About Cats
This website was made to teach people how to take care of their cats.
Cats are seen as really easy animals to take care of, and sometimes
it sounds like people think they will just take care of themselves.
That is not the case. You need to do a lot of things with your cat. Playing,
emptying the litter box, giving attention, making sure they are healthy,
taking care of their coat, their teeth and their claws are all part of
taking care of your cat. On this page, you will get information on
how to do some of these things.
If there is anything you think would be good to discuss here, or you
have a question, please e-mail questions@aboutcats.eu.
Any questions about your cat’s health will be answered with some general
information and the advice to contact your veterinarian. If you think
your cat is in pain or ill, please contact your veterinarian immediately for
professional advice. Better safe than sorry.
Care
Claws
First of all I would like to make sure you all know the difference
between clipping a cat’s claws and declawing your cat. When you clip
the claws of a cat, it is like when you cut your nails. On the other
hand, declawing your cat means you cut their fingers off at the first joint.
Declawing your cat causes health issues and your cat will be in pain due
to it. Clipping their claws does not.
Depending on whether you have an indoor or an outdoor cat, you might need
to clip your cat’s claws. We clip their claws in order to make
sure the nail doesn’t get too long. An outdoor cat will grind their
claws down so much that they stay short enough. That means you don’t have to
clip their nails. Indoor cats do not grind their claws down as much, so if
you have an indoor cat, you need to clip their claws.
Make sure you don’t take off too much, since cats have blood vessels in
their claws. You can see them as a darker line inside the claw.
If you can’t see it, cut a tiny bit off at a time.
Coat
Cats shed (if you have a cat with hair, that is), which means it’s a good idea
to brush them during shedding season. If you do, your cat will
end up swallowing less hair while grooming themself. That means less hairballs
to clean up. You also get less hair lying around in your home
if you brush your cat. It’s also important to brush long haired
cats regularly to avoid matting.
When it comes to brushing, the best way to go about it is to
just let the cat do the grooming. You might need to bathe senior cats when they start
having problems reaching all parts of their body. Cats who have peed
or pooped while travelling might also need help cleaning themselves up.
Food
All cats are carnivores. That means they eat meat. The difference between
carnivores and omnivores is that omnivores (for example humans) eat everything,
while carnivores (for example cats) only eat meat. That means they can't survive
without eating meat.
Another thing that is important to know is what cats can and cannot eat. Even
though they are carnivores, cats are prone to taste the leaves of houseplants.
Make sure you don't have any plants that can harm your cat. There are lists online
that you can check out.
When you are choosing food for your cat, there are a few things to think
about. Is the quality good? Is this food for kittens, neutered cats, or for
elderly cats? Cats need different kinds of food at different stages of
their life to live as healthy of a life as possible. Also, remember neutered
cats gain weight easier than cats that still have functioning reproductive
systems. Indoor cats also have a huge tendency to gain weight if you are not careful.
OBS! Follow the recommendations on the packaging for your cat food when
it comes to portion size. And always listen to your veterinarian’s
advice when it comes to food.
Q&A
Q: I just adopted a second cat and need to introduce her to my
other cat. How do I do that in a good way?
A: I would recommend you to check out Jackson Galaxy’s
youtube video on cat introductions. It is a step-by-step
guide on how to introduce your cat to a new furry family member.
Q: I just got a kitten, and I’m wondering if I should castrate him.
A: Yes, you should castrate your cat. There are already too many
homeless cats, and we don't need to bring more of them into the world.
Neutering your cat also makes them less prone to pee in other places
than in their litter box. They also don't have the sexual drive
that might lead to them getting out of the house to mate.
Generally it is much better for the cat and for you.
Q: I’m thinking about getting a cat, but I’m worried that
my partner, or I might be allergic. What can I do to figure it out?
A: A good way to know if you are allergic is to get a
pillowcase and have a cat lay on it. Then you and your partner
sleep on the pillow case. If you have an allergic reaction
to the pillow case, you shouldn’t get a cat. If you don't feel anything,
you should be good to go. Just remember this is not a foolproof test.
If you want to ask a question, please send an e-mail to questions@aboutcats.eu.