Veterinarian advice on keeping, caring for and treating cats. How to care for, treat, feed, bathe a cat? How to accustom a cat to a new home, scratching post, house?

Useful tips

Everyone knows the common phrase that cats are animals that walk on their own

, does not mean that these pets require less care or care than, say, dogs or guinea pigs.

There are several mandatory rules that must be followed once you have taken responsibility for such a gentle, fluffy creature.

like domestic cats. We bring to your attention 12 unacceptable mistakes that, if made by cat owners, put the health and life of their pets at risk.

So, under no circumstances!

Veterinarian tips for feeding cats

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

Cats need to be fed meat, but not very fatty, dairy products. Meat should be given to cats raw, at least every other day, after scalding the piece with boiling water. With raw meat, cats receive the bioflavonoids necessary for their predatory body, which are needed for metabolic processes. Without raw meat, cats may get sick and lose their fur.
These animals are big lovers of meat, such as: chicken, beef, veal, minced meat, chicken gizzards and necks and liver. All this can be fed to cats. Veterinarians recommend giving liver to cats 1-2 times a week, after pouring boiling water over it.
If you feed your cat liver very often, it can lead to hypervitaminosis (excess of vitamins) A and D vitamins.
Also, cereals and vegetables are very useful for cats, but not every cat will eat it. Therefore, study your pet to see which cereal or vegetable does not disgust him, and mix it into his food.
If you managed to teach your cat to eat cereals and vegetables, then this is only a plus. You can cook different porridges, except for rolled oats (it contributes to disruption of carbohydrate metabolism in cats).
You can also add vegetables to the porridge, both boiled and raw, simply grated. Raw vegetables, like raw meat, are also very necessary for the cat's body. Beans, tomatoes and eggplants are contraindicated for cats. Vegetables can be served with meat, without cereals.
also needs to take special vitamins , they can be in the form of tablets, or place a pot of special grass next to the bowls, which contains all the vitamins necessary for cats.
Be sure to remember to provide fresh, clean water .
Cats can be given only 1-2 eggs per week, no more, as this destroys biotin, which is responsible for the health of the coat. Lack of biotin leads to hair loss.
Nowadays, on store shelves we are offered a large assortment of dry ready-made cat food, but not all of them are healthy. Veterinarians recommend choosing food at a high or medium price; it contains a large percentage of meat and all the substances and vitamins necessary for the health of cats.
Cheaper food does not contain meat at all; instead of animal protein, it uses vegetable soy protein, which can cause stones in cats.

Healthy nutrition is good for cats too.

Feeding

The diet of an adult animal must be balanced. The diet largely depends not only on the breed, but also on the age, weight, physical activity of the pet and even on the time of year. Feeding rules are the same for all animals. Underfeeding or overfeeding should be avoided, so the amount of food should be from 30 to 60 g per kilogram of the cat’s weight, if we are talking about natural products.

Food is given at the same time of day, always in a clean bowl and in a certain place. The remaining food should be removed after half an hour. The cat needs to be provided with constant access to drinking water.

In addition to meat products, the diet should contain vegetables, fruits, and cereals. Adult cats require food low in calcium, sodium and phosphorus. There are ready-made foods that not only include all the necessary microelements and vitamins, but also have a therapeutic effect for certain diseases. They should be given to the animal strictly in accordance with the dosages indicated on the packaging.

Opened canned cat food should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a day. Failure to follow this rule can lead to food poisoning.

What should you not feed your cat? What do veterinarians advise not to give to cats?

Not everything can be fed to a cat; many foods are very dangerous. Let's look at the list of these products.

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

Many people think that fish is a cat's favorite treat, but this is not true. Fish is harmful to them; it contains a lot of protein, which increases the load on the animal’s kidneys, thereby destroying the mineral balance, after which urolithiasis begins.
Feeding cats only fish will cause a deficiency of vitamin K, which will lead to poor blood clotting. In addition, the fish may be infected with parasites. Therefore, if you decide to pamper your pet with fish, choose sea fish and feed it once a week, maximum twice.
You should not give cats flour products and legumes, they cause flatulence in the animal and intestinal upset.
You can't feed cats pork; it's too fatty for them. Fatty foods cause obesity of internal organs in cats, and pork meat can also contain parasites.
You also shouldn’t let the food you give your cat have any seasonings.
Make sure that cats do not get to indoor plants, as they can be poisonous.

