have additional ingredients cats simply don’t need to survive or they aren't made of high quality ingredients.

Additional unnecessary ingredients can include anything from grains to vegetables to other carbs. But ​most commercial foods also include preservatives that improve shelf life and taste.

Low quality ingredients can basically be the throw away pieces from meat processing for other purposes. Basically meat that isn't fit for human consumption is fed to cats instead.

One of the biggest proponents for raw food diets is Dr. Karen Becker. In this video she discusses how the pet food industry historically used low quality ingredients and how trends are moving toward raw food diets as pet owners are starting to understand more and more about pet health.

Supporters of raw food diets believe that processing or cooking meat isn’t in line with what a cat would experience in the wild and they'd like to help the cat live as close to naturally as possible.

But the owners have other things to consider as well. These cat owners want to remove the dangerous aspects of hunting (like getting lost or injured)​ while ensuring the diet ​is as close as possible to what the cat might experience if it were a wild cat.

Cats, left to their own devices, hunt and eat rodents and other small mammals as well as birds, insects (some cats do an amazing job at this when bugs get in the house), and even reptiles.

Although a wide variety of both wet and dry cat food is seafood based, most wild cats do not actually hunt or eat fish or seafood. There are some rare wild cats that do this, but most don’t.

Supporters of raw food diets for cats note numerous benefits all the way from a shinier coat to losing weight through to better overall health and longevity.

Little research has been done to scientifically prove the benefits of raw food for cats, but research does indicate dry food and carbohydrate ​heavy foods cause obesity in cats which has a direct impact on overall health and lifespan.

Given this it only seems logical to consider a raw food diet. They key item that comes up time and time again with raw diets is whether or not they are actually safe for your cat.

Are Raw Food Diets Safe For Your Cat?

The biggest consideration for any pet owner is that raw diets don’t use cooked food. We humans cook food because it kills large percentages of bacteria that tend to cause food borne illnesses. The most common to impact people are Salmonella and E. coli.

The same risks exist for your cats, especially since you’re not going to catch and kill an animal yourself then feed it to your cat.

The longer meat is "out," refrigerated or not, the more likely it is to develop a risk of infecting your cat. Refrigeration only reduces the speed bacteria multiply, it doesn't stop it.

But Cats Evolved In the Wild

Cats can of course digest raw meat better than humans due to their acidic digestive tracts. They evolved specifically to catch and kill their own prey, but keep in mind they would eat it immediately after killing it.

This means that there’s still a risk of infection and the resulting sickness as the time between killing their prey to eating their prey increases.

As with humans, any cat that has something impacting their immune system should assuredly avoid a raw diet where the risk of infection is higher. FIV cats in particular should take extra care in pursuing a raw food diet due to their susceptibility to get infections.

One other major safety risk ​is bones. Bones break and splinter and can cause all sorts of injuries and obstructions within your cat’s digestive track and throat. Wild cats can and have died from bones, but we humans have solutions for this problem in a meat grinder! 

So What's the Verdict, Safe Or Not?

The short of it is that raw diets can be totally safe for your cat and they can likely provide a host of health benefits for your cat.

But as a cat owner you'll need to be careful about how you prepare food and how you feed your cat a raw diet. It requires extra special care to ensure the food is made properly and has the right nutrients.

How Can I Reduce the Risk of Illness & Injury With a Raw Food Diet?

The biggest thing you need to consider when you’re dealing with a raw diet is to ensure you sanitize the entire preparation and eating area thoroughly and often.

This can be done with a 1:32 bleach:water solution which can be prepared in bulk in advance and put in a spray bottle. I recommend paper towels so you can throw them away after use.

Some of the easiest and best things you can do to minimize risks from a raw diet are:

Where Can I Find Raw Diet Recipes?

Consult with your veterinarian before you switch your cat over to a raw diet. Some vets will support this transition, but many will not due to the risks outlined above.

If you feel strongly about trying a raw diet and your vet is not flexible about raw diets then you’ll definitely want to explore finding one who is.

There are plenty of vets experienced with raw diets so they can provide professional support in transitioning to the diet and informing you of any potential issues that might arise.

What Ingredients Do I Need?

The absolute best place I've found for a raw diet recipe for cats is on Feline-Nutrition.org. It'll give you a comprehensive overview of everything you'll need and the recipes themselves. Below is a quick overview.

Ingredients used in a raw food diets typically focus on the following core items: muscle meat, organ meat and eggs. Something like PetMD can get you started with more details on ingredients, but it is important to note that this is not enough.

The short of it is that you can’t simply buy hunks of high-quality meat, grind them up, then let your cat figure the rest out. 

What Supplments Do I Need? 

It is essential that you find an expert to help you outline a comprehensive diet plan due to the additional supplements your cat will need.

A key example here is taurine. For years cats were suffering from a wide variety of issues due to a taurine deficiency in their diets. The simple addition of taurine from all major cat food producers reduced several issues, namely blindness and heart disease.

There are several other potential supplements or additional ingredients an expert may recommend ensuring your cat has a complete diet.

A Great Video To Help

This video also provides a great overview of how to make a large batch of raw cat food for your feline friends:

Do I Have to Make The Raw Food Myself?

The short answer is no. You can buy "raw cat food."

If you want the benefits but simply don’t have the time to make the food yourself then you can consider one of the commercial raw cat food diets. 

These are healthier than traditional dry cat food and they’ll require far less time and dedication.

Be sure to follow all instructions on the packaging as the food was typically prepared raw and then freeze dried for shelf life and shipping.

Note it may run the same risks as making the food at home yourself and you may want to ensure the diet is complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards.

If the risks simply seem to high for you then you can also lean toward a high quality wet cat food. There are many options today that are completely grain free and some that are even vegetable free as well.

How Do I Transition to Raw Food?

Transitioning your cat to a raw food diet can be a time consuming process, especially if you've got a cat that is a picky eater. 

This video with Dr. Becker and Tracy Dion will give an excellent overview of how to help you and your cat make the transition!

Other Things Worth Considering

Feeding your cat a raw diet has many other things worth considering before you decide to move forward:

• Making food ​can be incredibly time consuming and requires an extensive amount of patience and planning. Just like making food for yourself or you're family it is a serious commitment.
• Storing raw cat food requires space in your fridge and freezer and preferably you’d have a separate space for it since you usually don't want to mix raw meats with other foods.
• Making raw cat food requires kitchen equipment most people don’t have at home already. The most common items you probably won’t have are a meat grinder and poultry shears.

