Kitty Cats and KittensMy Blog About the Care of Cats and Kittens, Feline Diseases, Toys, Cat Supplies and Food

Five Steps to Caring for Your Cat

This post will give you information on caring for a cat. Five steps for caring for your cat are: Its a big responsibility, Nutrition, Exercise, health care, and nurturing.

1.) It’s a big responsibility

When you decide to  bring a new cat home, you are taking responsibility for a new family member. You become responsible for the cat’s  nutrition and health care, as well as cat supplies like collars, toys, food dishes and litter boxes for your cat’s entire lifetime. The lifespan of an indoor cat is 15 to 20+ years.

Believe it or not, the cute little furry creatures can cause a lot of damage to your furniture, floors and other objects due to their sharp claws and penchant for rough play, while jumping, running and pouncing on things. Maybe you’ve seen the sign Attack Cat! The sign is only half joking.  Cats are really fun to watch and have around in spite of their crazy antics. You must provide supervision to keep them out of trouble.

2.) Nutrition

Cats need two meals each day to stay in top shape. Food must be specifically designed to meet the needs of felines. Even though cats will often eat other foods such as table scraps and dog food, they still need certain nutrients that are different from humans and dogs. Because indoor cats will over eat, it’s important to monitor their eating habits and weight. overweight cats are at risk for serious health issues. Talk to your vet if you think your cat has eating problems.

3.) Health Care

Cats must have vaccinations and routine tests for the prevention of common feline diseases. You may find low cost clinics to give vaccines since this can be expensive. Vaccines are not all cats need to stay healthy. They also  need regular physical exams and grooming to stay healthy. Cat medications such as heart-worm pills and flea and tick repellents are administered on a regular basis. You might want to purchase health insurance for your new pet to cover routine wellness expenses. Insurance can be a big savings on routine medical care, but emergencies may not be covered.

4.) Cat Supplies/exercise

The basics supplies for a new cat are as follows:  a water bowl, food bowl, a bag of food or canned cat food, a litter box, a bag of cat litter, a couple of toys, a cat collar, harness and leash. Exercise is an ongoing thing for cats. They are quite entertaining to watch. As your cat goes through kitten-hood and adolescence, they are extremely active and can develop bad habits such as scratching on the furniture or climbing the curtains. You can encourage better behavior by providing a scratching post and a climbing tower.

5.) Nurturing

Cats are very social and some of them will act like they are talking to you. A lot of owners can figure out what the cat wants when they are meowing. It’s great to talk to your cats and play with them. Most cats like a lot of attention and will bond with their owners in touching ways. While you are holding and petting your cat you can be checking to see whether they need medical attention or grooming. Long haired cats hair can becoming matted if not brushed regularly. Brushing their fur can be part of nurturing and you will be rewarded by your little darling’s purring.

I hope this gives you an overview of your responsibilities for raising a cat. I’m not exaggerating when I say that you will be rewarded ten-fold in kitty love and good vibes, when you give good care to your cat. Have fun. Hugs, Rosalyn

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