Veterinarians advise not to feed cats everything.

How to accustom a cat to a new home: advice from a veterinarian

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

If you cannot imagine life without a pet and decide to get yourself a pet, then veterinarians advise adopting an animal at the age of 10-12 weeks. At this age, the pet begins to get used to the person.
When you bring your furry pet into your home, the bag or basket in which the animal was brought does not need to be removed immediately. Place it in a corner until the cat adapts to the new place, it will be a refuge for it, the cat will use it more than once. Place the necessary vessels in a place visible to your pet - a bowl for food and water, a tray where the cat will go to the toilet.
Food bowls should be made of materials that are easy to clean, and the litter tray should be spacious, 5-10 centimeters high. For convenience, the bottom of the tray can be filled with special granules - fillers, sawdust or torn paper. This kind of filler is easy to replace, but it’s better not to use sand; throwing it down the toilet can clog the pipes in your house.
With the advent of a new home, the cat may behave very warily, hide in a corner or, on the contrary, sniff everything. At such a moment, the animal experiences great stress; a person must help the pet survive this stage. At such a moment, the person himself should be calm, not scream, not behave aggressively while the pet gets used to the new place.
Try to spend a few days as much time as possible with the new family member, pay more attention to him and then the adaptation period will end much faster.

For a cat to be happy, you just need to love it.

Toilet issue

As a rule, the cat chooses a latrine for itself, where it can later be placed with a litter tray. The tray should have low edges, into which a special filler is placed (with the smell of wood, sand, etc.). For adult cats, a tray with high sides is suitable so that the contents do not scatter around the apartment.

How to accustom a cat to your house: advice from a veterinarian

Cats need to be raised with love and care, like small children, and therefore, keeping them requires a lot of effort and adaptations to ensure that your pet can feel comfortable in the home. Let's take a closer look at them.

Cat house . The cat needs to be taught to go to the toilet and eat in strictly designated places, but it is important that the pet has its own corner for sleeping and resting. There are special houses for cats and cats that greatly simplify keeping such pets in the house. With the appearance of a cat house in your apartment, your nights will be calmer, without a cat on your pillow, it will be easy for you to find him in the apartment. A cat may not immediately start living in a house, since the cat family is very conservative, they need time to get used to it.

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

Size. A house for a pet must be selected according to size; if it is too large or small, the pet may refuse to spend time in it.
Smell. A new home shouldn't smell like glue or the cheap material it's made from. Animals have a keener sense of smell than humans. If the house smells strongly, your pet will refuse to live in it.
House upholstery. Take a closer look at your pet, what material does it lie on most often at home, maybe it’s your terry robe or shirt. The most common material is carpet or plush; it is soft and does not electrify. If your pet has some kind of favorite bedding, then you can put it in his house, so he will get used to it faster.
The place where the house will stand. This should be a quiet and secluded place, not on the aisle. Cats love to be near a radiator, so the house can be installed near a heating device; you should not place it too close, as overheating will cause the animal to shed.
Sustainability . The pet's home must be carefully secured. Cats are afraid of structures that shake. Once scared, your furry friend will never go there again.
Special conditions. Males are cats, they are protectors and must monitor the situation around them; their house should have several tiers. Females prefer to take care of their offspring, so they prefer closed, cozy homes.
Functionality . Cats not only love comfort, but also show great interest in various designs. You can add tiers, a scratching post, or attach some kind of toy that your pet will enjoy playing with.

Praise your pet when he spends time in the house, give him treats, pet him. Cats love affection and they are very smart, affection and love are very important to them. This attitude towards the animal will quickly help it adapt to its new home and to you.

How to accustom a kitten to a litter tray, read the article: How to accustom a kitten and an adult cat to a litter tray or toilet?

Give a cat a home and you will see a look that will never betray you.