• If you use an automatic cat feeder due to your cat eating too fast then you’ll want to avoid a raw diet because the longer the food is out the more dangerous it becomes.
• You’ll likely find making raw cat food diets far more expensive than buying commercialized cat food.

Wrap Up On Raw Food Diets For Cats

​Feeding your cat a raw diet has both benefits and risks associated. The most likely thing to determine whether you go this route is if you have enough time and dedication.

Raw diets are a large commitment from a time and from a resource perspective, but they can provide health benefits to your feline friend if you’re interested in improving their overall health.

If you've got any personal experience with a raw food diet for your cat then please leave a comment below and let us know how it has worked out!

What Is the KitNipBox?

The trend of subscription boxes started nearly a decade or so ago, but they’ve continued to branch out into pretty much every industry in recent years.

The KitNipBox is pretty straight forward. It is a subscription service that delivers a box to your house each month.

The key difference is that it is for a cat or multiple cats as opposed to for us humans. 

The Happy Cat KitNipBox (the basic subscription) will contain somewhere between four and six items per month. Typically you’ll find about four toys or accessories and then a bag of cat treats.

Depending on the estimated value of the items in the bag you may find more or fewer.  In my experience each of the boxes has an estimated value of somewhere near $25 dollars.

​The Video Review

If you’d rather see the KitNipBox toys in action then check out the video review. I’ll cover what came in my boxes as well as what was successful and what didn’t really entertain my cats!  On top of that I’ll give my overall thoughts on a KitNipBox subscription:

​What Options Are Available?

Dietary Restrictions

Because many cats have dietary restrictions there’s an option in the KitNipBox subscription to simply stop receiving treats / edible items. This doesn’t mean you just lose the value, instead they replace it with another toy or another accessory for pets.

This is a great option to have available even if your cat doesn’t have any special RX needs. Even with two cats we simply don’t go through that many treats on a monthly basis. 

Given this after a few months of constantly getting new bags of treats our shelf was just overflowing with excess cat treats! We turned this off about four months in to switch it up for toys instead!

Single Cat vs Multi Cat Subscription:

The Single Cat Subscription is by far the most common subscription most households will choose. It is also called the Happy Cat Box in case you end up on the website and aren’t sure what I am talking about. It traditionally includes about 4 different cat toys or accessories like brushes and then a bag of cat treats.

If you have multiple cats and your kitties don’t do the best job sharing then you may want to splurge for the Multi Cat box instead.

The Multi Cat Box includes more items to ensure that you’ve got an entire slew of toys available for your kitties! On average you’re looking at a total of about X items in a Multi Cat Subscription Box. 

You can of course also turn off treats in your Multi Cat box if you’re not interested in treats or if your kitty has dietary issues.

​Is Managing the Subscription Easy?

I signed up for my KitNipBox subscription through Amazon as that’s where I first discovered it.  Managing the subscription through Amazon was a breeze. Simply sign up and the box showed up a couple of weeks later.

After about 6 months of boxes our home was temporarily overloaded with kitty toys! There was plenty of novelty and we had enough toys to easily rotate in and out to keep both our cats entertained for a good long period of time.

Given this I flipped the subscription off temporarily on Amazon and it only took a minute. No hassle, no 10 step cancellation process, no extra charges after I already requested to cancel it.

Managing the subscription was a breeze.

​What if I Live Outside the US?

Unfortunately the KitNipBox is not available in all countries. But, it is available in both Canada and Australia.  There are additional shipping charges for Canada and Australia compared to delivery in the United States.

Be sure to account for this if you decide to pursue purchasing a subscription.

If you live elsewhere you can try directly contacting the KitNipBox team to see what they can do!

​Can I Give KitNipBox as a Gift?

If you’re looking for an awesome gift for a friend or family member then the KitNipBox subscription has you covered. You can easily set up a subscription on their website as a gift and you can purchase it for varying lengths of time.

A single month is definitely the cheapest overall option, but if you buy up in number of deliveries then you’ll start to recognize savings. If you go as far as twelve months the KitNip team will knock a full 33% of the price off of every single box!

​Other Benefits

As an added benefit you can see all of the additional charities and organizations that KitNipBox supports right on their website.

Each of these organizations is focused on rescuing cats in unsafe situations, trap neuter release (TNR) programs, and feline welfare causes.

A Few Unboxing Videos

If you’re curious to see specifically what was in the last few KitNipBoxes I received you can check out the YouTube videos for each of them here as well as a complete summary of each of the toys:

​Is It Worth the Cost?

Each box includes a card that lists out each of the components as well as the value of each item.  The value of the KitNipBox came in at about $25 dollars or so when you added up the projected cost of everything.

I will admit that it is difficult to determine if I could have gotten the toys or similar toys for the same price elsewhere. The toys that come in the KitNipBox cannot be located elsewhere no matter where I searched.

Out of sheer curiosity I tried Amazon, Chewy, Petco, PetSmart, Krisers, etc. and had no luck.

This isn’t surprising or alarming to me. The team uses their own suppliers that make toys just for KitnipBox to minimize costs and bring you value. The complexity comes in that because the toys aren’t available elsewhere you simply can’t compare the prices to buying each of them separately.

I am very content with the cost of a box for what comes in it.

MeowBox vs KitNipBox

MeowBox is another subscription based service focused specifically on entertaining cats and their owners.  There aren’t a huge number of differences between the subscriptions, but there are definitely a few things worth calling out that may be of interest to you!

Similarities:

Differences:

Watch the Full Video Review

If you're not much on reading and you really want to see the Furminator in action then you catch the whole video review here:

Will It Help Decrease Hairballs?

Absolutely! If you're tired of hairballs then you're going to love this brush.

Cats normally ingest the larger portion of hair that they pull off of themselves during self grooming. This results in the hair getting into the digestive track.

When the hair doesn't pass through the track faster than it builds up it results in your kitty getting a hairball. It really isn't a pleasant experience for anyone involved, your cat included.

By using the Furminator you're able to assist your feline friend in removing a large portion of the loose fur before it can ever end up in their mouth. This means less fur in the digestive track.

