cat-veterinarians

6 Cat Care Tips for Beginners

Bringing a new cat home is a very exciting time! Cats are great companions, but if this is your first time owning a cat, you may wonder how you can best take care of your kitty. Here are some ways you can care for a new kitten or cat with 6 simple cat care tips for beginners.

Cat Care Step 1: Preparing for your new friend

Cat Veterinarians

To begin, you will need to get all of your supplies for your pet. Basics include:

  • Litter box, litter, and scoop
  • Cat food and treats
  • Water and food bowls
  • Cat Bed
  • Grooming supplies
  • Toothbrush and cat formulated toothpaste
  • Collar with identification tags
  • Toys and various scratch pads

This is just a basic list, there are loads of other cat products to choose from, so don’t limit yourself to just our list.

Cat Care Step 2: Cat Wellness Examination

The next step is to set your kitten up with their first wellness appointment. This first appointment with your veterinarian will determine the starting point of health for your cat. Once the baseline has been set, the next step is to start on vaccination and parasite prevention. For kittens, you may need to come back in a few weeks for booster shots.

Your veterinarian will give you tips on how to keep your new feline friend healthy and happy at home. They will also discuss with you whether your pet has been or will be spayed or neutered and if they’ve received their microchip. The best step you can take to reduce the chances of them getting lost is to microchip them and keep your contact information up-to-date on the registry.

Cat Care Step 3: Feeding

As diet is pertinent to a cat’s health, maintaining your veterinarian-recommended diet and portion size for your feline is important. You should choose a schedule for feeding your cat each day right away and stick to this routine as much as possible. Encourage your kitty to stay hydrated by changing the water bowls daily or using a water fountain type of bowl since cats adore running water.

Cat Care Step 4: The Litterbox

Cats can be picky about their litter boxes, so you will want to be prepared for whatever challenges come your way by learning the most common litter box issues and how to address them. It is also a good idea to get familiar with how to deal with cat pee accidents.

Cat Care Step 5: Exercise

Because cats spend most of their lives indoors, it is important to offer both physical and psychological toys and activities so that the kitty doesn’t become bored. These include:

  • Set out paper bags, tissue paper and cardboard boxes in your living room, family room, or wherever the cat enjoys playing, to spark their interest.
  • A cat tree or things to climb on
  • Window perch
  • Toys( interactive games with you and brain games)
  • Time spent brushing your cat
  • Creating a safe space for them outside is also a good idea to expand their world
Schedule a Cat Veterinary Appointment

As with any animal, obesity in cats is very common, so don’t assume your cat is getting enough exercise on its own and learn how to keep your cat in good shape.

Cat Care Step 6: Cat Behavior Problems

Many cats develop behavioral issues when the home has a new cat or animal. If your cat responds to every loud noise or when you have guests, you may need help to socialize your cat. Or you may have the opposite problem and have a cat that is a bully. Your kitty may become stressed and need your help in getting calm.

Contact Us For More Cat Care and Cat Wellness Tips

If you recently added a cat to your home and need some more advice on how to get it used to its new home. Please schedule an appointment for their first wellness exam, or call for any questions you might have about excellent cat care.