Congratulations on being a soon-to-be fur-parent! With that comes a lot of new responsibilities and a whole lot of love for your new cat
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll be going through cat care 101 to ensure that you’re prepared for the lovely new addition to your home.
Without further ado, let’s begin!
Prepare your cat’s things before it arrives
Before you go to collect your new cat, make sure that you’ve selected a quiet room where it’s going to be staying.
To boot, make sure that you’ve got all its supplies ready and set up so that it can start getting accustomed to its new environment.
Here’s a cat supply checklist you can refer to:
- Cat carrier
- Cat bed
- Collar with name tag and contact info
- Litter box and cat litter
- Food dish and water bowl
- Grooming brush
- Scratching post
Bring your cat home when things are calm and peaceful
Did you know that cats get spooked pretty easily? Because of this, the first time you bring your cat home should be when things are calm and quiet
If there’s a lot going on and it’s rowdy at home, it could increase the stress and anxiety of your cat. This could make it difficult for your cat to settle in.
Get your cat microchipped
Although not a legal requirement in Ireland, microchipping your cat is the surest way to identify your cat. If brought to a vet, they’ll be able to know the owner’s name and contact info.
Hence, microchipping makes it easier for owners to be reunited with their beloved cats.
Unlike collars or tags, microchips can’t fall off since they’re injected underneath the skin. Don’t worry, though, the chip is as small as a grain of rice!
Stay up to date with vaccinations and check-ups
If you’re getting a kitten, you should ask its breeder about its vaccination history. Cats should get vaccinated at 8 weeks old (1st vaccination) then 3-4 weeks after (2nd vaccination) and probably at 16 weeks (3rd vaccination).
Keep in mind that only some cats required a 3rd vaccination dose. You’ll have to consult with your vet to address the needs of your cat.
After all the kitty vaccines are done, you’ll just have to go back annually for booster shots.
Give your cat toys and activities to do
As much as they love to sleep all day, cats are also very active pets. If you have a backyard or any open space, it’d be best to give them time to run around there for a bit.
Just make sure to keep an eye on them. You can even install CCTV around the perimeter so that you can check up on your furry friend every now and then while you’re away.
If your cat has too much pent-up energy, it may result in bad behavior and attitudes. Hence, try to play with them as often as you can and encourage an active lifestyle.
Secure your home
Cats are notoriously sneaky beings. Their curiosity sometimes gets the best of them and can land them in serious predicaments.
Unfortunately, there are a number of incidents of cats getting stuck under car hoods, locked in the dryer, running into traffic, and so on.
Hence, try to secure your home by keeping your windows and doors securely locked. Also, make it a habit to check up on your cat before loading up laundry, leaving the house, and so on.
And there you have it, our top tips for cat care 101! We hope that our guide was able to help you learn more about the basics of cat care.
If you’re looking for ways to prepare your home, we’ve got some recommendations to get you started: