Taking Care Of Cats
These days, cats are among the most popular pet you can own. There are several breeds available, with the most popular being Persian and Siamese. Cats are a domesticated animal, with origins dating back some 8,000 years and beyond. Like any other pet that you may own, including dogs, cats cost money to take care of properly.
Costs of Owning a Cat
When you get a cat, you'll need to think about the costs. You'll obviously need food, and you'll also need to plan ahead for vet costs. You'll also need litter, which can tend to get quite expensive as the years go by. Your cat will need a litter box, food dish, and water dish. You should also invest in some toys as well, such as a scratching post, cat toys, a pet carrier, and a bed. You should also look into getting an ID collar as well, just in case your cat ever gets lost.
Feeding Your Cat
Feeding your pet will depend a great deal on his age. Older cats
require two small meals or one large meal for the day. Kittens on the
other hand, require several feedings a day until they get around the
age of 12 weeks. Cats that are between three and six months of age need
to be fed three times a day. Canned food can be fed to cats, although
any food that has been left out longer than 30 minutes need to be
disposed of. Canned food can get expensive fast, and you should always
keep in mind that some may need to be thrown away when you buy it. Cats
loved canned food, although it doesn't have any benefits to their
dental health like dry food does.
As an alternative plan, you can always leave a supply of dry food out
for your pet. When you give your cat dry food, you should always make
sure that he has enough water. Dry food costs less than canned food,
and it can also help to prevent the buildup of tartar on your cat's
teeth. When you buy dry food, you should always look in terms of health
and benefits, and stay away from generic food. Even though generic food
may be cheaper, it may not offer the nutrients your pet needs.
Cats and Kittens
If you own a kitten, you should only give you kitten food designed for him. You'll also need to clean and refill his water dish every day. Even though kittens and adult cats like cow's milk, you should avoid giving it to them as it can cause diarrhea. Treats are fine on occasion, although too many of them can cause your pet to get fat. Feeding your kitten human food is good on occasion, although you may have to mix it in with his cat food.
Keeping Cats Clean and Healthy
By themselves, cats stay fairly clean. Although you don't have to bathe them that often, you'll need to give them a brushing at least once a day. Brushing will reduce the risk of hairballs and keep your cat's coat nice and clean. If you are keeping your cat indoors, you'll need to have a litter box in an area that is easy for your cat to access. You should always scoop it on a daily basis, and clean it out once a week. Cats don't like to use dirty litter boxes, they prefer for it to be nice and clean.
Cats Make Great Pets
Although cats do require some work, they are great pets that will provide you with years and years of companionship. As long as you take care of your cat and take him to the vet for his checkups, he should remain healthy. Even though cats can get sick from time to time - knowing how to care for him will make a world of difference.
Tristan Andrews writes useful articles about cats and kittens. Discover and explore the feline world. Find out how to better care for, train and live with your cat at www.i-love-cats.com
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Date Added: Sunday 10th May 2009
"It has been established recently that dry food, or kibble, does nothing whatsoever to clean teeth. Also, canned food is much easier for the cat to digest than kibble, which contains several indigestible ingredients in order to keep the individual kibbles from falling apart. Often cats on dry food will vomit because of the indigestible ingredients. The best nutrition for the cat is from raw food. However, if giving your cat raw food you have to make sure that it has all the nutrients the cat needs and that requires the use of a premixture."
Lee Evans
Date Added: Friday 2nd January 2009
"i love this page now my cat is all healthy and comfy with the bed"
rheanna