Expert’s Tips: How to Take Care of a Cat

Expert’s Tips: How to Take Care of a Cat

Milo Fwancis here, with another fantastic feline topic for all my devoted fans out there! I’ve touched on a lot of topics throughout this blog, so how could I ever skip a topic on keeping your cat healthy that I’m sure is on everyone’s mind?

Cat Health Care

I bet you’re wondering how to care for a cat! With our comprehensive list of simple suggestions below, cat health care was never so easy. If you don’t find the general advice you need here, check out any one of our other specific articles throughout Scratch Play Meow!

Cat Health Care Questions

How much does your cat weigh, and how much should he weigh?

This is especially important for all cats and should be covered during every cat health care veterinary visit. Not only do you want to make sure your cat is nutritionally healthy, but sudden weight loss or gains can signify a greater medical problem.

What should your cat be eating?

This is especially important for cats, as opposed to dogs, because cats need a more carnivorous diet and won’t survive without a source of animal meat. You also need to look at your choice of pet food brand, since animal feed manufacturers will often produce cheaply manufactured products to increase profits.

Kittens need to be fed often and do best on a diet of mother’s milk! Of course, human substitutes are made for orphaned cats, but never equal in quality.

Is your kitty getting the right kind and frequency of vaccines?

Vaccines are no less important for cats as dogs! We don’t like the idea of needles (though we might not feel an actual vaccination), but we prefer them to sickness or disease!

Many cat owners might choose to skip the Rabies inoculation. After all, it’s just a small cat; what harm could it cause? In the United States, any animal that contracts Rabies is legally mandated to be put down; there is no treating them. Why would you put my fellow kitties through that risk?

Senior Cat Health Care

Right now, I am in the prime years of my life! But, as with all things, cats age and sometimes we have to deal with problems associated with that. As cats age, medical concerns tend to become a more frequent occurrence. Cataracts (thickening of the lenses in our eyes, causes a cloudy appearance) begin to form naturally at as we get older. We might experience vision and hearing loss, or other organ-related problems.

Our personalities might seem to change a little, and we might seem a little anxious or easily startled. What will you do?

Veterinary Care

Regular veterinary checkups have never been more important than when your cat starts aging (except maybe back during kittenhood)! Make sure to schedule regular checkup visits and give us all our vaccinations. Heartworm, flea and tick, or other parasitic preventatives have never been more important. 

Be sure to take us older cats to see the vet at least once every six months, even if we may seem healthy!

Reduce Stress

If you’re wondering how to care for an older cat, stress reduction is a great way to start! Try to limit changes in your cat’s environment and keep the noise down as much as possible. If you don’t have any other pets or kids, right now might not be the best time to try and introduce them. However, If you can’t avoid this, check out our tips for a smooth introduction with pets or babies!

Be aware of any behavioral changes we might exhibit, and always ask your vet if you aren’t sure about something. Keeping a diary for these things is always a pretty good idea!

Watch for Weight Changes

When it comes to dogs, weight gain is a natural side effect of aging if you aren’t careful. In cats, on the other hand, sudden weight gain or loss can signify a pretty big health issue! 

Sudden changes in weight are definitely a reason to contact the veterinarian. Weight loss in cats is not a good sign and requires medical attention even if you think it isn’t an issue. Weight gain can increase the risk of developing other life-altering disorders. With both these issues, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

How to Take Care of a Baby Cat

If you’re wondering how to care for a baby cat, we’ve got some fantastic tips for you! In addition, you should always consider contacting an experienced veterinarian, breeder, or rescue worker for additional questions.

Mother’s Milk

Our feline mothers produce a special kind of milk, called colostrum, that contains beneficial bacterial resistances and other nutrients that help increase our chances for survival! Feeding frequently is actually one of the most important things during our first few weeks of life.

Warmth

We are tiny little things and have trouble regulating our body temperatures. Keeping us warm is essential for our survival but be sure not to let us get too hot at the same time! Sun lamps or heating pads can burn baby kittens. The best place is nestled close to our mother and siblings.

Social Contact

Just like dogs, never separate baby kittens from our litters and mother for too long or too early! We gain integral social skills during these first few weeks that are extremely important for our psychological development in years to come.

How to Take Care of a New Cat

●      Set up a safe room!

●      Keep noises at a minimum whenever possible!

●      Provide the new cat a great hiding place!

●      Don’t forget to take your cat to see the veterinarian!

●      Help your furry one get to know the family through slow, calm socialization!

●      Provide a great new scratching post and fantastic toys!

●      Ensure there is fresh food, water, and a clean litter box in your new cat’s safe room!

Cat Health Care Insurance

The American pet industry has been booming like no other in recent decades! Just like most other things, cat health care insurance has become more of a standard in today’s world, and there is coverage for nearly everything you can imagine.

The basic idea is to pay out a fee every month (just like human health coverage) for discounted everyday cat care. You might also be given a financial cushion in case something drastic happens and requires expensive surgery that you otherwise would have trouble paying for. 

Depending on what type of service, coverage, or plan you purchase, you could literally cover any aspect of your cat’s healthcare. For example:

  1. You might end up paying somewhere around $200 for a $3,500 surgery, saving an enormous amount of money!

  2. You could receive a flat % discount on every regular veterinary service, which is intended for routine care and not emergencies like the above.

Cat Health Care Products

I bet you want to improve your cat health care skills through wonderful, engaging toys or healthy yet tasty treats! There are so many things out there on the market today, you’re not sure what to choose.

Why not take a ride with me over here, and check out some of these fantastic cat health care products I specifically chose for my fans?

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