Less fur in the digestive track means it can pass through much faster than it can build up and cause a hairball. Celebration all around!

Does It Minimize Shedding?

Shedding is mostly from loose fur that has already fallen out of your cat's skin, but hasn't yet made it off and onto the floor or into the air yet.  Brushing your kitty will help pick up many of those hairs.

The more hairs you pick up there the less likely they are to end up on the floor or floating around your house where you'll see them in those beams of sunlight piercing through the window on a beautiful day.

Although almost any brush will help, most brushes are only designed to pull loose hair off the surface of your cat's coat.

The Furminator for long haired cats is specially designed to get into the undercoat and remove loose fur from multiple levels of your cat's coat to stop shedding in its tracks!

If you combine daily brushing with something like an automatic robot vacuum you can pretty much kiss fur tumbleweeds goodbye in the foreseeable future!

Will It Help Promote a Healthy Coat?

​Brushing your cat will also help remove hairs that have already lost their connection to your kitty. Not only will this ensure only the newer shinier hairs stay present, but it'll pull away the strays.

On top of this brushing your cat will also help spread the natural oils your kitty produces throughout her entire coat!  This is a huge benefit, especially for older cats who maybe can't do this as easily themselves anymore.

Do note that if your kitty doesn't have a nice shiny coat even with brushing that you may want to consider modifying your cat's diet.

A diet of high quality food that is rich in fatty acids like omega 3s can really help your feline friend shine again! You can read more about the best ways to modify your cat's diet here on PetMD.

Does It Pull Out Too Much Hair?

If you're buying a deshedding tool for your cat and you get in a rhythm using it then you may start using it on a daily basis. You might even start to worry if you're pulling out too much hair.

After an in depth discussion with my veterinarian he basically indicated that it is pretty hard to pull out too much hair.  You're far more likely to ​irritate your cat's skin than you are to perform any lasting damage to your cat's coat.

The short answer is there's really nothing to worry about here unless you start brushing your cat way too much or too often and this is a relative term. Many cats with extra thick or extra long coats may require daily brushing and attention for maintenance purposes!

If you do happen to go too far most cats will make this well known by expressing their feelings with meows, their paws ​or even their teeth.

Will it Irritate My Cat's Skin?

The Furminator is specifically designed to be gentle on your cat's skin as you use it. The tines built into the brush aren't sharp and will not scratch or puncture your cat's skin.

All brushes have the opportunity to potentially irritate your cat's skin if they are overused or used incorrectly. Given this be sure to take signs from your kitty when you are potentially hitting a sensitive area or an area they simply don't like being brushed.

You'll see in the video above that Lexi simply hates having her sides and tummy brushes. They are far more sensitive than her back and tail. Brushing her back and tail though still have huge benefits!

Will it Help Cat Allergies?

​Allergies are another common complaint that some cat owners experience. Allergies are traditionally caused by cat dander, but the more fur floating around the house the more likely that dander is to cause issues.

Cat dander easily binds to fur and then as stray or loose fur falls off your cat it gets blown around the house and may hand on someone with allergies.

Brushing on a consistent basis can easily help reduce issues with cat allergies and the Furminator does a great job of pulling off loose fur from both the outer and undercoat of your cat!

​If you are having issues with allergies even with brushing you may want to consider adding a high quality HEPA air filter to your home or to the room(s) you spend the most time in.

​Are There Any Alternatives?

​If you don't ​like the Furminator for one reason or another then there are plenty of other great options out there on the market.  They range from de-shedding tools to de-matting tools to other simple brushes.

You can check out my favorites in the below article:

​The other alternatives that are always available are to take your kitty to a groomer or ask your vet to give your kitty a quick brushing. These options are usually more common for trimming hair though than brushing.​

Watch the Full Video Review

Seeing The Furminator in action ​is the best way to actually get a grasp on how great of a job it does and how much a cat can actually enjoy being brushed. 

Check out the video review to see the brush actually working and see how much my cat Beastling loves it.

​Shedding Is Driving Me Nuts!

With cats having up to 130,000 hairs per square inch of their coat, you've got a lot of potential cat hair that can fall out of your feline friend! In fact, one of the biggest complaints from cat owners are how often they shed.

Surprisingly the constant shedding of household cats is largely driven by humans modifying how much light a cat receives on a daily basis. Because cats have quite constant and varied light supplies they basically constantly shed in your house! Wild felines do not shed like this!

Anyway, that being said, brushing is by far the single most effective method for humans to help their cats minimize shedding. ​It picks up all the loose fur from the outer coat and if you use a brush like the Furminator it even gets to the undercoat too!

The more hairs you ​manage to extract while brushing ​the less hair that ​ends up on the floor or floating around your house. All the more reason to establish a brushing regiment!

The Furminator for ​short haired cats is specially designed to ​help you minimize the amount of loose fur you'll find all over the house. That being said, there's no way to stop it completely if you've got a cat with hair!

Daily brushing combined with ​automatic robot vacuums ​can make a powerful combination that enables you to kiss floating fur goodbye. ​

​My Cat Keeps Getting Hairballs!

Hairballs are far more common in cats with long hair, but it certainly doesn't stop short haired cats from getting them!  And any cat that isn't being brushed consistently will likely experience them from time to time.

When cats groom themselves they use their tongue to pull loose hair, dirt and debris out of their coat. This results in them ​ingesting ​most of hair that they pull off of themselves. ​

Once the hair is ingested it tends to sit in the digestive track and slowly work its way through. But sometimes ​the hair doesn't pass through the track ​as fast as necessary and ​it builds up. ​When the buildup is large enough it results in your ​cat getting a hairball. ​

Brushing your cat will significantly reduce the amount of hair she ingests and thus reduce the amount of hair sitting in her digestive track. By default this will reduce the number of hairballs your kitty encounters.

By using the Furminator you're able to assist your feline friend in removing a large portion of the loose fur before it can ever end up in their mouth. This means less fur in the digestive track.

​My Cat's Coat Doesn't Look Healthy, Should I Still Brush Her?

Your cats coat health is heavily driven by your cats internal health. If your cat isn't eating well or is having other health problems they are often reflected in the quality and shine of your cat's coat.

