Cat Care...
The Ins and Outs
What draws people into caring for cats? Obviously a
love for felines is a prerequisite for effective cat care. Sometimes
individuals who have no particular affection for cats will be drawn
in by a stray kitty that adopts them. Cats know how to work around a
hesitant convert. Just look at your kitty. Is she slightly tilting
her head as she looks at you, squinting her eyes? Offering a sweet
trill before climbing into your lap and vibrating your whole being
with her purrs? Who can resist the powers of a persuasive kitty?
Cat care takes more than just feeling affection for cats. Caring for
cats can become a lifetime duty, albeit a rewarding one. What does
appropriate cat care require? If you are planning on caring for
cats, especially if for more than one, first be aware of the vet
bills you will be facing. Regular checkups and vaccinations are
essential for proper cat care. Your chances of having
extraordinarily high vet bills can be reduced if you follow some
suggestions.
First, make sure to keep up with your kitty's shots. Also, consider
elective vaccinations, for diseases such as Feline Leukemia and FIV
(a feline form of AIDS). Secondly, know that indoor cats are less
likely to need as much veterinary care as outdoor cats will. But
indoor cats have their own special health issues, mostly stemming
from inactivity. That is why it is important when caring for cats to
provide them with plenty of stimuli that will encourage exercise.
Cat trees are excellent sources of exercise for your kitties. They
also need scratching posts that are at least 28" high so that their
scratching instinct will be fulfilled as they get lots of proper
front quarter stretching.
One more thing that will help to prevent future vet visits is proper
nutrition. Proper cat care requires making sure that your cat is
getting the best nutrition possible. Premium cat foods and cat
treats will help to ensure that caring for cats is a worthy
undertaking with the rewards of healthy and happy kitties!
One often over looked aspect of proper cat care is simply being very
observant of your cat's personality and behavior. This is extremely
important. Remember, your kitty can't tell you if she's not feeling
well. How are you to know? If you are aware of your cat's habits and
suddenly notice a change...that could be a signal that something is
wrong. If she suddenly starts urinating outside the litter box, that
could be a sign of a health problem. If you notice that she seems to
be hiding most of the time...that too could be a signal that
something is not right. Simply be aware of changes. If you can't
solve the problem it might be time to visit the vet.
Perhaps the most critical element in proper cat care is
understanding the commitment required. It calls for some expense and
inconvenience. For example...how will you care for your cat when the
family takes that week long vacation? Do you have a friend or family
member that would be willing to care for your cat while you're away?
Or do you have someone who would drop by once a day to care for your
cat? This might involve providing a little attention, cleaning the
litter box, and making sure your cat is fed. Is this something your
willing and able to do?
Proper cat care requires providing love, attention and all the
necessities to insure your kitty is happy and healthy. Care for your
cat properly and she will reward you justly.
|