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Nothing melts the heart like seeing a kitten at play! Whether it’s chasing after a ball of yarn or pouncing on a stuffed mouse, these little feline acrobats bring so much joy and laughter. Even if they get annoying sometimes.

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From ancient Egyptian murals to modern digital art, cats have always inspired artists around the globe. Here's a collection of some of the most beautiful cat-themed art to adorn your walls.

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Bringing a new kitten home is an exciting time! Here's a guide on everything you need to know about feeding, training, and looking after your new furry friend.

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Congratulations on the recent addition to your household! Now that you have a young kitten to care for there are several things you will need to consider. One of the most important things to do is to arrange to take your kitten to the veterinarian for a general health check. Your vet will be able to give you advice regarding basic care for your kitten as well as give them any vaccinations and worming treatments that are needed.

In the meantime some of the basic aspects of kitten care you will need to consider include:

Nutrition

Kittens should be fed a combination of both a high quality commercial kitten food and some natural foods to ensure a balanced diet is provided. Please see the article titled "What should I feed my kitten?" below for more detailed information about kitten nutrition. Avoid giving cows milk to kittens but always ensure they have access to fresh, clean water at all times.

Bedding

Although your kitten may want to share your bed it is important to provide them with a comfortable dry bed of their own as well. Use bedding that is safe, can be easily cleaned and dried and place the bed somewhere cosy and private.

Litter trays

Place a litter tray in a quiet and private area for your kitten to use when they need to go to the toilet.

Play time

Play time is important for bonding between you and your kitten. Kittens are very playful and curious and love to expend some of their energy chasing cat toys and interacting with their owners. Try rotating a variety of different types of cat toys and try different games so your cat doesn't get bored. Toys may include chase and catch toys; toys that you can put tasty food treats in and puzzle feeders.

Grooming

Regular grooming (gentle brushing) is important particularly for medium-haired and long-haired cats. Start grooming your kitten early on so that it becomes an enjoyable bonding activity and part of routine care. Positively reward your cat with a tasty cat food treat, verbal praise and patting for allowing you to groom them. This way your cat will associate grooming with positive things, making it easier for both of you.

Grooming removes dust, dead skin, loose hair, grass seeds and tangles and shed fur, which can help prevent your cat experiencing 'fur balls' - some cats will swallow fur when they self-groom, especially long-haired cats, and this can build up in the stomach to eventually be vomited.

Grooming should always be comfortable for your cat. Avoid any hair pulling or jerking movements. Fur mats and tangles may need to be carefully trimmed off using blunt-nosed safety scissors. Always point scissors away from your cat and ensure the skin isn't touched.

In general, cats don't need to be bathed and most cats can find it quite stressful. Therefore generally avoid bathing unless recommended by your vet for medical reasons.

Reward-based training

The RSPCA supports reward-based training which is the most humane and effective way to train pets. This type of training involves rewarding your cat when they perform a 'desired' behaviour. Rewards can be in the form of a tasty cat food treat, verbal praise or patting. 'Rewards' positively reinforce the desired behaviour and make it more likely your cat will perform the behaviour again.

Reward-based training also involves generally ignoring 'undesired' behaviours. For example, play time is a good opportunity for you to teach your kitten good manners. Occasionally games can get a bit intense and rough - make sure play time ends if they scratch hard or if there is biting. In this way, your cat will learn quickly that they don't receive any attention for 'undesired' behaviours such as scratching hard or biting, and they will tend to stop doing these behaviours quickly.

If your kitten does scratch hard or bite, never punish your kitten physically or yell or spray with a water bottle, as this will scare them. Cats are also unlikely to associate the punishment with their behaviour leading to confusion. The best thing to do in these situations is to generally ignore the behaviour. Talk to your vet for advice about behaviour.

Scratching poles

Cats instinctively need to scratch things to keep their nails in good condition and to express natural behaviours. It's important to provide a scratching pole or several scratching poles around the house. This will help to prevent your cat scratching other objects such as furniture etc. If your kitten does start to scratch furniture, cover the furniture with protective material and provide plenty of appropriate alternative things for them to direct their scratching behaviour towards. Some cats may prefer a scratching mat.

Health care

Talk to your vet about annual health check-ups, vaccinations, microchipping, desexing and flea and worm prevention.

Desexing, prior to sexual maturity effectively prevents unplanned and unwanted litters of kittens, helping to reduce the number of unwanted cats and kittens in the community. Desexing also provides health and behavioural benefits. Desexing commonly reduces behaviour problems such as roaming and urine marking. Reducing the desire to roam to find mates also reduces the risk of cats being in cat fights (where they may be injured or catch infectious diseases) or a traumatic accident such as being hit by a car.

Remember that some commonly found plants, such as lilies, are toxic to cats and it is important that you familiarise yourself with these and remove them from your garden and house and avoid purchasing them in floral arrangements.

Laws for cat owners

It is essential to know what the laws are particularly regarding registration, microchipping and desexing. Each State and council have their own laws and these may change over time, so it is important to keep up to date. Check with your local council regarding any laws relating to keeping a pet cat. See the linked articles below for more information about caring for pet cats.

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Congratulations on the recent addition to your household! Now that you have a young kitten to care for there are several things you will need to consider. One of the most important things to do is to arrange to take your kitten to the veterinarian for a general health check.

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Cats rule the internet, and it's easy to see why. From Grumpy Cat to Lil Bub, these feline celebrities have captured hearts worldwide. Let’s celebrate their sheer adorableness and their antics that bring smiles to our faces daily.

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Keep your home green and your cats happy and safe with this list of cat-friendly plants. From spider plants to catnip, there are plenty of options that both you and your cat will love.

