Pet Cat Care and Health

It is often said that there are two types of people in the world: those who like cats and those who do not. Cat lovers often present themselves as introverted people who are looking for an equally introverted companion. While these stereotypes may apply to some cats and cat owners, the only real “rule” between who should and shouldn’t have a cat concerns those who are committed to the best care and health of their indoor cats and those who are not. Cats are so cute and so numerous that many people may impulsively want to adopt a cat, believing that cats are “independent” and “can take care of themselves.” Before you fall in love with your ideal cat, consider these tips for caring for your future cat, pet grooming,pet toys

Caring for a cat is not rocket science, but it’s also not as easy as some people think. Before deciding to get a cat, it is essential to have it for life. Not a home in the sense of “I’ve taken the couch, so I’m leaving” or “I’m moving and can’t be bothered to find a cat-friendly property, so I’m leaving it in a shelter,” but a permanent home with someone who can devote 20 years of their life to caring for it. If you are willing to make this commitment, consider opening your home to one of the thousands of cats whose previous owners did not: adopt a cat from your local shelter. Every day many cats and kittens are euthanized for lack of foster homes – save a life and get a new best friend for once!

Once you have decided that your pet cat is really right for you, the next step is to make a checklist of your pet care and health. To ensure that your cat stays as healthy as possible, you should find a veterinarian to take him or her to for annual checkups, vaccinations, and any other health issues that arise. The easiest way to keep your cat healthy is to keep it indoors. Many cats prefer to spend time outdoors, but they are just as happy and safe curled up by a sunny window or on a screened-in porch. Cats that spend a lot of time outdoors inevitably get into fights with other cats, often resulting in costly abscesses. They also run the risk of being hit by cars, contracting feline leukemia or FIV, being attacked by dogs, being shot by cat-hating neighbors, poisoned or trapped.

Whether you take your cat outside or not, you should be prepared to pay the cost of spaying or neutering. One advantage of taking in animals from shelters is that many shelters will “fix” them before loaning them out again. Regardless of where they come from, they should choose to spay/neuter them to prevent female genital diseases, to curb territorial “spraying” by males, or to prevent kittens from adding to an already tragically large feline population.