How to care for a cat

• How to care for a domestic cat's claws
• How to cut a cat's claws yourself
• How to wash a cat without injury

The radical method in this case is onihectomy, or a claw removal operation performed under general anesthesia. The animal is extremely difficult to tolerate such a procedure. Therefore, a more humane, although requiring regularity, is considered the usual cat manicure, or, simply, clipping claws.

Cutting claws will require you to prepare special tools - tweezers, or special clappers - and some dexterity. Cats, as a rule, are not happy with this procedure, so it is important to be able to keep your pet in such a way that it does not slip out and, moreover, does not bite you or scratch it. The most violent is recommended to wrap a towel. It is much more convenient to perform similar manipulations together, when one holds a cat, and the second handles claws directly.

The most important thing in this procedure is not to damage the pulp, otherwise it will start to bleed. Pulp can be identified by a pinkish color. For convenience, you need to press on the pad, so that the claws become fully visible, and cut off the upper sharp part of the claw.

The regularity of trimming - about once every 3-4 weeks.

Do not forget to cook something tasty for your pet, so that at the end of the clipping of claws, to smooth the unpleasant impression of the pet.

Top Cat Care Tips

Many do not know how to properly care for a cat and make elementary mistakes. To prevent this from happening, remember the following tips:

1. Meet the kitten with all the necessary things for him. Therefore, before you bring a kitten to the house, purchase these things:
   • Tray,
   • Tray filler,
   • Kogtetochku,
   • Special comb,
   • Bowl for food and a separate bowl for water
   • A rug on which the bowls will stand,
   • Kitty toys,
   • Carrying.

1. Nutrition kitty. What and how to feed your pet, decides the owner. However, it should be remembered that there are prohibited foods that absolutely can not be fed kittens and adult cats. If you feed your pet dry food, then do not give him any vitamins in the feed they already have. And if your cat eats only natural products, be sure to add vitamins to the diet.
2. Claw clipping. From a young age, teach a kitten to shear claws, the sooner you do this, the better it will be for you and the pet.
3. Brush your cat ears. Since childhood, brush your pet's ears - this should be done regularly. If you do not know how to care for the ears of cats, then consult with your veterinarian.
4. Brush your teeth. Train your pet to this procedure, but kittens do not brush their teeth too often.
5. Comb the cat's fur. Brush your pet regularly. This is necessary in order to remove dead wool.
6. Cat health Watch your pet's health, take it to the vet, get it vaccinated on time and de-worming it. At the first symptoms of the disease, take the pet to the veterinary clinic.
7. Take care of your pet. Give the animal a lot of time, play with him and educate him. Cats feel when they are loved and appreciated.
8. Consider the features of the breed. When buying a kitten, be sure to familiarize yourself with the features of its breed. After all, to care for different breeds of cats, it is necessary in different ways.
9. Remember that the cat is a member of the family. Do not forget that the four-legged pet is a full member of the family. Therefore, do not deprive him or hurt.

When you get a kitten, you should be aware that this is not a toy and you will have to answer for it for many years. Therefore, before buying, think carefully, but remember that a small four-legged friend in each family brings happiness and good luck.

At what age is it better to take a kitten?

The decision about the age at which to buy homemade fluffy is of course made to you, each decision has its pros and cons.

If you want to have a pet from an early age, then be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay a kitten a lot of your time. The whole further life of an animal depends on the quality of care, living conditions, nutrition and upbringing.

A kitten should be acquired at the age of no more than 12 weeks old, since too small kittens still need maternal care and are not ready for independent living far from their mother either psychologically or physiologically.

Pet Education

The main advantage of taking care of a kitten from an early age is the possibility of bringing up a pet in the rules and procedures strictly defined by you.

We talked about the need for raising a kitten from an early age in the article “Raising a kitten”. Be sure to read the information contained in this article!

The main conclusion of the need for raising an animal from an early age is that the animal is not adapted to living in a residential environment, it is guided by its instincts.