The most common issue with a cat's coat stems from the cat not eating a high quality diet.  If you want your cat's coat to shine and look great the most important pieces are to ensure she gets enough protein and also the necessary amino acids and fatty acids that will help her produce natural oils.

When your cat ​has a healthy diet she will naturally produce the oils that make for a shiny and beautiful coat, but your cat still typically needs to groom herself to get the oils spread throughout her whole coat.

Older cats and overweight cats may have difficulty doing this on their own. ​Brushing your cat will ​help spread the natural oils your kitty produces throughout her entire coat!​

So if your cat's coat isn't looking great, but they are already on a healthy diet, then brushing can be a huge benefit that can be transformative for the look of the coat!

Do note that if your kitty doesn't have a nice shiny coat even with brushing and a healthy diet that you may want to ​talk to your veterinarian to see if there are any other options worth ​looking at.

​You may also want to ​read ​this article on PetMD​ to review other potential causes for a drab coat.

​What If I Brush Too Often?

​If you get onto a schedule and start brushing your kitty daily then you may start to realize that your brushing sessions eventually pull out quite a bit less hair than they once did.

This is because by consistently brushing the loose hairs no longer have a chance to build up in the deeper layers of your cat's coat before you brush them out!  There's really nothing to worry about!

After an in depth discussion with my veterinarian he basically indicated that it is pretty hard to pull out too much hair.  

In fact, lots of ​cats with extra thick ​coats may require daily brushing and attention for maintenance purposes and to help you keep your own sanity.

You're far more likely to ​irritate your cat's skin than you are to perform any lasting damage to your cat's coat.

​If you do happen to go too far most cats will make this well known. They are prone to ​meows, smack at you with their paws ​or even ​mouth or snap at you if you get way too aggressive with the brush.

​Could Brushing Cause Skin Rashes?

The Furminator is specifically designed to be gentle on your cat's skin as you use it. The tines built into the brush aren't sharp and will not scratch or ​poke holes in your cat's skin.

All brushes and deshedding tools ​can ​irritate your cat's skin if they are overused or used incorrectly. This involves pushing too hard or pulling the brush through obvious knots and mats without proper care.

​Be sure to take signs from your ​cat ​on what is ok and what isn't comfortable. Most cats are quite clear on what they enjoy versus don't. If your cat swats at you then you should definitely avoid brushing the area that caused it.

If there's clearly an issue with hair the area that needs to be treated then you may want to consider going to a veterinarian or a professional groomer.

​Beastling gets brushed numerous times a week, sometimes for up to 15 minutes at a time. She's never once experienced a skin rash or irritation at the hands of the Furminator.

The only thing we have noticed after extensive use is some lightweight dander which was easily remedied by adding fish oil supplements to her dry food per the recommendation of her vet.

​Will Brushing Relieve Allergies?

There's a common misconception out there that cat fur causes allergies. While simply not true, it can make allergies worse! There are no known allergic reactions to fur itself, but instead they are caused by ​​cat dander.

The problem comes in that as dander falls off your kitty it commonly ​binds to fur. Then when the fur falls off and floats around ​the house ​it can easily cause allergic reactions if it lands on someone or if they touch it and have an allergy.

No fun for anyone involved! On the bright side brushes can help and the Furminator is one of the best there is!  Brushing on a consistent basis can easily help reduce issues with cat allergies  by pulling dander covered hairs off of your cat and placing them directly in the garbage.

​Not only does this minimize the amount of fur floating around, but it of course takes all the dander that has bound itself to the fur out of the house too!

​If you are ​still have ​allergy issues after establishing a brushing routine then ​you ​should consider adding a high quality HEPA air filter to your home or to the room(s) you spend the most time in.

What is CATBOX?

​CATBOX is defined by the designers as "the cat bed of your favorite feline's dreams!" And although it is a traditional cardboard box made of recyclable corrugated cardboard, it really does seem to be quite a dream for cats!

There are a couple of key features worth noting to ensure you know exactly what you're getting when you buy a ​CATBOX.

There are cut-outs on each end for face scratching, easy head resting and bunting. As we all know, cats absolutely love boxes for some reason or another (read more below on this).

But you should be aware that ​​CATBOX isn't just for your cats. If you wanted that you could simply go on an Amazon Prime binge and order a bunch of big stuff and then let your cats play with the boxes.

​CATRBOXes are illustrated on the outside to transform those lazy furballs into your comical reality. If you've ever attempted to dress your at up in a costume and realized they don't like it (surprise!) then this is a great alternative.

When your feline friend that loves to sleep wanders into the ​CATBOX they will be transformed into one of the first cats to ever traverse the troposphere and join the Cat Space Force!  Or perhaps you've got a musically inclined cat and they want to be strutting around on stage!

Who knows where the newest cat boxes will take our feline friends?

Is It Environmentally Friendly?

The creators of ​CATBOX are 100% dedicated to ensuring that their product is environmentally friendly. They've made sure pretty much every base is covered on this end:

• All of the actual ​​CATBOX cardboard boxes are composed of 100% recycled corrugated cardboard
• The labels are printed with vegetable based inks to ensure nothing toxic gets into your cat or into the environment 
• The boxes are designed, manufactured and shipped from Georgia, USA by Pratt Industries which is known for being environmentally conscious
• The mailers the boxes are shipped in are even recyclable

Talk about dedication to ensuring a product minimizes its overall impact on the planet! They've thought of pretty much everything.

My only concern is when my cat learns to fly the astronaut box. I'm wondering if that'll have a carbon footprint...

Why Do Cats Love Boxes?

You might ask yourself why cats seem to like boxes. This is similar to understand why cats like being up high and current theories tend to push it back to history and genetics.

Cats are both predator and prey. They aren't the king of the jungle like tigers are. Given this they like places that can provide both visibility and security.

Small spaces make sure that cats can't be approached without them seeing whatever is coming. They also provide great cover to ensure that nothing can see them either.

Now your typical house cat doesn't really deal with being anyone's prey and nor do they usually end up doing much hunting for real, but they still have habits that hearken back to instincts that have been ingrained into them over thousands of years.

Given this they have a tendency to seek out small spaces, like cave type beds, cardboard boxes and even sometimes hiding under the couch.

Dr. Stephen Zawistowski of the ASPCA summed it up pretty well when he said “They can get into that box and they can’t be approached from the side or the back where they’re not aware of it.”