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It's possible for plants and pets to coexist, as long as you choose plants that are safe for cats and dogs. Even the most well-behaved animals are bound to take a nibble of a houseplant at some point. The wrong plant, just like chocolate, can cause your pet to have seizures, tremors, or worse, says New Jersey veterinarian Dr. Judy Morgan. So while they're harmless to humans, certain plants can be toxic to pets when ingested. If you're thinking about adding some new greenery to improve your mood (or just bring some texture into your space), check out 20 of our favorite houseplants that are safe for cats and dogs.

1. Calathea Rattlesnake

The colors and easy weekly watering schedule make this Calathea, also called a prayer plant, a great addition to your low-light living room. Can you imagine that funky purple on the undersides of the leaves against your midcentury chair? We can.

2. Spider Plant

A favorite among veterinarians, this plant is easy to grow indoors and incredibly resilient (yes, even to your black thumb!). Spider plants are also great air-purifiers, so they can help get rid of your home's toxins.

3. Parlor Palm

Stick one on a credenza or nightstand that's not too close to a window, as this palm needs only a few hours of indirect light a day.

4. Calathea Orbifolia

The leaf pattern on this particular Calathea is exquisite if you ask us. This houseplant needs partial shade, which makes it perfect for a plant stand or a shelf in a bedroom that doesn't get much natural light.

5. Herbs

Basil, thyme, and mint are all great kitchen herbs that are totally safe for your pet to snack on. They love direct light, so leave them to hang out by a window all day long.

6. (Certain) Succulents

Add some pet-friendly succulents, like this Haworthia, Echeveria, or a group of air plants, to your countertop and you're golden.

7. African Violet

If you've got open shelving in your kitchen, these flowers would be a great, colorful addition. (Just make sure the plant isn't near a drafty floor vent or window.) With indirect sunlight, they will bloom beautifully.

8. Bird's Nest Fern

This squiggly green fern thrives on the low light and varying humidity conditions that characterize bathrooms. Your teeth-brushing routine just got so much prettier.

9. Gloxinia

Find a sunny window, and these flowers (native to Brazil) will blossom in bright shades of purple, pink, red, or blue. Keep the soil moist and feed these blooms liquid plant food every two weeks for maximum health.

10. Venus Flytrap

Not only is this plant pet-friendly, it's also super low maintenance. Keep your Venus flytrap thriving by placing it somewhere that gets at least four hours of direct sunlight and watering it with distilled water. As far as soil is concerned, opt for peat moss or sphagnum moss. Placing it on a porch is ideal, as it can feed itself with passerby flies. It needs only one to two insects per month to sustain itself.

11. Boston Fern

The beautiful Boston fern is also on the lower end of the maintenance spectrum since it requires food only every two months. Your kitty can bat at the ferns all he wants and your puppy can even take a bite-this plant is safe for cats and dogs.

12. Polka Dot Plant

This striking plant grows up to three feet tall outdoors in its native Madagascar. In a pot inside your home, however, the spotted beauty grows to only about 10 inches tall.

13. Asparagus Fern

Feathery and fresh, the asparagus fern looks like a fern, but it's actually a member of Liliaceae family. Sometimes the plant will flower with tiny white blooms. Asparagus ferns do well in partial sunlight or shade, and look great whether potted in a plant or hanging in a basket.

14. Orchid

Few plants lend as elegant an air as an orchid. Luckily, you can add one to your home without posing a threat to your pooch. With proper care, orchids can last up to four months. They do best in partial light. Water once a week during the winter, and twice a week in hotter months.

14. Staghorn Fern

This fern has two different kinds of fronds and grows wild in Australia. The pet-friendly plant can be potted, mounted on a wall, or hung in a basket. The staghorn fern will do well in any room with bright or indirect light but never in a dark room. Depending on the weather and humidity, you can water it every one to three weeks. The more humidity, the less you need to water it. If you place it in a bathroom, then, you'll need to water and mist it only every three weeks.

16. Bromeliad

If you want bring a tropical vibe to your space, look no further than a bright bromeliad. Bromeliads, which last three to six months, will liven up any room you put them in. They need plenty of air flow, so we suggest an open area with windows and indirect sunlight, such as a living room, kitchen, or bedroom.

17. Baby Tears

This plant's dripping tendrils were practically designed to attract cats. Even if you place this high up in an indoor hanging basket, your clever kitty just may find a way to get to it. But don't worry-it can't hurt him. In addition to being a pet-friendly plant, this is also a good choice for beginner green thumbs. Choose a location with filtered light and keep the soil moist. If this plant gets thirsty, it will start wilting immediately. Water at any sign of thirst!

18. Friendship Plant

The friendship plant boasts intricately patterned leaves that are soft to the touch and harmless to your pets. The small plant grows 6-12 inches high, and can survive in low light as long as it gets a few hours of sunlight each day. Occasionally, the plant will flower with pale pink buds.

19. Areca Palm

Want to wow your guests while also protecting your pets? Look no further than an areca palm. Also known as a butterfly palm, it grows up to five feet tall and has big, bold fronds. It will become a focal point in any room you choose to grace with its presence.

20. Mosaic Plant

Rounding out our list of plants that are safe for cats and dogs is the mosaic plant. This floating plant will take your backyard pond or courtyard fountain to the next level. As eye-catching as it is, you can hardly even blame your cat for being curious about the diamond-shaped leaves.
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20 Plants That Are Safe for Cats and Dogs

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It's possible for plants and pets to coexist, as long as you choose plants that are safe for cats and dogs. Even the most well-behaved animals are bound to take a nibble of a houseplant at some point. The wrong plant, just like chocolate, can cause your pet to have seizures, tremors, or worse, says New Jersey veterinarian Dr. Judy Morgan.