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Caring for a cat can seem complicated to new owners. There are many things that you don’t take into account until you have brought your cat home, and then realize that there is more to it than giving them food and affection. Here you will find some suggestions for going beyond the basics for your feline companion such as litter training, flea control, vaccines, spaying and neutering, and declawing.
Do you want your cat to go outside or stay indoors? For either of these situations, you will want to have a kitty litter box available to your cat. Even a cat that only comes inside occasionally should have access to kitty litter in cases of emergency, such as sleeping in the house at night. This also prevents your cat from waking you early in the morning to be let outside. There are many types of kitty litter available. Some cats are choosy about the kitty litter they use, so be sure to take note of how your cat reacts to the type you purchase. If you find that you are having trouble training your cat to use the litter box, there is a simple way to nudge them in the right direction. First, be sure that your cat has constant access to the location you have chosen for the litter box. Let your cat know where the litter box is by taking them into the room and setting them inside the box. If you move the box to a new location, you need to notify your cat of this by showing them where it has been moved. If using a litter box is new to your cat, after they have a bowel movement, take their stool, and place it into the litter box. Introduce your cat to the box again. This is an easy way to let them know that the litter box is the correct place to relieve themselves.
Now that you have your cat trained on the litter box or going outdoors to do their business, you’ll want to consider your options for flea control. Even if your cat stays indoors, you’ll want to provide them with some protection against fleas. If there are other animals in your neighborhood, they can leave fleas on your doorstep just as your cat could. The average protection against fleas is the flea collar. These are sometimes affective if your cat has short hair, and you don’t live in flea-problem areas. You can obtain oral medication for flea control from your veterinarian, as well as spot flea treatment which is also available over the counter. It’s important to use these treatments on a regular basis to keep your pet free of fleas. Ask your veterinarian what they suggest for your particular area.
Vaccines are a very important part of caring for your cat. If your cat stays indoors, they will require fewer shots than a cat that goes outside and interacts with other felines. The rabies vaccine is required by law in all states. The first rabies vaccination is good for one year; you will need to ask your veterinarian how long the following rabies vaccinations are good for depending on the state you reside in. Another common vaccine is for the feline leukemia virus; this virus is contracted by direct contact with an infected cat. If your cat is strictly an indoor cat, you can probably skip that vaccination. Be sure to let your veterinarian know if your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat. There are several vaccinations not mentioned here because they are less common; let your vet give you their recommendations. Keep records of the vaccinations your cat receives; you will especially want to keep your cat’s papers for their rabies vaccination in a safe place.
You need to decide early on whether you want to have your cat spayed/neutered. If you aren’t going to breed your cat, then you should definitely have them spayed/neutered. Female cats can go into heat for the first time as early as five months of age. Some females show no signs of being in heat, while others are quite obvious because they meow loudly. A female cat that has never tried to get out of the house will be hard to keep inside when she is in heat. A female cat can go into heat as often as every other week; some appear to always be in heat. Having your male cat neutered is as important as it is for a female. Male cats tend to stray when they have not been neutered, and they can be very bothersome by spraying their urine in the house. Neutering your male cat earlier can prevent them from spraying if they have not already started; you can have them neutered when their testicles descend. The cost of spaying/neutering a cat differs, but is usually less than $100.
If you are worried about your cat ruining furniture, you may want to consider having them declawed. You can train your cat to only use scratching posts and avoid your furniture if you start when they are still a kitten. If your cat stays outside the majority of their time, you should probably allow them to keep their claws so that they can defend themselves. When a cat is declawed, the claws are usually only removed from the front feet. They will compensate for the lack of front claws by using their back claws for climbing and defense if necessary. If you decide against declawing, you can buy a pair of trimmers for keeping your cat’s claws cut back so they won’t be as sharp. Be sure to have your veterinarian show you the correct way for doing this if you are not familiar with it; you could hurt your cat if you cut their claws back too far.
Don’t feel overwhelmed caring for your cat. They are just like humans in the fact that they need various things to remain healthy and happy. If you’re ever in doubt or finding that you have questions, don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian. They will have all the information you need.
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