The ​​CATBOX team has provided various additional research points on their Kickstarter site if you're curious, so definitely go ahead and check it out for more detail!

But one last thing I will mention is that a study by Dutch researchers found that cats who were provided with a box adapted more quickly to a new environment compared to a control group of cats who were not provided with a box.

Given this the science is basically telling us that cats like to have boxes around and they'll have significant behavioral benefits from doing so! If you ever need to justify your  purchase of a ​​CATBOX to your significant other or your parents now you've got all the ammunition you need! Get a ​​CATBOX now!

The Video Overview & Review

The Best Slow Feeder Cat Bowls

Cat Shaped Slow Feed Cat Bowl

If you're looking for something designed specifically by veterinarians then this is the model from SimplyPets is for you. On top of that it is also environmentally friendly which is a huge plus as more of us are watching our ecological footprint.

As you can see it is cat shaped which is adorable, but it has also been designed and tested extensively to ensure it requires your cat to work for food, but isn't too difficult to get frustrated and abandon eating.

A few other key notes worth looking at before purchasing:

"One of my two kitties is a big time gobbler and has been since the day we adopted him from the shelter. We'd tried separate rooms and multiple smaller meals per day, but it was difficult with our work schedule. This works great, we put food in when we walk out the door and we have only had one accident in the past few months!"

The following is a concern for some owners of this product:

Back to the Quick Guide

DotPet Ceramic Slow Feed Plate

Even though this is much more a plate than a mat I wanted to include it because it is made of ceramic which is one of the best materials around for keeping things hygienic. 

It is a very large plate with a lot of surface area that you can pour kibble or wet food onto. One of the biggest perks is the low profile of the plate which ensures cats of all kinds can easily eat from it.

A few other key items worth noting:

"It has done wonders for our cats that scarf and barf. The only problem we had with it was in the middle our Persian can't reach the food. We started pouring it out toward the edges mostly and we haven't had a single problem since then!"

Back to the Quick Guide

Gulp Stopping Plastic Slow Feeder

This gulp stopping option comes in tons of different sizes and color options, so it is an excellent all around slow feeding bowl for cats of any size and homes of any decor!

It is make of melamine, which is a component used to make plastics. But not to worry, it is 100% non toxic and also 100% dishwasher safe for easy cleaning!

A few other key items worth noting about this bowl:

"It slowed down my food crazed kitty with ease! No more spewing after erasing an entire meal in a matter of minutes."

It is worth considering the following:

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Fun Stop Slow Feeding Bowl

This is another great option in the family of slow cat feeding bowls that are made of plastic. All of the ridges and knobs in the center of the bowl make it perfect for slowing down even the most determined cat.

This bowl also has significant capacity if you need to feed multiple cats at the same time or if you'e got a cat that gulps, but fills up really quickly! It is also made of food safe plastic (meaning it is the same type of plastic we prepare human food on).

A few other key items worth noting:

"I have three cats and this works great for the two ten pound cats to share. The 16 pound boy (no he's not overweight) has trouble getting his paws in to pull the kibble out though so don't go with this if you've got a big cat."

You'll want to consider the following before making a purchase:

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Ceramic Slow Feeding Station

This is clearly a little bit different than your traditional slow feeding bowl. Pioneer Pet has flipped the paradigm on its head to make your kitty find the right spot to reach the food from.

There are lots of different holes in different shapes all around the feeding station and you can dump food right in the center of it. It even has a built in funnel in the top to make this easy.

Once the food is in the middle your cat can pull the food out to the edge and then chomp it down. At most they get a few kibbles each time. A few other great things worth noting:

"An excellent way to reduce food intake and also challenge my little fluff balls overly active mind that is always looking for things to destroy! 4 paws up!"

The key issue worth considering on this option is:

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Cat Catch Interactive Feeding Bowl

Catch is a brand new way to turn eating into an interactive game for your kitty. It also creates a slower experience than simply gulping down every bit of food in front of your feline friend.

This helps not only entertain your cat and burn some calories, but it also ensures that your cat won't eat too quickly and simply throw the food back up a few minutes later!

A few other key items worth noting about this option:

"My two young cats and my older cat all figured out how to use it quickly and it helped my older inactive cat lose a few pounds over about a 3 month period of time. Win win!"

The biggest concern noted by some users of this model is:

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Outward Hound Multi Pet Slow Bowl

If you're looking for a great slow feeder that might work for both cats and dogs then this is an excellent option. While this model was designed specifically for dogs, it still works great for cats too!

The rings are just big enough that most cats can't easily stick their entire head into the trough areas and eat the food right out of it. This means they'll need to paw it out or move it around until they can reach it which is great for stimulation and for some exercise!

A few other items worth noting on the Outward Hound option

"It is adorable watching Jenny paw her food out a few kibbles at a time and eat them off her mat. It has totally stopped her from puking and made eating her meals a much longer part of her day. And of course it is good for her overall weight too."

One key item worth noting on this option:

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Northmate Interactive Cat Feeder

Northmate was one of the first to design an innovative feeder that stimulates a cat's natural instincts and helps turn meal time into an inspiring hunting game instead of a gulp and puke game.

Even though it is a relatively simple solution it is incredibly effective and helps bring stimulation and fun to indoor cats that don't normally get a chance to hunt other than during play time!

A few key items to note on this top of the line model:

"Our cat scarfs food down so fast she usually pukes up most of it completely undigested just a few minutes later. This has worked well in slowing her down and keeping her hard at work to get the food to the edges."

You'll probably want to consider the following before purchasing:

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Extra Large Slow Feed Valley Bowl

If you're looking for the ultimate slow feeder in regards to size then this is an excellent option. It is absolutely huge and can easily accommodate multiple cats at the same time! It holds up to six cups of food at one time.

This model is perfect for any household that has multiple cats that eat together and there's a need to slow any of them down. The amount of food it holds and the size make it a breeze for even 3 or 4 cats at a time.

A few other features worth noting:

"I bought two of these for my six cats as several of them often eat and vomit after. This has slowed all of them down a bit and ensured that none of them eat fast enough to vomit anymore! It is absolutely huge and works well for my house."

The key things to keep in mind before purchasing this feeder:

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Collapsible Slow Feeding Bowl Set

If you've got a cat that travels often, or perhaps even an adventure cat that loves to go on walks and hikes, then this is the bowl for you. It fully collapsible into a disc that is less than an inch thick!

