Cat Care

Cats can make excellent companions and are wonderful pets. However, with an average lifespan ranging from 15-20 years, owning a cat is a long-term commitment and their needs must be carefully considered.

Before you bring your cat or kitten home, we suggest you contact your local council and enquire about its regulations regarding such things as night curfews, compulsory containment within a property, desexing and microchipping.

When purchasing your new cat or kitten there are several aspects of their care you need to consider;

• Cats need a 'safe place' where they can hide and feel protected so provide them with a basket, box, chair or small shelter. Increasingly, people are using cat enclosures for outdoor cats. Placed in a weatherproof area, they keep them safe from neighbourhood cats, prevent disease spread and protect local wildlife. Indoor cats generally live longer and lead healthier lives
• It is recommended a scratching post be available for your cat to keep their claws in good condition for climbing and defending themselves. This will also reduce the chances of your furniture being scratched. Scratching posts are also good as cats need to exercise and naturally like climbing and perching themselves up high.
• Cats like to be clean at all times. As a result, cats can easily be toilet trained if a litter tray filled with dry earth, sand, or cat litter is available. The litter tray should be cleaned daily to remove faeces and the litter itself changed frequently. You may even need multiple trays if you have more than one pet cat. A good rule of thumb is one tray for each cat plus one extra
• Current legislation requires that your cat be identified. For this we highly reccommend microchipping as it lasts for life and is the surest way to have your cat returned to you should they get lost. For more information about microchipping click here. A pet tag is also reccomended as this is an easy way for the public to see he or she has a home.
• Desexing your cat has many benefits. For more information click here
• Longer haired cats require grooming assistance from their owners to remove excess hair. This helps in the reduction of furballs/hairballs and matted/tangled fur, which if left, may result in a visit to us for a clip. Except at moulting time, short haired cats are able to groom themselves adequately. In contrast, long haired cats require daily grooming by their owners. Furballs or hairballs can cause appetite and weight loss, and in a worst case scenario, result in surgery so during the moulting season even short haired cats may need some grooming.
• Cats require a high protein and fat diet. There are many formulations of cat food available and we recommend discussing your cat’s individual nutritional needs with us to choose the most suitable formula. Dry food is reccomended to help with dental hygiene.
• Ensure a fresh water bowl is accessible at all times. Whilst many cats love to drink cow's milk, it's not recommended as they can be lactose intolerant and experience stomach upsets.
• Cats require a minimum of one health check per year. Regular visits help us diagnose, treat or even prevent health problems before they become life-threatening. Routine vaccinations, worming and flea control form the basics of feline medical care.  We can also provide additional guidance on nutrition, behaviour, training and life-stage treatments available. For more information on preventative care click here

We welcome you to book an appointment with us to discuss how to keep your cat in optimum mental and physical health. Please call us on 8382 3700