7 Essential Tips for New Cat Parents

Whether he is an experienced cat father or a new recruit of the wonderful world of felines, there are things that he should know to help guarantee that his hairy relative has a happy and healthy life. While certainly there is much more wisdom of cats that you will still need, here is a summary of the seven main cats of cats to begin.

1. Veterinary care

Regular veterinary care is crucial to the health of your cat’s life. Stay programmed with annual exams to monitor general health, keep up with vaccines and maintain dental hygiene. Cats are professionals to hide pain and very often, the only indication of disease or potential pain can be a change in typical behavior, appetite or the use of the sandbox. If you notice any change in your cat’s routine, appearance or behavior, consult your veterinarian.

Do not skip annual well -being visits just because your cat seems healthy. It is during these annual routine visits that a problem can be detected early and that could reduce suffering, as well as increase the possibilities of successful treatment.

Regardless of whether you plan to keep your cat exclusively indoors or not, sterilization and castration is essential. In addition to preventing unwanted litters, it reduces the risk of certain cancers and other health problems. With male cats, if they are left intact, at some point, it will deal with the spray brand. Talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions or concern about the sterilization or castration procedure.

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2. Nutrition and adequate hydration

Cats are obliged carnivores and, although sometimes they may seem critical of hairy foods, their diet must include adequate protein from animal sources. Whether it is cat commercial food, a raw diet or its special homemade recipe, make sure it is first category to meet your cat’s needs to maintain optimal health. A common mistake that some cat parents make is to exaggerate. Instructions on the food container are just a general guide. Determine the correct portion according to age, health, body type and level of activity of your cat. If you have questions about how much feed, consult your veterinarian.

Although dry food is certainly very convenient, wet food is closer to what a cat would naturally eat and provide more moisture. Dry foods can contribute to urinary tract problems.

Proper hydration is also essential. Provide access to clean and fresh water daily. Cats fed with dry foods will need to drink more because food only contains approximately 10% moisture. Cats fed with wet foods can drink less, but it is still important to always have fresh water available. Wash the water bowl daily to avoid the accumulation of biofilms. If you are worried that your cat is not drinking enough water, try different style bowls to reduce any mustache discomfort. Adding a pet water source can also help. Talk to your veterinarian if you have concerns about your cat’s hydration levels.

3. Configuration and maintenance of the garbage box

Provide your cat for the cadillac of the sandboxes. All cats deserve that! For maximum comfort, the box must be 1 ½ times the length of your cat from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. If you cannot find a box that is large enough, create a personalized size using a plastic storage container.

That cadillac of sandboxes must also be a convertible model. Buy a discovered box to prevent your cat from feeling close while there. An open box will also allow garbage to dry more efficiently. The discovered boxes provide an escape potential and that is an important feature when a cat is in the vulnerable position of being in the sand box. Being discovered will also facilitate notification when the box needs to collect. If you are worried about the dispersion of the garbage, choose a plastic storage container of the high face and cut an “u” entry at one end for your cat to enter and leave easily

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Keep a good collection schedule by checking and drawing the sand box at least twice a day. Fully wash the box at least monthly if you wear layers of layers and more frequently if you wear do not hunt. Speaking of litter, choose without perfume out of respect for your cat’s very sensitive nose.

The general rule is to have a sand box per cat, but an extra to ensure that there are enough options for all. In a multicat home, do not align the garbage boxes in one area. The boxes must be extended to allow personal territories and, therefore, a cat does not have to cross the area of ​​another cat to locate a place of elimination.

Place the garbage boxes in quiet areas that are out of the path of family traffic, but do not place them so remotely that they are inconvenient. Do not place boxes against corners, in cabinets or under the furniture. Remember, escape potential is a priority in the world of cats when in vulnerable situations.

Avoid sudden changes in brands or types of garbage, since cats are sensitive to abrupt change. Make slow transitions or, if you are not sure what garbage your cat will like, place a sandbox buffet and let your cat decide.

4. The need for claws

Cats have a natural need for Rayar. This aspect of cat’s life is vital for physical and mental health. Scratching maintains the health of the nails, it is a way in which the cat stretches, it is a marked behavior and is also beneficial for emotional displacement.

