This page explains how we research our guides and tools, and what they are and aren’t.
Where our information comes from
Every guide is written by the CatsMed Team from the references vets themselves use:
- the Cornell University Feline Health Center
- the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM)
- International Cat Care (iCatCare) and WSAVA guidelines
- the Merck Veterinary Manual
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control, for plants, foods and household toxins
- peer-reviewed studies, for things like the Feline Grimace Scale and breathing rates
Each page lists at least three sources at the bottom, so you can check them yourself.
What we check before a page goes live
- Every medical statement matches its sources. If sources disagree, we say so, or we give the more cautious advice.
- Emergency signs come first. Anything that can be an emergency is called out near the top of the page, with poison hotline numbers where they apply.
- No doses. We explain what a medicine is for and what side effects to watch for. Your vet sets the dose.
- Prices are estimates. Cost figures are typical US ranges, not quotes, and each cost page says so.
What our guides aren’t
CatsMed guides can’t diagnose your cat, and not every guide has been checked by a veterinarian (see below). They help you understand what you’re seeing and decide how quickly to act. If your cat is unwell, call your vet. If it may be an emergency, see our emergency guide.
Veterinary review
Dr. Jarod Grantland, DVM, of Athens Animal Hospital in Athens, Alabama, reviews selected guides, starting with medications and poisons. When he approves a guide, it shows “Reviewed by” with his name and links to his profile. His approval is tied to the exact text he read. If we change the guide afterwards, the credit is removed until he approves the new version. Guides without that credit are written from the cited sources only, and say so at the bottom of the page.
Keeping content current
Every page shows the date it was last checked. We update pages when guidance from these sources changes, and we fix mistakes as soon as we hear about them. See our corrections policy.