Cat Care Basics

Owning any pet is a big responsibility. You must know all the basic steps on how to groom and care for it. This goes for every animal. If you are favouring the feline types, you must know all about cat care.  

Owning a cat and having it as a pet is not as easy as bringing home a stray one and feeding it every day. As a pet, the cat needs more than food for it to be happy and healthy.  

If you are planning to be a pet owner, you must be ready for the long term cat care. That is if you are settled on having cat as pet. You must be off to a good start. Everything must be planned in order to avoid future mistakes.  

Cats will be a nice companion. But you have to understand their needs. Just like you, your cats also have their basic needs. If you want them to purr to happily ever after, you've to work hard for your cats to attain it. Yes, caring for cats goes beyond the caring part. You have to know what to do and how to do it.  

Food: First, your cat has to eat. But you can't feed your feline friend your leftovers. Some people feed their cats leftover foods. But you have to understand that those were intended for humans. It may not suffice to the needs of your feline friend. It is better to look for the best cat food that can give your pal energy boost as well as good health. So scrap the idea and look over at your favourite grocery store. Weigh in what would be the best cat food that you can afford and that most cat owners would also recommend.  

It will cost you about $8 to $13 a month to be able to give the quality ingredients to your pets. It can be affordable. Just make it part of the monthly house budget. Or you can opt not to go to the cinemas or what about lessening your smoking habits. This way, you will be able to allot the right amount for your cat food. You need to allot money for that. You can sacrifice some luxuries to be able to provide for your pet's needs. But that will all be worth it in the end. You will be happy to see your cat happy.  

Shelter: You also have to make sure that the surrounding your cat is living in is free from anything that can cause them accidents. It is just like when you have a baby at home, you don't want anything poisonous and hazardous lying around within easy reach. Do not let anything that is lethal and poisonous hanging about. Make life easy for your pets. Provide warmth in the shelter. And add onto it with your care and affection.  

At night your cat will want to go out, just for a stroll or to hunt mice. So, better keep a window open. The cat can see even in very dim light, because it can open the pupils of its eyes very wide to let in whatever light that is available. It uses its whiskers to feel its way around.

Bed: Take a box or basket, line it with a piece of blanket or rug and keep it in a corner. It is your cat’s bed. Try changing the position of the basket if your cat refuses to sleep in it.

Cats can select very odd and funny places to rest on. It can be a window ledge, or on the top of a shelf, some particular chair or even your bed, if you allow it.

Dental Care: And when it comes to neatness, you have the right pet. Cats are known to take ample time in grooming themselves. Yes, cats can groom themselves. But you have to help them in maintaining their teeth clean and strong. You don't want that factor to be the reason why your cat will be depressed on its old age. So develop a habit of cleaning their teeth through brushing, flossing and having a regular teeth check up with your vet.  

But too much grooming can also be bad because they can hurt themselves in the process. And it is also a sign of fleas and therefore must be taken to the vet for a quick fix.  

Litter Boxes: And because you have a vain housemate, you must also be tidy with everything. You need to keep their litter boxes clean and well maintained. Did you know that the cat's sense of smell is 14 times stronger than yours? You may not smell a thing but your cat will.  

If you are keeping your cat indoors, you’ll need to have a litter box in an area that is easy for your cat to access.  You should always scoop it on a daily basis, and clean it out once a week.  Cats don’t like to use dirty litter boxes, they prefer for it to be nice and clean. They will not do their thing on the provided litter box if it stinks. You may get the surprise of your life to see your cat's poops well hidden under your clean carpet or how about that basket of clean clothes.  

Don't give your cat a reason to stray when it comes to those things. Give them what they want. And it's a clean and odour free litter box.  

Medical Check Up: Again, just like a baby, your cat needs to be checked up by their doctors regularly. You have to bring them to the veterinarian as needed. They have to undergo spray or what is also known as neutering. There are also core vaccinations that they have to be subjected with. Each vaccine will differ in cost so you have to save up for each.  

To be prepared, consult with your vet how much the next one will cost so that you can save up for it while you still can. Aside from that, your cat has to see the vet for an annual examination.  

You also have to find a good doctor for your cats. The moment that you got a pet, start making friends with your local veterinarians. Be mindful of the simplest symptoms that your cat may show. Just by observing your pet, you will know if something is wrong. Call the vet immediately and ask their opinion.

If you are settled at the thought that you want the cat to be with you for long, then you may really be the rightful owner of one. You cannot be act like you want it now and completely scrap the idea the next minute. It won't be good for your feline friend and it won't be good for you as well.  

Bathing: Cats also need a bath. When you do this, make sure that they are comfortably in the tub that has lukewarm water.  If it tries to escape, hold it gently on the neck. The shampoo you will be using on the cat should be the kind designed for them exclusively. Before you apply it, put lubricating eye ointment to their eyes to prevent irritations caused by the shampoo. After bathing the cat, dry it with a towel and comb the hairs to prevent entanglements. By themselves, cats stay fairly clean.  Although you don’t have to bathe them that often, you’ll need to give them a brushing at least once a day.  Brushing will reduce the risk of hairballs and keep your cat’s coat nice and clean.  

Safety: Your cat will probably roam free in the house. They may not chew on wires but they may eat things that are left out in the open. To prevent this from happening, make sure no junk is left on the floor or on the table and that all cabinets are secured.   

Playing: Recreation must also be given consideration when you own a cat. You cannot adopt one and think that it will be happy just by playing by itself. You have to find time to play with your pet and bond with it. In time, you will know what activities they enjoy. And so, you will be able to make the necessary adjustments to make time for such activities.  

If your cat doesn’t go out, keep a carpet-covered post which it can claw. Cats keep their claws sharp by scratching.

You also have to keep some allowance for your cats for emergency needs. You really never know when they would be sick or might encounter some accidents. It is better to be prepared for the worse than to be sorry in the end.  

So, before you welcome a cat into the household, think things through over and over again. Do not act on your impulse because once you are there, you must not back out. And you must be able to carry out the responsibilities of being a pet owner.  

Aiming for a long-term cat care is good. By doing so, you only need to match that goal with the right steps to enrich the lives of your pets as well as yours.