Cat Safety

All About Taking Care of Pet Cats

Adding a feline companion to the family is always a moment of great joy. Cats are an excellent source of happiness and joy. If you are planning on adopting a stray cat, a visit to the local shelter will give you plenty of cute options to choose from. New cat parents are often worried about how to look after their brand new pet. Although cats are generally low maintenance pets, there are still a couple of things you need to be in control of, like basic cat care, feeding, etc.

Almost every supermarket carries high-quality, branded cat food that you can easily purchase. However, it might be a good idea to take the help of an experienced veterinarian to find out which is the best diet for your new kitten or cat. Several factors like age, health and activity level play a role in determining what nutrients need to be added to the daily diet of your new feline friend. Cats require an essential amino acid called taurine in their diet. This is extremely good for the health of their heart and eyes. Once you properly balance their meals, you will have included enough amount of taurine.

Another important aspect while taking care of cats or kittens is in ensuring that they have access to clean drinking water at all times. You can set out water bowls with freshwater every day and refill it daily. A major error made by most cat parents is offering too many treats to their new pets. You need to restrict the number of treats given in a day to about 5-10% of the entire diet. In case you are considering feeding your cat with baby food that is there at home, be careful to check the ingredients for any garlic powder. Any signs of diarrhoea, anorexia, lethargy or vomiting need to be taken seriously. A visit to the veterinarian can help determine the cause of these symptoms and help your cat get the right treatment.

Although cats tend to keep themselves clean most of the time, you need to do your part as well. You can brush your cat’s coat frequently to keep the coat clean, reduce shedding and reduce hairballs as well. You can find combs and brushes specifically for pet cats at most pet stores and department stores. You also need to be very gentle while picking up your feline companion. Place a hand behind the front legs and the other hand below the hindquarters. Never make the mistake of picking up a cat by the scruff of its neck or using only its front legs.

You need to make sure that your cat has a clean, dry place for it to sleep and rest when it so desires. A cat bed can be lined with a warm blanket or towel to make it more comfortable. You can even get cat beds that come with inner thermal layers that are suitable for areas with extended winter seasons. Try to keep your cat indoor as long as possible. Recent studies have shown that outdoor cats do not survive for as long as indoor cats. This is mostly due to fights with other cats, dogs or raccoons. Coyotes have also been reported to eat cats.

4 Comments

  1. Antony March 2, 2018
  2. Malini March 5, 2018
  3. Ragavi February 5, 2019
  4. Arun February 7, 2019

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