Our feline friends are mysterious yet lovable creatures that creep into our hearts, one furry paw at a time. Caring for cats by looking after all of your cat’s healthcare needs is imperative from the very beginning. This way, you’ll ensure your bundle of love lives a long, happy, and comfortable life.
So, how exactly do we look after our cats’ every need? Keep reading to get the lowdown on how to care for a cat.
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Caring for Cats: General Care
As a cat owner, it’s important that you take care of the basics before anything else. Here are a general needs that you should be taking care of.
1. Fresh Water
For a creature that dislikes water so much, they sure are thirsty. Cats need clean drinking water, and plenty of it. So it’s important that they have access to clean drinking water at all times.
There are plenty of nifty gadgets on the market to make sure your cat stays hydrated. One of the most effective of which is a cat drinking fountain. Cats love drinking running water, so they’ll really appreciate the gesture.
⇒ USA – Shop for Cat Water Fountains
⇒ UK – Shop for Cat Water Fountains
2. Litter Box
Having a litter box is absolutely essential when it comes to caring for cats. While it’s a great way to train your kitten not to relieve themselves all over the house, grown cats can use them too.
If you live in an apartment or have a predominantly indoor cat, a litter box allows them to relieve themselves without going outdoors. They’ll also need a litter box for when it’s raining.
This is especially important if you have a sickly cat that’s not allowed outdoors, such as in cases with cats that have feline AIDS.
The general rule of thumb regarding litter boxes is that you should have one for every cat in the house, plus an extra. This way, they won’t ‘fill-up’ too quickly, and there’ll always be somewhere for them to go, even if you’re busy cleaning one of them out.
Litter boxes should be cleaned once a day to prevent the build-up of bacteria and an awful smell. If you’d like to make your life a little easier, opt for a self-cleaning cat litter box to minimize your daily chores.
3. Scratching Post
It’s no secret that cats love to knead. So why not get them their very own scratching post. This doesn’t just give them something to preoccupy themselves with, it also keeps their nails from getting too long and sharp.
Scratching posts come in all different shapes and sizes. There are even a few that look like a jungle gym paradise for felines. Remember that if you have more than one cat, you’ll need to get a bigger scratching post to prevent them from fighting over it. Or one post each.
4. Cat Carrier
Even if your cat is a self-proclaimed ‘stay at home cat’, there will be the occasion that they’ll need to go to the vet when you’re caring for cats. The best carrier for cats is often necessary to make your cat feel safe in an unstable environment like a car.
Be sure to line the cat carrier with their favorite rug or blanket so they’re surrounded by a scent they recognize. This will help them adapt far quicker to their new carrier.
How to Take Care of a Kitten
From the moment you laid eyes on that furry bundle of love, you knew it would be yours. So, of course, you want to care for cats in terms of their health needs from the get-go. Here are a few healthcare necessities that need to be taken care of while your feline is still a kitten.
5. Spaying/Neutering
Unless you use your cat for breeding, all cats should be neutered (males), or spayed (females). This procedure usually takes place when they are between the ages of 6 and 7 months.
It will prevent them from wandering too far off the property and starting fights with other cats. In males, it also lessens the amount they spray to mark their territory.
In caring for female cats, being spayed often saves them from many medical issues, such as infections and even uterine cancer.
6. Vaccinations
Like any other child, your fur children need to have their vaccinations to prevent health complications down the line.
There are certain vaccines known as core vaccines that every feline should get. These include vaccines for:
- feline herpesvirus,
- feline calicivirus,
- feline panleukopenia virus,
- feline leukemia virus,
- and rabies.
Then there are other vaccines known as non-core vaccines. These vaccines are recommended for general cat care but they will differ depending on where in the world you live.
Kittens are generally vaccinated once every three to four weeks until they reach sixteen weeks of age. This will differ depending on what your veterinarian recommends for your pet cat.
⇒ Don’t miss my posts on the Best Cat Brush, How to Groom a Cat and a guide to a quick Cat Check Up.
How to Take Care of a Cat
The healthcare of your cat doesn’t stop when it’s all grown up. A cat’s health needs need to be taken care of well into its old age. So here’s how you should be taking care of your full-grown cat.
Grooming
Grooming is an essential part of taking care of your cat. While most cats groom themselves, certain responsibilities fall on the owner. Here are a few items you may need for cat grooming.
