Information about Keeping Pet Cats

Domestic pet cats have been kept as companion animals and “mousers” for hundreds of years. In terms of numbers, there are more cats than there are dogs. A cat can live well into its teen years, although the average lifespan of a cat depends on a number of factors, such as general care and whether the cat is allowed outside at all.  Learn more about the basic information regards to keeping a pet cat.

Selection and Purchase

Kittens are playful and fun, they are also destructive and will use their claws on your furniture and you. Before you get a cat, decide if you want a kitten or a more settled adult. Families with young children may find a cat to be a better choice than a kitten. Seniors as well, might find an adult cat to be a better companion. It is nearly impossible to determine what personality type a cat will have when you look at them as a kitten. So if you want a particular personality type, such as cuddly, select an adult who is that type of cat.

 While there is great variety in dog breeds, cats are quite a bit similar. Some breeds are more active than others, but not to the extent of difference in the dog family. As such most people select their cat based on color and hair length alone. If you are interested in showing and breeding, then you should start off with a purebred registered cat from a home that raises show/breeding quality pets. On the whole most other cats, including those from pet shops should be considered only as pets rather than breeding stock.

You can easily get a cat free out of the newspaper, but it may require medical care, which can be costly. You can also find cats for sale in pet stores, but the best place to get a pet kitty is from an animal shelter such as the Humane Society, or SPCA. There you will be genuinely saving a life, and will have an awesome selection to pick from.

Female cats cost a bit more to spay than a male to neuter, but sometimes you can find cats who have already had this done in advance. Males who are not fixed will spray, and occasionally males who are fixed will continue to spray.

Never accept a kitten under eight weeks of age, and never pay for a kitten or cat who is not vaccinated or vet checked.

Feeding

Kittens need kitten food up until at least eight months of age. If at this time they are still lean, they can remain on kitten food until one year of age. Adult cats need adult food. Either way, they should have access to dry food all the time. Kittens should have canned food, best fed in small amounts several times a day. Canned food is an option with adults but is generally recommended to be fed in a small amount once a day.
Not all dry foods are good for cats, some contain too much filler like corn, which as we know, cats are carnivores, so corn is not natural food for them. They love milk, but it is not good for them either. Tuna, ham, and cheese, should not be given to cats either.
Cats need access to water at all times, and will drink more when it is kept fresh.

Care and Housing

Cats live longer lives if kept indoors only, but some owners enjoy letting the cat out from time to time. This can be done safely by providing your cat with some sort of cat enclosure or pen.

If a cat is going to be an outdoor only cat, it must have a place to go for shelter on colder, or wet, days, and should be given extra food.

Cats do not need regular baths, and generally wont tolerate it anyhow. You may brush them to reduce shedding. A good selection of toys is very important. Treats are optional.

Your pet kitty will be happier if you provide it with a scratching post or own cat tower for sleeping, playing, and scratching.

Cats need a litter box, different kinds of litter provide various levels of odor reduction, generally the more expensive a litter is, the better the smell reduction. Some cats refuse to use litters which are scented so you may want to avoid them. Having more litter boxes than you have cats is also a good idea.

Other Information

• Cats have been domesticated to be kept as house pets, they can live outdoors but this is not the ideal.
• If you want a cat to be a good mouser, feed it well, as it will hunt for fun in addition to hunting for food.
• Spayed or neutered pets live on average two years longer than pets that are not fixed.

• Speak to a veterinarian in your area to learn what vaccinations are required.

Links

How to Build a Cat Enclosure