Is there such a thing as a vegetarian cat?  Well certainly there are cats which are fed by their owners with non-meat foods, but this is to go against the basic nature of the animal.

It must be remembered that a cat is by nature a hunter.  Its most ‘natural’ food is a small mammal or bird that it has caught itself.  Outdoor cats will at least to some extent provide for themselves in this way.  Indoor cats, though, do need to be fed meat.

It might, of course, seem possible to provide vegetable protein in a cat’s food just as can be done for a dog.  This simply does not work.  A cat’s digestive system does not handle vegetable protein well.  It must have meat.  Also, it is only in meat that the essential protein material, taurine, can be provided.  A    cat is an “obligate carnivore” and to force it to be anything else is an act of considerable unkindness.

In the home environment even meat is not enough, however.  The hunter catches its prey and devours not only flesh but also fur, feathers and bone.  In what is to the cat an artificial environment these must be replaced.  Well-formulated dry foods provide the combination of fibre and other material including trace elements that is missing from meat-only food

So in summary, the message is, do not attempt to make your cat a vegetarian, and provide it with a balanced mix of wet meaty and dry fibrous foods which between them approximate to what ideally they would get from hunting in the wild.

Tags: cat diet, cat food, obligate carnivore

A responsible cat owner will always want to protect the health of the family pet.  Especially where there are children people often treat their cat as a member of the family.  Keeping it healthy and treating it well when ill are seen as solemn responsibilities.

In this article we will look at a few starting points for your cats health. As with humans an important  influence on health is diet, and not only the nature and quality of food but also its quantity

Feline obesity is a major problem in the ‘developed’ countries of the world, where both people and the their animals have become far too prone to eating far too much of the wrong kinds of food.  In the UK, for example, it has been estimated that almost 35% of cats are overweight

Obesity can lead to heart disease, especially as your pet ages.  It is important to manage the quality, quantity and frequency of feeding a cat in this situation.  Get advice from your vet as to all three of these points.  The necessary mix of nutrient material can be crucial to health,and even to survival, and it could be very different from what you might yourself expect.

Whilst shorthaired cats can groom themselves, those with longer hair often need some help.  Keeping your cat’s hair clean and in good condition is important to its health.  Try to give it a good brush on at least a weekly basis.  Incidentally, this can be an excellent way to create an affectionate bond between you and your cat.

Cat dentistry can become necessary.  Mouth infections are not rare.  Even more common, in female cats, are unwanted pregnancies. Unless you especially want a litter of kittens, it is good practice to have your kitten neutered.  Repeated litters of unwanted kittens are not good either for you, the cat, or the kittens themselves.  Remember also that following a sterilisation your cat may need an adjustment to her diet, and you should check this with the vet who does the operation.

Many people prefer to remove the claws of pet cats so as avoid risk of scratches both to humans and to their furniture.  In many countries, however, this is now an illegal practice and hopefully will become so more widely.  Claws are an inherent part of being a cat, and declawing is an attack on its ‘cattiness’.  It is done solely for the convenience of a human owner, with no benefit to the animal itself.

Providing somewhere for your cat to deposit its urine and faeces other than on a corner of your carpet is vital both for your health and hers.  A litter box or tray is a must. However, this does need to be ket clean.  Contaminated areas of litter should be removed daily and all of it replaced weekly.  Be sure to use litter material which is highly absorbent and also, especially if your cat is prone to attacks of feline asthma, make sure that it is not too dusty.

As with small children you should be careful what you leave lying around in the house. Poisonous liquids especially should be away from access even by an adventurous kitten.  You may also be well advised to check on the safety of your houseplants and their fruits.

Cats tend to bond strongly to their location.  Removal to another town or city, or example, can be quite traumatic. Use a cat carrier to transport your pet, and your vet should be able to recommend a mild sedative if he considers it appropriate.

Don’t forget to have your kitten immunised against the more common cat diseases, especially if it is not being kept totally indoors.  Infections pass quickly from cat to cat.  Take advice from your vet and remember that although there is a cost to this, the price of ignoring these precautions can be very much higher, quite apart from the unnecessary suffering that can be caused to your cat

Tags: cat care, cat cealth, cat diet, cat neutering, cat sterilisation, cat sterilization, looking after cats, looking after kittens