Wednesday, March 5, 2008

A Guide To Cat Care - Taking Care Of Them Properly

The cat has become one of the world's more popular pets to own. The more popular cat breeds include but are not limited to the Persian and Siamese varieties. This pet has a very long and decorated history throughout the annals of time. Like owning any other pet there is a definite cost of ownership involved.

Cat care includes many areas and all of them require money. You obviously need to buy cat food, and sometimes for the more expensive vet costs. If your cat breeds litter, obviously it will get more expensive as the years go by. A litter box, food dish and water dish and even some toys are just part of cat care. You can also try to get an ID collar just in case your cat ever gets lost.

Proper cat care also includes the necessary feeding of your cat. And feeding depends largely on the age of the cat. Kittens require several feedings a day until the age of 12 weeks and can get expensive real fast if they are fed canned food. Cats between three and six months need to be fed thrice a day. Cats love canned food but any canned food that is exposed for longer than 30 minutes need to be disposed of. Anyway, canned food does not have much dental benefits than dry food does.

You should always adopt a different plan whereby you can leave a supply of dry food out for your cat. Just make sure there is sufficient water when you give the dry food. One good thing about dry food is that they cost less than canned food and it can also help prevent tartar from building up on the teeth of your cat. Always try to check the dry food and buy those that are beneficial to the health of your cat and avoid generic food, although it may be cheaper.

Your cat care will get a little tedious if you own kittens. You will need to give only kitten food that is designed for them. Remember to clean and refill the water dish every day. Cow's milk is a favorite for both kittens and adult cats but you should avoid giving because it can cause diarrhea. Occasional treats of the milk and some human food is good, but too much of it will cause your pets to grow fat.

Another fairly important aspect of cat care is cleanliness of your cat. Occasional bathing will be good enough but you will need to brush them at least once a day. Hairballs will be reduced through brushing and your cat's coat will be nice and clean. Cats that are kept indoors will need to have a litter box that has an easy access for them. Cats do not like dirty litter boxes so just remember to clean it once a week.

Summary

Although felines like all pets require some time and effort they will quickly become in-dispensable. As long as you take care of them medically and physically your cat should be a pillar of health. Taking the time now to educate yourself on proper cat care will pay dividends later if you ever have to use it.


Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/A-Guide-To-Cat-Care---Taking-Care-Of-Them-Properly/55405
Pets Health

No comments: