You are the new owner of a pet cat or as some would say, the cat is the new owner of you. Owning a cat can be very entertaining, worthwhile, and comforting. Cats have a way of showing their personalities, while also giving you the attention and relaxation that you need. In addition to the rewarding factors that a cat provides you with, you are also responsible for caring for your cat. Cats require the following types of care.
Food and water
You might be surprised at how often you are purchasing cat food now. Even when it doesn?t seem like your cat is eating extra, you find that the cat food bag is empty a lot. Additionally, purchasing any bag of cat food is not enough. Cat?s foods should be catered to their specific needs. A kitten, for example, will need a different type of food than an older cat does. If your new cat is overweight and spends the majority of its time indoors, you will also want to consider a weight control food. It is also important to leave fresh water out at all times, even when you are not at home.
Daily exercise
A lot of people choose cats as their pet because they do not require as much exercise as other animals. Although this is true, it does not mean that they don?t require any daily exercise. Cats are more prone to being overweight, usually because they are not as active. Most cats sleep for about 16 hours on average. Find an activity that your cat enjoys and make it a point that they get some amount of exercise at least once per day.
Annual vaccines
Cats, just like other animals, require vaccines and checkups annually. Animal care can be expensive, so it might be a good idea to get cat health insurance. In fact, the U.S. spends about $13.59 billion on vet care each year. Cat health insurance allows you to make one minimal monthly payment. Your monthly payment then covers all vaccines, checkups, and other types of health care for animals. It is best, however, to get your cat health insurance early on to get the most financial worth from it. When you add together years of annual vaccines and checkup appointments, the cat insurance cost is well worth it.
Daily care
Another cost that many cat owners fail to consider is the cost of daily care. If you travel frequently or spend many days away from the house at a time, you will have to pay someone to care for your cat. Although cats do not require the same type of care as dogs when you are away, it is best to not leave your cat unattended for many days. You might even choose to send your cat to a cat day care center, where they will be watched 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. One of the benefits of a pet day care is that you can also count on them to give your cat special foods and needed medications each day.
With about 76.43 million cats, the U.S. has more felines than any other country. In a country that is busy and constantly on the go, cats are the perfect pet. They do not require a ton of attention and they are relatively low maintenance. This does not mean that they don?t require some amount of care. Cats need fresh water and food daily, annual checkups and vaccines, and daily exercise. To help with the costs of cat care, it might even be a good idea to purchase cat health insurance.