How to Keep Your Cat Happy & Hearty for Life

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

cat brush
flea comb or spot-on treatment
nail clippers, cat or human (see step 4)
a big towel
toothbrush and toothpaste for kitty
styptic pencil
earmite medicine
gloves

Step 1

A colony in a cellar

Having a cat is a big responsibility. They depend on you for food, clean water, their health, and well-being. Contrary to popular belief, cats do not survive well in the wild; there are too many competitors for the food available.
Step 2

Meow Mix hairball formula

Feed your cat a good quality cat food. There are lots of brands out there, but some don't have the quality ingredients others do. Iams, and Science Diet are two of the foods sold by veterinarians as well as Walmart, Tractor Supply, and other stores. My cats swear by Meow Mix. A combination of dry food and wet food is the best and your cat will show a healthy appetite.
Step 3

Why me?

Keeping your cat healthy is an important part of making your cat happy. You will need a veterinarian, because there are some things you usually can’t do by yourself.

Unless your cat is an indoor cat, never going outside at all, you will need vaccinations.

The University of California at Davis http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/clientinfo/info/genmed/vaccinproto.html website says:

Feline Vaccination Guidelines

“In general, guidelines for vaccination of cats have been strongly influenced by the appearance of vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats, and in particular their epidemiologic association with feline leukemia virus vaccines and killed rabies virus vaccines. Thus, there is clear evidence for minimizing frequency of vaccination in cats. The recommendations below have been made in light of the AVMA/AAHA/AAFP/VCS task force recommendations on vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats. Risk factors for sarcomas should be discussed with cat owners at the time of examination. If a cat develops a palpable granuloma at the site of previous vaccination, the benefits vs. risks of future vaccinations should be carefully considered. All vaccine-associated sarcomas should be reported to the vaccine manufacturer, the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics, and the AVMA.”

Talk to your vet about your cat’s particular situation.
Step 4

Tooth care for kitty

You can learn how to brush your cat’s teeth. They make special toothpaste and toothbrushes for cats. Do NOT use people toothpaste for cats. It is harmful to them. If you don’t want to learn this, or for some reason you just can’t, then the vet can do it for you. Groomers will also do this as long as the cat’s teeth are already in pretty good shape.
Step 5

The Quick

Keep your cat’s claws trimmed. This makes it more comfortable for the cat to walk on hard surfaces and also lessens the tendency to use your furniture or carpet as a scratching post. Be careful when you trim the claws, because inside the claw and very close to the tip is the “quick,” which is soft tissue with lots of nerves. When you cut this, as often happens, it will bleed, and if your cat objects strenuously enough, you may bleed as well. It's a good idea to have a styptic pencil on hand to stop the bleeding if it lasts for more than a few moments. Assuming you can now find the cat of course.

Human type nail clippers cut more cleanly and give you better control. With the standard type of cat or dog nail clipper, you can't really see where you are cutting.

An alternative to clipping often is nail caps. They even come in different colors, so they can be a fashion and personality statement. http://www.softclaws.com/soft_claws_kit.asp
Step 6

What declawing really is

Declawing is actually amputation of the first joint of the cat’s toe. Think about having the first joints of your toes removed. Not easy to walk on. Not comfortable and even, in some cases, crippling. Sometimes the operation goes wrong. http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm
Step 7

Grooming Tools

Grooming includes brushing, even for shorthairs. Not only does it remove loose fur, but it distributes natural oils and stimulates the skin. Plus the cat gets pleasure from being stroked. Talking to your cat while you are brushing him is a good idea. It makes him feel more involved with you during the process.
Step 8

Flea Comb

Fleas. Even the best flea collar doesn’t work very well. There are many spot-on products now, but they do contain poisons. The best overall way to get rid of fleas is still the flea comb. The fleas get caught by the tines of the comb and then you dip the whole comb into water to which you hsve added a little dish soap. The fleas drown, and they are gone forever from your cat. This does take a while, but your pet will thank you for it and it gives you a chance to go over his body for any bumps, lumps, or injuries in the meantime.
Step 9

earmite infestation

Ear Mites. Keep your cat’s ears clean. If he starts shaking his head, tilting it to one side, or scratching his ears a lot, then check for ear mites. These are tiny bugs, so the only evidence you might see is dirt in the ears. There are ear mite preparations on the market and they are not expensive. However, since they are eardrops, your cat is not going to like them. You might have to wrap the cat so you can do both ears at once. After you put them in, hold the ear closed and massage it a bit to work the drops down to the mites. When you let the cat go, he will shake his head and if the drops aren’t worked in well, they will fly all over.
Step 10

Drs. Foster & Smith Online Catalog

Many stores carry all these products and more. There are stores online--Drs. Foster and Smith is a good one, and of course there are Petco, Petsmart, and numerous other stores catering to just about any pet you have or want or to cats alone.

Comments

bmi57 said

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on 9/30/2008 Wonderful article. I love my cat so very much. Thanks for sharing all these great tips and.

dtwelloh said

on 9/26/2008 Very good tips and advice here. Hope everyone uses this. Give it 5 stars.

on 9/20/2008 thanks, this is good information. I had a cat die from ear mites supposedly. She was an indoor cat. She could no longer walk, one vet said it was a perforated ear drum. Another said it must have been an anuerism, another, cancer. Anyway, from now on I clean my cat's ears once a week. 5

gatorgirl182 said

on 9/12/2008 Cats are amazing animals and I love mine!! I look forward to making my cat happy with new toys/treats/playtime, etc. and love this article! 5 Stars to you!