Emma Hartley
Bristol, UK
CAT OWNER · 12 YEARS · BRISTOL, UK
I didn't plan on becoming a cat person.
Started with one kitten. Now four cats, a testing methodology, and strong opinions about phosphorus levels in wet food.
12
years owning cats
4
current indoor cats
30+
products personally tested
HOW IT STARTED
One kitten. Zero plan.
Everyone tells you dogs are work and cats are easy. You just buy a litter box, maybe some kibble, and they look after themselves. So that’s what I did. Within six months, I was deep in internet forums trying to understand why my “easy pet” was suddenly lethargic and putting on weight. It turned out, the answers aren’t always printed on the back of the bag.
Read the full story below ↓
The cats, in order
2013 — MISO
Grey tabby, now 12. First cat. The reason everything else happened.
2015 — OLLIE
Passed away in 2021. Will always be missed.
2022 — BEANS & FIG
Bonded pair. Brought chaotic energy and endless testing opportunities.
2024 — DUMPLINGS
White & grey “temporary” foster. 14 months ago.
Miso
Age 12 · Grey tabby
Early CKD. Still bossy.
Beans
Age 2 · Orange tabby
Main test subject.
Fig
Age 7 · Tortoiseshell
Rescue. Took 8 months.
Dumplings
Age 2 · White & grey
“Temporary” foster. 14 months ago.
“Emma, you know more about this than anyone I’ve met. You test everything. You keep notes. You track data on your cats like they’re a science project. You should be writing this down somewhere people can find it.”
— Jess, Bristol. The reason this site exists.
Want to know how I test things?
Every recommendation on this site comes from a structured test. Read the methodology before trusting anything I say.