A woman walked into my clinic last week holding a cat carrier at arm's length. Inside was a beautiful three-year-old domestic shorthair named Mishti. Healthy, vaccinated, sweet-natured. The woman's mother-in-law had just moved in with the family and refused to live under the same roof as a cat.
"Doctor, please find her a home. We can't keep her anymore."
I'm not going to pretend I didn't get emotional. Mishti's family had raised her from a kitten. The three-year-old daughter of the house was sobbing in the car outside. And the reason this cat was losing her home was not biology, not allergy, not behaviour — it was an old belief that cats bring bad luck into a house.
This is the part of veterinary work in India that nobody trains you for.
Cats in India occupy a strange position. We have over 25 million pet cats in this country, growing fast year over year. Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata have thriving cat communities. And yet, even in 2026, cat parents face cultural resistance, neighbour complaints, and family pressure that dog parents rarely encounter.
If you've just brought home a cat, or you're thinking about it, this guide is for you. I'm going to walk you through everything I tell every first-time cat parent at my clinic — the practical, the medical, and yes, the cultural conversations you might have to navigate. Cats are wonderful, low-maintenance, deeply affectionate companions. They just need someone willing to advocate for them.
Let's start with what cats actually are
The biggest source of confusion I see with new cat parents is expecting a cat to behave like a dog. They are completely different animals.
Dogs evolved alongside humans as pack-living, hierarchy-based, eager-to-please companions. Cats evolved as solitary hunters who chose to associate with humans about 9,000 years ago when we started storing grain (which attracted rodents, which attracted cats). Domestication did not change their fundamental nature.
What this means in practice:
A cat will love you, but on her terms. She will choose when to be near you, when to be picked up, when to play. Forcing affection on a cat will make her trust you less, not more.
A cat is not "aloof" or "ungrateful" or "not bonded." She is a cat. Cats show love through different signals — slow blinks, head bumps, kneading, choosing to sleep in the same room as you, bringing you "gifts" (sometimes a dead lizard, which is genuinely affectionate even if you don't want it).
Once you understand this, cats become extraordinarily rewarding. The relationship is more like one with an introverted friend than with a dog. Quieter, more subtle, but no less real.
The cultural myths I have to address every week
Before we get into the practical care, let me address what so many of my clients are facing. If your family is on board, skip this section. If they're not, you may need this.
"Cats bring bad luck into a house." This belief is centuries old in parts of India and has no basis in anything verifiable. The same logic that says a black cat crossing your path is unlucky is the logic that says you shouldn't sneeze before leaving the house. It's a cultural superstition, not a fact. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is depicted with cats in some traditions. Goddess Shashthi rides a cat. Cats have been part of Indian households for thousands of years.
"Cats are dirty." Cats are some of the cleanest animals on earth. They spend 30 to 50% of their waking hours grooming themselves. A well-cared-for cat is significantly cleaner than most dogs.
"Cats will smother a baby." This is from old folklore and is genuinely dangerous because it leads to cats being abandoned when families have babies. There is no documented case of a cat smothering a human baby. Cats may be curious about a new baby, but with basic supervision and gradual introduction, they coexist beautifully.
"Cats are aloof and don't love their owners." Cats bond intensely with their humans. They just don't perform affection the way dogs do. If your cat sleeps in the same room as you, follows you between rooms, or chooses to sit near you when she could be anywhere else in the house, she loves you.
"Cats can survive on milk and roti." This one is medical, not cultural, but it still surprises me how widely it's believed. Most adult cats are actually lactose intolerant. Feeding milk causes diarrhoea. Roti is empty calories for an obligate carnivore. We'll get to the right diet shortly.
I bring these up because every one of these myths has cost a cat a home in my career. If you're a cat parent in India, sometimes the hardest part of cat care is the conversations you have with relatives.
Indie cats versus breed cats — and why I always recommend indies
I've written about indie dogs before, and the same logic applies to cats, maybe even more strongly.
The Indian domestic cat — sometimes called a Billi, sometimes just an indie cat — is what you see on most Indian streets. Short coat, agile body, alert ears, a wide range of colours from sandy yellow to jet black to tabby patterns. They are not a breed in any formal sense; they're a landrace, evolved naturally for the Indian environment over thousands of years.
