The Pawkit Journal
Research, trends and practical thinking on everyday life with dogs and cats: behaviour, gear, travel and care.
All articles
Do Slow Feeder Bowls Actually Work? What the Evidence Says About Fast Eaters and Food Puzzles
Pet-weight surveys keep delivering grim numbers, and the newest one, released in March 2026, found that most owners' slim-down attempts fail. Here is what peer-reviewed research actually shows about slow feeders, snuffle mats and food puzzles: and the old raised-bowl advice that turned out to be backwards.
Recalled Pet Products in the EU: What Safety Gate's Record Year Means for Dog and Cat Owners
The EU's Safety Gate alert system logged a record 4,671 dangerous-product alerts in 2025: and among them sit LED dog collars that can catch fire, a cat laser toy strong enough to damage eyesight and a contaminated dog shampoo. Here is what gets flagged in the pet aisle, and the rights you have when something you bought is recalled.
International Cat Day Is 8 August: What the Science Says Cats Actually Need
Saturday 8 August is International Cat Day, created by IFAW in 2002 and run by International Cat Care since 2020. Instead of another listicle of cat facts, here is what a 1,591-household study and the veterinary five-pillar framework say a good cat home looks like.
Do Cats Help Their Owners? A New Study Put Dogs, Cats and Toddlers to the Same Test
Hungarian researchers watched 38 dogs, 22 cats and 19 toddlers while a familiar caregiver hunted for a hidden sponge. Most dogs and children stepped in; most cats simply watched. Here is what that does, and does not, tell you about your pet.
How Much a Dog or Cat Costs per Year: The 2026 Numbers, Line by Line
Charities and regulators now publish hard figures: a minimum of £69 to £116 a month for a dog, £79 for a cat, €710 to €1,270 a year in the Netherlands, and UK vet prices up 63% in eight years. Here is the breakdown to budget from before you commit.
New EU Welfare Rules for Dogs and Cats: What They Mean When You Buy or Adopt
After two years of negotiation, the EU agreed its first common welfare and traceability rules for dogs and cats. Here is what changes for breeders, shelters and online sellers, and what to check before you bring a new pet home.
How Hot Is Too Hot to Walk Your Dog? What the Research Says About Summer Heat
A large UK veterinary study found that exercise, not hot cars, triggers most heat-related illness in dogs. Here is what the numbers say about summer walks, pavements and parked cars, and the simple checks that keep July safe.
Europe Counts 306 Million Pets: What FEDIAF's Latest Figures Say About Pet Ownership
FEDIAF's newest annual figures put Europe's pet population at 306 million animals across 140 million households, with cats still ahead of dogs. A look at the numbers, the growth behind them, and how to read them properly.