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Caring for your Cat
Before you purchase a cat
please ensure that you have thought carefully about the responsibility of
cat ownership. Never buy a cat on impulse - cats often live to around twelve
years of age but many cats live much longer. Owning a cat is a commitment,
which should be carefully considered. Speak to your local veterinarian and
other cat owners, to gather as much information as you can to aid you in
your decision.
Responsibilities of Cat Purchase
Acquiring a cat really means that you are prepared to take on a commitment
for twelve years or more. The following checklist needs to be considered:
Should I have a Cat?
Hopefully your cat will live for a good 15-20 years, it is a long commitment
but one that is incredibly rewarding. As the cat's owner it is your
responsibility for the cat's life to ensure...
The cat is vaccinated annually
The cat receives proper vet care when it gets sick or injured (if in doubt,
check it out with the vet)
You maintain a proper worming & flea regime
Cats are easy household pets to own. The RSPCA encourages the keeping of
cats if you have adequate facilities, time, finances and the level of
interest necessary to ensure a satisfactory standard or care.
Short Coat or Long
All cats moult or lose their hair through out the year. Shorthaired cats
such as the Russian Blue, English Shorthair or Domestic Shorthair moult less
frequently than a long haired cat so they benefit from a weekly brush to
remove excess hair.
Medium haired cats such as the Ragdoll, Balniese and Domestic Medium-hair
all benefit from a brush every 2-3 days to remove extra hair.
Longhaired cats need daily grooming to maintain their long coat. Breeds such
as Persian, Maine Coon, Birman and Domestic long hair need extra attention
to ensure that the coat doesnt become matted and painful for the cat.
While all cats will groom themselves, medium & longhaired cats need help
to maintain a coat that is free of tangles or matts. A matted coat will be
painful for your cat and could require attention of your vet to sedate the
cat to remove tangles properly, which isnt a nice experience for your cat.
Purebred or Crossbred
Should your cat be purebred or crossbred? For some people, they have always
had a particular breed that comes to mind or they are looking for a specific
type of cat temperament, look or coat length when purchasing a cat.
Regardless of whether you purchase a crossbred or purebred cat, your new
addition will become a loving companion who will be a loving member of your
family for many years to come.
Crossbred Most cats available from shelters and in the family
home are crossbred cats. This means that they are cats of a non-descript
breed that have come about through natural breeding between cats of
different breeds. Crossbred cats come in many different colours, coat length
and temperaments. Any cat that has parents of different breed is considered
a crossbred cat including all breeds not recognised by registered cat
councils.
Purebred Cats There are over 40 recognised breed of cats in
Australia. It is important to choose a breeder that you are comfortable
with. Research online and visit cat shows, this will give you a good idea of
the breeder your are interested in and the animals that they produce. There
are costs associated in purchasing a purebred cat or kitten as well as
waiting lists for most breeds. It is important to ensure that your breeder
is registered through one of cat clubs as a registered breeder. DO NOT
purchase your cat or kitten through a pet shop, as these are sourced from
backyard breeders only (registered breeders will not sell to pet shops).
Male or Female
 Once cats are desexed
there is little difference between males & females. Like people, cats have
their own temperament and behaviour which is able to come out more after
they have been desexed. Not desexing your cat, either male or female
creates many issues for you, your cat and your neighbourhood. An entire
tomcat has many unwelcome habits including spraying, calling, fighting and
increased aggression. The entire female will call incessantly when she is
on heat will be very difficult to control.
By desexing your cat, you are preventing it from contributing to the very
serious over population of kittens & cats. Entire male cats run the risk of
testicular cancer, abscesses caused by fighting, being hit by a car while
roaming, FIV (Feline Aids) & FeLV. Entire female cats have a greater
risk of breast cancer & can develop pyometra (infection of the uterus), plus
she can contract FIV & FeLV from an infected male. Some entire females
will often go off their food when they are in heat, which happens several
times a year. Entire males will roam the neighbourhood looking for a female
to mate with. When your cat has been desexed, its mind is no longer on
finding a partner and will be more interested in taking part in the family.
What Variety
With over 40 recognised breeds in Australia, it is about finding a cat that
best suits your lifestyle. If you want an outgoing, chatty cat then an
oriental breed such as Siamese, Tonkinese, Burmese or the newer Bengal is
probably what you are after. If you would like a quieter cat, then the
Birman, Ragdoll, British Blue, Russian Blue or Scottish Fold would suit a
quieter household. If luxurious longhair appeals and you have the time for
grooming, then you cant go past the Persian, Chinchilla or Maine Coon.
Domestic cats can have characteristics of many breeds and come in many
different colours. While you are choosing your cat, it is important to also
take into consideration the cat that bonds with you. While you may want the
black smoke Maine Coon, it might be the tabby that chooses you instead!
