How to Take Care of Your Cat
Cats are super cute creatures that can take care of themselves, for the most part. But if you were to have one as a pet, you should know certain things about how to take care of your cat. There are different needs that you should meet as your cat grows from kitten to senior purrfection.
If you got your cat as a kitten, it will easily be able to adapt itself to the environment because it will allow itself to be ruled by other pets. This means there will be fewer incidents of fighting among the other fur babies in the house.
Lucky for you, kittens that are available for adoption are already litter trained. The only thing you have to do now is teach the little floof where to go when nature calls.
Your kitten will follow you wherever you go and at times jump or climb up to the kitchen counter or table. This isn’t good if you have food there so discourage this habit by having a bottle full of water around so you can squirt it to discourage the behavior.
It will also be a good idea to install a scratching post or two or three since this is their way of sharpening their nails. If they do this elsewhere, remove them and perhaps try catnip or Valerian root to encourage scratching in the right place.
Apart from working on the scratch pad, you should trim their nails before it gets too sharp that it could hurt someone or damage the furniture in the house. You do this by pressing down on each toe which makes the claws extend. This should be inspected regularly so they also get used to it as they grow older. Cats are generally good at ensuring that their pawdicures are in tip top shape.
Kittens do not shed that much hair compared to bigger cats. But you should comb them anyway so they get used to it regardless if your pet is a short or long-haired cat. The habit of regularly brushing your cat is also a fantastic bonding opportunity.
Don’t just give your cat anything to eat. Food must be of good quality that can be found in the pet store, online, at the vet or in the supermarket. If you are not sure about which brand has the highest vitamins and minerals, go ask your vet for some recommendations. There must be a clean bowl of water as well so they don’t get dehydrated. Personally, I have multiple water points in my home for the pets to use.
Aside from feeding the kitten, he or she should be brought to the vet for vaccinations. They usually get a few while they are young but get a regular one annually as they get older. Be sure to keep a record of the shots so this can be shown to the doctor.
If you have a adult cat, give them room to adapt to the new environment on their own. If your pets quarrel, don’t worry or get in between them because this is normal. But if things are really bad, then you have to separate them by confining both in different rooms. Consult your vet or reputable animal behaviorist for advice and guidance.
An older cat also needs to be disciplined so they know what they can and cannot do. This is why you need to keep the squirt bottle handy as this is the best way to tell them it is wrong without physically hurting them. Cats are intelligent creatures and soon it will only take a shake of the bottle to discourage unacceptable behavior.
House cats should always be kept indoors. Studies have shown that this extends their life for over ten years since going outside puts them at risk of being hit by a car or contaminated with a virus from unvaccinated animals. Just so you know stray cats that live outdoors only live for a couple of years.
It doesn’t take much to know how to take care of a cat. Do some research and practice so both of you will enjoy each other’s company.
