This article is being written at the end of December.  At this time of year many families take on a new pet.  Children clamour for a pet as a Christmas gift and all too often kittens are bought without adequate thought as to the long-term consquences.  If that has already happened in your house then some of what I’m about to write might come too late, but here goes anyway. (And the points below apply whatever the time of year)

Think before you buy. Never buy a kitten or adopt a cat on an impulse without thinking through the implications.  To take on the care of a dependent animal is a heavy commitment. Don’t do it lightly.  There’s going to be far more to deal with than those cuddly moments with a gentle furry friend.

Give attention to training. Give close attention to the training of your new pet.  It needs to know what are the boundaries of its behaviour. Invest time and patience in teaching it standards of conduct that will make your companionship a truly happy experience.

Feed your cat well – without over-feeding. Learn the principles of cat nutrition. Ensure that your pet is properly nourished so as to keep it healthy and full of vitality. Be very careful, though, to avoid over-feeding; far too many pet cats become obese with long-term damage to their health.

Neuter your cat. Unless you have a well-considered plan for deliberate breeding from your cat, have it neutered, whether male or female.  Unwanted litter with a female and tom-cat behaviour with a male can make life very difficult.

Keep your cat clean. Hygeine is one of the principal responsibilities of a cat owner.  Two areas stand out as of special importance – grooming and the litter box.  Short-haired cats will need less human grooming attention. Training in the use of the litter tray is important for cats; training in regular cleaning out of the litter tray is essential for humans.

Consider cat safety. Most cats are allowed outdoors unattended without problems.  I’ve noticed in recent months, however, that especially in the United States (in line with an increasingly zero-risk approach to life) there appears to be a movement toward being more protective and keeping cats indoors.  Personally I don’t agree with this, except possibly in highly urban environments where there is serious risk from intensive road traffic or with very expensive breeds where there is a significant risk of theft. In such cases the use of a leash or an outdoor pen might be advisable.  Generally, though, cats are very capable of taking care of themselves and don’t need pampering.

Don’t skimp on the Vet’s Fees. Most certainly it is a good thing to learn the basics of cat health, animal first aid and DIY treatments for minor ailments, but don’t skimp on veterinary fees.  And don’t delay treatment for serious conditions or the pain both to your pet and to your bank account could get much worse.

Tags: cat care, cat equipment, cat health, cat safety, cat training

Maybe you, like many other people, think it’s cruel to put your cat in a small cage.  Maybe it is if you do it unnecessarily and for long periods, but there are circumstances in which it is the only safe thing to do.

One example is when driving.  A cat roaming free in a car travelling at sixty miles per hour is a serious health hazard both to itself and to you.  A good quality pet carrier is not really an optional extra.

Cats, like other pets, can be unpredictable and as the old saying goes it is always better to be safe than sorry.  When, for example, transporting a cat to see the vet it is always better to have it securely locked in a cat carrier.

There are many different kinds of cat carrier available on the market today.  Here are some points that you should consider.

Your cat carrier should:

• be big enough for a full grown cat; remember that small kittens soon become grown cats;
• allow enough space for the cat to have some freedom of movement;
• have plenty of ventilation to allow air to circulate;
• have a hole in at least one of the sides big enough for the cat to look out;

Many cat owners make a practice of putting several layers of old newspaper in the carrier base so that if there’s an ‘accident’ the urine will be soaked up  This can be especially helpful if your cat is not yet accustomed to being transported in this way.

Just in case the carrier is bumped or thrown around it is also good to have some form of padding around the sides.  This could be your cat’s own blanket; in fact this would have the added advantage of making your cat feel more comfortably at home in its carrier.

Pet carriers these days are made from many different materials.  In times past one would often see a kitten’s head poking out from the top of a wicker basket.  More often today cat carriers are made of plastic materials or plastic coated metal.  There is a wide range to choose from in our CatCarePlus CatStore. The two graphic images above are also clickable and take you to pages with further details.

UK visitors: We recommend the leading UK pet store, Pets at Home

Tags: carrier, Cat, cat carrier, cat safety, cats, kittens, pet, pet carrier

In the area around where I live it would be considered extremely strange to walk a cat on a lead.  Even cats that spend most of their lives indoors are usually allowed out in the garden (and therefore further afield) to get some outdoor exercise.  A cat leash would be a highly unusual item of cat care equipment.  Walking a dog is common practice, but walking a cat is something I have never seen in all the years I’ve lived here.

This, however, is a country area and road traffic is light.  Cat safety is not a major issue here.  I can, however, fully appreciate some pet owners’ concerns about allowing their cat to roam in the great outdoors of a busy town or city. In that situation a cat leash and harness can be a big help toward keeping your cat safe.  You may be able to give your cat or kitten a much more enjoyable life with a well-designed harness and a leash long enough to give some freedom but short enough to maintain control.

Cat Lead and Harness

As with everything else connected with pets there is a wide range of cat leads to choose from, at a wide range of prices. Watch out for the design though.  You may buy one in small, medium or large size but your cat leash still will need to be adjustable for size and made in such a way as to hold the cat firm and, when needed, to restrain movement without pressure on the throat.  Take a look at the ranges here:  for the USA and the UK

Tags: cat lead, cat leash, cat narness, cat safety