Imported breeds you'll see in Indian pet stores include Persians, British Shorthairs, Maine Coons, and Ragdolls. They are beautiful. They are also genetically poorly suited to Indian conditions.
Persians, in particular, struggle in India. Their flat faces cause chronic respiratory issues that get dramatically worse in our dust and pollution. Their long coats overheat in summer and develop matting in humidity. Their tear ducts don't drain properly, leading to constant eye staining and infections. I treat at least three Persian cats every week for some preventable issue tied to their breed.
Indies, by contrast, are practically built for India. They handle the heat, they handle the cold, they have robust immune systems, they need almost no grooming, and they live 14 to 18 years with basic care.
If you want a long-haired or fluffy cat, indie-Persian mixes are common in shelters and combine the best of both. But please, before you spend ₹15,000 on a Persian kitten from a breeder, visit any rescue group in your city. There are wonderful cats waiting.
The first day and night with your new cat
This is where most pet parents make the biggest mistakes, and where you can set yourself up for a great relationship.
Cats don't decompress like dogs do. Where a shelter dog might sulk for two or three days, a cat might hide for a week or more. This is completely normal and not a sign she dislikes you.
What to do:
Set up one quiet room before she arrives. A spare bedroom, a bathroom, anywhere small and contained. In that room, put a litter box on one side, food and water on the other side, a covered hiding spot (a cardboard box on its side works beautifully), and a soft bed or blanket. That's it.
Let her come out of the carrier in her own time. Don't pull her out. Don't pick her up. Sit on the floor a few feet away and read a book. Let her observe you.
Many cats will hide for the first 24 to 72 hours. As long as she's using the litter box at some point during the night, eating a little, and drinking water, she's fine. Don't force food, don't force interaction.
Around day three to five, she'll start exploring. Around week two, she'll start showing personality. By week four, she'll be confident enough to claim her favourite spots in your house.
Resist the urge to let her loose in the whole house immediately. Cats feel safer in small, defined spaces. Expand her territory gradually as she gets comfortable.
Litter training — the question I get most
Good news first. Most cats arrive already knowing what to do with a litter box. It's an instinct, not a learned behaviour. If your cat is over 12 weeks old and grew up with her mother, she'll almost certainly use the box on the first day.
What you need:
The box itself. Bigger is better. Most cats prefer uncovered boxes because they feel less trapped. A large rectangular plastic tub works well.
The litter. This is where I see the most mistakes. The cheap clay litter sold in Indian pet stores is dusty, doesn't clump well, and most cats hate it. If you have access to clumping bentonite litter or tofu litter, use those. They cost a little more but are vastly better. Brands like Drools, Petlovers, and Henry's are widely available online.
Location. Quiet, accessible, away from food and water. Cats don't like to eat where they eliminate, just like us.
Cleaning frequency. Scoop daily. Replace the litter completely every one to two weeks. Cats are fastidious — a dirty box is the number one reason a previously trained cat will start eliminating elsewhere.
For multiple cats, the rule is one litter box per cat plus one extra. Two cats need three boxes. This sounds excessive but it prevents territorial disputes.
If your cat does have an accident outside the box, do not punish her. Cats don't connect punishment to behaviour the way dogs do. Instead, look for the underlying cause. Has the litter type changed? Is the box dirty? Has there been a stressful event? Is she possibly unwell? Recurring litter box problems almost always have a medical or environmental cause.
Indoor or outdoor — and why I usually say indoor in India
In many countries, cats roam freely outdoors and live long, happy lives. In India, this is much harder to defend safely.
The threats are real. Vehicle traffic in most Indian cities is unpredictable. Stray dog packs attack cats regularly. Other unsterilised cats spread infectious diseases including FIV (the feline equivalent of HIV). And in some neighbourhoods, cats are still targeted by people with stones and worse.
I generally recommend indoor cats in India, with three caveats:
• If you have a fully enclosed balcony, terrace, or garden, supervised outdoor time is great enrichment. Make sure there's no way for her to jump down or for stray cats to come up.
• If you're committed to letting her outdoors, please sterilise her, vaccinate her against everything available, and bring her in before dark every night.
• If you're in a quieter area — a hill station, a campus, a less-trafficked neighbourhood — outdoor access is more feasible.
Indoor cats live significantly longer. The average indoor cat in India lives 14 to 18 years. The average outdoor cat lives 3 to 5 years. That's not a small difference.
