Are you thinking of living with a small feline? If so, this article is for you. After reading it, you will know what is the care of a cat, what can you feed him, what vaccines he needs, what objects you should buy to make his life even better, and much, much more.
So, without further ado, let's get started.
What material things does a cat need?
And let's start with the basics: the first and most important shopping list. A cat doesn't really need a lot of material things to be happy, but it will need all of these things:
Bed
There are many models: carpet type, with cushion, for the radiator ... The ideal is to buy two beds: one for the summer, which will be open, and another for the cold months with a backrest or cave type, since in this way you can choose one or the other depending on the ambient temperature.
Drinker and feeder
You have them in plastic, ceramic and stainless steel. Depending on your budget, you can choose one or the other. These are the advantages and disadvantages of each of them:
- Plastic: they are the cheapest (they can cost, more or less, 1 or 2 euros) and they weigh very little. In addition, they can be washed without problem and they last a long time. There are them in different colors - yellow, pink, blue, green ... - so you have an interesting variety where you can choose.
- Ceramics: they are the most expensive (they can cost about 5 euros or more), and they are the ones that weigh the most. They can also be washed without problem, but if they fall on the floor ... they break. Despite this, they are the most recommended for large cats, since they do not have the necessary strength to overturn them.
- Stainless steel: its price is between the first two, costing about 2-3 euros. They are not light, but not too heavy. Some models have a non-slip rubber that covers the edges.
Scraper
The cat will need to sharpen its nails several times daily, therefore, scraper is essential. There are many models, as we discussed in this article. Choosing one will depend above all on your budget and where you want to put it, as there are some that are small that can be kept in a corner, while there are others that have to be reserved more space.
Litter tray and litter
Although you can teach him to relieve himself in the toilet, the truth is that it can take time. If you do not have it, or if you prefer to use the traditional tray, you should buy one that is wide and not very high (about 20-25cm). This has to be placed in a room away from where you will have your food, otherwise you will most likely not want to eat.
And of course it is also important to fill it with a sand for cats, which will have to be changed once a week or every month -depending on the type you choose-.
Toys
Can not miss toys. Stuffed or remote-controlled mice, rods, laser pointers, balls ... Buy a few so that your furry can have a great time with you.
And… not materials?
A cat, although it can be very independent, seeks the attention of its human. It is important for him and for his health (both physical and mental) that his family listen to him, that he makes him feel loved. Thus, every day you have to give him a lot of love and make him see that he really is another family member.
Of course, it is also necessary that you leave a space where you can go to rest or relax if at any given moment you feel stressed.
Caring for a cat
Food - What should my cat eat?
Now that we know everything a cat needs, let's see how to take care of it in the best possible way, starting with feeding. The cat is a carnivorous animal. This means that their diet is meat-based; knowing this, you have to give natural food (chicken wings, organ meats, fish), or Feed dry or wet that does not contain cereals or by-products. In the event that we cannot afford it, we can choose to give him a feed that contains rice as the only cereal, as it is the "least bad".
We will give you about 5 times a day, or we will always leave the food at your free disposal, depending on what we have chosen to give you. If the kitten is less than two months old, he has to drink milk (you will find much more information here).
Hygiene - Care of the eyes, hair and teeth
Eyes
Often the eyes of the cat can dawn with legañas that they must be removed with gauze moistened with warm chamomile, being very advisable to do this daily, especially if it is a feline with a flat face, such as the lost.
Hair
The hair has to brush daily, whether it is short or long. In the first case, once a day will suffice, but in the second case it will be necessary to do it about two or three times.
Can you bathe?
The truth is that It is not necessary. The feline spends much of its time grooming and keeping clean, but if you see that it is very dirty you can bathe it from two months of age using a cat shampoo.
Teeth
A cat can also have very clean teeth. How? Cleaning them with a toothbrush and toothpaste made specifically for him that you will find for sale in pet stores.
Veterinarian - Taking care of your health
From time to time it will be necessary to go to the vet, either because he is ill or because we want him to. neuter or spay to avoid having unwanted litters. But, in addition, it will also be necessary to put a series of vaccines, which are:
- At two months the first dose of the trivalent vaccine (protects against panleukopenia, herpesvirus and rhinotrachetic disease).
- At three months the second dose of the trivalent vaccine.
- At four months the first dose against feline leukemia.
- At five months the second dose against feline leukemia.
- At six months against rabies.
- Once a year you get the booster shot.
Taking all this into account, surely you and your cat will be very, very happy 🙂.