Care for your Cat
Bringing your cat home
When you bring your cat home, there are some items that you will need to
have on hand for its arrival. These include the following:
Food & Water bowl
Basket or bed
Scratching post
Grooming brush
Selection of food (wet, dry)
Litter tray with litter
Toys
Housing
It doesnt take much to make a cat happy. All they need is a comfortable
chair, box or basket somewhere where they feel safe and protected. They will
usually find a corner that suits them best no matter how carefully you plan.
It is necessary before you bring your cat or kitten home, to ascertain your
local council regulations regarding the housing of cats. Some Councils have
introduced restrictions on cats such as night curfews, compulsory
containment within a property and compulsory desexing. It is important for
you and your cat that you find out what these requirements are before you
bring Fluffy home.
As more councils introduce compulsory containment and night curfews, more
and more people are turning to the use of cat enclosures to keep kitty safe.
These enclosures are not cages, but safe and enjoyable areas where your cat
can play all day and night without danger to themselves or the wildlife.
There are many companies who build both custom and flat-pack enclosures and
they are easy to put up and maintain.
The cat uses its claws for climbing and in defence and usually keeps them in
immaculate condition. Outdoor cats sharpen their claws on trees in the
garden, but some select furniture in the house and the resultant damage can
be severe. To prevent your favourite sofa being scratched, it is best to
provide them with an alternative. A scratching post can be purchased from a
range of outlets (including the RSPCA) for your cat to use. If you do see
your cat scratching furniture, it is a good idea to pick him up with a firm
NO, place him on the scratching post and reward him for scratching on the
post. Animals learn through positive reinforcement, so rewarding him for
using the scratching post will soon change the habit of using the sofa. In
general a cat should have access to the house and its sleeping quarters at
all times, day or night. A cat door fitted into an external door of the
house is a very useful aid and if properly done, is burglarproof. The cat
should always be contained indoors or in an enclosure at night.
Litter
 Cats are the
most fastidious of animals and are easily house-trained to a litter tray
filled with dry earth, sand, or cat litter.
Litter trays should be placed in a secluded area that provides some privacy
for the cat when toileting, the laundry is often the area of choice. The
litter tray should be cleaned daily (removal of faeces etc) and the litter
changed weekly. Cats will not toilet in an unclean tray, so this will reduce
the chance of inappropriate toileting in the rest of the house.
Exercise
All cats need the opportunity to take exercise. If you have an outdoor cat,
this is done in the garden on trees and fences. If you have an indoor cat, a
large scratching post or kitty gym will be the best way to go. Cats
naturally like to be up high and will look for places to go that are up
high. These will include tables, benches, backs of chairs and occasionally
the tops of doors. If you dont want your cat on these things, a cat tree
will usually do.
Cat enclosures create a great opportunity for your cat to be up high and
safely away from neighbourhood cats. By placing cat runs in high places
(such as under eves and on top of garages) it allows your cat to survey its
territory while in the safety of its enclosure.
Grooming
Almost all cats require grooming assistance from their owners. Grooming time
can be an enjoyable bonding time with your cat and is something that you
should start when the kitten first comes home.
Short-haired cats are able to groom themselves adequately, except at
moulting time when assistance from the owner by brushing may be necessary.
This usually means weekly grooming to remove excess hair, which would
normally litter the house or could contribute to furballs/hairballs.
 Longhaired cats
require daily grooming by their owners to get to all areas of the cat. This
can be time consuming, but a routine should be established as soon as the
kitten comes home. By maintaining a good grooming schedule you will have a
happier cat and will not need a vets assistance with matted or tangled fur.
Cats are fastidious about cleaning. Through this cleaning, the loose fur is
swallowed and goes through the internal system as food would. Grooming helps
to reduce the amount of hair being swallowed by the cat during grooming.
However, as medium & longhaired cats have so much hair, it is common for the
formation of a hair mass to occur. This usually happens in the oesophagus
and often is seen as an elongated cylinder of matted fur, usually referred
to as a fur ball. During the moulting season it may be necessary to give a
teaspoonful of paraffin oil mixed with food, or a proprietary product once a
week to prevent this. There is also dry food designed specifically to assist
with the reduction of hairballs. It is important that if you have a medium
or longhaired cat that you are aware of hairballs as they can cause appetite
& weight loss and can result in surgery in the worst case.
Unlike dogs, you should not need to bath a cat. If you do however, there are
a couple of things to keep in mind. 1. With the exception of some breeds,
most cats do not usually like water or baths. Bathing a cat is a two person
activity which should be done in a warm room (bathroom or laundry) using
warm water and cat shampoo (or baby no tears) and it is advisable to wear
gloves. If you have a shorthaired cat, you can give them a bran bath, which
is a non-water-based bath. Simply take, 6 Ozs plain bran (found in the
health food section of the supermarket) should be warmed thoroughly in a
moderate oven. The bran should then be rubbed with your fingers against the
natural growth direction of the coat, left on for a few minutes, then gently
brushed out with a slicker wire brush. White or light coloured shorthaired
cats may benefit from a little talcum powder rubbed through afterwards (and
removed).
