The dos and don'ts in taking care of a cat
- By: Amielia Bt Shadan
- Nov 19, 2015
- 3 min read
Hi guys. Alright then, we have passed with breeds and big cats so next we’ll be talking about some tips. The dos and don’ts that every cat owners or future cat owners should know. I will try to make sum up everything from the very first step until the cats have become an adult so please, leave a comment if you think there is anything missing.
The dos
Make sure not to adopt a kitten too early. They should stay with their mom and siblings for at least 12-16 weeks before adoption. It is best for you to adopt two kittens at once to avoid it from feeling lonely and they will always have a playing buddy whenever you are away.
When you decide to start bathing them, make sure that they are old enough for it. 12-16 months old is an appropriate age to start bathing.
Source: Google images
A kitten for adoption
You can start giving them solid food by the time they are 4 weeks old. Give at least three to four small meals daily as they cannot sustain too much nutrient in one meal. You can start giving lesser meals with bigger portion when the kitten has reached the age of six months old.
Before taking it to the vet, make sure that they are comfortable enough with people. Spend time with it as it grows so that it won’t be scared to meet other people when the time comes.
Provide a scratching post in your house. Cats scratch their claws to ensure that they won’t grow too sharp and too long. Otherwise, they will target your most luxurious furniture.
Source: Google images
A cat at a scratching post
Play with it every day. Simulation helps to keep your cat healthy and avoid the risk for it to become obese. This is very crucial especially for cats that seldom go outside.
The litter box is the most crucial part. Make sure that these poo boxes are always clean and welcoming. Have more than one litter box placed all over the house. You might not know when and when they want to do their business.
The don’ts
Never feed kittens with milk other than their mother’s milk. Their small tummies might not be able to handle the extra nutrient and can cause diarrhoea.
Don’t let your kitten to wander about outside of the house without anyone to monitor it and this is very important especially if the kitten had never been vaccinated before. Just like a small kid, they might eat unwanted things that might cause food poisoning.
Source: Google images
A kitten outdoor
Never give too much treat to your cat as most treat. This will cause your cat to lose interest on its regular meals and it will result in them to miss out the proper nutrient that they need.
Never pick up your adult cat on the scuff on their neck. Some say that this is the way to turn off a cat as when you hold that part of it, it will not mobilize, but this is never the right way to lift it up. Instead, use both hands to pick it up, one under the chest behind the front legs, and one under the abdomen.
Source: Google images
The proper way to pick up an adult cat
Don’t let your cat chew on string especially when you are not watching. They might swallow it that will cause intestinal blockage and will cause it great pain.
Don’t let your cat have access to the second floor where you have windows without screens. They might jump out of it to catch a bird or anything that caught it’s attention and this will bring harm to it.
Source: Google images
A cat jumping of a window
Avoid giving human food as treats to your cat. Most times, human food is fattening to cats and will only give unnecessary extra weight to it.
Source: Google images
Never give a cat too much human food
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