Looking After Your First Cat
If you've decided it's time for a new family member, a cat makes for an excellent choice.
They are friendly, companionable and don't require as much looking after as a dog - but they still need to be cared for! Whether you're getting the cat mostly for yourself or the benefit of a young one, it's important to educate yourself on basic feline care before getting a cat.
Do you know how much you ought to be feeding it per day, and how often? What about litter tray duties? On top of that, there's vet visits and regular de-flea and worming treatments to consider - but don't worry, these are all easy to do.
If you want to combine your cat adoption with doing some charitable work, it's highly recommended that you get your cat from a rescue shelter rather than a breeder.
There is a high volume of shelter cats and kittens that need homes and it's far better to support shelters and work on reducing the homeless population rather than encourage breeders to create more cats and exacerbate the problem.
You'll also need to bear in mind that, if your cat is not spayed, you will need to have this crucial operation done.
Not only will it prevent your cat from mating if it is going to be an outdoor cat, but it can have a positive effect in their behaviour and stop females from going into heat every few weeks.
No matter if your cat is an outdoor or an indoor cat, you should never declaw your pet.
This is a form of mutilation that literally cuts away the tip of the bones in the 'fingertips' of the paw and is seen as a cruel practice that effectively takes away your cat's defence system.
You can keep the claws trimmed, however, which is a good solution to prevent scratches without harming your cat.
Food is usually given twice a day: in morning and at night.
You'll find recommendations for volume on the packets, but make sure you also go by the size and shape of your cat.
If your cat becomes overweight, this can lead to health problems and a reduction in volume of food is required.
Always make sure there's a bowl of fresh water for your cat at all times.
As for the litter tray, it should be cleaned of any solids every day and fully cleaned at least twice a week.
Compare pet insurance online to get the best deal to protect your cat if it becomes ill at any point.
Bring toys into your home to help keep your cat entertained and you'll find a great relationship begins to form.
Play with your cat regularly and be sure to give it lots of love and attention and you can rest assured you will receive plenty in return for the duration of your new cat's life.
They are friendly, companionable and don't require as much looking after as a dog - but they still need to be cared for! Whether you're getting the cat mostly for yourself or the benefit of a young one, it's important to educate yourself on basic feline care before getting a cat.
Do you know how much you ought to be feeding it per day, and how often? What about litter tray duties? On top of that, there's vet visits and regular de-flea and worming treatments to consider - but don't worry, these are all easy to do.
If you want to combine your cat adoption with doing some charitable work, it's highly recommended that you get your cat from a rescue shelter rather than a breeder.
There is a high volume of shelter cats and kittens that need homes and it's far better to support shelters and work on reducing the homeless population rather than encourage breeders to create more cats and exacerbate the problem.
You'll also need to bear in mind that, if your cat is not spayed, you will need to have this crucial operation done.
Not only will it prevent your cat from mating if it is going to be an outdoor cat, but it can have a positive effect in their behaviour and stop females from going into heat every few weeks.
No matter if your cat is an outdoor or an indoor cat, you should never declaw your pet.
This is a form of mutilation that literally cuts away the tip of the bones in the 'fingertips' of the paw and is seen as a cruel practice that effectively takes away your cat's defence system.
You can keep the claws trimmed, however, which is a good solution to prevent scratches without harming your cat.
Food is usually given twice a day: in morning and at night.
You'll find recommendations for volume on the packets, but make sure you also go by the size and shape of your cat.
If your cat becomes overweight, this can lead to health problems and a reduction in volume of food is required.
Always make sure there's a bowl of fresh water for your cat at all times.
As for the litter tray, it should be cleaned of any solids every day and fully cleaned at least twice a week.
Compare pet insurance online to get the best deal to protect your cat if it becomes ill at any point.
Bring toys into your home to help keep your cat entertained and you'll find a great relationship begins to form.
Play with your cat regularly and be sure to give it lots of love and attention and you can rest assured you will receive plenty in return for the duration of your new cat's life.
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