Provide a high and resistant scratch pole covered with a material that supplies the claw as sisal. Place the scratch post where your cat likes to scratch. Invest in more than one scratch publication if you have a Multicat home or if your cat likes to scratch in multiple areas. Many prefer to scratch nearby entrances or other significant social areas.

Horizontal scratch pads can be used if your cat prefers that scratch position. The corrugated cardboard scratch pads come in many sizes and shapes and are an economical way to provide the variety that many cats enjoy when it is a scratch behavior.

No disappointments to your cat. Fortunately, it is being prohibited in more places due to the awareness of painful recovery, the physical and emotional effects in the long term, and how necessary are the claws for the general health of a cat. Learn to cut your cat’s claws using positive and soft techniques, such as clicking training. If you are not sure about the claw cut, make your veterinarian or a veterinary technician indicate the procedure. With patience, tenderness and some delicious sweets, you can train your cat.

5. Enrichment and mental stimulation

Cats are intelligent, curious and, as hunters, they are connected to search and discover. Provide appropriate toys, scratch posts, a variety of raised hangers and locations (like a cat tree), as well as hide the places to satisfy the natural instinct of climbing, jumping, playing, scratching and hiding.

The game time must include opportunities to play alone with interesting and fun toys, as well as interactive game time. The interactive game is where you are an integral participant in the sense that you will use a fishing pole toy to attract your cat’s game. Use the toy to imitate the movements of the dam to satisfy your cat’s natural hunting passion. The interactive game is beneficial to your cat’s physical and mental health, in addition to being important to generate confidence and strengthen the human/cat. For security, save all interactive toys after the game time session to prevent your cat into any rope and to avoid the risk of suffocation.

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For solo game time, dispersed toys in strategic locations for your cat to discover it. Not only accumulate toys in a basket in the corner because they simply become lifeless dams. Keep in mind how it places them. Something like a diffuse mouse inside an open paper bag or a cardboard box can be very attractive.

Include puzzle feeders to help prevent boredom, facilitate stress and help with food time. A puzzle feeder is a toy that contains food or sweets, and your cat must move or manipulate it in some way to recover food reward. Puzzle feeders are excellent for cats that eat too fast. Search online and find many options for puzzle feeders.

You don’t need to break the budget to supply toys for your cat. Turn toys to turn on interest. Catnip or Silver Vine can also be used for an additional incentive.

6. Socialize and train your cat

Invest the time to help your cat feel comfortable with the normal aspects of the life of cats, such as being in a carrier, traveling by car, being handled (important for medications and ornaments), feeling comfortable with visitors at home, being brushed, etc. The way to do it is to maintain each positive experience and do it gradually. Use treats to reward your cat even for the smallest steps. You can find a lot of information on our website with training techniques for each one.

7. Pay attention to your cat’s body language

To build a strong bond and maintain confidence with your cat, you must understand body language. Cats communicate very efficiently through bodily signals, and be able to interpret those signs can help you respect preferences and that can be very useful to avoid being scratched or bitten. Pay attention to how your cat is placed, tail position, ear orientation, facial expression and pupil size. Take into account the immediate environment when measuring what your cat can be communicating. Take into account changes in mood too. Your cat can enjoy you for you just for a certain amount of time or you may prefer to be caressed around the head and not along the spine. Respect preferences and adapt to changes in mood.

Respect your cat with personal space and limits. Your cat can enjoy snuggling with you sometimes, but you may also need some loneliness. Learn to identify when your cat requests an increase in distance.

Life with a cat is rewarding and loving, but it is essential that you do your part by having the knowledge and appreciation of their needs and nature. By guaranteeing superior nutrition, regular veterinary care, mental stimulation, game time, attractive and clean sand box, appropriate scratch locations and understanding of feline body language, you are on the way to building a loving and healthy relationship.

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So, that is its shock course in Cat Care 101. However, this is just the beginning. Learn, observe, train with love and defend your cat.

Do you need more information?

If you have questions about your cat’s health or nutrition, consult your veterinarian. For more information about the behavior and training of the cat, see the best-selling books of PAM Johnson-Bennett. PAM’s books are available in bookstores and online. We have included Amazon links here on our website.

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