Cats may be bathed when dirty, but gentleness must be used to prevent them
from being frightened. However many cats do not like being bathed. Flea
control when required is best achieved using the spot on product applied
to the skin at the base of the neck.
Feeding
Diets for cats are very demanding because of their high protein and fat
requirements. Cats can easily become food fad animals, which leads to diet
deficiency diseases, so they should be taught at an early age to accept a
variety of foods. It is suggested that you:
- Choose a complete diet with variety.
Feeding a range of wet, dry and raw food will ensure that all nutritional
needs are met.
- Feed little and often.
Most cats are grazers. It is a good idea to feed a small breakfast and
dinner while allowing your cat to have access to a daily dose of dry food
throughout the day. This allows them to graze throughout the day while
having access to the right amount of food throughout the day.
- See that feed bowls are scrupulously clean.
If the bowl isnt cleaned out at the end of the meal, you are probably
feeding too much. Most cats will eat their fill in the first few minutes.
- Don't feed Cows Milk
While a lot of cats love to drink cow's milk, it's not recommended. Many
cats are lactose intolerant & giving them milk will result in them getting
an upset tummy. This is especially dangerous in kittens that will
dehydrate quickly.
If you must give your cat milk, it is recommended you purchase special
"cat's milk" which has been specifically formulated for cats to drink.
- Don't feed liver only. As it leads to skeletal problems.
- Don't feed raw meat as the sole diet; skeletal problems again can
occur
- Dont feed cats on dog food.
Feeding your cat dog food is extremely dangerous. Dog food is missing
essential the essential nutrients taurine & arachidonic acid. Taurine
deficiency can lead to blindness & arachidonic acid can lead to dry, scaly
skin. Cats require a higher protein & fat content in their diet.
Most canned and dried foods are formulated in line with your cats
dietary requirements. Cats must have access to fresh water at all times
especially if they have a dry food diet as they will need to drink
throughout the day.
Health and Veterinary Care
Signs of Health:
Demeanour: Watchful - even at rest; quickly responsive to sounds;
quiet and
contented.
Movement: Free movement and agile; no lameness.
Appetite: Good; no vomiting.
Breathing: Even and quiet
Coat: Clean well-groomed and glossy; free from parasites and dirt.
Ears: Pricked to catch sound; no discharge or irritation.
Eyes: Clear; no discharge or inflammation.
If your cat appears unwell for any reason, consult your veterinarian.
Vaccination
Feline Enteritis is a viral disease, which is usually fatal, and vaccination
is essential. Feline Respiratory Disease occurs as a result of infections of
bacteria and viral infections and causes typical flu symptoms, that is
rarely fatal. . None of these diseases affect humans. Initial vaccinations
are usually given from six to eight weeks of age. Booster vaccinations are
required and you should consult your veterinary surgeon for advice on the
proper schedule.
Worming
Kitten Roundworms are not infective to humans, but nonetheless your cat
requires regular worming. Tapeworms can also infect cats. Your veterinary
surgeon will advise on a worming schedule.
Fleas
Fleas are a common external parasite of cats. They cause severe itching and
inflammation of the skin leading to dermatitis. Their occurrence will vary
depending on the cats lifestyle, the number of animals and the time of the
year. Preventative programs are best achieved using spot on products that
have a prolonged residual effect, usually 30 days. If fleas are a problem it
is necessary to treat all animals, both cats and dogs to clean the
environment. You may also want to flea bomb the house to remove any eggs
and to stop the cycle.
General Illness
Cats and kittens can become ill quite rapidly, usually characterised by
lethargy and a failure to eat or drink. Seek veterinary advice.
Desexing
Female cats are desexed to prevent unwanted pregnancies with the associated
problem of finding proper homes for the kittens. There are also additional
health benefits as a result of desexing.
Tomcats are desexed to prevent fighting and wandering and other undesirable
habits such as spraying urine to mark territory.
RSPCA Australia supports and recommends early age desexing from the age of
eight weeks. When the surgery is simple and the recovery is immediate.
The
RSPCA advocates the desexing of all cats not kept for breeding purposes.
 Boarding your Cat
At holiday time it may be possible to arrange for a friend, neighbour, or
relative to visit your house two or three times a day to tend to the cat.
Provided such regular attention is guaranteed this is acceptable since cats
prefer to remain in their own home. It is not a good idea to move the cat to
someone else's home from which it will immediately try to escape.
The alternative is to place your cat at a good boarding cattery. Cat owners
are urged to call and inspect the cattery of their choice well beforehand
and check for themselves.
When choosing an establishment, cat owners are urged to personally call in
and check for themselves:
Staffing. Are there enough staff to ensure more personalised
attention for your cat.
Feeding. What times are the cats fed during the day & if your cat has
a special diet, can they feed the diet.
Security: adequate precautions against the possibility of escape.
Hygiene: evidence of cleanliness and no smell.
Accommodation: dry, clean and sheltered with heating provided for
cooler months.
Exercise: facilities that allow for some exercise, preferable with
some climbing capacity.
Housing for cats must have an ample supply of and access to fresh
air.
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