Calling all cat-people, this one’s for you. Felines make for wonderful apartment pets mainly because they’re such independent animals. However, it’s important to know the best ways to care for your cat properly to ensure your kitty is happy and healthy for years to come. Whether you’re a new cat-parent or just want a refresher on the best way to care for your furbaby, the following advice will help you to provide a great life for your cat.
Start with Identification
One of the first things you should do after bringing your cat home is to get her a name tag. This is especially important if your cat is skittish and fearful. Cats may act nervous in new environments, and some require time to warm up to their new owners. Cats can be fearful, and they’ve been known to make a run for it in new situations. That’s why it’s critical that you get some form of identification on your cat as soon as you get her. If you want to take it a step further, you can look into getting a microchip for your cat.
Provide a Clean Litterbox
It’s essential that you set up your cat’s litterbox soon after bringing her home. Cats require at least one litterbox per home, and it needs to be cleaned daily. If you don’t keep it clean, your cat will start relieving herself in other places of your home, such as a rug or couch, which isn’t fun for anyone. Cats truly demand a clean litterbox, and failure to keep it tidy for them will likely resulting in unwanted messes around your house. If you have trouble cleaning a litterbox on a daily basis, you can purchase a self-cleaning version that does the job by itself. You’ll still need to clean it, but you will have to do it about once a month instead of once a day.
Nutrition is Key
If you want to provide a great life for your cat, you need to feed her nutritious food. Try to feed your cat food that doesn’t include grain as the main ingredient, as it provides little to no nutritional value to them. Instead, opt for a kibble that uses real meat or fish, such as Purina One Cat Food. Cats can easily become overweight due to lack of exercise and overfeeding, so make sure to practice portion control during meal time. A good rule of thumb is to feed your cat twice daily by splitting the recommended serving on her kibble’s bag into two meals.
Don’t Skimp on TLC
This is the easiest of all our tips. If you want a happy cat, give her lots of love and attention. Cats can be very cuddly creatures, especially as they age, and they crave the affection of their owners. If you don’t give your cat enough attention, she may start “acting out” by refusing to use her litterbox or failing to groom herself. These scenarios lead to stressful situations for you and your cat. Avoid unwanted messes and an unhappy cat by giving her the love she deserves.
