It doesn’t matter whether you are adding your first cat to your household, have a young cat, an older cat, or have multiple cats it is a good idea to refresh yourself on basic cat care. Cat owners need to be aware of the most up-to-date information regarding grooming a cat, handling a cat, feeding a cat, safely housing a cat, providing proper identification for your cat, litter box needs, giving a proper scratching area, and the general health-care needs of your cat.
HANDLING
Let’s start with handling your cat because if you are picking up a new family member the first thing you will be doing is handling the new cat to put it into a carrier to take it home. Cats are generally suspicious creatures. A new cat won’t yet be comfortable with his/her new human much less want to go into a scary-looking carrier. Having a few welcome objects inside the carrier such as a blanket, toys, maybe a little catnip (if the cat is at least a few months old), and of course the inside should be clean. Talk to your cat in calming tones calling it by name especially if it already is used to a name. Once you get the cat home you will need to provide a safe, clean place for the cat to sleep/rest. If you have a cat bed that is great. Put a warm blanket or towel in it so you can easily keep it clean. If you adopt a young kitten be sure to handle it by picking it up, holding it, and petting it often so it gets used to your human touch. This is vitally important. You want your cat to be comfortable with you handling it so you can easily take it to the vets, care for it if it needs to be given medications, and just because a cat that has been socialized makes for a better pet.
INDOOR/OUTDOOR
Make the decision now to keep your cat indoors as there are many dangers lurking if you allow your cat to go outside on its own. An outdoor cat is at risk for many different traumas including being hit by motor vehicles, getting into fights with other cats, other animals or even being abused by humans. Other dangers await an outdoor cat such as being infested with fleas, ticks or being exposed to pesticides. A cat may WANT to go outside especially if it has been allowed to in the past but any cat can be trained to be happy inside and will eventually stop asking to be let outside. You are the cat owner and responsible for the well-being of your cat. Indoor cats can be kept safe, and you are in control of the environment as much as you can be.
CAT FOOD
Food will depend on the age of your cat. Kittens require extra nutrients and kitten food is best. You can feed a combination of dry kitten chow/moistened with warm water if the kitten is young and wet kitten canned food. Younger cats from 1 to 2 can be feed adult cat food. An obese cat or senior cat can be fed specialized food based on his/her needs. Ask your vet for a recommendation. You can also find cat food designed for the special needs of your cat in a pet store or grocery store. You can also find quality cat foods online. If you will be feeding a wet food good dental care is important. Ask your vet about good dental hygiene tools for your cat. Your cat also needs a constant supply of fresh, clean water.
LITTER BOX
I have discovered that using a scoopable litter helps greatly when it comes to clean-up. Have at least one litter box per cat in your household. It is important to place each litter box in a quiet place away from other animals such as dogs that may be in the household and small children that may disturb your cat during times of elimination. Make sure you scoop out the contents of each box daily as cats prefer non-smelly boxes. Once a week you will need to wash out each box with a mild detergent and water. I get a new litter box once every six months if the box is plastic because no matter how good you are at cleaning it weekly – it will eventually pick up odors because of its plastic!
SCRATCHING POSTS (this paragraph contains an affiliate link which means I may be compensated when you click and purchase)
Cats NEED to scratch it is a natural instinct! There are many commercial scratching posts or you can make one using a sturdy wooden post and carpet. Give your cat a variety of scratching surfaces so your furniture will be safe. Amy and Sara have a Cat Tower and Amy LOVES it. She uses the two scratching posts. The long length of the posts allows her to stretch as well as to scratch. She climbs to the top tier to view “her world”. It was the best investment I ever made because not only does she have a proper area to scratch to her heart’s content but she can PLAY whenever she wants. Clicking the following word CAT TOWER will take you to one that I and Amy recommend.
VET CARE
Veterinary care is important for regular checkups as well as when your cat becomes ill so chose a vet that is well-known, has an office near your home, and has convenient office hours for your schedule. A vet practice with several professional vets and other staff that offers many services as well as a hospital or animal hospital affiliation is wise. It is always a good idea to take a new cat to the vet as soon as possible for a general health check, to be assured that the cat does not already have a microchip, to check to see if the cat has already been neutered/spayed. And also to begin the vaccinations that your cat will require to stay healthy. The vet will answer any questions you have that are specific to your cat.
IDENTIFICATION
I microchipped my Amy even though we live in an apartment because if there ever were a situation such as a tornado or other disaster and she became separated from me I would want to be sure that everything was done to have her returned to me.
If you chose NOT to microchip other tags such as a rabies tag on a collar, or a ID tag with the pets name and your phone number are also good choices for making sure a lost cat can be returned to you.
Cats like all pets require lots of love and attention. Even if you work long hours or are away on business trips please make sure that you provide for someone to give your cat the love and attention she/he needs everyday.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and will comment about how you care for your cat.
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