Kitten adaptation

The optimal age to adopt a kitten is 3 months. His immune system has already strengthened, his intelligence is developing, and his appearance is also visible.

How to make your baby accept your home as his own? Be prepared to help him with this for the first 3-4 weeks.

On the first day the kitten is in the house, limit its space to one room. Let him look around, sniff, and only then introduce him to the rest of the territory.

Playing with a kitten

Kittens develop better in games; they perceive their playmate as their friend, so don’t be lazy to spend 15-30 minutes every day playing with your baby. Some kittens are even better trained after this. Kids who were played with as children are more cheerful than kids who were not paid attention to.

Friendship with a dog or another adult cat

First, the animals need to be introduced. The advantage of a kitten is that it smells like childhood and an adult animal will sooner or later accept it anyway. During the first meeting, avoid direct contact. Lock the animals in different rooms, and then switch places. This way they will get used to each other's smells.

Afterwards, arrange a “confrontation” again. If there is no conflict, then consider that friendship will definitely happen.

Kitten and child

A child who is too young may inadvertently hurt the kitten. Therefore, contact should take place under the supervision of an adult. Older children need to be explained the rules of playing with a kitten. By the way, the latter must also feel the limits of what is permissible.

Read: The best cat breeds for a family with a child.

Conan the Barbarian or Destroyer Kitten

“A cat knows how to purr himself and forgive himself for anything.” However, the destruction that the baby causes is not small at all. To prevent damage, you can cover the furniture with double-sided adhesive tape, place valuable items at a height inaccessible to the baby, and remove flowers and photo frames higher up.

Limit the kitten's passage to hard-to-reach places and, as an alternative to trimming the claws, put special tips on the claws.

How to accustom a cat to a scratching post: advice from a veterinarian

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

If your cat begins to damage the furniture and it’s too late to trim its claws, then you urgently need to buy your pet a scratching post. First, you need to observe what place the pet began to spoil.
If it is a jamb or a wall with wallpaper, then it is better to buy a scratching post with a carpet corner. Place it in the place where the cat began to scratch. At first, a cat may accept such equipment aggressively, but there are a few tricks that will help you accustom your pet to a scratching post.
First, you need to pick up the pet, bring it to the scratching post and place its paw on it, then lightly press the paw so that the cat releases its claws, and move the paw from top to bottom. This trick needs to be done several times, maybe not in a row, but over the course of a day or several days.
Secondly, they now sell special sprays for this method, mostly mint-based. You just need to spray the scratching post. Veterinarians advise not to use valerian, it is a drug for cats.
For more information on this topic, read the article The cat is tearing up furniture: what to do? How to stop a cat from tearing up furniture: practical advice and radical methods .

Get your cat used to scratching posts from an early age.

How to care for claws

Domestic cats need to have their claws trimmed to keep their claws in order and to prevent them from injuring their owners during play.

It is enough to carry out the procedure a couple of times a month, using a special nail clipper or regular nail clippers.

Photo: nail care

Before starting the procedure, you need to wash your hands and treat the instrument with alcohol. It is important to choose a moment when the animal is in a calm mood. You need to pick him up and, with light pressure on the paw pad, force him to release his claws.

You need to trim the free edge of the claw, stepping back a couple of millimeters from the living part, equipped with blood vessels and nerves. It is pink in color and is clearly visible in the light. If necessary, you can file the cut edge.

Manipulations should be accompanied by gentle, soothing words. After processing each paw, you can take a short break.

Grooming: veterinarian advice

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

Taking care of their fur plays a very important role in the health of cats. These animals are very clean; they lick their fur very carefully. Sometimes such efforts are not enough and therefore veterinarians strongly recommend helping cats in this matter.
Combs and brushes, which can be purchased at a pet store, will help you care for your animal's fur. Try to examine your cats as often as possible to immediately identify any disease or parasites.
Brushing your cats will make life easier not only for them, but also for you. The fur you comb out could end up on the sofa or on the floor throughout the apartment. When a cat licks itself, it eats its fur to get rid of this lump, the cat begins to cough, causing vomiting. This is normal.
If the cat has short hair, then you need to comb it twice a week, and if the cat has long hair, then once a day, so that the hair does not roll up, otherwise you will have to remove this lump only with scissors. Try to brush your cats gently so as not to damage the skin.

