Kitties are extremely popular pets, and it’s not hard to understand why. Cats are one of the easiest pets to keep. There is no need to walk or train Fluffy, and she will take care of her own grooming needs. They also spend a great deal of time sleeping. However, in order to stay healthy and happy, Fluffy will require more than fresh water and kibble. In this article, a local London, ON veterinarian offers some advice on being an excellent cat owner.

Offer Your Kitty Quality Food

Buying food for your feline pal isn’t exactly rocket science, but there are some things to consider. Fluffy’s exact dietary needs should be based on her age, health, and lifestyle. You also have a few purrsonal decisions to make, such as If you want to feed your feline pal wet food or kibble, and if you want to free feed her or give her meals at specific times. Consult your vet for specific advice.

The tricky part is choosing the right brand. Companies have mastered advertising gimmicks, so they employ slick tactics to make their products look as good as possible. Read labels carefully.

Pet food manufacturers are required to label their products in certain ways, just as they are with human products. As a rule, the first ingredient is the main ingredient, proportionally. avoid brands that have long ingredient lists that read like science projects. Meat, fish, and poultry should be listed at the top of the label, and more frequently than other ingredients.

You should always go slowly when changing brands. Otherwise, you could upset that furry stomach.

Fresh water is also very important. If your feline buddy prefers to drink running water, you may want to get her a drinking fountain.

Provide Entertainment And Enrichment

A hunter by nature, Fluffy is constantly mimicking hunting behaviors and skills that would help her score dinner in the wild. Keep your kitty entertained by providing a variety of toys, and make a habit of playing with her at least once a day.

You should keep in mind that all cats have different tastes. Some like catnip mice or wand toys, others prefer a laser pointer so they can chase that little red dot, and some love playing hockey with an ice cube or bottle cap. Try different things. If you have more than one pet, offer a variety of toys: kitties all have their own tastes.

Keep Your Feline Buddy’s Veterinary Care Up-To-Date

Although cats are fairly hardy, they aren’t as invincible as they think. In fact, these little furballs are quite fragile.

All cats should be microchipped and spayed or neutered. This ideally should happen while they are still young. However, adult cats can also undergo these procedures safely.

Preventative care is also important. Vaccines can keep pets protected from a wide range of dangerous parasites and diseases. The core vaccinations Fluffy requires are rabies, feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), feline panleukopenia (FPV), and feline leukemia (FeLV). Some non-core vaccines may also be recommended by your London, ON vet, including (FeLV) for cats older than one year), Chlamydia felis, and Bordetella bronchiseptica.

The best way to keep Fluffy free of parasites is to keep her parasite control up to date. Even indoor cats can be plagued by things like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Consult your London, ON veterinarian to find out what the best option is for you and your feline buddy.

You will also need to watch out for signs of illness. Cats can be tricky here, since they tend to hide symptoms. You may not notice anything is wrong until Fluffy’s condition becomes quite severe. 

Keep a close eye out for these things:

• Litterbox Avoidance
• Respiratory Issues
• Discharge
• Reduced Appetite
• Poor Grooming
• Withdrawal
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Grumpiness
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Disorientation
• Uncharacteristic Behavior Or Vocalizations

The sooner an issue is diagnosed and treated, the better. Contact your London, ON vet right away if you spot anything amiss. 

Ground The Furball

Kitties may love patrolling their kingdoms and terrorizing small birds and mice, but it’s best to keep Fluffy’s explorations in check. Once she goes outside, she’ll be exposed to a wide range of dangers as soon as she’s outside, such as cars, weather, chemicals, stray cats, predators, parasites, and, unfortunately, people.

This also protects local wildlife. Don’t forget that cats are, well, fluffy little serial killers. They have killed many types of animals, including several threatened species. 

Make Your Home Cat-Friendly

No matter how big your home is, you can easily take a few steps to make it cat-friendly. Cats enjoy both small apartments and large mansions. They aren’t that picky when it comes to living quarters. But while they don’t need much space, they do need entertainment.

The best thing you can do is add some cat furniture. A scratching post or board is a must! Fluffy will also appreciate a cat tower.

Simply providing your furry friend with vantage points and things to explore can make your home more fun. A comfy window seat can keep a cat occupied for hours. Fluffy loves bird watching! You can even build a catio or enclosure for your pet.

Cat Proof Your Home

Cats do not actually have nine lives. However, it is easy to see how this misconception came about. Fluffy does have a knack for getting into mischief and sometimes narrowly escaping it.

One crucial aspect of keeping Fluffy safe involves keeping up with petproofing, which entails removing or securing anything that isn’t safe for her. Some of the things you would want to address include small or sharp objects, such as beads, buttons, safety pins, jewelry, and small toy parts; plastic bags and ties; anything ropy or stringy; and toxic plants.

Chemicals are another big concern. Poisoning is one of the main causes of emergency visits to vets, and it is one of the main causes of death for household pets.

Some of the things that are toxic to cats include:

• Automotive products
• Fertilizer
• Pesticides
• Rodenticides
• Cleaning agents
• Paint
• Drain openers
• Detergents
• Bug Spray
• Medicines, whether prescription or OTC

It doesn’t take much for our feline pals to ingest dangerous levels of toxins. If your furry friend walks through a puddle of chemical cleaner or gets a little spilled on their fur, she could easily get into trouble, as she’ll try to lick her fur clean. Ask your veterinarian for more information.

Keep That Motor Running

It’s also important for Fluffy to feel loved and safe. spend time with her every day, and just pay attention to her. Many kitties are lap cats who love to curl up on us while we read or watch television. These charming balls of fur are quite emotional, and form very strong bonds with their humans. Spend time with your kitty! Pet her, play with her, and let her snuggle with you.

Talking to your feline pal can also be helpful. Some cats will reply, while others will just listen. The key is that your feline pal will know that you are trying to communicate with her.

Is your feline pal due for an exam? Get in touch with us, your local London, ON pet hospital, if you have any questions about cat care!