How to properly care for domestic cats

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Cats are quite unpretentious animals, but they also require proper care. By following a few simple rules, you can make your pet's life happy.

Do I need to take my cat to the vet on a regular basis?

It doesn't matter how you got your cat - got it from friends, came from the cattery, or you found it on the street. The first step is to show the animal to the veterinarian. Even if the owner of the cattery assures that everything is in order with the cat, it is better to personally verify this. What can I say about an animal from the street who had a difficult life before meeting you.

Your cat should be vaccinated once a year.

Yes, your pet is exclusively domestic and does not walk anywhere. But you have no idea how insidious viruses are.

If you have not purchased a breeding animal, castrate it. After that, your pet will begin an absolutely carefree life.

Drops and tablets that suppress sexual desire cause inflammation of the genitourinary system. In the worst case, cancer. It is not recommended to give them to the animal.

What to feed the cats with? What shouldn't be given?

Don't skimp on feed. You won't eat one potato, will you? Approximately the same nutritional value of economy-class forages. You can talk about a full-fledged diet if the feed costs from 400 rubles per kilogram. Shelter employees who work with Teddy Food choose this particular category of food in order not to spend large sums on treating animals for gastrointestinal problems.

Cats don't get tired of crunching the same food all their lives. In nature, they feed on the same mice and birds and are happy with this state of affairs. If you want to diversify your cat's menu, add the same brand of wet food to it as dry.

It is strictly forbidden to mix natural and dry food, as well as dry food of different brands. Feeding cats with human food is also not recommended.

Adult cats do not digest lactose, which is contained in milk, so it is useless to treat it to the animal. You also need to give up fish - there is more harm from it than benefit.

Don't forget about clean, filtered water. It should always be in the bowl.

Does the cat need to be washed? How to get rid of parasites?

If you decide to bathe your cat, first answer these questions:

• Is she dirty in something?
• Is she participating in the exhibition?
• Is she old or sick and can't lick herself?

If you answered no to each item, leave this idea. This is best for the cat and for you.

You can and should clean your ears if a tick has settled in them. In other cases, do not touch them. Teeth need to be brushed if tartar appears on them. This can only be done in a veterinary clinic.

Even if the cat is domestic, she is not immune to fleas. If they appear, you need to apply flea drops to the withers and treat the animal with an anthelmintic drug. Even a healthy cat should be given a pill for worms every year - two weeks before vaccination.

If the animal walks outside, an insect collar is required. But he doesn't always help. From a walk, the cat can return with a tick, then you will have to go to the clinic to remove the parasite.

What to remember when keeping a cat in an apartment?

• A clean toilet and clean bowls are an axiom.
• The cat bed can be vacuumed and sometimes washed to keep fleas and other parasites out of it.
• Bars or grids on windows are required. Cats cannot fly, they can only fall.
• Do not leave the plastic window in ventilation mode when you leave the house. The animal can get stuck in it.
• Be sure to remove poisonous plants from your home. The cat can get to them, eat them and poison them.

Illustrations by Alena Vedernikova