Congratulations on being owned by a cat! Whether you’re a new cat owner or someone with a multi-cat household, one thing is for certain: You and your kitty family are going to have a great time together. However, these cute pets do depend on you to keep them in tip-top shape. It’s much like having a furry toddler in your hands, but with less maintenance, and a litter box. (Hopefully no one out there makes their toddlers use litter boxes.)
Did you know cats can sleep up to twenty hours a day? But when they’re not sleeping, eating, or showing off in windows for passersby to admire, they are playing. Toys, therefore, are a great way for your cat (or kitten) to hone its hunting skills, stay fit, and not get bored while you’re away at work. Toy mice filled with catnip( not all cats are responsive to the chemical which is contained in this herb), a ball, or laser pointer -- be careful not to direct it into the cat’s eyes -- are all good toys. Rotating the toys is also a good idea, as the kitty will enjoy rediscovering an old friend (or foe). Not all toys need to be purchased. Bringing home a cardboard box from the store brings new scents into your home stimulating a cats curiosity.
Food and water are essential for any living being. Likewise, cats like their water fresh and clean. A platinum drink well is a great way to entice your cat to drink. It’s also a good idea to have a few special dishes for food, such as glass, stainless, or ceramic dishes. We suggest serving your cat's meals twice a day. If cats are given too much food, they may tend to overeat. Remember, fat cats are made, not born. Dry food is recommended by the veterinarians here at Greenfield. If canned food is offered, only leave it out for an hour and throw away any uneaten portions as it will spoil.
Cats are very fastidious creatures. They like their litter box to be clean. If it isn’t clean, they might start “going” elsewhere, and you certainly don't want to deal with that. A good, plain clay or diatomaceous earth (DE) litter is great for easy cleaning on a daily basis. And daily cleaning means you can keep an eye on your cat’s health for early warning signs (e.g., abnormal frequency in urination, odor changes, feces change, or blood in urine or feces) and make sure any problems that arise are taken care of immediately. It’s a good idea to scoop litter daily and change the cat litter weekly, removing all the old litter and giving the box a thorough cleaning.
While cats are very clean creatures with saliva containing natural deodorants and cleansing properties, the best thing to help your cat with grooming is brushing. It will help remove excess hair, which leads to hairballs for cats. If your particular cat has long hair, then it is essential to keep it tangle free. Brush daily, most cats enjoy it. A warm wet paper towel can be used to smooth across brushed hair to remove excess hair and dander.
Making an appointment with a Vet is paramount when getting a new cat, especially if it hasn’t been spayed or neutered. Spaying or neutering your cat is the single most important action you can take in giving your cat a long, happy and healthy life. The veterinarians here at Greenfield Animal Hospital recommend Feline Leukemia and FIV testing before a new cat or kitten is introduced into the home.
Once-a-year "wellness" checkups ( twice a year for cats over 10 years of age) and vaccinations are key to preventing minor and major health issues.
We would love to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about your cat or kitten. Please call us today! 775-463-0055
CAT HEALTH
405 S. Main Street
Yerington NV 89447
775-463-0055
Litter box tips:
- Keep the litter box clean
- Use a litter box that is at least one and a half times the length of the cat from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail.
- Avoid covered litter boxes, if possible. If a cover must be used and there are multiple cats in the household, cut a second entrance in the cover.
- Avoid having a litter box in a noisy, drafty, high traffic, or otherwise undesirable area.
- Provide at least dim light during the night
- If the cat is very young, old or disabled, cut a low entrance into the litter box.
- If the cat does not dig in the litter box and cover its excrement, simultaneously offer two or more kinds of litter in separate litter boxes and keep a log of the cats' preferences. A number of different litters may need to be tried before the owner can identify the one that the cat prefers.
- If your cat is used to going outside, try putting a little bit of dirt in the litter box along with the clay litter.
- If there is a suspected history of learned aversions, offer the cat a new litter box in a new location.
- If there are multiple cats in the house, provide as many litter boxes as there are cats, plus one more litter box.
- place litter boxes in multiple sites.
- If there is a social conflict between any of the cats, let us help adress the conflict.
- If the cat has long hair, trim the excess hair between the toes, around the anus, vulva or penis/sheath.
- We do not recommend clumping litter for health and safety reasons; use only clay or DE litter.