To keep an indoor cat happy, enrich the environment. Vertical space matters — cat trees, shelves, perches near windows. Scratching posts in multiple locations. Interactive toys. A bird feeder outside the window gives her hours of entertainment.
What to actually feed an Indian cat
This is where the pet food industry gets very confused, and very expensive.
Cats are obligate carnivores. They need meat. Their bodies are designed to extract nutrition from animal protein, and they require certain nutrients — taurine especially — that they cannot synthesise from plant sources.
This means a strictly vegetarian cat diet is not possible. I know this is hard for some Indian families to hear, but it's biology. A cat fed a vegetarian diet long-term will go blind, develop heart disease, and die young.
Good cat food options in India:
Commercial wet food is the gold standard. Cats are designed to get most of their water from prey, and they often don't drink enough on their own. Wet food keeps them hydrated and supports kidney health. Brands available in India include Whiskas, Sheba, Royal Canin, Hill's, Drools, and Me-O.
Commercial dry food is convenient but should not be the only food source. Mix with wet, or supplement with home-cooked meat.
Home-cooked meals can work if you're committed. Boiled chicken or fish, a small amount of egg, occasional liver (no more than once a week — too much causes vitamin A toxicity). You'll need to supplement with taurine, which you can buy as a powder online. Talk to your vet before going fully home-cooked.
Avoid these foods completely: cow's milk for adult cats (lactose intolerance), raw fish (destroys thiamine), onion and garlic (toxic), chocolate, raisins, dog food (lacks taurine), and that bowl of rice and dal you might be tempted to give her from your own dinner.
Fresh water always. Cats prefer running water, so a small cat water fountain can dramatically increase how much they drink. This is one of the best investments you can make for their long-term kidney health.
Vaccinations and the medical schedule
Cats need vaccinations every bit as much as dogs do, and in India many cat parents skip this entirely. Please don't.
Core vaccinations:
• FVRCP (also called the trivalent vaccine) covers feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. The first dose at 6 to 8 weeks, boosters at 10 to 12 and 14 to 16 weeks, then annually.
• Anti-rabies vaccine from 12 weeks onwards. Legally mandatory in most states. Annual boosters thereafter.
Optional but recommended:
• FeLV (feline leukaemia virus) for cats who go outdoors or live with other cats.
• FIV testing if you've adopted from the streets or rescued a stray.
Deworming should start at 2 weeks old and continue every 2 weeks until 12 weeks, then monthly until 6 months, then every 3 months for life. Indoor cats still pick up worms from us — we track them in on our shoes.
Tick and flea prevention monthly with products like Revolution or Bravecto for cats. Indoor cats need this too if you have a dog, if you go out, or if you live in a ground-floor flat with garden access.
Spaying and neutering — please don't skip this
I will be direct here. Sterilisation is the single most important medical intervention for the health and welfare of your cat.
For females, spaying prevents pyometra (a uterine infection that kills within days if untreated), dramatically reduces mammary tumour risk, eliminates the heat cycle that drives them to escape and find a mate, and prevents the very real possibility of one female cat producing 100+ kittens over her lifetime.
For males, neutering prevents testicular cancer, dramatically reduces territorial spraying inside your home (a behavioural issue that drives so many male cats to be abandoned), reduces aggression, and prevents the escape behaviours that get unneutered males killed by cars or stray dog packs.
The procedure should happen around 4 to 6 months of age, before the first heat for females. It's a routine surgery with quick recovery — most cats are back to themselves within 48 hours.
I hear sometimes from clients that they want their cat to "experience motherhood once" or "have one litter." Please don't. There's no medical or psychological benefit to your cat from giving birth, and India already has more cats than homes for them. Sterilisation is the kindest, most responsible choice.
Common health issues in Indian cats
Some of the most frequent issues I see:
Upper respiratory infections. Cats are prone to viral and bacterial respiratory infections, especially kittens and outdoor cats. Symptoms include sneezing, eye discharge, nasal discharge, refusing food because they can't smell it. Most are treatable but vet attention is needed.
Urinary tract problems. Especially in male cats. Symptoms include straining to urinate, blood in urine, urinating outside the litter box, vocalising in pain. Male cat urinary blockage is a genuine emergency that can kill within 24 to 48 hours. If you see your male cat repeatedly trying to urinate without producing anything, rush to a vet immediately.
