Articles

Essentials of Cat Care: Guide for Cat Parents

• June 17, 2024
• BY Skylar Duck
• 
  Cat

Cats hold a special place in our hearts with their independent yet affectionate nature. As a cat parent, providing the best care for your feline friend is essential to ensure their health, happiness, and well-being. Whether you’re a seasoned cat parent or new to feline companionship, these essential tips will help you navigate caring for your cat with confidence and ease.

For many cat parents, keeping their feline friends indoors is a decision made with the well-being and safety of their beloved companions in mind. However, ensuring that life indoors is as stress-free and comfortable for cats as possible requires understanding their unique behaviors and providing appropriate outlets for their needs.

Understanding Natural Behaviors

Cats are inherently driven by their instincts, which include hunting, climbing, marking territory, and seeking out safe resting spots. Even in indoor settings, these natural behaviors persist and may manifest in ways that are challenging for pet parents, such as scratching, spraying, or aggressive behavior. Recognizing and accommodating these behaviors is important to create a positive living environment for both cats and their humans.

As a veterinarian, I often witness the negative consequences of cats not having the resources and stimulation they need. Behavioral and medical issues, such as urinating outside the litter box, overgrooming, overeating leading to obesity, and anxiety-related behaviors, are common manifestations. Provide appropriate outlets for your cat’s natural behaviors and optimize their living environment to improve their mental and physical health.

1. Create an environment of mutual respect

• Cats are not “pack animals” like people and dogs so they are independent and learn differently
• They need “me time” and separate areas for feeding, resting and bathroom
• Reward positive behavior with food and affection instead of punishment.
• Make off-limits areas unappealing with sticky tape, foil, or citrus scents.

2. Fresh Food and Water

• Choose a high-quality cat food tailored to your cat’s age, weight, and health needs.
• Ensure that your cat has access to fresh water at all times. Many cats enjoy drinking from a running water fountain.
• Offer each cat their own food and water bowl in a quiet, safe location.
• Avoid free-feeding. Most cats overeat and become overweight when free-fed. It is best to feed meals, typically two to three a day.
• Offer your cat food and water in an area they feel safe and secure away from high activity or loud areas.

3. Regular Veterinary Check-ups

• Schedule annual wellness exams to monitor your cat’s health and catch any issues early.
• Even if your cat only gets vaccines every 3 years, they still need a yearly evaluation by a veterinarian. After 7 years old, they should be examined every 6 months to screen for problems that become more likely to occur.
• Keep up with vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and dental care. Indoor cats should be protected from fleas and parasites as well. Most cats will need a dental cleaning under anesthesia at some point in their life.
• Cats often hide discomfort and illness, so regular check-ups are crucial. Any change in behavior may indicate a problem.

4. Scratching Posts

• Provide sturdy scratching posts to prevent furniture damage. They also allow them to fulfill their scratching instincts and help keep claws from getting too long.
• Place them in shared, communal areas of the house and offer both vertical and horizontal options.
• Multiple posts are necessary in multi-cat households.

5. Safe Resting Areas

• Offer cat beds or cozy blankets in a quiet, secure spot where your cat can relax undisturbed.
• Create a refuge area, such as a bedroom or back room, where your cat can retreat when stressed or tired.
• Consider cat trees and elevated perches for climbing and perching.

6. Enrichment and Play

• Invest in interactive toys, scratching posts, and climbing structures to keep your cat entertained and engaged.
• Rotating toys regularly to keep your cat engaged.
• Some cats prefer brushing and attention over active play. Cater to your cat’s preferences.
• While many cats like playing with string-like material, it is extremely dangerous if swallowed and should be avoided.
• Provide areas where your cat can look out windows. Many enjoy watching birds at a feeder.
• Some cats enjoy outdoor time. To do this safely, they should be kept in an enclosure or on a harness and leash.

7. Litter Box Maintenance

• Proper litter box maintenance is crucial for your cat’s health and hygiene.
• Clean the litter box once or twice a day to prevent odor buildup and encourage your cat to use it consistently.
• Use unscented, clumping litter and place the litter box in a quiet, accessible location away from food and water.
• Choose large litter boxes that your cat can stand and turn around in. Storage containers work well for this.
• Uncovered boxes are typically best to avoid the smelly “portapotty effect”.
• Follow the “one litter box per cat, plus one” rule to prevent territorial issues and make sure all cats have adequate access to a box at all times.

8. Grooming and Hygiene

• Brush your cat’s fur a few times a week to prevent mats and reduce shedding, especially for long-haired breeds. 
• Trim your cat’s nails regularly to prevent overgrowth and discomfort. 
• Schedule annual dental cleanings with your veterinarian to keep their mouth comfortable.
• If your cat’s hair is matted or you are unable to brush or trim their nails, discuss options with your veterinarian.

9. Safe Indoor Environment

• Cat-proof everywhere your cat has access.
• Ensure that your home is free of potential hazards such as toxic plants, small objects that could be swallowed, and accessible electrical cords. 
• Common toxins for cats are Advil, Aleve, Tylenol, lily plants, antifreeze, and chocolate.
• AVOID STRING- Cats love to play with string like object but these can be very dangerous if swallowed. A cat’s comb-like structures on their tongue also make it so they have a hard time not swallowing it if they get string in their mouth. String materials cause the intestine to bunch like an accordion and cause life-threatening damage.
• Keep appliance doors closed at all times and check for your cat before starting.

10. Attention and Affection

• Spend quality time bonding with your cat through play and cuddles.
• Pay attention to their body language and cues to understand their needs and preferences.
• All the toys in the world can’t replace quality time with you
• While cats seem low maintenance, they should not be left unattended for over 12 hours (or days) at a time as they depend on us entirely. A responsible person needs to be monitoring and caring for them to be aware if problems occur and keep them safe.

11. Respect Your Cat’s Preferences

• Offer options for their things. “Ask your cat” when making any changes.
• Put the new object next to the old one and observe which they prefer to use. Keep the one they prefer.
• Observe your cat’s reactions to changes in their environment and adjust accordingly.
• Each cat is unique so their preferences may be different than the suggestions above. Use these as a starting point but take the time to learn what YOUR cat desires.

Implement these essential care practices and learn your cat’s unique behaviors and preferences to create a nurturing and enriching environment that promotes their health, happiness, and well-being. Remember, every cat is unique, so be patient and attentive to their individual needs and adjust your care accordingly. With love, patience, and dedication, you can provide your beloved feline companion with the care and attention they deserve.