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Your cat is dependent upon you for a long, healthy, and happy life. Becoming a pet parent is a lifelong commitment. Your biggest responsibility will be to keep your new friend healthy, safe, and happy. For doing so, you will be rewarded with years of warm companionship, unfailing trust, and long purrs of happiness.
Unless you are planning to breed your cat for show, the right thing to do for your cat is to spay her (if female) or neuter him (if male). Because they're no longer distracted by the mating cycle, cats of both sexes tend to make better pets when they are spayed or neutered; this enables them to develop a closer bond with humans. Spaying/neutering is a safe, cost-effective, and socially responsible part of your cat's health care program. What's more, your cat will be healthier in the long run. Spaying protects females from breast cancer, uterine cancer, and uterine infections. Neutered males will not indulge in the tomcat's habit of spraying urine inside the house to mark their territory, and they are less prone to be hurt in fights with other males. Plus, they will probably enjoy better urinary health in their later years.
Accidents and illnesses can happen to cats, even under the care of the most watchful, dedicated pet parents. You need to seek immediate help from your veterinarian or emergency pet clinic if any of the following symptoms occur in your cat:
Cats groom themselves thoroughly, and it is inevitable that they will swallow some of their own hair. This hair often stays in the cat's digestive tract and forms a ball, which the cat will dislodge by vomiting. You can help to minimize hairballs by grooming your cat regularly. A PetSmart associate can also recommend specific hairball remedies- including hairball control formula foods and a wide variety of dietary supplements that even come in seafood flavors cats love.
A parasite is an organism (usually small to microscopic) that lives in or on another species. Fortunately, there are a number of products available to help you keep your cat healthy, happy, and parasite-free. Two of the most common parasites are fleas and ticks.
Fleas are tiny, flat insects that hop, bite, and cause irritation. Frequent scratching may be your cat's way of telling you she has fleas. Evidence of "flea dirt" (which looks like grains of black pepper) will most commonly be found at the base of her tail.
Flea treatment products are readily available to eradicate these pests. A Banfield veterinarian or a PetSmart associate can advise you about the many new products that have recently made flea control much more effective.
Ticks are slow-moving parasites, ranging in size from a nail head to a freckle. During warm months, they can attach themselves to your cat's skin and suck blood, swelling in size as they do so. They tend to favor pulse points around the head, neck, and ears. Though they do not cause your cat discomfort, ticks can carry serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Tick treatment requires coating the tick with petroleum jelly or soaking it in rubbing alcohol. Use a tweezer to remove a dead tick, and make sure the head pulls free of your cat's skin. Then, dab the area with peroxide or another topical disinfectant.
Aside from you and your family, the most important relationship your new cat will develop will be with her health care provider-a good veterinarian.
After you bring your cat home, you should have her checked as soon as possible by a licensed veterinarian, like the ones at Banfield, The Pet Hospital. Banfield hospitals are located in more than 250 PetSmart stores across the country. (To locate the Banfield hospital nearest you, call 1-800-768-8858.) This initial visit is important to ensure your new friend isn't bringing any unwanted guests into your home, such as fleas or worms. Then, make sure to schedule routine appointments at least once a year. During these visits, your veterinarian will give your cat a thorough physical and oral exam, vaccinate her, and answer any pet health questions you may have.
If your kitten does not come with a certificate of immunization, she will need shots, the first in a series that will keep her safe from rabies, feline distemper, and other common diseases throughout her life. An adult cat may also need shots, depending on her age and medical history. Your veterinarian will notify you when your cat's immunizations need to be renewed, and will keep a record of your cat's complete medical history.
Proper grooming is essential to your cat's health and well-being. Not only does grooming allow you to check for any potential health problems, it gives you an opportunity to spend some "quality" time bonding with your cat.
Even though your cat spends a lot of time each day licking and cleaning herself, she still needs your grooming assistance to stay healthy and happy. Regular grooming accomplishes much more than just making your cat's coat look nice and shiny: it stimulates circulation, removes loose hair, and helps prevent matting. And for cats with long hair, your PetSmart Grooming Salon can make her look great.
The other kind of routine brushing that your cat should be getting is tooth brushing. PetSmart has small, soft finger brushes to rid your cat's teeth of excess plaque, which, can lead to bad breath and to more serious health problems. PetSmart also carries a complete line of oral care foods and treats.
A good nail trim keeps you from getting scratched during play and prevents germs from accumulating under your cat's nails. It also prevents your cat from injuring herself when she has an itch!
A cat that lives mostly indoors will need her claws trimmed, and there are tools designed specifically for this purpose. A cat's nails have a tender "quick" core, and you must take great care not to cut too deeply, as you may cut into a nerve. Have a PetSmart certified PetStylist show you the proper procedure the first time, and make nail trimming a regular part of your cat's care.