Dental disease. Hugely underdiagnosed in Indian cats. Most cats over 4 years old have some level of dental disease that needs cleaning under anaesthesia. Bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth, or eating on one side are all signs.
Kidney disease. The leading cause of death in older cats. Symptoms develop slowly — increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, vomiting. Annual blood work after age 7 catches this early.
Hyperthyroidism. Common in cats over 10. Symptoms include increased appetite with weight loss, restlessness, increased thirst. Treatable with medication.
Skin issues from flea allergy. Even one or two fleas can trigger severe scratching in sensitive cats. Monthly flea prevention prevents this.
Living with multiple cats
Cats are not pack animals, but most can live happily with other cats given a proper introduction.
The introduction process takes weeks, not days. Keep the new cat in a separate room for the first week. Swap blankets between the cats so they get used to each other's scent. Feed them on opposite sides of the same closed door. After a week, allow brief supervised meetings through a baby gate or a slightly open door. Gradually increase contact time.
What you'll see initially: hissing, growling, swatting, hiding. All normal. As long as there's no serious fighting (claws drawing blood, biting), they're working it out.
Most cats settle into peaceful coexistence within 4 to 6 weeks. Some become genuine friends. Some merely tolerate each other and live in different parts of the house. Both outcomes are fine.
Resources for multi-cat households: enough litter boxes, multiple feeding stations, multiple resting spots at different heights, and enough vertical space so that one cat can avoid another.
Things people ask me
My cat brings home dead lizards. What should I do?
She's giving you gifts. Cats see us as bad hunters who clearly need help. Don't punish her — just dispose of the gift discreetly and thank her. If you want to reduce hunting, more interactive play with feathered wand toys can redirect the instinct.
My cat scratches the furniture. How do I stop this?
Provide scratching posts. Sisal-rope posts work best. Place them near where she's scratching the furniture. You can also use double-sided tape on furniture corners as a temporary deterrent. Declawing — which involves amputating the last bone of each toe — is cruel and should never be done.
Is it true cats can't be trained?
No. Cats can be trained to come when called, to sit, to high-five, to use a toilet, to walk on a leash. Positive reinforcement with treats works beautifully. They just need a reason to do what you're asking.
My cat is purring constantly. Is she sick?
Probably not. Cats purr when content, but they also purr when in pain or stressed as a self-soothing mechanism. If purring is paired with other unusual signs — hiding, not eating, lethargy — see a vet. If she's purring in your lap and looks relaxed, she's just happy.
Can cats and dogs live together?
Often very well. Cats tend to do better with calm dogs and worse with high-prey-drive breeds. Introduce slowly, give the cat escape routes and high spots, and supervise initial interactions. Many cats and dogs become best friends.
My cat is in heat and the howling is unbearable. What do I do?
Get her spayed. There's no medication that safely stops a heat cycle, and the heat cycles will recur every 2 to 3 weeks for months. Spaying ends it permanently and protects her health.
Should I let my cat have one litter before spaying?
No. There is no health, emotional, or behavioural benefit. The risks of pregnancy and the certainty of more kittens than India can home make this absolutely the wrong choice.
A final word for the cat-curious
If you're reading this because you're thinking about getting a cat, here's what I'd say.
Cats are not lesser pets. They are different pets. The bond you form with a cat is quieter, more subtle, more earned than the bond you form with a dog. But it is no less profound.
A cat who chooses to curl up against you at the end of a long day, who waits at the door when you come home, who slow-blinks at you from across the room — she has decided that you are her person. That's an extraordinary thing.
If your family is resistant for cultural reasons, this conversation can be hard. Be patient. Bring them photos. Let them meet a friend's cat. Most of the prejudice melts away when people actually spend time around a well-loved house cat.
And once you bring a cat home, find your community. There are wonderful cat-parent groups across Indian cities now — in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai. We're building exactly this kind of community at PawVerse — a place for Indian cat parents to share tips, find vets who actually understand cats (not all do), trade product recommendations, and connect with other people who get it.
Adopting a cat changed my life. I hope it changes yours.
This guide was written by the PawVerse Veterinary Team and reviewed by qualified veterinarians. It offers general information for Indian pet parents and is not a substitute for personalised advice from a vet who has examined your pet. Always consult a veterinarian near you for guidance specific to your animal.