Do you have a cat? Americans are in love with their feline companions. It has been estimated that about 46.3 million households in the Unites States are home to at least one cat. If you are new to the world of cat companionship, there are some things you may need to know about pet health care.
- Get your pet chipped. Every year, at least ten million pets find their way to animal shelters. Without identification, only 14% of lost pets will ever get home. You can make it easier for someone to find you if your cat has been lost if you get them a chip. This is a painless procedure than can be done in just about any veterinary practice, pet hospital or all cat rescue. It is easy to do and you will feel better if you have this taken care of. When you take your cat in for other pet health care services, ask about a chip. Unlike a collar that can get lost, this will stay with your pet.
- Have your cat spayed or neutered. If you adopted your cat from a shelter, they may already have had this done. When it comes to maintaining pet health, this should be at the top of your “to do” list for your cat. He or she will be much happier, less likely to roam and fight or get pregnant (cats do not know anything about abstinence).
- Get your kitty vaccinated. Kittens need to go in for their first round of shots every three to four weeks until they are four months old. Talk to the shelter or breeder about what has already been done to the cat when you get them. When it comes to pet health care, getting them their shots is another important thing to take care of.
- The cat’s tail is like a mood ring. People who do not know much about cats sometimes think they are hard to read. This is not at all true! If you want to know what kind of mood your kitty cat is in, look at their tail! If they are strutting around with their tail straight up, they are in a great mood. This is how they show what a great mood they are in. If they are crouching down and/or their tail is close to the ground when they walk, this means they are scared or upset. This is not the time to pet them.
- When cats pant, it is not a good thing. If you are used to dogs, you may think that your cat’s panting is a happy sign. It is not. There are a few reasons that cats will pant. Some can be an indication of a true medical emergency that means they need to get to the pet health care center right away. It can also happen when they are under a lot of stress, cats have been known to pant when they are really scared. If you are not sure what is happening with your panting cat, err on the side of caution and call your veterinarian.
- You should not have to wash your cat. While some people do like to take their cats for professional pet grooming, you should not have to. If your cat stops grooming themselves, it might mean there is something wrong and they need to be seen at the pet health care center. This can indicate pain. One of the best parts of having a cat is that they clean themselves. Do not ignore it if your stops doing this.
- Give your cat canned food. Many pet health care experts recommend giving cats wet food. If you have a male cat, it can help prevent urinary tract problems, which are fairly common. It also has more protein and fat, which cats need. You should talk to the vet about how much your cat needs to eat. Cats need fewer calories than most people realize and an overweight cat is an unhealthy cat.
Cats are great companions. If you are new to cats, you will discover they all have unique personalities and a curious nature that makes life more fun.