It is made of silicone and is 100% toxin free to keep your kitty safe and sound when eating! On top of this it travels super easily and comes fully equipped with a carabiner that can snap it onto your cat carrier.

A few other key items worth noting:

"These work great for Angelo. I feed him both wet and dry and it works great for both. Super easy to clean and even though he's somewhat sensitive the material doesn't bother him one bit!"

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Soft Silicone Slow Feed Mat Puzzle

One of the biggest complaints many cat owners have is that cats that have a flat face have difficulty getting to food in other slow feeding bowls. Although most cats will learn to paw their food out of the bowl some can easily get frustrated and give up.

This model is made of sturdy, but flexible silicone that will give when your kitty pushes on it. This means that even flat faced cats can push the silicone out of the way to get to the food on the entire feeding mat!

A few other key items worth noting on this option:

"I had a hard plastic bowl slow feeder for my Himalayan and she had a really hard time eating out of it because she wasn't good with her paws. This has made her life significantly easier and she doesn't puke anymore!"

It is worth noting the following before you purchase:

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Trixie Cat Tunnel Slow Feeder

This is another slow feeder that is bordering closely on being a food puzzle as opposed to a traditional slow feeding bowl. This model enables owners to simply pour kibble into the top and then let the cats paw it out through the bottom.

Given that it doesn't really require a lot of thinking, just some work, I've categorized it in my slow feeding bowl article! It can also be just as easily used for hard treats too if you're looking to reward your kitty after some extra work.

A few key items worth noting:

"I never thought I'd find an easy solution for my brand new adopted kitty until I tried this. He was always vomiting after every meal and this stopped it cold. He gets some extra exercise too!"

It is worth noting the following before purchasing:

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Catit Digger Slow Feeder For Cats

This definitely starts to edge into the idea of a food puzzle, but I've included it because it uses the same general mechanics of most slow feeding bowls in that it forces cats to paw food out of the tubes.

The nice part is that it is designed to allow for multiple cats to eat from it at the same time and it does have numerous tubes that you can fill to different levels for easier or more difficult eating.

All in all it is a great slow feeder and works well for multiple cats or kittens! A few items worth noting:

"Added some excitement to meal time for Fluffaluffagus. He used to just chow down the second the food hit the floor. Now he works for his meals by pawing the food out, but he doesn't seem to mind one bit!"

It is worth noting the following on this before purchasing:

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Additional Information

Why Do Cats Vomit From Eating Too Fast?

Cats are quadrupeds which basically means they are on four legs instead of two.

This means your cat's esophagus is horizontal rather than vertical. Food can slap against the lower esophageal sphincter and cause regurgitation of whole, undigested food several minutes after it's consumed.

Slowing down gobbling will help.

Gobbling or wolfing down food can be due to many reasons, but there are two very common reasons.

Reason #1: Multi Cat Households

Cats that live in multi-cat households with portioned out meals can result in cats stealing food from one another. This is because some cats are more food motivated than others or simply like to eat more than others.

On top of this many cats simply like to chow their food down faster than other cats. My cats Lexi and Beast are totally different. Lexi loves to eat her entire meal right away, Beast grazes all day.

If I leave both bowls out Lexi will eat all the food immediately and Beast will end up with nothing the entire day. But when it comes to puking, the biggest problem is simply that Lexi eats everything so darn quickly.

Reason #2: Experiences of the Past

Even if your cat currently lives in a house with no other pets and no risk of her food being stolen she may still have memories or reflexes driven from her previous life.

Many cats that were strays in the past are prone to gobbling food down very quickly because they had strong competition or they simply didn't feel safe where they were eating their meals.

Slow feeding bowls are a great way to help minimize this behavior. Over time your cat should adjust to understanding that they no longer need to worry about their food being stolen and there will be plenty to go around.

This video from Dr. Karen Becker is also very helpful in describing a wide variety of other reasons that cats may vomit. If from reading this article it doesn't sound like gobbling is the problem then watch the video:

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What Types of Slow Feeders Are There?

There are a couple of different types of slow feeders on the market. Each one has benefits and drawbacks, so we'll briefly outline them here so you get a feel for which one might be right for your situation.

Traditional Stationary Hard Plastic

The traditional hard plastic option is going to resemble a cat bowl quite closely. The key difference you'll note is that it'll have lots of ridges or barriers built into the middle of the bowl.

These are there to stop your cat from simply jamming his face into the bowl and wolfing down all of the feed as quickly as possible. The idea is your cat will have to move food with his paws to get it where he can access it.

The biggest benefits of these types of slow feeders is that they are typically durable, easy to clean, and come in at a very low price point. On top of this you'll usually find they have lots of little features after years of development to make them easy for owners to use too (think anti skid feet for example).

Soft Rubber or Silicone Feeders

Soft rubber and silicone versions are typically going to have a flat base with a lot of things sticking straight up out of the base. The shapes and sizes may vary, but more often than not they resemble a small patch of tree trunks glued to a rubber base.

The key difference here is that they are flexible whereas a hard bowl is not. Hard bowls generally require the cat to directly move the food with this paws.

Softer feeders allow for this but also enable your cat to sneak between them with just his face. They're also generally speaking easier to get wet food out of as you can bend them easily to scrub or spray them.

Ceramic Bowls and Feeders

Ceramic slow feeders are going to heavily resemble both hard and soft feeders, they'll just be made of ceramic instead.

The key reason you'd want to consider ceramics is that they are not a porous material. This basically means it is difficult for bacteria to take hold and develop, especially if you wash the feeder in hot water like a dish washer frequently.

Ceramics are also quite heavy in comparison to standard plastic which gives them extra weight to stay in place if you've got a rather rambunctious cat.

Stainless Steel Options

Similar to ceramic options, stainless options are going to resemble those of hard plastic feeders for the most part. There aren't many stainless options on the market at the moment.

Stainless steel is super lightweight and very difficult to break, it is also a non porous material like ceramic so it is very easy to clean effectively.

If you are set on stainless steel your best option may be to buy a traditional stainless steel cat bowl and simply flip it over and use the bottom instead of the top as the bowl.

