Cat Care

Sedgwick County > Community Development > Animal Control > Cat Care

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Felis Domesticus are the world's most popular pet, even surpassing their distant canine cousins. In America, there are 60 million cats gracing people with the privilege of their company.

The newfound popularity of cats may be a result of society's changing lifestyles. People are busier than ever, and in most households both spouses work full time. While cats do require affection, they demand less attention than dogs, and are often happy on their own.

Cats may become the ultimate pet for the information age. As we spend more of our time watching TV or surfing the Internet, a cat is perfectly content to just sit in your lap and sleep.

Cat Food

Supermarkets and pet-supply stores offer entire aisles of cat foods. To ensure quality, look for a stamp of approval from the Association of American Food Control Officials (AAFCO).

There are several types of cat food, each of which has merits. Dry food, despite the fact that it looks completely dry, is 7 to 12 percent moisture. The primary advantages of dry food are its lower costs and the option to buy large packages. Chewing the dry food reduces tartar buildup on teeth. However, for some finicky cats, the dry food is the least palatable of choices. Some studies indicate that a diet of strictly dry food may predispose cats to feline urologic syndrome (FUS), a urethral blockage due to stone formation.

Semi-moist food provides a increased percentage of moisture compared to dry food. Moist canned food has the highest moisture component, up to 75 percent in some foods. Left out for free feeding throughout the day, this enticing food may result in obesity.

Dog food is not recommended for cats. Cat foods contain a higher protein content than dog foods. Dogs can survive on cat food, though a regular diet of cat food isn't healthy for dogs and is certainly not recommended to maintain a svelte canine figure.

The National Research Council estimates that wild, wacky kittens require about 250 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight. Couch potato cats need only 60 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight.

Middle-aged or older cats may require a low-calorie food or a special diet for health problems. To ease that possible transition -- or simply for the sake of variety -- change foods once a year. Make the transition gradually to lessen the chance of stomach upset. Cats in the habit of dining an entire life on one kind of food may truly have difficulty making a required change in diet later in life. In stressful situations, cats prefer familiar foods.

Homemade Diets

Feeding your cat a homemade diet instead of store-bought food can work, but the process is tricky. Under no circumstances are homemade diets recommended for cats without consultation from a veterinary nutritionist.

Why Homemade Diets?

Owners sometimes opt for homemade diets because they claim their finicky companions won't eat anything else. The truth is that these fussy eaters are made, not born.

The following scenario is pretty typical: the cat is not particularly hungry on a given day, or is just being finicky and turns its nose up at the usual fare. So the owner adds some tuna. Naturally, the cat decides to chow it down. The next day, the cat nonchalantly walks away from the food, and again a worried owner adds tuna. Well, by now the cat is in the process of convincing the owner that its regular food is way too bland. The bottom line: no healthy cat will starve itself to death. Don't give in to the cat's effort to train you; if your cat continues to balk at food, see your vet.

Proteins

All cats need a high-protein diet. Proteins are organic compounds consisting of amino acids linked together. Some of these are nonessential amino acids manufactured within the cat's body. Others are essential amino acids that the cats must receive through diet. Taurine is one such amino acid that felines must derive from their food. Taurine deficiency may cause reproductive problems, blindness and heart disease.

Vegetables

Vegetarian diets are not suitable for felines, whose carnivorous diets are motivated by more than a love of a nice steak. A vegetarian diet lacks many of the enzymes cats require. However, don't grill hamburgers for your cat and expect it to be healthy.

Milk

Veterinarians see cats more frequently for upset stomach than any other condition, and many of these visits could be avoided. Vets blame it on Hollywood; movies always show cats lapping up milk, even in cartoons. What this never shows is that several hours later, many cats pay a price with cramps and/or diarrhea. Many cats are lactose intolerant and can't digest cow's milk. Lactose-free milk can be purchased at supermarkets because many people have the same intolerance. There's no research to indicate that adult cats require milk.

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Cat Grooming

In essence, when you brush your cat, you're grooming it. Teaching spooked adult cats to enjoy the experience is a time-consuming procedure, but one worth the effort. There are too many cats whose owners have tried to force the issue, making an already fearful cat absolutely horrified. The next step is a professional groomer who muzzles the animal or just shaves it. Either choice is extremely stressful.

