Cats

๐Ÿˆ Cat owners

Cat supplies + care guides for Irish homes

Cats live 12โ€“20 years and quietly hide illness until late โ€” so the early decisions you make on litter, scratching, food and vet care matter for decades. Browse our growing range below, plus the breeds, setup essentials and Irish-specific rules every cat owner should know.

What we'll be stocking

Popular cat breeds in Ireland

Domestic Shorthair

Felis catus (mixed)

Level
Beginner-friendly
Size
3.5โ€“6 kg
Life
12โ€“18 yrs
Diet
High-protein wet + dry; obligate carnivore
Habitat
Indoor or indoor + outdoor with safe garden access

The everyday Irish cat โ€” found at every rescue. Hardy, varied in personality, no breed-specific health issues. The ICAW and Cats Protection Ireland are full of them. Adopting beats buying for almost every household.

Maine Coon

Felis catus

Level
Intermediate
Size
5.5โ€“11 kg
Life
12โ€“15 yrs
Diet
High-protein, large bowl, large kibble โ€” 70+ kcal/kg/day
Habitat
Needs space โ€” small flats are unkind to a cat this size

Gentle giants โ€” the largest domestic cat breed. Friendly, dog-like, often happy on a harness. Watch for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) โ€” buy only from breeders who genetic-test, or rescue an adult with a known history.

British Shorthair

Felis catus

Level
Beginner-friendly
Size
4โ€“8 kg
Life
14โ€“20 yrs
Diet
Watch portions โ€” prone to weight gain. Measured meals, not free-feeding
Habitat
Indoor โ€” calm temperament suits flat living

Calm, quiet, undemanding โ€” the "easy" pedigree. Tolerant of being left alone for a working day. Genetic predisposition to HCM and polycystic kidney disease (PKD) โ€” ask any breeder for both test results.

Ragdoll

Felis catus

Level
Intermediate
Size
4.5โ€“9 kg
Life
12โ€“17 yrs
Diet
High-protein; semi-long coat needs omega-3-rich food
Habitat
Indoor only โ€” too trusting, no street sense

Famously "go limp when picked up" โ€” affectionate, dog-like, wants to be near you. Strict indoor cat โ€” they will follow strangers home. HCM screening (HCM-1 gene) is essential when choosing a kitten.

Persian

Felis catus

Level
Advanced โ€” high maintenance
Size
3.5โ€“6 kg
Life
12โ€“17 yrs
Diet
Wet-leaning diet helps brachycephalic anatomy + kidney health
Habitat
Indoor only โ€” calm pace, can overheat in summer

A proper commitment โ€” daily grooming or the coat mats badly. Brachycephalic (flat-faced) lines often have breathing problems and dental crowding. Choose a breeder using more "doll-faced" / traditional Persian genetics over the extreme show standard.

Setup essentials โ€” get these right or don't start

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Litter trays โ€” one per cat + one extra

Two cats = three trays, in two different rooms. Open trays only โ€” many cats refuse covered ones. Tray length should be 1.5ร— cat body length. Scoop daily, full change weekly. Place away from food and water.

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Scratching โ€” vertical AND horizontal

Cats scratch to mark, stretch and shed claw sheaths โ€” they will scratch something. Provide a tall sisal post (taller than your stretched cat) plus a horizontal scratcher near sleeping spots. Cardboard alone wears out fast and isn't enough for big cats.

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Wet + dry, never economy "meat derivatives"

Cats are obligate carnivores โ€” they need actual meat protein, not "meat derivatives" or "animal by-products" left vague on the label. A mix of quality wet (hydration, kidney health) and dry (dental, energy density) wins. Match portion size to weight, not the bag's overgenerous "guidelines".

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Vertical space + safe windows

Cats live in 3D โ€” high perches, cat trees and shelf walks reduce stress and conflict in multi-cat homes. If your windows open more than 10 cm, use lockable restrictors or screens. "High-rise syndrome" injuries are common in apartments.

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Vaccinations + parasite cover

Core vaccines: feline panleukopenia, calicivirus, herpesvirus (FCV/FHV) โ€” annual or 3-yearly per protocol. Outdoor cats: add FeLV. Year-round flea + worm cover; Ireland's mild winters mean fleas don't die off.

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Microchip โ€” legally required in Ireland

Since September 2025 all cats in Ireland must be microchipped and registered on an approved database (Animark, FidoChipsIreland, etc.) by 22 weeks of age. Cost โ‚ฌ20โ€“โ‚ฌ40 at most vets. Update the registration whenever you move.

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Neuter early โ€” most rescues require it

Neuter from 4 months in toms and queens to prevent unwanted litters and reduce roaming, spraying and fighting. The ISPCA and Cats Protection run subsidised neutering schemes โ€” โ‚ฌ25โ€“โ‚ฌ60 typical. One un-spayed female can produce 20+ kittens a year.

๐Ÿ“ฆ We're stocking up

Our cats range goes live as we vet suppliers โ€” we won't list anything we wouldn't use ourselves. In the meantime, our calculators, breed guides and AI vet tools below are free and don't need stock.

Frequently asked questions

Indoor or outdoor cat in Ireland?

Both can work. Outdoor access is the natural cat life and reduces obesity and behaviour problems โ€” but in Ireland it also brings traffic risk (estimated 1 in 4 outdoor cats killed by cars in their lifetime), parasite load, and disease exposure (FIV / FeLV). Many owners compromise with a "catio" enclosure or supervised garden time. Indoor-only cats need vertical space, multiple feeding puzzles, and 30+ min/day of interactive play to stay healthy and not bored.

Is microchipping really mandatory in Ireland now?

Yes โ€” since September 2025 all cats in Ireland must be microchipped and registered on an approved database (Animark, FidoChipsIreland are the main two). Owners are responsible. Average cost โ‚ฌ20โ€“โ‚ฌ40 at the vet, often combined with a vaccination visit. Update the database any time you move โ€” an unregistered chip is just as useless as no chip.

One cat or two?

Adopting two kittens together is usually easier than adopting one โ€” they exhaust each other playing and don't pester you all day. Adding a second cat to a single-cat household is harder; introductions need 4โ€“6 weeks of slow sight-and-smell swaps. Some adult cats prefer being only-cats forever.

How much does it cost to keep a cat in Ireland?

Year-one budget (2026): โ‚ฌ100โ€“โ‚ฌ200 adoption fee from a rescue, โ‚ฌ50โ€“โ‚ฌ100 cat tree + scratchers + bowls + carrier, โ‚ฌ30โ€“โ‚ฌ60 first vet visit. Ongoing: โ‚ฌ30โ€“โ‚ฌ60/month food + litter, โ‚ฌ100โ€“โ‚ฌ200/year vet (vaccines, flea/worm), plus โ‚ฌ1,000โ€“โ‚ฌ4,000 if a serious illness or accident hits โ€” pet insurance is worth comparing.

When should I neuter my cat?

Most Irish vets and rescues recommend neutering from 4 months โ€” early enough to prevent unplanned kittens and the worst of spraying / roaming behaviour. Subsidised schemes are available: ISPCA, Cats Protection, ICAW. Even indoor cats should be neutered to prevent yowling, anxiety and (rarely) escape during heat.

My cat is hiding more than usual โ€” should I worry?

Yes. Cats hide illness until they're very unwell. Sudden hiding, changes in litter habits, eating less, drinking more, weight loss, or new lethargy all warrant a vet visit within a few days. Try our free symptom checker for a triage view: AI symptom checker.

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