Puzzle Driven Feeders / Activity Centers

Puzzles are a good option as well, but I'd personally categorize them as a different type of feeder for a different purpose. That purpose is usually to make a regular cat work for their food either because they have too much energy or they simply need to lose weight.

You can read more about them in the next section for alternatives.

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Are There Alternatives To Slow Feeding Bowls?

If you've tried a slow feeding bowl or think your cat(s) will not do well with it then there are other options you can try. If you have only one cat with this issue then try multiple small meals. If you've got multiple cats there are several options you can try.

Single Cats: Multiple Small Meals

Spreading meals out is the best option if you've got a lone cat that still eats far too quickly and the slow feeding bowl doesn't seem like a viable option.

You'll want to provide several more meals a day but do so in much smaller portion sizes. The key concern with this method is that it is time consuming and you may not be available to provide multiple meals.

Given this one of the easiest ways to accomplish this is through using automatic cat food dispensers. These dispensers can drop very small amounts of food multiple times a day so your cat can't gobble enough to get sick.

Several of the feeders will even allow you to manually drop food whenever you want from a mobile phone application. On top of this you can combine this with a slow feeding bowl so the dry food drops into a slow feeding bowl in very small portions.

Multi Cats: Feeding Separately

Feed your cats in separate areas of the house or in separate rooms with completely closed doors. Closed doors are a necessity for this to ensure it works properly, otherwise the fast eating cat will 

If you give your cat about 30 minutes to eat on his own before opening the doors back up that is typically sufficient to ensure that your gobbling cat won't be able to cause a ruckus and chow the extra food down.

One additional consideration is an item called a SureFeed Microchip cat feeder. These work particularly well in multi cat households because they can secure the food for each cat with microchip access.

Basically, you can put smaller portions out for your gobbler and regular ones for your non gobbler, but the microchip in your cat's neck will stop your gobbler from getting into the other cat's food!

For more detailed information on other reasons cats might vomit check out this great article from Dr. Karen Becker.

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What About Food Puzzles?

Food puzzles are a great alternative consideration to slow feeders.  They are designed quite a bit differently though and may not serve the exact same purpose.

Food puzzles are usually designed to make your cat think and waste energy while eating. This means they often require a sharp and active cat and they may require some more thinking from your side as well to get them prepared.

On top of this many of the more basic food puzzles can leave a mess of kibble behind all over the house if your cat isn't a very dedicated eater. This is because they are often balls filled with food that dumps out as your kitty plays with it.

Slow feeders have the single goal of dragging out how long it takes your kitty to finish a meal. If your key goal is to stop vomiting from eating too quickly then I'd recommend trying a slow feeder bowl first.

If however you're looking to also entertain your cat and provide some mental stimulation then a food puzzle can be a great choice to consider.

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Are Slow Feeders Good for Weight Loss?

While a slow feeder is primarily geared toward helping your cat slow down their consumption, most of them are not specifically designed to do the one key thing that helps cats lose weight.

On the bright side a slow feeder will usually give cats that eat too much a feeling that they are full sooner than if they simply gulp down all their food quickly. This works the same way with humans.

The slower you eat the more likely your body is to tell you that you're full before you finish a meal.

But there are two words a slow feeder can't account for.

Portion control.

If you do not control the portions of food you feed your cat then a slow feeder may force them to burn a few extra calories while eating, but it will usually not do enough to help them lose significant weight.

Controlling the amount of food your cat eats is by far the best method for helping your kitty lose weight if they are overweight. A slow feeder can only do this if you decide to control the amount of food added.

It is also important to remember that if your cat needs to lose weight it should be a gradual process. You shouldn't start cutting their portions in half immediately, instead you'll need to gradually slim them down.

You can read more on PetMD for details on slow feeders and weight loss for cats.

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DIY Slow Feeding Bowls For Cats

Although slow feeder bowls are quite cheap these days (usually less than ten dollars), there are of course ways to get yourself a slow feeder at even less cost if you're willing to work a bit!

One option that is pretty straight forward is to simply use a baking sheet designed to make muffins. Spread out your cat's food in each of the muffin sections and let them slowly paw it out.

Another method I've seen people use to create their own slow feeder is to buy both a glass bowl and a glass and simply glue the glass to the base of the bowl on the inside.

You'll need to choose a bowl with a flat bottom and a cup that fits close to the sides of the bowl so that your cat will basically need to paw the food out of the bowl as they eat.

Do note there are some drawbacks to this method:

• You'll need to do all the work yourself
  
• You'll need to find non toxic glue
  
• The glue won't hold up in a dish washer
  

Given the low cost of slow feeders I'd recommend simply purchasing one that is dishwasher safe for the additional safety provided from being able to wash and disinfect it easily.

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Wrapping It Up on Slow Feeders

If you've got a feline that is constantly vomiting from eating too quickly then one of the best slow feeding bowls for cats is a great option to consider. 

The behavior that causes gobbling could just be a personality trait or it could be based on life experience. You'll want to take this into account to determine the best solution.

If you manage to slow your cat's eating down and they are still vomiting then you'll want to get your kitty to the vet straight away and get them checked out. Constant vomiting is not "normal" cat behavior and you should ensure there isn't something else causing it!

If you have any experience with your own cats and methods for slowing down their eating or minimizing how much they vomit then please share them in the comments below!

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

When your cat's eyes are in good shape and don't have any issues the tears drain into the nose.

This means everything is functioning normally and the tear film, the layer on your cat's eyes, is in good health.

If your cat's eyes are watering though the flow into the nose could be blocked or even overflowing. This may happen for lots of reasons ranging from inflammation to the shape of your cat’s face and anything in between.

There are two primary reasons your cat may have watery eyes:

• Something is blocking the normal flow of tears
• Something is causing your kitty to produce excessive tears

Although tears are produced on a regular basis to keep your cat's eyes moist, excessive tears are typically caused by inflammation which is the result of an infection or an allergy of some sort.

It is also possible they simply have a hair that is growing into the eye and irritating the heck out of it too.

The other major reasons you might see extra tears in the eyes is because of an injury of some sort.  

Cats of course get in fights and just like us humans they can sometimes be clumsy.

Any contact with the eye could cause a scratch or could get something stuck in the eye too.

All it might take is a little bit of dust or even a something else blowing around in the wind if you have an outdoor cat. All of these things can cause irritation in the eye and cause it to water excessively. 

