Have you lately welcomed a kitty companion into your household? Congratulations! We’re confident you’ll be overjoyed to welcome your new feline companion into your household. If you’re thinking about adopting a cat, go to your local shelter, and go for it! But make sure you are ready for that kind of commitment. You have to come into a relationship with a cat and there is no other way around.
Read on for some basic needs of cats for novice cat parents and those wishing to brush up on their cat-care knowledge:
Cats Need Healthy Food Like Human
Cats, like people, require food that is tailored to their nutritional requirements. Cat foods are made to meet the nutritional needs of cats. Importantly, their nutritional requirements are vastly different. Kittens and older cats require different types of food.
Special diets may be required for cats with health problems. Table scraps are normally not healthy for cats since many of the items people eat, such as salt, garlic, and onions, are harmful to your cat’s health and can cause them to become ill or even die. Remember to feed your cats the appropriate quantity of the food as well! Obesity may be caused by overfeeding or giving your pet too many goodies, which can lead to heart disease, kidney difficulties, and other health issues. Want to know more about health issues and behaviour of cats? Check it out on CATVILLS now.
Cats Feel Thirsty Often
Your cat roughly drinks 3.5 to 4.5 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight daily. If you have a 10-pound cat, for example, they should drink 7 to 9 ounces of water every day. A cat can get dehydrated easily if she doesn’t drink enough water or urinates more than she eats, or if she vomits or loses blood in extreme cases.
Without water, the average cat can last three to four days. The longer they go without water, the more dehydrated they become, which can lead to major health problems and gradual death.
Cats Are Sleeping Beauties
Your cat’s long periods of sleep are due to energy conservation, which is where the term “cat nap” comes from. Cats may doze for short periods, ranging from five to thirty minutes, but they are always on the lookout for predators or prey. While cats may sleep more when they are melancholy, the placement of their sleeping spots might be a sign of pleasure.
If your cat picks you as a bed-buddy or sleeps with other cats, you have a pleasant connection.
Cats Demands Safety
Cats must always feel a sense of relief and security when they are with you. since they have a strong hearing habit. Cats are sometimes characterised as distant and standoffish, even by those who love them the most, but the reality is that cats can be just as protective of their owners as dogs. Simply said, cats adore their family, and their family adores them in return.
read this post on how loose should a cat collar be? and this one on how long an indoor cat survive outside
Cats Have To Be Vaccinated
Vaccinate yourself. If your cat goes outside, tell your vet so they can make sure they’re up to date on their vaccines. Outdoor cats may require extra immunizations, such as the feline leukemia vaccine and perhaps others.
Your pet should be spayed or neutered. Unfixed cats are more prone to wander away from home.
This increases their risk of being struck by a car or getting into a catfight. Make sure your cat gets spayed or neutered around the age of 5 months or earlier.
Cats Prefer Clean And Dry Litter Only
Cats are naturally litter trained. Indoors, there should be a litter box. It’s critical to keep one on hand so that your cat has alternatives when it wants to be inside. Toxins ought to be avoided at all costs. With crystals that absorb urine and help dehydrate excrement, silica litter keeps bacteria at bay by making your cat’s litter box too dry to support any growth.
This protects cats against renal disease and urinary tract infections. Silica litters are more environmentally friendly than clay since they biodegrade and are non-toxic. have a read of this post on why is my cat wheezing?
Cats Are All About Comfort
Snuggle time is productive and bonding time for cats. Your cat relies on you for food, warmth, and shelter, and sometimes all they want to do is show you how much they care. Headbutts, snuggles, and purrs are all expressions of affection and gratitude from your cat.
Cats Require Occasional Grooming
Keep in mind that most cats groom themselves between 30 and 50 per cent of the time. However, if you detect excessive grooming, hair loss, or skin sores, it’s time to take your pet to the doctor. A medical problem might be the cause of compulsive grooming.
Cats Are Playful
Cats are entertaining pets. Cats, contrary to popular belief, maybe highly active. Zoomies, or spontaneous bursts of activity, are common among felines and can cause your cat to swing from relaxed to hyperactive in a matter of seconds. They can play with several homely toys.
Cats Seek Personal Attention
When there is no tension, many cats want attention, but they like being touched, spoken to, and played with. If a cat realizes that the activity provides him with what he desires, he will intensify it to receive more attention. Jumping up to your level, knocking stuff over, and even an inhibited bite are all common ruses. You may take steps to properly regulate your cat’s attention-seeking behavior, which can be bothersome or even destructive.
Make an appointment with your veterinarian to make sure the behavior isn’t caused by a medical ailment. Ignore any unwanted habits, such as excessive meowing, demanding to be pet and hostility, if you can rule out medical reasons. When your cat is calm and comfortable, reward it and take efforts to improve its environment.
Cats Want Their Privacy
Cats can be nice (on their terms), but they also value seclusion while doing certain things. We humans can’t take our gaze and hands-off them sometimes because they’re so dang cute, and other times because they’re up to no good.
You Don’t Own Cats, They Own You
When it comes to domestic cats, you can only own one in the physical sense, which means the cat must live with you. You have virtually little influence over the cat’s behavior other than that. You can’t command a cat the way a dog can. You can’t compel people to do anything unless they want to.
Cat owners, or rather cat caretakers, eventually realise that a cautious and egoistic animal such as a cat can only be comparable to or superior to a human. That is, at least, how cats perceive themselves.
Takeaway
Adopting a cat may be one of the most gratifying experiences you can have for yourself, your family, and, of course, the cat!
When rehoming a cat, there are a lot of decisions to make, such as whether your pet will be an outdoor or indoor cat and what kind of cat food to give the right choices for your feline friends and provide them with all their necessities and even luxuries if you can afford it. You might also find this post on red flags when adopting a cat useful.