Top five easy tips to care for your cats
Among all the other animals, cats are Malaysian’s number one choice as pets due to their diligence, self-sufficiency and companionship.
Cat lovers who could not keep them as pets would spend some time playing with these felines at supermarkets, streets or restaurants, and some went the extra mile to bring cat food around and feed the strays.
If you plan to adopt or get a cat, choosing to raise a cat is a big decision since cats can live up to 20 years, which would mean a huge commitment.
There are a few basic understandings in caring for a cat, namely medical care, proper feeding, litter box, grooming and playtime, which are crucial for your cat to live a long and happy life.
To make your journey easier, here are some easy tips for caring for your cats:
1. Feeding
Feed your cats with premium cat food. Cats are meat eaters, plain and simple. They must have protein from meat for a strong heart, good vision and healthy reproductive system.
Fish have omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your cat’s eyes to stay sharp also help with kidney diseases and heart disorders. Canned or cooked fish are good to go! Also, when sharing your snacks with your cats, some of them are toxic to cats, namely chocolate, grapes or raisins, onions, garlic, etc. Better yet, keep the human food to yourself and feed the cats their designated food.
Also, be sure to fill your cat’s water bowl daily so that they can stay hydrated.
2. Grooming
Cats are self-sufficient and can professionally groom themselves, however, you need to bathe them if they get really dirty.
You can either bring your pet to ‘pets spa’ but if you are on a budget, you can do it yourself too!
Basic grooming that you can do include trimming your cat’s nails (so that your kitties don’t destroy your sofa/bed by scratching them), bathe them, and brush your cats’s hair.
Also be sure to check your cats’s gum, teeth, eyes, ears (important - look for signs of ear mites), skin and limbs for any minor injuries.
If you are unsure of how to check, don’t feel shy to ask veterinary’s advice!
3. Medical care
Remember, animals are like us too. They get sick and quite sensitive (depending on the breed), so you should take your cats to a registered veterinary clinic for an initial check-up.
During the check-up, the vet will advice you on the vaccinations, deworming programme and other preventative medications your feline friend will need to protect it from infectious diseases, heartworm disease and more.
After the initial check-up, you should take your cat to the vet when needed for their vaccination shots or at least once a year for an annual health check to ensure they are healthy.
Make sure to note your cat’s lifestyle - whether your pet is coughing or wheezing, has lost appetite for more than a day, is vomitting, limping, dirty ears, eye sore and more.
4. Prepare some scratching posts
Ever wondered why your cats keep stretching on your sofa, carpet, and boxes – while scratching your furnitures when they think you are not looking? You cannot shush them because scratching is a natural behaviour for cats to sharpen their claws.
To ensure your furniture are protected, make sure that you place several scratching boards in your house so that your cats can still fulfil their natural instinct to scratch without destroying your sofa.
5. Suitable toys
Cats are naturally playful creatures and will spend hours playing with strings or balls.
Hence, ensure that you prepare some toys for your pets – you can either buy them from pet store, online or you can even do it yourself! For instance, you can give them your unused pillow for them to sleep or play.
You can even make ribbon wands to keep your cat active since they love stringy things.
Aside from following these five tips, be sure to live a vibrant life with your cat.
Shower it with love, feed it with nutritious food and keep it healthy as always. Good luck in raising one!
