A Quick Guide For Cat Care

A Quick Guide For Cat Care

Neuter or spay your cat

Besides the obvious benefit of population control, "fixing" your pet is proven to dramatically improve behavior, especially in males. In 9 out of 10 animals, alteration reduces fighting, roaming/yowling, and spraying. In females, you can also virtually eliminate the risk of number of life-threatening health problems, including breast cancer.

Keep them inside

The average life span for indoor cats is 13 years, though we have seen many indoor cats live well beyond 20 years. Outdoor cats, on the other hand, live an average of less than 3 years. Contributing to the shorter life of outdoor cats are a host of dogs, wild animals or other cats - all potential sparring partners or carriers of disease. To let your indoor cat enjoy the great outdoors safely, consider a portable outdoor containment system.

Take care of their teeth

In cats over 2 years old, dental problems from lack of proper care rank among the top reasons for veterinary visits. . . even though many of these expensive bills can be avoided with simple, preventative dental care performed regularly at home.

Keep their minds and bodies active

The pet market has exploded with cat toys that were not even dreamed of ten years ago. The Remote Control Mouse, Cat Dancer, and a plethora of trees and other furniture will ensure that your cat is never bored. Browse through our website to come up with ideas for your cat's personality.

Make every calorie count

Provide good nutrition by feeding a high quality premium food. Though they are more expensive, they are worth it for the nutrition they provide. Drs. Foster & Smith offer a Premium Healthy Cat Care Food that is nutrient dense to give your cat the vital nourishment she needs.

Balance nutrition with supplements

We recommend giving a multi-vitamin such as Vita-minTabs to ensure your pet is getting the vitamins and minerals needed for good health. If your cat has dry, flaky skin, use Vitacaps; if her coat is dull, use Vitacoat for cats. They both contain Essential Fatty Acids to help with these conditions. If your older cat has an arthritic condition, try a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement like Joint Care.

Regular checkups

Remember to take your cat care in for annual checkups and whenever behavior makes you suspect something is wrong, take her to a veterinarian. Cats are closer to their wild relatives than dogs and will tend to hide illness more readily. Because of this, cat owners need to be more attentive to "hidden" symptoms. It takes a lot to make cats act sick, but many illnesses can be treated if caught early enough.

Veterinary Care On the net

Frequently there are postings such as: "My cat is doing , should I take it to the vet?" Or even, "I can't afford to take my cat to the vet, he is doing , what can I do?" The usual answer will be TAKE IT TO THE VET! It is an irresponsible owner who does not consult the vet, even by phone, at the first opportunity. And if you take on the responsibility of owning a cat, you must budget for the vet visits to keep it healthy.

24 hour Emergency Care

A good vet will either be associated with a 24 emergency care plan or be able to give you the number of a good place in your area. Keep this number on your refrigerator and check with your vet when you visit that it's still up-to-date.

More info about cat care, please visit Dr Sfoster Smith.