A well-groomed coat is the key to a healthy cat.
More details on this topic in the article: The cat, the cat climbs a lot, loses hair all year round: the reason, the time of shedding. What to do, what to feed, what to give to a cat and a cat, how to care for a cat and a cat so that their hair does not come out?

Maine Coon

History of the origin of the breed:

The history of the Maine Coon breed began in the territory of Maine (North America), the climate there is humid, which obviously led to the cats acquiring thick and dense hair, as well as a chic tail and a powerful, strong body. For a long time they protected people's supplies from rodents, for which farmers highly valued these cats, and many people fell in love with them. There are a large number of different versions of the origin of this breed, they say that it is a mixture of a cat and a raccoon, and they say that cats and lynxes, in fact, scientists still cannot solve this riddle.

Description of character and life expectancy:

The serious and gloomy appearance of this breed prepares you to be wary of them in advance, but in fact it is not such an unkind and wild predator, it knows how to be a gentle and loving cat. Beneath the gloomy and menacing skin of the Maine Coon lies the kind and sweet soul of a little kitten. These giants are not at all selfish or withdrawn; nevertheless, they love loneliness and solitude, and get along well with other animals and children. The lifespan of a Coon is from 15 to 20 years; the oldest Maine Coon cat lived 23 years.

Grooming, hygiene and diet:

Caring for Kun's luxurious fur coat will require a lot of work and effort. To keep your fur always in order, the following devices will be useful to you:

Brush with natural bristles;
Wide-toothed comb;
Fine-tooth comb;
Comb with teeth of different lengths;
Comb with frequent small teeth.

Maine Coons should be combed 2-3 times a week, starting with a wide-toothed comb, after which you have gotten all the hairballs out of the coat; if the tangles are too tangled, you can move on to a fine-toothed comb. When you are finished untangling the tangles, go over it with a wool brush with natural bristles. When choosing combs, make sure that the material from which they are made is not plastic or metal, because... the wool will become electrified. It’s better to take wooden ones, or if you still opt for metal ones, be careful that there is a plastic ball at the end of each clove that will not allow you to scratch the animal’s skin. Every day you need to wipe the eyes with a cotton pad to remove natural secretions; you need to cut the claws once every 2-3 weeks with the help of a veterinarian. The animal's ears should be cleaned once every 1-1.5 weeks. Since the Maine Coon is a rather large breed, cats eat a lot, and keeping in mind that the cat itself is a predator, it is worth paying more attention to meat; the diet of an adult Maine Coon is feeding 4-6 times a day.

This is what the correct diet for a Maine Coon looks like:

Meat and offal;
Bones;
Fish;
Eggs;
Milk;
Low-fat: Cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk;
Buckwheat or rice porridge with water.

Bathing cats

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

In the wild, cats don't bathe unless it rains. The cat needs to be washed as it gets dirty. Of course, if a cat got into something, got dirty, and smells bad, then it needs to take a bath as soon as possible, and with antibacterial shampoo specially made for cats.
If your cat has fleas, you need to wash it with flea shampoo. If the cat takes care of itself, washes itself, washes itself, then it is not necessary to bathe it every day. In cats and kittens, a film forms on the body, which has a protective function for the body.
If you bathe your cat frequently, the film will begin to wash off, so it is better to bathe cats once every two weeks. For a pet that walks outside and comes into the house to spend the night, it is better to simply wash its paws and dry them with a towel that you have specially allocated for it.
If you decide to give your cat a good bath in the bathroom, you should first plug his ears with cotton wool to prevent water from getting into them.
If water gets into your pet's ears, he may develop a disease called otitis media. And also, make sure that the cat does not drink soapy water from the bath, this can cause stomach upset and poisoning.
More details on this topic in the article: Do cats need to be bathed, and how often? How to properly wash domestic cats, cats and kittens and with what?

Bathe cats as they become dirty.

