Adopting a cat

FOOD AND WATER: Cats and kittens need to have access to clean, fresh water at all times. Cats should be fed two or three times a day. You may want to leave hard food out. Cats and kittens should also be given wet food at least once a day. Young kittens should be fed more frequently. Kittens should eat food specifically designed for kittens until they are about one year old. Cats must eat food specifically designed for cats or they may become sick. "People food” can be dangerous to pets. Chocolate and onions can be fatal. Do not give your cat milk or other dairy products, it gives them diarrhea. Some plants can also be toxic to pets. Never give your pet aspirin or other human medications. If you think your pet has ingested something toxic call your veterinarian immediately.

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HEATH AND SAFTEY:  Your cat needs annual check-ups and vaccines throughout its lifetime. Preventative care can save your cat a lot of distress and save you a lot of money later on. Cats and kittens should have access to a nice, sturdy scratching post. This helps satisfy the need to scratch (and will help save your furniture) and helps kitty keep his/her claws clean. All cats and kittens should have a tag on their break-away collar with your phone number and address on at all times. Your cat has already been microchipped and registered to the information you provided. Please make sure to update the information if it changes. Adjust the collar the fit your cat’s size as he grows, or it will cut into his neck. You should be able to get two fingers between the collar and kitty’s neck. Make sure only to use safety/breakaway collars which will come open if your cat becomes stuck on something.

 

DECLAWING: Cats claw for specific physiological and psychological reasons. Frequent nail clipping can help alleviate scratching problems. Your vet can show you how to do this. It is cruel and inhumane to remove the cat’s claws, which function as part of his/her fingers and toes. Think about how you would feel if someone amputated your fingers down to the first joint! Declawing is a mutilation that is illegal in many countries due to being inhumane. 

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GOING OUTSIDE: You should keep your cat indoors for her health and safety. If you have a fenced-in yard, you can purchase or build cat fencing to keep the cat inside it. Domestic cats left outdoors without supervision face many dangers from people, vehicles and other animals. It is vital that cats always have access to their home such as through a cat door so they can escape from danger and/or the elements.

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MEDICAL CARE: To be safe, bring your adopted cat to the vet within two weeks of adoption for an exam. Your cat will need to visit the veterinarian at least once a year for his or her annual check-up. A cat is subject to the same sort of ailments we are, and when ill needs to be treated by a veterinarian.