To create favorable conditions for living together with a pet, it must be educated in certain rules of behavior. It is necessary to accustom the animal to the regime and daily routine, to wean the animal to spoil things, to accustom to eat and fall asleep in strictly designated areas, to accustom to the tray and hygienic procedures from childhood.

Therefore, it is advisable to take the kitten into the house from an early age and give a lot of time and attention to raising and caring for animals, then your efforts will bring positive results. You will establish a very close and trusting relationship with your pet, you will become his best friend, and he will give you all his love and devotion.

If you still decided to take an adult cat into the house, then try to learn more about the pet from the former owner. Look at the conditions in which the pet was kept, assess the physical condition of the animal, it should look healthy. Look at the behavior of the cat, its reaction to you, the animal should be calm, not aggressive and not intimidated. Take the animal in your hands, stroke it, the cat should not scratch or bite.

Ask the owner if the cat is accustomed to the tray, if the animal has a veterinary passport, if it has been vaccinated, if there are any health problems. It is advisable to take a cat not older than 6 years, since after 6 years the period of advanced age begins, when cats can suffer from numerous diseases.

If the cat is well brought up has a calm and friendly disposition, then this is the best solution for people who do not have time to raise a little kitten. The adult cat will get used to you and will love you, not demanding so much time for care as a little kitten. Nevertheless, an adult cat needs care.

So, what is the proper care for a cat at home?

Right cat care consists of several conditions: proper nutrition, proper upbringing at a young age, veterinary service, grooming hygiene procedures and comfortable living conditions.

Let us dwell on a very important issue for cats care and feeding.

What is better to feed a cat or a cat?

If we talk about the diet required for the cat, then you should immediately draw your attention to the fact that you will have to pay a lot of attention to the issue of feeding your pet.

In addition to the rabbit and poultry, you can feed the cat lamb, beef, it is better not to give pork. Fish is better to boil and give no more than once a week. Also useful low-fat dairy products, sour cream and cheese are harmful. Milk can only be given to kittens. In an adult cat, digestive disorders are possible.

Also important is the diet, in kittens the number of meals is much more than in adult cats that have reached the age of one. So an adult cat needs two meals a day, whereas a small kitten up to 6 months needs 5 meals a day, and from 6 months - 4 times a day.

It matters how calorie and nutritional volume.

In this matter, it all depends on the age of the cat and its lifestyle. The more a cat spends energy on active games, the more it needs to replenish energy. Conversely, with age, the cat's activity decreases, and most of the time she basks in a relaxed state.

Do not forget that cats that have certain diseases or during pregnancy, as well as cats who have undergone sterilization or castration, need a special diet.

Take care of your cat's sterilization or castration of a cat if you do not want your pets to bear offspring. In the article "Sterilization of cats" you will learn how important this procedure is to prolong the life and health of your pet.

There are specially designed professional premium food that is designed for pets with different nutritional needs depending on age, activity level and the presence of diseases. Pay attention to the quality and composition of the feed, the reputation of the manufacturer.

Bosch is a manufacturer of high-quality pet food with a fifty-year history of production. German cat food super premium class “Sanabelle” has been developed taking into account numerous scientific studies in the field of pet feeding optimization, taking into account their daily needs for a balanced combination of proteins, fats, vitamins and microelements.

You can find the perfect feed for your pet in the "Feed selection" section.

The selection of food will take into account the age, lifestyle and the need for a specific diet in the presence of problems with the health of the pet.

For feeding cats, use three types of bowls, one for water, the other for dry food, and the third for wet food. Be sure to wash the bowls thoroughly, change the water regularly. Do not store open canned food with wet food for more than one day in the refrigerator, this will avoid poisoning your pet.

Cat care

Create all the necessary living conditions for your pet, it should have its own place to sleep, a tray, a place for its bowls, a scratching post, and also a place for outdoor games. Equip your pet a special town with different houses, shelves and minks, where the cat will be happy to climb, jump, tumble, and hide.

