Useful tips
The well-known popular phrase that cats and cats are animals that walk on their own does not mean that these pets require less care or care than, say, dogs or guinea pigs.
There are several mandatory rules that must be followed if you have taken responsibility for such a gentle fluffy creature as domestic cats. We bring to your attention 12 unacceptable mistakes that, if made by cat and cat owners, put the health and lives of their pets at risk.
So, by no means!
How to care for a cat
You can't trim the nails of cats who spend a lot of time outside
Did you know that street cats live no more than five years on average? And all this is due to the numerous dangers that lie in wait for them at every turn — cars, other street animals and stray cats…
At the same time, the life of domestic cats, which their owners care for, cherish and do not let go outside, is much longer — it can last up to 15 or even 20 years! Is it possible to extend the life span of your cat, who spends most of its time away from home or apartment?
What do veterinarians say about this? For example, Dr. Ashley Rossman of the Society for Combating Animal Abuse, USA, Alabama, believes that cats should not be deprived of their natural weapon — claws. If a cat with cropped claws is forced to fight with a street cat, the former has every chance of getting seriously injured.
You can't feed the cat leftover food from the owner's table
It is believed that obesity is the scourge of modern people in many countries. However, fat accumulation is not only characteristic of humans, but also of animals. In particular, cats and cats.
It is no coincidence that there is such an organization in the United States — the Association for the Prevention of Obesity in Pets.
One of the veterinarians belonging to this association, a certain Katie Nielson, believes that one of the causes of obesity in pets is the habit of their owners to feed animals what they eat themselves. And if such leftovers are a source of carbohydrates, a kitten that lives with you cannot avoid obesity.
This problem looks relevant not only for Americans, famous fast food lovers. Many of our citizens also fill up full cat bowls with leftovers from their desks. Given the fact that many pets simply do not have a sense of proportion, you can put up at least a whole huge pizza — by evening there will be no crumbs left.
You can't feed your cat only dry food
Exclusively dry food in your pet's diet is not a solution. Especially if this pet does not know how to eat. Such representatives of the cat family simply need to be given natural liquid food periodically.
It is necessary to know!
We are all used to the fact that milk is, by definition, the most suitable food for a cat. However, some cats may show symptoms of lactose intolerance (just like humans), which include vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of appetite.
According to veterinarians, so-called liquid food is essential for the normal functioning of a cat or cat's kidneys. In order to properly dose dry and liquid food, it makes sense to consult the same veterinarians.
Consultations with veterinarians should not be avoided
Speaking of vets. Even cats and cats that look completely healthy at first glance should undergo a preventive examination at a veterinary hospital at least once a year. The absence of signs of a disease is not an excuse for negligent inattention to your pet.
Kidney diseases, thyroid disease, diabetes, inflammatory processes in the intestines and a number of other pathological conditions can only be determined by a qualified veterinarian.
Veterinarian Nilsson, mentioned above, warns that all of the above pathologies may not appear at all for a long time. Until one day, the disease becomes incurable. Regular check-ups by specialists can literally save the life of your beloved pet.
Meat food should not be excluded from the cat's diet
Dear vegetarians, don't be offended, but you just have to sacrifice your own principles for the sake of the health of your beloved pet cat. Cats are real predators. This means that their digestive system is simply not designed to digest plant-based foods alone.
Veterinarian Rossman categorically does not recommend a grain diet for cats and cats. Cats need to fill the need for protein foods. And this can be done only with the help of a diet that includes meat components.
Many cat lovers artificially shorten the lives of their pets by giving them food that is completely unsuitable for cats, which is quite useful for humans. Make sure your cat's food bowl does not contain raisins, artificial sweeteners, garlic, avocado, chocolate, fruit with seeds, and a number of other foods.
How to feed a cat
You can't turn a blind eye to your pet's unbalanced menu
If you don't fully understand how your cat's stomach functions (meaning what's good for your cat and what's not), think twice before experimenting with diet for your pet. Without realizing it, you're shortening his life expectancy.
According to veterinarian Rossman, the food that many people prepare for their pets very often does not contain the nutrients that a cat or cat needs. Given the fact that today you can easily find all the information you need on pet nutrition, ignoring this point is a real crime.