Cat sterilization

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

Neutering a cat means removing the ovaries. Cats can not only be spayed, but also neutered, removing all reproductive organs.
A cat’s sexual desire can be suppressed with special drops or tablets, but they are hormonal and can harm the cat.
Your cat needs to be spayed when she is 8 months old. Before surgery, it is better not to feed the animal for 5-6 hours, as veterinarians advise. It takes a long time for cats to recover from anesthesia, about a day.
If after two days the cat is lethargic and has no appetite, then it is better to call a veterinarian at home. Do not forget to treat the seam; if it begins to ooze, then lubricate it with brilliant green or fucorcin.
If your cat scratches or licks a stitch, distract her from doing so. A cat's sexual desire can last up to several weeks while sex hormones circulate through the body.
Read more on this topic in the articles: Favorable period for sterilization of a cat and castration of a cat. Preparing a cat for sterilization and methods of sterilization, care after sterilization. Is it worth spaying a cat and neutering a male cat? What complications can there be?

We are responsible for those we have tamed.

Toys

For a kitten to grow and develop, care and nutrition are not enough; it also needs activity, so your pet definitely needs to buy toys. Furry mice, various balls, an attractive and rustling piece of paper on a string - any such toys will delight not only a kitten, but also an adult cat. At the same time, you should not accustom your kitten to playing with your hands, otherwise, when he grows up, he may show aggression and bite heavily.

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Castration of cats

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

Veterinarians advise castrating an animal at 9-10 months. If castrated earlier, the animal may develop problems with the urethra. It is necessary to castrate before the first mating.
If you operate on the cat later, it will not help; after the operation, he will still want the cat. Because the sex hormone in cats is also produced by the pituitary gland and, if mating has already taken place, then the sex hormone will not escape from the cat’s body.
After the operation, take good care of the cat, do not let him lick the stitch, put on a special circle so that he does not reach it. Let him drink more regular fresh water.
Feed him food that is easy to digest; heavy food after surgery and lack of water in the cat's body can cause urolithiasis and obesity. Such procedures are done at the request of the animal’s owners; if you want offspring, you don’t have to do it.

Not only dogs are man's best friend, but cats too.

Cat diseases: advice from a veterinarian

All cats are susceptible to various diseases and infections, and it doesn’t really matter if they are indoor cats or go for walks outside. There are diseases that only affect cats, and others that are dangerous to humans. Such diseases are transmitted through close contact between an animal and a person. Let's look at what diseases are common in cats and humans.

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

Rabies. This is a viral disease that can affect all animals, and therefore humans can also become infected with this disease. An animal can become infected from an infectious animal, or from a rodent that is a carrier of the disease. Signs of rabies include: refusal to eat, cats are afraid of light and water, their salivation increases, and they have become more aggressive. Basically, the virus in cats is in the mouth, and therefore it can be transmitted to humans from the bite of a pet. To prevent such a disease in an animal, it is necessary to undergo annual vaccination.
Ringworm . This disease is fungal and therefore the causative agents of this disease are fungi. This is a skin disease that is characterized by peeling and redness of the dermis and in the animal. Mostly it happens on the head or on the front legs. At the first signs of illness, you must immediately take the animal to the veterinarian, get tested, and then follow the exact treatment prescribed by the veterinarian. The animal's recovery can last up to a month.
Parasites. There are external and internal parasites. External parasites cause great discomfort to cats; they begin to itch frequently and severely. Such parasites are mainly found on the neck and stomach of the animal. They pose a great danger; through their bites they infect the animal with internal parasites - worms. Therefore, to begin with, veterinarians recommend removing external parasites; this can be done using special bathing products, and then begin removing worms. Just don’t delay treatment, this disease can be fatal for the animal. Read more in the articles: Worms in cats: causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention. What blood-sucking insects and parasites can live on a cat's body?

The list of diseases that cats can suffer from is very long. Some can be noticed immediately, but some can occur in a hidden form. Therefore, do not forget to take your cat for vaccination, inspect her fur more often, and generally take a closer look at her. If you suddenly notice something wrong, it is better to immediately contact a specialist. Don't be afraid to make furry friends, just follow some rules for keeping and caring for them and they will shower you with love.

Take care of animals, because for them you are the whole world.