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Although your cat may act independent,
he still counts on you to provide him with food, water, safe
shelter, veterinary care, companionship, and more. Take care
of these ten cat care essentials, and you"ll have a rewarding
relationship with your feline friend.
1. Provide your cat with a
collar and ID tag that includes your name, address, and telephone
number. No matter how careful you are, your cat could get lost
or injured whilst outside. An ID tag greatly increases the chance
that your cat will be returned home safely.
2. Keep the litter tray clean
and topped up to the required level. This is good for both you
and your cat.
3. Keep your cat indoors at
night. Keeping your cat safely confined at night is best for
you, your pet, and your community. Some owners keep their cat
confined at all times.
4. Take your cat to the vet
for regular check-ups. If you do not have a vet, ask your local
animal shelter or look in the yellow pages.
5. Treat your cat with flee
and tick treatment. This is easy to apply, but if you feel that
you cannot do it then have it applied during your regular visit
to the vet. Use a flee collar as in item 1.
6. Spay or neuter your pet.
This will keep it healthier, less inclined to wander and will
reduce the problem of too many cats.
7. Groom your cat often to
keep its coat healthy, soft, and shiny. Although it is especially
important to brush long-haired cats to prevent their hair from
matting, even short-haired cats need to be groomed to remove
as much loose hair as possible. When cats groom themselves, they
ingest a great deal of hair, which often leads to hairballs.
It will also mean less hair on your cushions.
8. Give your cat a nutritionally
balanced diet, including constant access to fresh water. If unsure
ask your vet for advice on what and how often to feed your pet.
9. Train your cat to refrain
from undesirable behaviors such as scratching furniture and jumping
on tables and worktops. Cats can be trained with a bit of patience,
effort, and understanding on your part. Provide a ready made
"scratching post."
10. Play with your cat. While
cats do not need the same level of exercise that dogs do, enjoying
regular play sessions with your pet will provide it with the
physical exercise and mental stimulation it needs, as well as
strengthening the bond you share.
Bruce Walls is an author and
webmaster at http://www.catcarefacts.com
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