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Cat Care Before you get your new cat or kitten, You will need food, food dish, water bowl, interactive toys, brush, comb, safety cat collar, scratching post, litter and litter box. An adult cat should be fed two small meals each day. Kittens from 6 to 12 weeks need to be fed four times a day. Kittens from three to six months need to be fed three times a day. Feed your cat a high-quality, brand-name kitten or cat food (avoid generic brands) two to three times a day. Provide fresh, clean water at all times. Wash and refill water bowls daily. Most cats stay relatively clean and rarely need a bath, but they do need to be brushed or combed. Frequent brushing helps keep your cat's coat clean, reduces the amount of shedding and cuts down on the incidence of hairballs. To pick up your cat, place one hand behind the front legs and another under the hindquarters. Lift gently. Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck (behind the ears) or by the front legs without supporting the rear end. Cats should have a area designated as their own for their bed to be placed.. Please keep your cat indoors. If your companion animal is allowed outside, he can contract diseases, get ticks or parasites, become lost or get hit by a car, hurt in a fight or poisoned. The life span of a cat is substantially less if allowed to go outdoors. If allowed outdoors (again, we caution against it!), your cat needs to wear a safety collar and an ID tag. A safety collar with an elastic panel will allow your cat to break loose if the collar gets caught on something. An ID tag or an implanted microchip can help insure that your cat is returned if he or she becomes lost. All indoor cats need a litter box, which should be placed in a specific area in the home.. In a multi-level home, one box per floor is recommended. Avoid moving the litter box because the cat gets used to the specific area that they use the litter box in. Scoop solids out of the box at least once a day. Dump everything, wash with a mild detergent (don't use ammonia) and refill at least once a week, less frequently if using clumping litter. Don't use deodorants or scents in the litter or litter box (especially avoid lemon scent). Cats will not use a dirty or messy litter box which can then lead to inappropriate elimination. Cats love toys that can be made to jump and dance around and look alive. Your cat will act out her predator role by pouncing on toys. Don't use your hands or fingers as play objects with kittens. This type of play may cause a biting and scratching problem to develop as your kitten matures. Provide your cat with a sturdy scratching post, at least 3 feet high. It should be covered with rough material such as carpet or something rough and safe. Cats also like scratching pads. You should train your cat or kitten to use the post by redirecting him/her to the post when they start to scratch on other items. Sometimes, the use of catnip on the post can help them train them to scratch on the post. Your cat should see the veterinarian at least once a year for an examination, possible bloodwork, annual shots, fecal exam and other tests your veterinarian deems necessary. You should always Fleas are a problem that should be taken seriously. These tiny parasites feed off of your pet, transmit tapeworms and irritate the skin. Check your cats and kittens frequently with a flea comb. You should treat your cat with an approved flea and tick product from your veterinarian. You should never use over the counter items unless recommended by your veterinarian. A cat can die from a improper flea and tick product. Tylenol, nibuprofen and aspirin can be fatal to your cat. Males and females should be sterilized as kittens. Males when neutered as kittens can deter spraying, fighting and other undesirable traits such as breeding. The females should be sterilized in order to prevent kittens, decrease the incidence of mammary cancer, and to prevent infection of the uterus. Female cats can produce 3 litters a year and produce unwanted offspring. The overpopulation of cats is a tremendous problem. There are many unwanted cats and kittens in the shelters. Vaccines protect animals and people from specific viral and bacterial infections. Vaccinations are not cures for disease and should not be given when animals are sick. You should consult your veterinarian who can determine what and when the appropriate vaccination is needed. Cats and kittens can be infected with worms. A exam of the feces should be done by your veterinarian to determine if your cat needs treatment for worms. |
