Here are my Top 10 Cat Care Tips designed to insure that your cat has the healthiest and happiest life possible. As a cat I realize how autonomous we seem, especially since we use a litter box and clean ourselves. This being said, I rely on my owners tons! They feed me, give me water, put a roof over my head, bring me to the vet, play, scratch my chin, etc… Follow these tips and your cat will be as happy as me! =^..^=
1. Get your cat a comfy collar that has an I.D. tag. The tag should have your name, home address, and a telephone number. It can be hard for us to resist running out of an open door. We don’t get outside much and are very curious by nature. If this were to happen you will rest much easier knowing your cat has an I.D. tag. An alternative is microchipping your cat. This is a procedure which implants a chip with I.D. info under your cats skin to later identify it if found. (No, it’s not a kitty GPS… It only works if you cat is found.)
2. Know and abide by local laws regarding cat registration. The laws, registrations, licenses and methods of identification performed by most local governments are safeguards for the cats and people of the community.
3. Inside the house is the best spot for us. We’ll plead with you to go outside. Although we think we know everything, it is in everyone’s best interest to keep us safely indoors.
4. Bring us to the veterinarian regularly for a check-up. As much as I dislike car rides, my check-up is necessary to make sure I am healthy! You can get information on how to find a veterinarian through a local animal shelter or online. Know someone with a cat? Ask them to refer you to their vet.
5. Neuter or spay us. I never thought that I’d be saying this, but after some research I realize that it makes us healthier cats. Overpopulation is an issue within the feline community and this procedure insures that you don’t add to the problem.
6. Feed us a healthy, balanced diet. Make sure we always have fresh water too! Our veterinarian is the best person to consult about what and when we should eat. If it were up to me I would eat all day.
7. Train us to stop unwanted behaviors like scratching furniture and leaping on the counters. If you are patient, understanding and work with us we can be trained to refrain from things that irritate you. A sisal scratching post is wonderful and safe substitute for us to scratch and exercise with.
8. Keep our coats soft and shiny by grooming us regularly. This is important for all types of cats. Keeping a long-haired cats coat healthy requires more regular brushing to prevent matting. Even short-haired cats like me love to be groomed to get rid of extra hair. We consume lots of hair when cleaning ourselves, so any help that you give us to reduce the amount is welcome.
9. Your cat loves to play, so make time! Playtime is my favorite activity (besides eating of course). Playtime is more than just mental stimulation for your cat; it is a perfect time to bond! Playing is a great way for us to exercise, sharpen our instinctual hunting skills and give everyone a good laugh!
10. Please be tolerant and dependable to your feline. Remember that most of the cat behavior problems can be resolved. If you are having issues with your cats’ behavior speak with your local animal humane society or veterinarian for help. Things really do get better. I was released by my original owners to a local animal humane society because of behavioral issues. After over a month in the shelter I met my current owners. They worked with me and easily resolved some of these issues. Now we both couldn’t be happier!! As for my scratching of furniture issue, we corrected this by placing sisal scratching posts and sisal scratching boards in the house.