There are also several congenital reasons that may cause your cat to have this issue.

These are things like a lack of an eyelid (some domestic short haired cats have this issue at birth) or even a condition called epiphora which makes your cat produce excessive tears their entire life.

If you'd like a much more comprehensive list of the actual diseases and issues that can cause watery eyes please check out this article on wagwalking for a complete breakdown.

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Conjunctivitis is by far the most common infection your cat can get that will cause inflamed eyes as well as extra tears to be produced. You'd probably most commonly know it as the dreaded 'pink eye.'

It can cause one or both of your cat’s eyes to look red and swollen, be light-sensitive, and have clear, teary or thick mucus eye discharge.

You can read more about the details in this WebMD article on Cat Eye discharge.

On the bright side of things this is usually relatively easy to treat with an ointment or drops provided by your vet and your cat should see a swift recovery. This video sounds very robotic, but has some very helpful tips on care:

You should however be aware that if your cat is experiencing the above with a fever as well as diarrhea then your kitty may be in severe danger from feline infectious peritonitis. Get them to an animal hospital as quickly as possible.

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The most obvious sign of overly watery eyes in cats is the a brown/reddish staining on the face right below the eyes.

You might see it as black as well depending on the color of your cat's fur and skin. It is usually crusty and relatively easily wiped away.

There are however other things worth considering too. If you don't see the most common symptom, that eye gook / staining, then you'll also want to keep an eye out for:

• Squinting: If you notice your kitty squinting a lot they may be trying to squeeze the tears out of their eyes so they can see more clearly.
• Red eyes: Red eyes can be caused by the irritation that is likely causing the extra tears to be produced to begin with.
• Scratching of the eyes: If your cat is constantly pawing at her eyes and rubbing at the general area then it is often an indication she has watery eyes and is trying to clear them.
• Inflammation: If you notice any inflammation it is likely there's an infection of some sort at cause and you'll want to get a vet check up straight away.
• Eye discharge: This is typically caused by something more serious than simple watery eyes. If you notice any form of colored discharge coming from the eyes you'll want to get your cat to a vet immediately.

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Unless your cat just has a light case of watery eyes the first thing you should do is get your cat to a veterinarian for a professional opinion on what is causing the watery eyes.

If you've simply got a light case then you might just wait it out for a few days and wipe the corners of the eyes with a clean damp cloth. This will ensure you don't get any long term stains in the corners.

However, if the watery eyes seem more severe get to the vet and get a comprehensive exam and diagnosis.

If your vet tells you that you've got an issue that requires medication then you're likely to get eye drops or eye ointment that needs to be placed directly in your cat's eyes.

My cat Beast is prone to getting small scale eye infections and we constantly have to put ointment into the corners of her eyes.

To say the least, she isn't very happy about the process.

Always ask your vet if there are any special instructions, but there is a pretty common method for getting eye ointment into your cat's eyes and this video highlights it quite well:

If you have questions though be sure to have your veterinarian show you how to apply the ointment before you leave. ​

To say the least there are a few key items you should always focus on when applying ointment or drops:

To say the least it can be difficult to apply ointment or drops over a long period of time. Most cats don't like the process and will make their dislike known.

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Recovery from watery eyes could be as short as a few hours or days or as long as several weeks.

It is completely dependent upon the root cause of the watery eyes.

A few examples may be the most effective way to get a handle on this:

• If your cat has something stuck in her eye and you remove it you can usually expect a recovery within only a couple of hours
• When your cat ends up with something like Conjunctivitis then as long as you apply the appropriate medication consistently you can usually expect a recovery within a week or two
• Cats with Upper Respiratory Infections that are treated properly usually recover within a couple of weeks as well
• If your kitty recently got in a fight and has a scratched or damaged eye and requires a surgical procedure then you may be expecting an extended recovery period

Your veterinarian will be most well equipped to help you understand how long the recovery will take based on the severity of the issue causing the watery eyes.

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If your cat seems to have always had this issue then it may be that you've got a feline friend that is more genetically prone to having watery eyes. ​

Overly watery cat eyes can be caused by the shape of your cat's face. The more flat faced your cat is the more likely they are to suffer from overly watery eyes.

A few breeds in particular tend to run into this issue: Persians, Himalayans and Burmese cats are known to suffer from this problem (among several other issues impacting flat faced cats).

Cats with a flat face and large eyes usually have an issue of tears spilling out of the eye and down the front of the face as opposed to down through the nose as they traditionally would.

This means goop and gook on your cat's face pretty consistently.

Another thing worth considering is that some breeds simply produce more tears than others based on their genetic makeup.  

A few breeds in particular, Exotic Shorthairs, Himalayans and Persians, are known to produce more tears than other house cats.

This means you're more likely to notice those tear stains around the corners of the eyes than you would be with another breed of cat. It is easy as a cat owner to think this is a dangerous issue that needs to be treated.

You definitely should talk to your vet about it, but generally speaking it won't harm your feline friend. If you're looking to help though you should wipe the under-eye area to keep it as clean and dry as possible as the tears can irritate the skin and cause stains over an extended period of time.

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You may have seen wipes on the market specifically targeted toward helping clean up the area around your cat's eyes. These wipes are for the area around your cat's eyes, not for the eyes themselves.

If your cat has a simple ongoing watery eye issue that causes the skin around the eyes to get covered in gook or goop then cat eye wipes can be a good option.

If your cat looks to have any form of discharge or inflammation then you should absolutely not use wipes on or near your cat's eyes.

Please note that even specially formulated cat eye wipes are not intended to touch the eye of your cat and you should never use them directly on the eye!

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Watering eyes are usually not something that require expensive treatment or immediate medical attention. More often than not they are caused by a temporary irritation from the environment.

This is especially true if your encounters this issue on a recurring on and off behavior like my cat Beastling does.

I constantly wonder why my cats eyes are watering then remember it is usually not dangerous!

On the other hand, if your cat all of a sudden displays this as a new behavior it may be more pressing. even more so if you also notice any form of discharge or inflammation.

Any time you notice discharge or inflammation near your cat's eyes you'll want to get your cat to a vet as soon as possible to ensure they receive a proper check up and any necessary treatment!

If you have any questions or thoughts you'd like to share regarding cats with watery eyes please leave a comment below!