Cat 101: The Basics of Owning One
Cats are one of the most interactive, playful, and loving cats you can adopt. Although they’re generally low maintenance animals, there’s a lot you need to learn when it comes to feeding them, keeping them entertained, and protecting your furniture from being clawed to the last thread. Here’s everything you need to know about cats before you introduce them to your home.
Give Them Time to Adapt
Cats naturally tend to be wary creatures; it’s their survival extinct and what has kept them alive for centuries. Unfortunately, this also means that your cat will most likely be shy when you first introduce them to your home. During the first few days, they might pick a hiding place and only occasionally come out to carefully explore their new territory.
With that being said, you should never try to force a cat to socialize with you. Leave their food and water bowls as well as their litter box close to their hiding place until they begin to get a feel of their new surroundings on their own. Once they’re ready to socialize, they’ll come to you.
Use the Right Litter
The first question that usually comes to a new cat owner’s mind is how to keep their home hygienic with a pet under the same roof. Luckily, most cats don’t need to be litter trained as long as you show them where you keep the litter box. However, after cats use it a few times, the litter may start to smell and it can be very pungent.
Your choice of cat litter plays a huge role in how pleasant your bathroom can smell. This pretty litter review states that you should opt for silica gel pebbles or odor-trapping clumping clay for easier scooping if you’re concerned about a foul odor. For a cheaper option, pine pellets are considered a safe and economical choice.
Opt for Organic Food
It’s tempting to grab the cheapest cat kibble at your local grocery store, but it’s not ideal for your cat’s health. The majority of cheap brands you’ll find in the market are filled with carbs that aren’t nutritious for your cat and can cause health complications in the long run of different kinds, from weight gain and obesity to kidney and bladder stones due to their high content in sodium.
Always make sure to ask your vet what the most nutritious kind of dry food and wet food is for your cat. It’s also recommended to feed your pet a homemade meal every now and then as a healthy snack. These include poached chicken breasts, poached salmon, raw or poached shrimp, and poached tilapia. Make sure you simmer the meat until it’s cooked and avoid adding any kinds of spices.
Keep Them Entertained
Although they’re low maintenance, cats can be destructive and aggressive if they’re not kept entertained and stimulated throughout the day. Stock up on cat toys, scratch posts, and trees, or make your own toys that you can use to play with your cat. Felines love to play chasing games, enjoy hunting games, and they can’t resist tall cat trees that keep your feline entertained.
Some of these adorable fur babies even like being walked, so make sure you test the waters with your new pet and see what they enjoy doing best for stimulation. There are also automated and interactive toys you can buy that can keep them entertained while you’re gone.
For those with busy schedules, this task might seem overwhelming and you may not always have time to engage your pet in stimulating activities. Cat lovers living around the capital of Alberta look for Edmonton’s trusted cat boarding services to take over while they’re away, ensuring their pets remain happy and entertained. These services often provide tailored care, including interactive play and socialization, to keep your cat engaged. With professional care, you can feel confident that your pet is being well looked after even when you can’t be there.
Make Them Feel Safe
Cats are very territorial creatures because having a private territory to claim is the only way they can feel like they have control over their environment and avoid danger. This is why it’s important to have “territory” areas in your home. Put up a scratch post and toys in every room to scatter your feline friend’s scent and make them feel more at home. If you already have a pet, you’ll need to designate a relatively spacious corner and make sure that the presence of the other pet doesn’t threaten your cat’s safety. Further, make sure you make the space cat-friendly rather than punish your pet for clawing up the furniture or jumping on the counter. To keep their claws on their posts and away from your precious furniture, you can use sticky tape on the edges of your furniture or where you don’t want your cat to be. This way, the cat won’t be subjected to being yelled at and will instead avoid all the sticky areas in your home.
Now that you know the basics of owning a cat, you can drive to your local shelter and let your future kitten pick you as their forever family. Make sure you scatter enough scratch posts and cat trees around your home, keep their litter box clean, and give them the space they need while they explore their new home. Finally, always inform your vet if your feline pet starts to display odd or aggressive behavior.
