When you plan to adopt any animal, be it a dog, cat, or any other, you must bear in mind at all times that this furry will depend on us throughout its life. And not only that: but before even taking him home we must acquire that commitment to him that should never be broken.
However, until the last century - and even today there is still a long way to go - responsible animal ownership was little more than an illusion of a few, such as Britain's Roger Campbell. This man, tired of the use that was being given to many animals, formulated in the mid-60s a series of fundamentals that would end up being known as the 5 freedoms of animal welfare.
Free from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
All animals must always have water at their disposal. This water has to be clean and fresh. In the specific case of cats, you have to know that they do not usually drink much from the trough, since they get a large part of the water they need from their food (remember that they are predators originating in the desert). Therefore, it is advisable to buy a fountain type drinker.
With regard to food, being a carnivore, it must eat meat, and it also has to do 3-5 times a day. The ideal would be to give natural food, such as the Yum Diet for cats or Barf, but there are very good feed such as Applaws, Orijen, Acana or Taste of the Wild, among others.
Free from discomfort
All animals have to be well, comfortable. We often just think about buying them a bed, but the reality is that that is not all they need. In fact, It will be useless to have the best quality bed in the world if you are living in a place where stress, tension and screaming are the protagonists of the day.
Free from pain and disease
Animals are living beings and, as such, they can fall ill and / or feel pain more than once in their lifetime. Although they cannot tell us in words how they feel, they will do it in other ways (stopping eating for example, or losing interest in things that previously satisfied you).
We, as your caregivers, we have to take them to the vet at least once a year to be checked, and again every time we suspect that he is unwell or have had an accident.
Free to express yourself
Animals that live with humans must be able to express themselves. In the case of the cat, it has to be able to act like a cat, which means that has to be able to meow, explore, play, be with family, and even scratch (a scraper) whenever you need it. If we only want a furry to show off, it will be better for all that we do not have it.
Free from fear and stress
This point is very important. No animal should be mistreated. Returning to the topic of cats, sometimes children behave in an inappropriate way with them, pulling their tails or harassing them. It may be a game for them, but it causes a lot of stress and fear for the cat. It is necessary for parents to educate their children, and to teach them to respect the animal in the house.
If this feline has gone through a traumatic moment in its life, it may need the help of a specialist so that it can be happy again. If we find ourselves in this situation, we will contact a professional who uses positive reinforcement to help us.
We hope it has been of interest to you.