7. Cat Brush
Brushing your cat with a cat brush is important, especially while they’re getting ready to malt. This stops them from ingesting too much fur, creating hairballs. Brushing your cat also stops the fur from matting.
If the hair does mat, be sure to use electric clippers and not scissors to cut it out. This is to ensure that you don’t cut the skin.
⇒ USA – Shop for Cat Brushes
⇒ UK – Shop for Cat Brushes
8. Nail Clippers
Trimming your cat’s nails is important, especially as they get older and become less active. In their old age, cats stop climbing trees and using their nails in a way that naturally trims them. So you’ll need to do it for them with nail trimmers.
⇒ USA – Shop for Cat Nail Clippers
⇒ UK – Shop for Cat Nail Clippers
9. Parasite Control
Many parasites can inhabit your feline friend. The most common forms of feline parasites are the ones your cat can ingest (roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms). These live in the intestine.
These are dangerous because they prevent the absorption of essential nutrients, which can make your cat feel weak. They also damage the intestinal lining, which can cause significant blood loss. Luckily, these parasites are fairly easy to get rid of by administering deworming tablets to your cat on a regular basis.
There are other, more dangerous forms of parasites like heartworm. This is a common parasite in the United States and is transferred via mosquitoes.
There isn’t any cure or treatment for heartworm, so prevention is key. You can prevent your cat from getting heartworm by administering the medication on a monthly basis.
⇒ USA – Shop for Cat Mite Prevention
⇒ UK – Shop for Cat Mite Protection
External parasites can also be a problem for your cat. Mange mites, ear mites, ticks, and fleas are among the most common parasites. Ticks and fleas can generally be eradicated with “spot-on” which you apply to the skin.
There are a variety of ways to treat mites ranging from oral tablets to skincare products.
10. Dental Care
In most cases, cats manage to keep their teeth clean all by themselves. But to aid in the dental hygiene of your cat, you should make sure you’re feeding them dry food. This cleans their teeth while they’re eating.
If you’re worried about your cat’s oral health, then ask your veterinarian to give your cat’s teeth a clean during every visit. This will ensure your cat doesn’t have gingivitis or gum disease.
⇒ USA – Shop for Cat Dental Products
⇒ UK – Shop for Cat Dental Products
11. Veterinary Care
It’s important to take your cat to the vet semi-regularly. This way, the veterinarian can pick up on any possible health issues before they get out of control. The vet can then administer the correct medication or treatment for your feline.
Here are a few things you may need over the course of your cat’s life. Stock up on supplies, or buy them as your vet recommends them.
12. Eye Drops
Your cat may need eye drops throughout the course of its life for a number of reasons. Pink eye, infections, excessive discharge, or cornea disease are all possible options. If you think your cat is experiencing any one of these problems, you should consult the vet.
⇒ Shop for Cat Eye Care
13. Bandages
Cat bandages are a great thing to have on hand. If your cat hurts itself and starts bleeding, the easiest way to stop it is with a bandage. Bandages are also used to support injured or sprained limbs.
Cat bandages are specifically designed for cats and usually contain a few layers of material and are easier to apply than if you used a normal bandage.
⇒ Shop for Cat Bandages
14. Vitamin Supplements
In general, cat food is fortified with the correct amount of vitamins and minerals. Adding unnecessary supplements can cause more harm than good. However, if you do feel your cat needs an added boost or is missing a little something, speak to the vet about it.
Certain cat supplements may be very beneficial to your cat’s health. Even making their coat a little shinier.
⇒ Shop for Cat Vitamins and Supplements
Final Thoughts on Taking Care of a Cat
Now that you know how to care for cats and kittens, you’re well on your way to becoming an esteemed cat owner. Looking after your feline’s healthcare needs is not only the right thing to do, it’s in your cat’s best interest too.
Luckily, caring for cats isn’t too hard. Follow these guidelines, throw in a bit of love and you’ll be well on your way.
Please Note: This post on caring for cats contains affiliate links. That means if you click through on most of the links and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. This will not effect the price that you pay. I wanted to make sure that you were aware of this.
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Amanda created and owns The Discerning Cat. A lifelong cat lover she is the proud parent of two Siberian cats, Alexei and Vladimir. She is passionate about understanding cats and different cat breeds.