Begin your desensitization program by simply showing the cat the brush. That's all. Later, pick up the brush. That's all. Next step, nonchalantly touch the cat with the brush as you play or offer a food reward. By the way, tuna and/or sardines are the best way to convince many cats to do nearly anything. (Don't overdo these calcium-rich gifts.) Finally, take a tentative stroke, again as you're distracting the cat with play or treats. You get the idea. Take it really slowly. If the cat balks, back up; you've gone too fast. This process may take months, so be patient. Kittens can be taught to enjoy the process of grooming through the same methods. Some cats delight in the procedure so much that when an owner opens the cabinet where the brushes are kept, they come running, just like they do upon hearing the electric can opener.

Aside from the practical advantage of removing dead hair -- so not as much of it winds up on your couch -- frequent brushing is good for a cat's skin, and it enhances the bond and the trust between you and your pet.

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Cat Supplies

Collar

A flat collar is the law in some communities. Even indoor cats should have a collar with its rabies tag and identification, which should include the animal's name and the owner's name and phone number. Collars for outdoor cats may have a bell, which is meant to warn birds.

(Cats who digest diseased birds may themselves become ill. Moreover, cats don't discriminate; they aren't particularly politically correct about dining on endangered or threatened birds. While the bell may offer birds an effective warning, many crafty felines learn how to hunt despite their ringing handicap.)

Harness
The safest way for a cat to explore the outdoors is at the end of a harness. Keep in mind that some outdoor plants may be toxic to cats. Most cats learn to tolerate the confinement of such harnesses; begin training gradually indoors before going out into the world.

Beds
There are all sorts of cat beds available at pet stores and through catalogs. Owners often get frustrated after spending big bucks on a fancy bed they then can't convince their tabby to use. Try to encourage these stubborn cats by placing toys near the bed, and lacing the "linen" with catnip. Location is also important; perhaps placing the bed near a favorite window will help. For some cats, placing the bed in a quiet retreat away from a window is preferable. Ultimately, the decision will be your cat's.

Carriers
Some cats learn to behave when traveling in the car, particularly if they are exposed to this means of transport early in life. But these well-traveled felines are the exception. Imagine, just as you're about to put your foot on the brake, you hear "Rrahhh!" Instead of stepping on the break, you step on the cat. This is why most cats need to be restrained inside a carrier when traveling in the car.

Cats can be taken on nearly every airline when transported inside soft-sided carriers that can be stowed under the seat. However, there's an additional fee, and airlines require advance reservations for feline passengers. It's a good idea to get the cat accustomed to the crate at an early age, or at least before you'll actually need to use it.

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Litter Box

A litter box is probably the most important piece of equipment for a cat. Control of cat odor is the most common complaint among cat owners, and proper care of a litter box is the only defense.

Litter Box Tips

Tiny litter boxes might be fine for kittens, but adults require larger boxes.

Litter boxes with designer-looking covers in pastel colors not only look good, but they serve a purpose for cats whose aim isn't particularly good or for cats who kick around their litter. However, many cats dislike these boxes. They apparently take offense only to the cover, because their inhibitions about using the box usually dissipates when the cover is removed.

Each cat in the household should have its own litter box, as a general rule. In households with many cats, this may not be possible. Learn the feline hierarchy and which cats are best buddies. Some cats may require their own litter boxes, others may tolerate sharing.

Change the litter frequently. Most cats are cleaner than their owners. If the litter box becomes too soiled, your cat will probably choose another location to do its business.

Cats dig and claw at their litter before eliminating as well as after. The pawing is more than merely an effort to cover their elimination. The movement of the paws through the litter provides tactile gratification. It turns out that the kind of litter used is as important as the box itself. Individual cats prefer to eliminate on different surfaces. No one knows why this is so. Certainly, habit plays a role in their preferences. A cat that has grown used to eliminating on carpet may effectively make a transition to the litter box if you use a carpet sample as the substrate in the box.

Litter box accessories

Deodorants tend to mask the odor, which is good for you. Unfortunately, deodorants may turn off some cats, which may mean that the cat will find a new, deodorizer-free place to go. There's only one way to make the odor disappear - clean the box.

Liners: The idea is to pick up the liner and all its contents and throw it away in one neat package. Liners are inexpensive, and you can also use a plastic trash bag turned inside-out. However, clawed cats who dig easily rip the liners and defeat their purpose.