Vaccinating cats that spend a lot of time outside should not be ignored
Many people believe that if their pet looks completely healthy, while spending days, months and years under the care of their owners, at home, you can not dwell on vaccination. However, this is a completely wrong approach!
And it's not good to ignore vaccination if your cat spends the lion's time outside. In many countries, pet owners are required to give their pets rabies vaccine even if they do not leave the owner's home at all.
It is necessary to know!
There are many diseases that are easily transmitted from cats to humans. In addition to rabies, our feline friends can “reward” us with worms, tuberculosis, acute gastroenteritis, salmonella, and even chlamydia.
Any cat, once on the street, even for a short time, can become infected with the feline leukemia virus (more dangerous for the animal) or rabies (dangerous for owners) by literally touching its own the nose of an infected animal.
Your pet can get rabies by eating an infected mouse (although rabies is rarely found in the latter). Of course, you can ignore the appropriate vaccination, but if something unforeseen happens, you will have to get much more injections. And this is far from the worst thing that can happen!
You can't ignore the presence of fleas, worms and other parasites in your cat
If your pet spends at least some time outside your home, there is no doubt that he will have fleas, worms or other parasites. That is why precautions should be as regular as in the case of vaccination.
Veterinarian Nelson also believes that even the constant stay of an animal in an apartment or house does not guarantee the absence of fleas, worms or even distemper. At the same time, it is quite simple to avoid the above problems – it is necessary to give your cat or cat medicines once a month that are an excellent prevention of any infection.
You can't ignore the lack of shelter for your cat or cat at night
Perhaps it is normal for your kitty, who lives in the same apartment or house with you, that it disappears on the street all day long. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that the animal can return to a safe haven for the night. No matter how independent your pet may seem, it needs somewhere to hide from the cold and rainy weather.
If you install a small booth in the yard or at the entrance door, your pet will get a chance to hide from aggressive weather conditions even if you are not at home. And if you are at home, then in the cold it would be nice to prepare a bottle or two of warm water that will allow your cat or cat to warm up after a long walk.
Cat Disease Symptoms
You can't ignore your pet's deteriorating health
Let your cat or cat have nine lives. Let him look independent, ready to cope with any challenges from the outside. If you really love your pet, don't let things go by themselves. Look out for any unusual symptoms; one of the most common (and most overlooked) is chronic vomiting.
Veterinarian Nelson urges to be more vigilant about such manifestations. Frequent vomiting in your cat is just as abnormal as frequent vomiting in humans. Of course, this may indicate that the animal is regurgitating clumps of hair. Or it can talk about the cat's intolerance to certain foods, heart disease, kidney disease and many other pathological conditions.
You can't ignore changes in pet behavior
Even frequent vomiting by a cat or cat may look quite common compared to some of the hidden symptoms your pet may occasionally show. Under no circumstances should such things be ignored.
Pay special attention if your cat's appetite suddenly changes; the animal may show a constant desire to hide, huddle in a corner, which is usually not the case; or often and for no reason makes unusual sounds (whines, grunts).
Veterinarian Rossman says cats are very resilient animals. They can tolerate a lot of things, stoically enduring any disease. But if your pet suddenly begins to radically change its behavior and habits, this is a good reason to show it to a specialist.
It is necessary to know!
A sharp and noticeable loss of weight in a cat or cat, and not caused by changes in diet, is the number one symptom that may indicate cancer in the animal's body disease.
Some pathologies can be detected at an early stage if you take blood from a cat for analysis. In any case, this procedure will be useful, because it allows you to make sure that the organs are functioning as they should and that there is no hidden disease in the animal's body.
You can't decorate a place in the house where your pet spends a lot of time with plants
Beautiful ornamental plants and flowers in the house are, of course, wonderful. But just as long as your cat doesn't start eating them. According to the American Society for Combating Animal Abuse, the vast majority of domestic plants are real cat poison.
Rossman, a veterinarian from the aforementioned Society, considers this problem serious but easy to solve. All cat and cat owners should only first study information
about a particular plant that they have at home before adopting an animal. It is necessary to get rid of species that are poisonous to cats.