Good care involves hygienic procedures.

It is necessary to bathe the cat at least once in two months. Use special shampoos, taking into account the characteristics of wool. It is necessary to bathe an animal in the temperature of water of 38-38.5 ° C, comfortable for the cat's body. Dry the hair dryer on a quiet mode, so as not to frighten and burn your pet.

It is very important to comb the cat. If the cat is short-haired, then once a week is enough, if it is long-haired, then you need to scratch the cat every day, as well as remove mats. The brush should match the stiffness of the coat; the softer the coat, the softer the brush.

It is also necessary to cut the claws about once every two weeks with special scissors. Be careful not to damage the blood vessel in the claw cavity!

It is necessary daily to wipe the eyes and nose of the cat with a wet swab, getting rid of the dark bloom. On the eyes should not be purulent discharge, if they appeared you need to consult a doctor.

Once a week you need to clean the ears with a special solution for cleaning the ears. Sulfur of a healthy cat is light and has no unpleasant smell, if sulfur is darkened and has a bad smell, this is also a reason to come for a visit to the vet.

You also need to brush your teeth cats, if the diet does not have solid food. It is enough to brush your teeth once a week, there are special toothpastes for cats.

The animal must be regularly, once every three months to show the vet. The fact is that in addition to compulsory vaccination, a preventive examination should also be carried out, since many diseases have no symptoms.

Regular examination by a specialist will prevent many serious diseases, and in time the detected diseases at an early stage will be effectively cured without negative consequences for the pet.

Even if your cat is not on the street, she is still at risk of infection, as you can bring various bacteria, viruses or helminth eggs into the house from your shoes.

Be attentive to your pet, any deviation from normal behavior in the form of refusal to eat, disorders with stools, coughing, vomiting, discharge from the nose and eyes, as well as passivity, apathy, unnatural postures, etc., are good reasons for going to a specialist.

Give the cat your attention and affection. She, like any other living creature needs to communicate. In the space of your apartment, she has no one to communicate with anymore, as soon as you and your family members Do not ignore her, communicate, play, stroke the cat. She needs tactile contact, so the cat forms connections and supports them.

On the body of the cat there are special glands that produce a secret, with which the animal marks its space and you as well. There are cases when the lack of communication in a cat causes stress, which entails negative health effects. The psyche of the animal is closely related to its physical condition, therefore, a rude and aggressive attitude towards the animal is not allowed. Do not scold him and never hit! Only love, attention, care and caress are necessary for health. cats care and maintenance the guarantee of its longevity. We gave you a couple of tips on caring for domestic cats, now everything is in your hands!

Love animals and be responsible for their fate!

Cat food

Cats can be fed both professional and semi-professional food. At the same time, it is forbidden to give products from the table, as many of them are not suitable for the cat's stomach and the organism as a whole.

In nature, these animals feed on mice and birds, which means that the diet at home should contain meat, cereals, and offal - these are the components that are included in cat prey.

If you make a decision about your own cooking, then you can add the following foods to your diet:

• low-fat cooked meat
• boiled vegetables,
• dairy products,
• boiled fish
• chicken eggs.

If it is not possible to prepare food for your pet, you can use industrial feed. At the same time, it is important to realize that low-quality products and their waste are used in low-cost options. Such food can cause serious harm to health and shorten the life of cats.

If with all the variety of feeds it was not possible to find the best option, you should seek help from a veterinarian. It will help you choose the brand and type of food that will suit your pet.

How many times a day do you need to feed?

A kitten is required to eat every 2-3 hours, which is 5-6 receptions per day. At the same time, the portions should not be large. With the right amount of food, the animal eats most of it in 5 minutes. In this case, the remnants of food before the new intake is recommended to be removed.

With the age of the kitten, the distance between receptions will increase, as well as the volume of the portions themselves. At the same time, he no longer needs night feedings, it is enough to replenish a bowl with food 3-4 times a day. Upon reaching 1 year, the number of meals is reduced to 2-3 times.