Litter scoops: The sturdier the better; thin-handled scoops tend to snap.

Types of kitty litter

No matter which variety of cat litter you choose, there's one overriding rule -- if it works, stick with it. Your cat knows what it likes best. Here's a litter round-up:

Clay

Easy to use and easy to find, clay is one of the least expensive forms of litter. The major drawback is all the dust, which isn't particularly healthy for you or your cat.

Shredded newspaper

Obviously it's cheap, and as long you get a daily newspaper, there's an abundance of available litter. Cats who enjoy digging in their litter may reject newspaper.

Clumping litter

The cat's urine clumps the litter into a scoopable ball. A quality clumping litter may diminish odor problems. However, sometimes the litter sticks to the box, making cleaning more of an effort. Beware of packaging which touts that because of the diminished odor, you won't have to clean the litter box as often; this is simply not true. Clumping litters can cause serious and costly damage to plumbing, and most carry warnings against flushing it down the toilet.

Flushable litters

They are clearly convenient for owners who keep the litter boxes in bathrooms. These biodegradable flushable litters are usually made of recycled materials, so they are environmentally-friendly. Some have a pleasant odor. Some are either tossed around or rejected by cats who like to dig.

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Cat Breeds

The Cat Fancier's Association designates 33 different cat breeds, ranging from the lush longhaired Persian to the tall, skinny short-haired Oriental. If you seek a specific look, a ravishing purebred will be your answer. Appearance is quite predictable among pure breeds. And while temperaments among varying cat breeds aren't quite as wide ranging as those of dog breeds, individual cat breeds do have their specific personality quirks. The Ocicat, for example, can be taught to fetch like a dog, and the Egyptian Mau is well known for their distinctive, speedy tail wagging.

Purebred cats are the most expensive, and are more likely to suffer from various genetic ills. However, there's no research to indicate that their life expectancy is any shorter than that of mixed breeds. There's no average life expectancy for cats of specific breeds. Housecats that never go outdoors will live longer than outdoor cats, and a cat lost outdoors will typically live only two to four years.

Most pet cats are mixed breeds, commonly dubbed American Shorthair or American Longhair. Mixed breeds make excellent pets, no better or worse than purebreds. It's just a matter of taste.

Animal Planet Cat Breed Directory

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Playtime

The Importance of Playing
Play is necessary for proper development in kittens, and veterinarians recommend that adult indoor cats be encouraged to play because it's the only aerobic exercise they get. Play also keeps cats mentally alert and helps prevent boredom.

Toys
Cat toys can be divided into two categories, toys you can purchase at a pet store and "Martha Stewart toys" that you can construct using ordinary household materials. For example:

Poke two holes through a ping-pong ball and pull a string through. Tie a knot at one end so the ball falls to the end of the string.

Save your birthday present ribbons and tie one to a wooden spoon or even a stick from the backyard. Dangle the ribbon in front of your cat and play catch-the-ribbon. Warning: Don't leave cats alone with string, ribbon or yarn toys because they may ingest them.

Turn off the lights and choreograph a light dance using a flashlight. Many cats will chase the beam.

Load your camera with film, and then give your kitty the empty film canister. Place a penny inside the canister, and the game becomes even more interesting.

Kittens can keep themselves occupied with a crumpled piece of paper or a paper grocery bag.

Warning: Don't offer plastic grocery bags or cleaning bags to cats; they may get tangled up and suffocate.

To avoid feline toy apathy, keep the items in a toy box. Once every week or two, rotate new toys in and remove old ones for a while.

Older Cats
As kittens age, some lose interest in toys. Other cats will continue chasing ping-pong balls throughout their lifetime. Particularly in single-cat households, you can encourage a cat by playing with it. Despite their independent nature, most domestic cats do enjoy playing with a companion.

Catnip
When a cat becomes stressed or bored, it might be time to try catnip. Some cats are completely unaffected by this herb, but for many it takes off the edge. Cats can get easily stressed when anything different takes place in the household. For example, home construction, an out-of-town human, canine and/or feline visitor or a change in the routine work schedule may upset cats. Under stress, housecats may relieve the pressure with erratic behavior or by missing the litter box. You may be able to nip the problem, so to speak, by offering catnip.

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