Cat Care General Health Aspects

Cat Care General Health Aspects

Diet

Cats are carnivores by nature; meaning that they must have animal protein, or "meat", to supply their dietary protein requirements. Cats require a balanced diet, however, and feeding an "all meat" diet can be detrimental to cats, contributing to skeletal and joint disease, kidney damage, and other metabolic conditions.

Feeding a balanced commercial diet that has been AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) tested, ensures that your cat receives optimum levels of essential vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats and protein. These diets are usually present in a canned or biscuit form.

A range of different formulations of cat food are available to meet the specific requirements of your cat, with food available for kittens, pregnant or nursing cats, healthy adult cats, and older cats. Kittens in particular, have special dietary needs to achieve optimal growth, and prevention of lifelong debilitating joint and muscle conditions. Proper nutrition of kittens is therefore best achieved by feeding a 'Growth Diet'.

Special prescription or veterinary diets are also available for pets with specific disease conditions such as obesity, heart disease, kidney disease, and urinary tract problems.

Always ensure your cat has unlimited access to fresh water, especially if you are feeding a dry, or biscuit diet, as these diets can make your cat thirsty.

Your local veterinary clinic provides the most up to date information about the ideal diet for your pet.

Dental Care

Kittens are born with deciduous teeth which fall out as they are replaced with permanent, or adult teeth from 4-6 months of age. Occasionally, some of these deciduous teeth are retained, and must be removed under anaesthetic, to prevent problems such as damaging the enamel surface of the emerging adult teeth, trapping food, and development of gum and tooth root infections.

As cats age, tooth and gum health often deteriorates, due to an accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth about the gum margins. Tartar accumulation results in gum inflammation and infection, pain and discomfort, halitosis (bad breath) dribbling, abscesses and tooth loss.

Regular dental checkups for pets are recommended to assist in avoiding severe dental disease. Dry "Dental care" biscuits are available to feed to your cat - feeding these foods, particularly following descaling and polishing of the teeth by a veterinarian, will decrease the rate of further tartar and plaque accumulation on the cats teeth.

Cat toothpaste and toothbrush products are also available for use in cats amenable to regular teeth brushing.

Cats are very smart animals. But they still need special care

Give your pet fresh water every day. You do not need to give your cat milk.

Feed your cat food that is made from beef, chicken, or fish.

Choose a cat food that is right for your cat's age and weight. For example, if you have a kitten be sure to buy kitten food.

Keep the litter box clean. Cats like it fresh!

Keep string-like objects like tinsel, needles, threads and rubber bands out of reach. These things could hurt your cat.

Take your cat to the vet (animal doctor) for vaccines so it will not get some deadly disease.

More info about cat care, please visit FDA.