Optimum portions

Some owners measure the volume of a portion for a cat with the help of kitchen scales, and some follow the rule “a portion must be such that it will be eaten without residue”.

At the same time, it is the second group of owners that are at most right. With a sufficient amount of food, the cat will eat the whole batch and will move away from the bowl with pleasure, starting to wash. If the animal is undernourished, it will sit near the empty plate.

Besides the fact that cats need regular food, they also require compliance with the drinking regime. Water should be available and always fresh. Especially this rule applies to those cats that feed on industrial feed.

Grooming

Despite the fact that the cat often licks itself, its fur requires extra care. For short-haired breeds, combing is recommended to be done weekly, and for owners of thick and long hair - every day.

To accustom to such a procedure is as early as possible, the only way to comb it will be quick and without problems. For the molting period, combs with metal teeth will do. They are able to penetrate deep into the undercoat and remove loose hair.

Cat toilet

An important condition in the question of how to care for a cat, is its attitude to the toilet. If the animal does not acquire the proper skill in time, you can forget about a comfortable life for a long time.

Kitten teaches all the necessary things mom, but in the new house can happen “trouble”. In this case, should be with understanding and patience refers to the small creature.

To help in this matter, just dip the napkin in a puddle and place it in a tray. The next time the kitten must navigate by its own smell. The place for the tray also plays a significant role: it should be quiet and secluded.

No less important is the type of filler. For breeds with long hair, it is better to take large granules, they will not stick to wool and create mats. Слой наполнителя должен быть в среднем 5 см.

Покупные составы способны быстро впитывать влагу и неприятные запахи, не создавая дискомфорт животному и окружающим людям.

«Народные» составы для туалета, такие как песок, газеты, опилки и прочие, лучше не использовать. The paper absorbs moisture poorly, which means that the cat will carry its urine throughout the apartment, and sand and sawdust easily stick to the paws, also creating a mess in the house.

The tray should be cleaned in a timely manner, followed by the addition of the composition. If necessary, a complete change of the filler is performed, while the tank itself is cleaned with a faint-smelling agent.

Cats - animals are very clean, but there may be "incidents".

Animal shits for several reasons:

• gastrointestinal tract diseases
• lack of attention
• jealousy,
• period of sexual activity, etc.

Ear care

Diseases associated with the ears, can bring a cat and its owner a lot of trouble, and there are many due to inadequate care.

Part of caring for a cat is regular inspection of its ears and cleaning 1-2 times a month. For the implementation of this procedure, you will need ear cotton buds and a special cleaning agent sold in any pet store.

Before the procedure itself, in order not to hurt the animal, it must be securely fixed. You can reduce the risk of being scratched by wrapping an animal in a towel.

The very same cleaning involves wetting a cotton swab in the acquired composition and a neat cleaning of the ear from the inside to the outside.

Another treatment procedure that you should start as soon as possible.

For its implementation will require:

• cleanser
• cotton pads,
• special claw shears,
• napkins,
• a means of stopping the blood.

Most cats do not like this procedure and depending on the nature, each of the animals responds to it differently. Before you begin, claws are treated with a cleansing agent.

Circumcision should be carried out at a slight angle so as not to affect the pulp. If such a nuisance has happened, the nail will begin to bleed. To stop the blood requires treatment in advance prepared means.

The frequency of the procedure depends on the growth rate of the claws and on average is no more than 2 times per month.

If the cat eats solid industrial feed, then brushing the teeth occurs naturally mechanically.

Those animals that eat mostly soft food or natural food, it is recommended to regularly brush their teeth. To do this procedure correctly, you need a soft toothbrush and veterinary toothpaste.

To begin with, the animal is given a taste of the paste, the next time it is gently held with a finger on the gums, and only then a brush is used. You should not try to clean the entire mouth for the first time, it is important to get the cat used to this procedure.

Brush while brushing teeth is held parallel to the gums. The teeth are processed, starting at the far end, towards the front incisors. And with the same direction is processed the entire mouth.

Eye care

In a healthy animal, no discharge from the eyes occurs. In extreme cases, small transparent clusters in the corners are possible. Cheerleaders should be rich brown discharge, as well as red, inflamed eyes.

Such symptoms in most cases indicate the development of the inflammatory process and require immediate veterinary care. Before visiting the veterinary clinic, it is permitted to treat the eyes with cotton wool soaked in chamomile solution. The same procedure can be performed for prophylactic purposes.

Cats are pure animals by nature, so washing their wool is required only in two cases:

1. Preparing for the exhibition.
2. With obvious pollution.

If such a need has arisen, a special shampoo suitable for the type of wool is used. The use of the conditioner will prevent tangling of wool and ease the procedure of combing. For exhibition animals produced a whole series of products for the care of wool.

In the process of washing, both shampoo and conditioner are diluted in water and carefully foamed. Such a composition is much easier to evenly distribute throughout the body of the animal.

The procedure itself includes the following steps:

1. Preparation of all necessary means: shampoo, conditioner, towel, hairbrush, hair dryer, etc.
2. The inclusion of water and its regulation at the optimum temperature.
3. Rinsing cat fur.
4. Shampoo distribution throughout the body followed by massage movements.
5. Thorough washing off of foam.
6. Drawing the made foam conditioner.
7. Wash the wool and wash the foam.

Some cats absolutely do not tolerate water. In this case, for cleaning wool, you can use a dry shampoo, which is distributed throughout the body and then thoroughly combed.

About health

Attentive and caring owner of the animal will immediately pay attention to changes in behavior. And after all, they are the first to signal the beginning of the development of a disease.

If the cat has the following symptoms, it should be taken as soon as possible to the veterinarian:

• loss of appetite,
• repeated diarrhea or vomiting,
• high temperature
• reduced activity
• blood clots in the urine or feces
• mucus from the nose or eyes,
• copious saliva.

Walking on the street

Some cat owners do not limit them in the space of an apartment, letting them out. Right or not - every owner defines for himself.

If the animal is still allowed to walk, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

1. The cat must be completely healthy and vaccinated,
2. The walk is done only on a special leash,
3. On the animal must be a collar that protects against parasites,
4. After the walk, the paws are thoroughly washed,
5. In cold weather, walking clothes are put on the cat.

During the period of molting and the low content of beneficial substances in animals, they especially need an additional intake of vitamin complex. This situation is observed mainly in the spring and autumn months.

At this time, the immune system is prone to malfunction, digestion deteriorates, all other systems also reduce the activity of their work.

Acceptance of the vitamin complex normalizes the work of the whole organism, improves the appearance of the coat and has a positive effect on the whole organism.

Pregnant and lactating cats feel the greatest need for nutrients.

It is important to bear in mind that cats feeding on high-quality industrial feeds receive all the necessary substances from their composition, therefore they do not need additional intake.

Vitamins must be added to the diet of cats eating natural food. The course of treatment usually lasts one month and is repeated twice a year.

Caring for domestic cats is quite simple and does not imply special skills. Elementary procedures are understandable and accessible even to beginners. As a result, a healthy and well-groomed animal will certainly thank the owner for their attention, love and affection.

And a little about the secrets.

The story of one of our readers Irina Volodina:

My eyes were especially frustrating, surrounded by large wrinkles plus dark circles and swelling. How to remove wrinkles and bags under the eyes completely? How to cope with swelling and redness? But nothing is so old or young man as his eyes.

But how to rejuvenate them? Plastic surgery? I recognized - no less than 5 thousand dollars. Hardware procedures - photorejuvenation, gas-liquid pilling, radio lifting, laser facelift? Slightly more accessible - the course is 1.5-2 thousand dollars. And when to find all this time? Yes, and still expensive. Especially now. Therefore, for myself, I chose another way.